Method and system for determining the performance characteristics of a computer system

In a computer system, a method for modeling the size of a server system, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

• determining a utilization percentage for a first central processing unit subjected to a selected workload, said determination of said utilization percentage comprising the step of:
• calculating the busy time for a first central processing unit subjected to a selected workload, said step of calculating said busy time for said first central processing unit further comprising the steps of:
• a) calculating the time required for said first central processing unit to perform a total number of reads necessary to perform a transaction;
• b) calculating the time required for said first central processing unit to perform a total number of writes necessary to perform said transaction;
• c) calculating the compute time for said first central processing unit to perform said total number of reads and writes for said transaction;
• and
• d) summing the calculated times from steps a) through c);
• calculating the minimum amount of memory required by a modeled computer system subjected to said selected workload, wherein said modeled computer system is equipped with said first central processing unit;
• and
• calculating mass storage requirements for said modeled computer system equipped with said first central processing unit and subjected to said selected workload.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• an address/data bus coupled to said processor;
• a computer readable memory coupled to communicate with said processor, said processor for performing the computer system sizing steps of:
• receiving selected workload information, said workload information indicating expected performance requirements for a modeled computer system;
• calculating the busy time for a first central processing unit subjected to said selected workload said step of calculating said busy time for a first central processing unit further comprising the steps of
• a) calculating the time required for said first central processing unit to perform a total number of reads necessary to perform a transaction;
• b) calculating the time required for said first central processing unit to perform a total number of writes necessary to perform said transaction;
• c) calculating the compute time for said first central processing unit to perform said total number of reads and writes for said transaction;
• and
• d) summing the calculated times from steps a) through c);
• determining a utilization percentage for said first central processing unit subjected to said selected workload;
• calculating the minimum amount of memory required by said modeled computer system subjected to said selected workload, wherein said modeled computer system is equipped with said first central processing unit;
• and
• calculating mass storage requirements for said modeled computer system equipped with said first central processing unit and subjected to said selected workload;
• comparing said modeled computer system equipped with said first central processing unit and subjected to said selected workload to an existing computer system having memory capacity, mass storage capacity, and a second central processing unit;
• and
• reporting whether said existing computer system would be able to adequately operate at said expected performance requirements.

A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

• determining a utilization percentage for a first central processing unit subjected to a selected workload, said determination of said utilization percentage comprising the step of:
• calculating the busy time for said first central processing unit subjected to said selected workload, said busy time calculated by performing the steps of:
• a) determining the time period over which a transaction can occur;
• b) calculating the time required for said first central processing unit to perform a total number of reads necessary to perform said transaction;
• c) calculating the time required for said first central processing unit to perform a total number of writes necessary to perform said transaction;
• d) calculating the compute time for said first central processing unit to perform said total number of reads and writes for said transaction;
• and
• e) summing the calculated times from steps b) through d);
• and
• f) dividing said summed calculated times from step e) by said time period of step a);
• calculating the minimum amount of memory required by a modeled computer system subjected to said selected workload, wherein said modeled computer system is equipped with said first central processing unit;
• and
• calculating mass storage requirements for said modeled computer system equipped with said first central processing unit and subjected to said selected workload.