Cost/utilization: a measure of system performance

ABSTRACT

A method is presented for evaluating computer system performance in terms of a cost/utilization factor and a measure of imbalance. These coefficients indicate the extent to which the total system cost is effectively utilized. The method includes a technique for the visual representation of system performance.

REFERENCES

• 1: Ackoff, R.C. Management Misinformation Systems. Manage. Sci. 14, 4 (Dec. 1967), 147-156.
• 2: CDC--Scope User's Guide, Software Documentation Div., Control Data Corp., Sunnyvale, Calif.
• 3: Michael M. Gold, Time-sharing and batch-processing: an experimental comparison of their values in a problem-solving situation, Communications of the ACM, v.12 n.5, p.249-259, May 1969 [doi>10.1145/362946.362958]
• 4: Hughes, J. Performance evaluation techniques and system reliability--a practical approach. ACM/NBS Performance Evaluation Workshop, San Diego, 1973, NBS Special Pub. 406, NBS, Washington, D.C., 1975, pp. 87-97.
• 5: IBM System/360 Operating System: Planning for System Management Facilities. C28-6712-1, IBM Data Processing Div., White Plains, N.Y.
• 6: Henry Lucas, Jr., Performance Evaluation and Monitoring, ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR), v.3 n.3, p.79-91, Sept. 1971 [doi>10.1145/356589.356590]
• 7: Michael F. Morris, Kiviat graphs: conventions and "figures of merit", ACM SIGMETRICS Performance Evaluation Review, v.3 n.3, p.2-8, October 1974 [doi>10.1145/1041691.1041692]
• 8: Performance Evaluation Bibliography. Performance Evaluation Rev. (ACM SIGMETRICS newsletter) 2, 2 (June 1973), 37-49.
• 9: Unlocking the Computer's Profit Potential. McKinsey & Co., New York, 1968.
• 10: Watson, R. Computer performance analysis: Applications of accounting data. Rep. No. R-573-NASA/PR, Rand Corp., Santa Monica, Calif., May 1971.

INDEX TERMS

Keywords:
computer system, cost/utilization, performance evaluation, system balance