The subject of the guideline is graph theoretical solution methods for the state analysis of discrete Markoff processes. The introduction explains that such solution methods are useful in the reliability analysis of systems with stochastically dependent components, namely to simplify and expand manual calculation options as well as to optimize computer-aided numerical evaluation. The guideline introduces the state flow graph technique step by step. The sections build on each other. The various solution methods for reliability issues are demonstrated throughout using two model systems.*www.vdi.de/4008