Method to obtain improved performance by automatic adjustment of computer system parameters

• US 6,628,994 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Landherr, Steven R, Turicchi, Thomas Edwin Jr., Grumann, Doug, Carl, Michael Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THOMAS K
• Application Number:
  US09/651,916
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 700/32, 700/33, 700/108, 700/174, 702/182, 702/183, 702/184, 702/185, 702/186, 702/188, 702/193, 714/47
• US Class Current: 700/32
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0294 Optimizing process, e.g. process efficiency, product quality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence

Abstract

A method for the automatic selection of computer system parameter values to improve system performance as workload on the system changes. Methods are disclosed for automatically making minor adjustments to computer system parameters and comparing long-term associated performance changes in order to set parameter values so as to obtain improved system performance. The time frame over which a change in a system parameter and the associated system performance change is averaged is adjustable, thus permitting evaluation over shorter or longer periods of times as deemed appropriate. An objective measure of system performance is defined prior to implementation of the present methods. For transaction based systems, average system response-time for a given demand on the system could be, for example, such a measure. For systems executing batch-type workloads, system throughput may be used as the indicator of how well the system is performing.

Claims

1. A computer operable method for computer system performance improvement, comprising the steps of:

when there is at least one parameter marked as unelected on a list, wherein the parameters affect computer system performance and providing at least one parameter on the list is selected from the group consisting of size of swap space, buffer-cache memory, maximum number of permitted processes, and maximum application data size,

selecting one of the unelected parameters;

marking the selected parameter as selected;

selecting an initial value for the selected parameter; and

when the selected value lies within a specified operating range for the selected parameter,

setting the selected parameter equal to the selected value;

measuring value of computer system performance;

recording measured value of computer system performance; and

incrementing the selected value; and

adjusting the selected parameter to the selected value that provides improved computer system performance.

2. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a software program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for computer system performance improvement, the method steps comprising:

when there is at least one parameter marked as unelected on a list, wherein the parameters affect computer system performance and providing at least one parameter on the list is selected from the group consisting of size of swap space, buffer-cache memory, maximum number of permitted processes, and maximum application data size,

selecting one of the unelected parameters;

marking the selected parameter as selected;

selecting an initial value for the selected parameter; and

when the selected value lies within a specified operating range for the selected parameter,

setting the selected parameter equal to the selected value;

measuring value of computer system performance;

recording measured value of computer system performance; and

incrementing the selected value; and

adjusting the selected parameter to the selected value that provides improved computer system performance.

3. A computer operable method for computer system performance improvement, comprising:

when there is at least one computer system parameter marked as unelected on a list, wherein the parameters affect computer system performance and wherein at least one parameter on the list is selected from the group consisting of size of swap space, buffer-cache memory, maximum number of permitted processes, and maximum application data size,

selecting one of the unelected parameters;

marking the selected parameter as selected;

selecting an initial value for the selected parameter; and

when the selected value lies within a specified operating range for the selected parameter,

setting the selected parameter equal to the selected value;

measuring value of computer system performance;

recording measured value of computer system performance; and

incrementing the selected value; and

adjusting the selected parameter to the selected value that provides improved computer system performance.

4. A program storage medium readable by a computer, embodying a software program of instructions executable by the computer for improving computer system performance, comprising:

when there is at least one computer system parameter marked as unelected on a list, wherein the parameters affect computer system performance and wherein at least one parameter on the list is selected from the group consisting of size of swap space, buffer-cache memory, maximum number of permitted processes, and maximum application data size,

selecting one of the unelected parameters;

marking the selected parameter as selected;

selecting an initial value for the selected parameter; and

when the selected value lies within a specified operating range for the selected parameter,

setting the selected parameter equal to the selected value;

measuring value of computer system performance;

recording measured value of computer system performance; and

incrementing the selected value; and

adjusting the selected parameter to the selected value that provides improved computer system performance.