Measuring Computer Performance: A Practitioner's Guide [Hardcover]

David J. Lilja (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521641055 | ISBN-13: 978-0521641050 | Publication Date: August 15, 2000

Measuring Computer Performance sets out the fundamental techniques used in analyzing and understanding the performance of computer systems. The emphasis is on practical methods of measurement, simulation, and analytical modeling. David Lilja discusses performance metrics and provides detailed coverage of the strategies used in benchmark programs. In addition to intuitive explanations of key statistical tools, he describes the general "design of experiments" technique and shows how the maximum amount of information can be obtained with minimum effort. Features include appendices listing common probability distributions and statistical tables and a glossary of important technical terms.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lija's book is conceptually well formaulated, mathematically well grounded, and even intuitively appealing...This book is clearly an essential reference for professional engaed in computer (or network) performance measurement and capacity planning." Computing Reviews April 2001

Book Description

Measuring Computer Performance sets out the fundamental techniques used in analyzing and understanding the performance of computer systems. Throughout the book, the emphasis is on practical methods of measurement, simulation, and analytical modeling. The author discusses performance metrics and provides detailed coverage of the strategies used in benchmark programs. He gives intuitive explanations of the key statistical tools needed to interpret measured performance data. The book closes with a chapter on the technique of queueing analysis.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521641055
• ISBN-13: 978-0521641050
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,632,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introductory text!, July 5, 2001

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Measuring Computer Performance: A Practitioner's Guide (Hardcover)

In a nutshell: nicely written introductory text that covers the basics of performance analysis. It starts with an overview of performance analysis and associated techniques. The subsequent chapters lay the groundwork by giving key concepts and techniques, and then segue into the techniques themselves.

Content and Organization: 278 pages comprised of 11 chapters, a glossary and two appendices of probability distributions and selected statistical tables. Chapter topics are: (1) Introduction, (2) Metrics of Performance (what you should be measuring), (3) Average Performance and Variability (introduces statistical concepts and techniques related to computer performance analysis), (4) Errors in Experimental Measurements (good discussion of accuracy, precision and resolution, and the fundamentals of error quantification with which to validate your findings), (5) Comparing Alternatives, (6) Measurement Tools and Techniques, (7) Benchmark Programs (this chapter merits a book of its own), (8) Linear Regression Models, (9) Design of Experiments, (10) Simulation, and (11) Queuing Analysis.

This book requires some probability and statistics skills, but is a much gentler introduction to the subject than Raj Jain's classic, The Art of Computer Systems Performance Analysis. There are two things I especially like about this book: (1) it does not immediately launch into quantitative methods. Instead, it introduces them in manageable chunks that will not intimidate a reader whose math skills are rusty. (2) It includes design of experiments, which is a powerful tool that will also prove invaluable in capacity planning - the flip side of performance analysis.

If you've thumbed through other books on computer performance analysis and felt the learning curve was too steep or your math skills were not up-to-par, this book will give you the basics and begin you on a journey towards more advanced techniques. I highly recommend it as a first text on performance analysis and give it 5 stars for making this important discipline accessible to a wider audience.