Introduction to Computer and Network Performance Analysis using Queuing Systems

Overview

Analyzing the performance of any computer or networked system: such as Web application servers, packet scheduling disciplines, operating system schedulers, cellular telephony networks is an important step in the design and deployment of such systems. Performance of many systems can be measured, but a sound basis in queuing system models is required for two important aspects: 1) to ensure that the performance tests are performance field data is correct, and 2) for predicting the performance of a system in a scenario that cannot be measured. The theory of queues is a mathematical theory that helps model a wide range of computing and networking systems with a common abstraction of a queuing system. In this course, you will learn the most basic results in queuing systems, in an intuitive way, and learn how to apply them to computer and network systems performance. The focus in this short course will be on being able to reason about asymptotic values of performance metrics at high loads and low loads, which is very useful in validating results of performance tests. Practical examples of performance analysis of networked servers (e.g. a Web server), of packet network links, of cellular networks etc, will be provided. A case study of interpreting the load test results of a simple Web Server using the framework of queuing systems will be covered throughout the course.