Template-based approach for workload generation

• US 8,924,189 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Kay S., Bouillet, Eric P., Dube, Parijat, Liu, Zhen, Pendarakis, Dimitrios
• Primary Examiner(s): Saxena, Akash
• Application Number:
  US12/128,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20090327492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,406 Days
• Field of Search: 703/4
• US Class Current: 703/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method for workload generation include a processor for identifying a workload model by determining each of a hierarchy for workload generation, time scales for workload generation, and states and transitions at each of the time scales, and defining a parameter by determining each of fields for user specific attributes, application specific attributes, network specific attributes, content specific attributes, and a probability distribution function for each of the attributes; a user level template unit corresponding to a relatively slow time scale in signal communication with the processor; an application level template corresponding to a relatively faster time scale in signal communication with the processor; a stream level template corresponding to a relatively fastest time scale in signal communication with the processor; and a communications adapter in signal communication with the processor for defining a workload generating unit responsive to the template units.

Claims

1. A method for workload generation comprising:

identifying a workload model by determining each of a hierarchy for workload generation, a plurality of time scales for workload generation, and states and transitions at each of the plurality of time scales;

determining at least one of a user specific attribute, an application specific attribute, a network specific attribute, and a content specific attribute, and a probability distribution function (PDF) for each determined attribute;

constructing at least one template for workload generation using the determined attribute wherein the at least one template is a user level template corresponding to a relatively slow time scale of the plurality of time scales if the determined attribute is the user specific attribute, an application level template corresponding to a relatively faster time scale of the plurality of time scales if the determined attribute is the application specific attribute or a stream level template corresponding to a relatively fastest time scale of the plurality of time scales if the determined attribute is the content specific attribute; and

defining at least one workload generating unit (WGU) responsive to the at least one template.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one template defines states for workload generation.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one template defines transitions for workload generation.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one template defines parameters for workload generation.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of templates defines the at least one WGU.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one template defines a plurality of WGUs.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein one WGU of the at least one WGU is used to generate traffic for different classes of communicants.

8. A system for workload generation comprising:

a processor for identifying a workload model by determining each of a hierarchy for workload generation, a plurality of time scales for workload generation, and states and transitions at each of the plurality of time scales, and determining a user specific attribute, an application specific attribute, a network specific attribute, and a content specific attribute, and a probability distribution function (PDF) for each determined attribute;

a user level template unit corresponding to a relatively slow time scale of the plurality of time scales in signal communication with the processor, the user level template taking the user specific attribute as a variable;

an application level template corresponding to a relatively faster time scale of the plurality of time scales in signal communication with the processor, the application level template taking the application specific attribute as a variable;

a stream level template corresponding to a relatively fastest time scale of the plurality of time scales in signal communication with the processor, the stream level template taking the content specific attribute as a variable; and

a communications adapter in signal communication with the processor for defining at least one workload generating unit (WGU) responsive to at least one of the template units.

9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of the template units defines states for workload generation.

10. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of the template units defines transitions for workload generation.

11. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of the template units defines parameters for workload generation.

12. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein a plurality of template units defines the at least one WGU.

13. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one template unit defines a plurality of WGUs.

14. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein the communications adapter uses one WGU of the at least one WGU to generate traffic for different classes of communicants.

15. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform program steps for workload generation, the program steps comprising:

identifying a workload model by determining each of a hierarchy for workload generation, a plurality of time scales for workload generation, and states and transitions at each of the plurality of time scales;

determining at least one of a user specific attribute, an application specific attribute, a network specific attribute, and a content specific attribute, and a probability distribution function (PDF) for each determined attribute;

constructing at least one template for workload generation using the determined attribute wherein the at least one template is a user level template corresponding to a relatively slow time scale of the plurality of time scales if the determined attribute is the user specific attribute, an application level template corresponding to a relatively faster time scale of the plurality of time scales if the determined attribute is the application specific attribute or a stream level template corresponding to a relatively fastest time scale of the plurality of time scales if the determined attribute is the content specific attribute; and

defining at least one workload generating unit (WGU) responsive to the at least one template.

16. A program storage device as defined in claim 15 wherein the at least one template defines states for workload generation.

17. A program storage device as defined in claim 15 wherein the at least one template defines transitions for workload generation.

18. A program storage device as defined in claim 15 wherein the at least one template defines parameters for workload generation.

19. A program storage device as defined in claim 15 wherein a plurality of templates defines the at least one WGU.

20. A program storage device as defined in claim 15 wherein the at least one template defines a plurality of WGUs.