Metrics for Management
Christine Hogan
Synopsys, Inc.
Abstract
We were recently asked by management to produce an
interactive metric. This metric should somehow measure the
performance of the machine as the user perceives it, or the
interactive response time of a machine. The metric could then be
used to identify unusual behavior, or machines with potential
performance problems in our network. This paper describes
firstly how we set about trying to pin down such an intangible
quality of the system and how we produced graphs that satisfied
management requirements.
We also discuss how further use can be made of the metric
results to provide data for dealing with user reported
interactive response problems. Finally, we relate why this
metric is not the tool for analyzing system performance that it
may superficially appear to be.
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