Dynamically characterizing computer system performance by varying multiple input variables simultaneously
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsKenny C. Gross, Wendy Lu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that dynamically characterizes computer system performance. The system operates by simultaneously varying multiple input variables in the computer system, and gathering performance results by measuring time-dependent responses in one or more response variables. In this way, responses to variations in the multiple input variables can be measured simultaneously. Next, the system analyzes the performance results to determine correlations between input variables and output variables.
Claims24
A method for dynamically characterizing computer system performance by varying multiple input variables simultaneously, comprising:
- simultaneously varying multiple input variables to the computer system, wherein simultaneously varying multiple input variables allows dynamically characterizing the computer system performance, wherein varying the multiple input variables to the computer system involves using the concentric-hypersphere perturbation technique to generate very nearly ideal sinusoidal impulsional perturbations in the multiple input variables simultaneously;
- gathering performance results by measuring time-dependent responses in one or more response variables;
- whereby responses to variations in the multiple input variables can be measured simultaneously;
- and
- analyzing the performance results to determine correlations between input variables and output variables.
A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for dynamically characterizing computer system performance by varying multiple input variables simultaneously, the method comprising:
- simultaneously varying multiple input variables to the computer system, wherein simultaneously varying multiple input variables allows dynamically characterizing the computer system performance, wherein varying the multiple input variables to the computer system involves using the concentric-hypersphere perturbation technique to generate very nearly ideal sinusoidal impulsional perturbations in the multiple input variables simultaneously;
- gathering performance results by measuring time-dependent responses in one or more response variables;
- whereby responses to variations in the multiple input variables can be measured simultaneously;
- and
- analyzing the performance results to determine correlations between input variables and output variables.
An apparatus that dynamically characterizes computer system performance by varying multiple input variables simultaneously, comprising:
- a workload generator that is configured to simultaneously vary multiple input variables to the computer system, wherein simultaneously varying multiple input variables allows dynamically characterizing the computer system performance, wherein the workload generator is configured to use the concentric-hypersphere perturbation technique to generate very nearly ideal sinusoidal impulsional perturbations in the multiple input variables simultaneously;
- a measurement mechanism that is configured to gather performance results by measuring time-dependent responses in one or more response variables;
- whereby responses to variations in the multiple input variables can be measured simultaneously;
- and
- an analysis mechanism that is configured to analyze the performance results to determine correlations between input variables and output variables.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.