This paper describes a methodology for analyzing complex computer systems performance. The charts generated by this technique provide the user with an intuitive feel for the system's operation and performance. Two types of event plots are described: traditional Impulse Plots and a generalized method termed Mraz Plots. Mraz Plots require more processing of sampled data but provide a more informative plot when the events are within an order of magnitude of the system's monitoring window. This is typically the case for complex multitasking, layered software systems. To illustrate the effectiveness of the generalized technique, we provide data from actual systems, and review detailed case studies where this methodology was employed to improve system performance
By: Ronald Mraz
Published in: RC21281 in 1998
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