Automatic generation of hybrid performance models

Abstract

A method for simulating a computer system includes defining a set of building blocks including models of components of the computer system. The set of building blocks is interconnected to produce a topological model of the computer system. A client transaction model is derived based on historical data, for generating simulated client requests to be processed by the topological model. A resource requirement model is produced based on the topological model and on the historical data, the resource requirement model simulating a resource utilization of the components of the computer system responsively to the generated client requests. A performance metric of the computer system is estimated by simulating the computer system using the simulated client requests and the resource requirement model.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus for simulating a computer system, comprising:
 a user interface device, which is coupled to interact with a planner so as to define a set of building blocks comprising models of components of the computer system and to interconnect the building blocks so as to produce a topological model of the computer system; and   an analyzer, which is coupled to produce a client transaction model based on historical data for generating simulated client requests to be processed by the topological model, to derive a resource requirement model based on the topological model and on the historical data, which is coupled to simulate a resource utilization of the components of the computer system responsively to the generated client requests, and to estimate a performance metric of the computer system by simulating the computer system using the simulated client requests and the resource requirement model.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the computer system comprises an electronic-business (e-business) web-site. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the user interface device is coupled to define core infrastructure models that simulate hardware and middleware components of the computer system, and wherein the analyzer is coupled to model the infrastructure models using at least one of a state-machine model and a queuing network model. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the user interface device is coupled to define, for some of the components, two or more alternative building blocks having different levels of complexity. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the analyzer is coupled to derive a dynamic Bayesian network model responsively to the historic data, so as to produce the resource requirement model. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the analyzer is coupled to modify at least one of the topological model, a business-related policy and an IT-related policy, so as to improve the estimated performance metric. 
     
     
         20 . A computer software product for simulating a computerized system, the product comprising a computer-readable medium, in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to interact with a planner so as to define a set of building blocks comprising models of components of the computer system, to interconnect the building blocks so as to produce a topological model of the computer system, to produce a client transaction model based on historical data for generating simulated client requests to be processed by the topological model, to derive a resource requirement model based on the topological model and on the historical data, which is coupled to simulate a resource utilization of the components of the computer system responsively to the generated client requests, and to estimate a performance metric of the computer system by simulating the computer system using the simulated client requests and the resource requirement model. 
     
     
         21 . The product according to  claim 20 , wherein the computer system comprises an electronic-business (e-business) web-site. 
     
     
         22 . The product according to  claim 20 , wherein the instructions cause the computer to define core infrastructure models that simulate hardware and middleware components of the computer system and to model the infrastructure models using at least one of a state-machine model and a queuing network model. 
     
     
         23 . The product according to  claim 20 , wherein the instructions cause the computer to define, for some of the components, two or more alternative building blocks having different levels of complexity. 
     
     
         24 . The product according to  claim 20 , wherein the instructions cause the computer to derive a dynamic Bayesian network model responsively to the historic data, so as to produce the resource requirement model. 
     
     
         25 . The product according to  claim 20 , wherein the instructions cause the computer to modify at least one of the topological model, a business-related policy and an IT-related policy, so as to improve the estimated performance metric. 
     
     
         26 .- 30 . (canceled)