Feedback Control of Computing Systems [Hardcover]

Joseph L. Hellerstein (Author), Yixin Diao (Author), Sujay Parekh (Author), Dawn M. Tilbury (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 047126637X | ISBN-13: 978-0471266372 | Publication Date: August 24, 2004 | Edition: 1

This is the first practical treatment of the design and application of feedback control of computing systems. MATLAB files for the solution of problems and case studies accompany the text throughout. The book discusses information technology examples, such as maximizing the efficiency of Lotus Notes.
This book results from the authors' research into the use of control theory to model and control computing systems. This has important implications to the way engineers and researchers approach different resource management problems. This guide is well suited for professionals and researchers in information technology and computer science.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"..does excel at familiarizing computer scientists and practitioners with control-theoretic concepts and the idea of feedback...greatly enhanced by the exercises and extended examples."  (IEEE Control Systems Magazine, April 2007)

"The book is intensely practical…interesting and useful…" (Computing Reviews.com, January 10, 2005)

From the Back Cover

A pioneering reference on control theory designed specifically for computer professionals

In today’s computerized economy, the profitability and availability of many businesses rely on a clear understanding of the dynamics of their computing systems, especially how they relate to changes in workloads and configuration. Frequent, dramatic changes in these areas can degrade programs and even cause failures, as often demonstrated on a company’s eCommerce site.

In the first book ever to address this vital issue, Feedback Control of Computing Systems offers program designers and computer scientists a hands-on resource that distills the essentials of control theory needed to effectively address these issues. Primarily intended for professionals engaged in the analysis and design of computing systems, who often lack the conceptual tools to address the dynamics of resource management, the text provides a host of valuable features:

• MATLAB code for the solution of problems and case studies
• Numerous IT examples, such as tuning the Apache HTTP server and the IBM Lotus Domino Server
• Examples carefully chosen to illustrate key concepts and provide the basis for modeling real-world systems
• Several appendices for handy reference

A flexible "road map" approach helps different practitioners use the text in highly targeted ways, depending on their particular focus, making Feedback Control of Computing Systems an invaluable resource for systems designers, IT managers, computer scientists, as well as other researchers in the field.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 456 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press; 1 edition (August 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047126637X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471266372
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,300,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Expensive book with very little value, January 12, 2012

By 

Sushil Dudani "SD" (AB, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Feedback Control of Computing Systems (Hardcover)

The major drawback is the way the book is written. It is written more as a PHD thesis, rather as a book. Example: The authors in chapter 5 are referring to equation (y(k)=ay(k-1)+bu(k-1)) which is in chapter 2, rather than inserting this simple equation in chapter 5. I have to go back and forth between various chapters and by the time I return back, I loose my concentration.
This book is pain to read, because I have to flip the pages rather than have a continuous flow.
Also the book is expensive.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to Control Theory for the Computer Scientist, July 11, 2010

By 

Thomas J. E. Schwarz (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Feedback Control of Computing Systems (Hardcover)

Computer Scientist often have to look for other areas of science in order to deal with important problems in the discipline. This book is a readable and interesting introduction to and application of Control Theory.

It is not conceived to be (yet another, but good) introduction to Control Theory and lacks many of the interesting techniques that were developped in Electrical Engineering. The examples (such as control of an Apache web server) that run through the book are approximated as linear control problems and solved as such. What might be a lack of theory is in fact an advantage for the reader who not only quickly learns about control theory, but also how to apply it to computer systems where an analytical analysis of system behavior is often beyond our grasp.

It appears to me that quite a number of problems in distributed systems, operating systems, and other branches have a control aspect to them, but that most computer scientists lack the background to understand the problematics. This book (in my opinion) therefore feels an important lacuna. I would imagine of course that in some cases deeper study of control theory is needed.

The only draw-back is the very high price.