Computer Capacity Planning

PrefaceList of FiguresList of TablesChapter 1 Issues and Overview 1.1 The Significance of Computer Capacity Planning 1.2 The Capacity Planning Process 1.3 Objectives of the Monogragh 1.4 Literature Review 1.5 Organization of the MonograghChapter 2 The Tasks in Computer Capacity Planning 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Inventory 2.2.1 Hardware Inventory 2.2.2 System Software Inventory 2.2.3 Application Software Inventory 2.3 Workload Measures and Workload Characterization 2.3.1 Hardware-Oriented Workload Measures 2.3.2 User-Oriented Workload Measures 2.3.3 Workload Characterization 2.4 Performance Indexes 2.4.1 Turnaround Time 2.4.2 Response Time 2.4.3 Availability 2.4.4 Throughput 2.4.5 Capacity 2.5 Workload and Performance Measurement 2.5.1 Data Collection and Analysis 2.5.2 Measurement Tools 2.6 Workload Forecasting 2.6.1 Problems in Workload Forecasting 2.6.2 Visual Trending 2.6.3 Time Series Regression Models 2.6.4 Time Series Moving Averages Models 2.6.5 Box-Jenkins Models 2.6.6 Structural Models 2.6.7 Technological Forecasting and the Delphi Method 2.6.8 User Survey 2.7 Capacity Limits and Performance Objectives 2.7.1 Capacity Limits and Rules of Thumb 2.7.2 User-Oriented Performance Objectives 2.8 Performance Prediction 2.8.1 Trending 2.8.2 Queueing Models 2.8.3 Queueing Network Models 2.8.4 Simulation Models 2.9 SummaryChapter 3 Component Versus System Modeling Approach 3.1 Introduction 3.2 A Component Approach 3.2.1 A Capacity Study Procedure - Component Approach 3.2.2 Refinements to the Procedure 3.2.3 An Example 3.2.4 Strengths and Weaknesses 3.2.5 Beyond the Capacity Study 3.3 A System Modeling Approach 3.3.1 Why System Modeling 3.3.2 A Capacity study Procedure - System Modeling Approach 3.3.3 Describing the System 3.3.4 Describing the Workload 3.3.5 Forecasting the Workload 3.3.6 Constructing the Models 3.3.7 Evaluating Performance Measures 3.3.8 Validating the Model 3.3.9 Predicting Performance 3.3.10 Examining Alternatives 3.3.11 An Example 3.3.12 Strengths and Weaknesses 3.4 SummaryChapter 4 An Empirical Study of Computer Capacity Planning Practices 4.1 Study Objectives 4.2 Critical Practice Issues and the Questionnaire 4.2.1 Approaches Used for Computer System Analysis 4.2.2 Computer Performance and User Productivity 4.2.3 Computer Workload Forecast 4.2.4 Computer Workload Measures 4.2.5 System Monitoring 4.3 Survey Methodology 4.4 Overall Average Ratings 4.4.1 Approaches Used for Computer System Analysis 4.4.2 Computer Performance and User Productivity 4.4.3 Computer Workload Forecast 4.4.4 Computer Workload Measures 4.4.5 System Monitoring 4.5 Implication of Results 4.6 Summary Appendix The QuestionnaireChapter 5 Environmental Influences on Computer Capacity Planning Practices 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Computing and Business Environments of Respondent 5.3 Potential Environmental Factors 5.4 Important Environmental Factors 5.4.1 Computer Facility 5.4.2 Computer Budget 5.4.3 Extent of Direct Charging 5.4.4 Industry Characteristics - Financial Versus Non-Financial 5.5 Other Environmental Factors 5.6 Further Implications 5.7 SummaryChapter 6 Summary and Recommendations 6.1 A Review 6.2 A Summary Comparison Between Theory and Practices 6.3 RecommendationsReferencesIndex