This article studies the effects of queueing delays, and users' related costs, on the management and control of computing resources. It offers a methodology for setting price, utilization, and capacity, taking into account the value of users' time, and it examines the implications of alternative control structures, determined by the financial responsibility assigned to the data processing manager.

Pricing computer services: queueing effects

E xpert system technology offers considerable promise for addressing many of the problems associated i with the performance management of computer systems. McDermott I describes an expert system to assist a user perform hardware configuration tasks. Griesmer et al. 2 discuss an expert system to advise the system operator. Kornell, 3 Hellerstein and Van Woerkom,4 and Artis5 present expert systems to analyze and interpret performance measurement data. Levine6 describes an expert system to advise an analyst on several key performance management issues. This article deals with the application of expert systems to the capacity planning problem. Capacity planning is the process of understanding and predicting the performance of a computer installation in order to maintain sufficient processing capacity. For a prospective account this process begins at proposal time. The pro-

A Capacity Planning Expert System for IBM System/38.

A Capacity Planning Expert System for IBM System/38

Discussed is a capacity planning procedure called USAGE. Various business elements to be individually measured and tracked are presented. Outlined are methods for estimating workload growth. Separate limits of capacity for on-line workload and batch workload demand are discussed. A simple graphic presentation procedure is included to communicate the results of a study to those who need the information for making business decisions.

A capacity planning methodology

Logic-based decision support for computer capacity planning

An overview of techniques available to address capacity planning in the production data processing environment is presented. The production data processing system is briefly described and its capacity is quantified. The measurement tools, reports, and data required to implement a capacity planning program are discussed. Modeling and prediction are placed in perspective with the overall objectives of the capacity planning process. Personnel (managerial and technical) and organization considerations are also discussed.

L. Bronner

Papers

Overview of the capacity planning process for production data processing