Performance modeling and analysis of computer systems are often ignored during the project design phase in favor of other techniques collectively known as structured design or software engineering. We describe benefits that can result from including performance analysis as an integral part of the design process. Several different goals, time frames, and roles played by performance analysis during system design are illustrated by three case studies of current projects at Los Alamos.

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Performance modeling in the design process

Performance Modeling in the Design Process.

Performance measurement and analysis of the behavior of a computer network usually requires the application of multiple software and hardware tools. The location, functionality, data requirements, and other properties of the tools often reflect the distribution of equipment in the network. We describe how we have attempted to organize a collection of tools into a single system that spans a broad subset of the measurement and analysis activities that occur in a complex network of heterogenous computers. The tools are implemented on a pair of dedicated midicomputers. A database management system is used to couple the data collection and analysis tools into a system highly insulated from evolutionary changes in the composition and topology of the network.

A network performance analyst's workbench

A method of making long-range computer system workload predictions is presented. The method quantifies the effect of qualitative changes in computing by identifying assumptions and by considering the effect of a change on individual users. The method is illustrated by an example involving message traffic in a large computer network.

W. Alexander

Papers

Long-range prediction of network traffic