Performance evaluation package for UNIX III systems

• Published in: Microprocessing and microprogramming 1987-08, Vol.21 (1), p.347-355
• Main Authors: Kroon, J.G.M, Houtekamer, G.E, Reijns, G.L, van Spronsen, C.J, Ormas, B.V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0165-6074
• DOI: 10.1016/0165-6074(87)90062-7

In this paper we will present a performance evaluation package for the remote analysis of small systems running under UNIX system III. With this package an external performance analyst can help the owners of small business machines to analyze the workload and locate the bottleneck causing performance complains. The package consists of a measurement tool along with bottleneck analysis and modeling tools. The measurement tool, located on a floppy disk, is sent to the owner of a computer system. The customer then only has to load the floppy disk and after the measurement period has elapsed, send it back for further analysis. The software monitor has a low overhead and collects data for any real workload. The data collected can be processed by tools for analysing the workload and determining the performance indices of the system. Special interval analysis can be performed in order to obtain detailed information about peak hours. The input parameters for a computer model can be automatically extracted from the measurement data and a workload description. The computer model used is solved by an approximate multiples class MVA algorithm. Problems which arise when the parameters of a special type of workload class, characterized by thinktime within a non-completed process, are solved by introducing an extra step in the model. Such workload classes consist mainly of processes that wait for terminal input such as editors and data entry applications. The model has been successfully applied in a number of situations using a real workload. The accuracy of the computed performance indices are within 10 percent. This modeling tool moreover has a user-friendly approach to answering questions concerning changes in computer configuration and/or workload.