Performance Management

Glenn Bewsell
School of Information Systems and Technology (SISAT)

Overview
Performance Management is the
process of ensuring that
Network devices are NOT overloaded

Links are NOT saturated

Overview
This is achieved by
Monitoring devices and links to determine
utilisation and error rates

Helping network to provide consistent

service by
Ensuring capacity of devices and links are not
overtaxed and thus impacting on performance

Overview
Performance management involves the
following steps
Data collection

Data analysis
Setting thresholds
Using simulation

Benefits of the Performance

Management Process
Reduces problems of
Network overcrowding
Network inaccessibility

Benefits of the Performance

Management Process
Collected data can be used to
Isolate components that are heavily utilised
Determine utilisation trends
Peak loads
High load periods

Scheduling of data transfers

Isolate performance problems

Data Collection
Data required is the current utilisation of
network devices and links
File server
Packet forwarding rate
Processor load

% of dropped frames
Disk access rate

Data Collection
Bridge or Router
Packet forwarding rate
% of dropped frames

Queue lengths

Links
(bits sent + bits received)/bandwidth

Data Collection
Level of service
Total response time
Rejection rate
Availability

Data Analysis
Real time or historical
RT useful for
troubleshooting
Device information:
memory usage, processor
utilisation, disk access rate
etc
Link Information: utilisation,
error rates, error % etc

Historical useful for trend

analysis
Capacity planning
Network redesign
Error trends

Bar or line
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Setting Thresholds
Utilisation thresholds may be set on
Devices
Processor utilisation
Alarm duration

Links
Error rate

Average utilisation
Overall throughput/goodput

Reports can be generated when thresholds

are reached
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Setting Thresholds
Determining thresholds can be a bit of a
hit-and-miss activity
Thresholds will enable the network
manager to locate and fix a problem
BEFORE it affects the network

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Using Simulation
Simulation can be used to
Determine how to reconfigure network
Assess the impact of a new application

Assess impact of application configuration

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Performance Management on a
Network Management System
Simple
Monitor real time performance of devices and links
Produce graphs for review

More complex
Capture data to a database
Provide means for setting thresholds
Set alarms based on thresholds

Advanced
Historical analysis

Network simulation

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Reporting Performance
Information
Can be achieved in may forms
Text based
Graphical
Charts
Link colour or thickness

Flashing

Iconic

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