(RAS) Three key attributes of a computing system design. See reliability, availability, and servICeability. The term "RAS" is fairly common in the computing industry (partICularly computers and storage) as computing becomes more fundamental. For example, a vehICle may depend on dozens of computers, and the consequences of the failure can be signifICant (e.g., an ambulance' s engine won' t start). (2000-08-13)