Cause to effect methodology for monitoring database performance

• US 7,542,998 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Precise Software Solutions, Inc. (Idera, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Precise Software Solutions Ltd. (Idera, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lavie, Gavriela D., Kerman-Hendell, Shiri
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US10/736,999
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 707200-204, 707/104.1, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring database performance. In one embodiment, a method may comprise detecting a change to a database. In response to detecting the change, the method may predict a set of outcomes resulting from the change, monitor the database to determine whether any outcome of the set of outcomes has occurred, and report that one or more of the predicted outcomes has occurred. In one embodiment, the set of outcomes may be predicted based on a set of predictive rules. Determining whether any outcome of the set of outcomes has occurred may comprise comparing the performance of the database after the change to a historical baseline. Furthermore, reporting on the set of outcomes may include making recommendations on alternate changes to the database and summarizing the historical baseline. In one embodiment the set of predictive rules may be derived from multiple databases on the recorded effects of various changes.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a change to a setting of a database system;

determining a plurality of predicted outcomes resulting from the detected change, wherein the plurality of predicted outcomes relate to future operation of the database system;

monitoring the database system for an occurrence of at least one of the predicted outcomes;

based on the monitoring, detecting the occurrence of at least one of the predicted outcomes; and

displaying to a user an indication of the occurrence of the at least one of the predicted outcomes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a determination that the change to the setting of the database system has decreased performance of the database system;

determining a degree of confidence in the determination that the setting of the change to the database system has decreased performance of the database system; and

displaying to the user the degree of confidence in the determination that the setting of the change to the database system has decreased performance of the database system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of predicted outcomes is determined based on a set of predictive rules.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of predicted outcomes is determined based on monitored historical behavior of the database system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the database system includes monitoring the number and type of transactions carried out by the database system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the database system includes monitoring timing information associated with database transactions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the database system includes comparing a performance of the database system after the change to a historical baseline.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a user indication that indicates recommendations of alternate changes to the database system.

9. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor to;

detect a change to a setting of a database system;

determine a plurality of predicted outcomes resulting from the detected change, wherein the plurality of predicted outcomes relate to future operation of the database system;

monitor the database system for an occurrence of at least one of the predicted outcomes;

based on the monitoring, detect the occurrence of at least one of the predicted outcomes; and

cause a user indication of the occurrence of the at least one of the predicted outcomes to be displayed.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:

generate a determination that the change to the setting of the database system has decreased performance of the database system;

determine a degree of confidence in the determination that the change to the setting of the database system has decreased performance of the database system; and

display to the user the degree of confidence in the determination that the change to the setting of the database system has decreased performance of the database system.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to determine the plurality of predicted outcomes based on a set of predictive rules.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to determine the plurality of predicted outcomes based on monitored historical behavior of the database system.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to monitor the database system by comparing a performance of the database system after the change to a historical baseline.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to provide a user indication that indicates recommendations of alternate changes to the database system.

15. A computer readable storage medium including program instructions executable to:

detect a change to a setting of a database system;

determine a plurality of predicted outcomes resulting from the detected change, wherein the plurality of predicted outcomes relate to future operation of the database system;

monitor the database system for an occurrence of at least one of the predicted outcomes;

based on the monitoring, detect the occurrence of at least one of the predicted outcomes; and

cause a user indication of the occurrence of the at least one of the predicted outcomes to be displayed.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, further comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:

generate a determination that the change to the setting of the database system has decreased performance of the database system;

determine a degree of confidence in the determination that the change to the setting of the database system has decreased performance of the database system; and

display to the user the degree of confidence in the determination that the change the setting of to the database system has decreased performance of the database system.

17. The storage medium of claim 15 wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to determine the plurality of predicted outcomes based on a set of predictive rules.

18. The storage medium of claim 15 wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to determine the plurality of predicted outcomes based on monitored historical behavior of the database system.

19. The storage medium of claim 15 wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to provide a user indication that indicates recommendations of alternate changes to the database system.

20. A system comprising:

means for detecting a change to a setting of database system;

means for determining a plurality of predicted outcomes resulting from the detected change, wherein the plurality of predicted outcomes relate to future operation of the database system;

means for monitoring the database system for an occurrence of at least one of the predicted outcomes;

means for detecting the occurrence of at least one of the predicted outcomes based on the monitoring; and

means for displaying to a user an indication of the occurrence of the at least one of the predicted outcomes based on the detecting.