Abstract: A method (600) of obtaining end-user performance data associated with a target application executing at a predetermined location within a distributed information system, includes providing a network element (400) of the distributed information system proximate to the predetermined location. The network element (400) is configured to provide a primary network operations function, such as a router function (402), and further comprises an integrated applications execution environment (408) configured to operate substantially independently of the primary network operations function. The method further comprises executing (604) the target application within the integrated applications execution environment and performing (606) at least one automated operation of the target application by emulating user actions within the integrated applications execution environment. One or more images of a target application virtual display is captured (608) from within the integrated applications execution environment.

Abstract: A system for obtaining end-user performance data associated with a target application executing on a mobile device comprises a management system server computer configured to comprise a virtual execution environment. A mobile device is configured to support operation of a target application executing thereon via the virtual execution environment. The server computer is configured to perform at least one automated operation of the target application by emulating user actions within the virtual execution environment. One or more images are captured of a target application graphical user interface responsive to the emulated user actions from within the virtual execution environment. The images are analyzed to determine performance data of the target application, and the performance data are stored in a memory store.

Abstract: A method of managing a computing system (300) includes generating (1702) transaction requests in accordance with a transaction profile of the system (300). The transaction requests are provided for processing by the system (300). Status data of a set of managed resources (102) of the system (300) is collected (1704) in accordance with a system model stored in a knowledge base (204). Performance indicators of the system (300) are determined (1706) from the status data in accordance with the system model. The transaction performance of the system (300) is monitored (1710) by comparing the performance of the system (300) in processing the transaction requests with an expected performance. When a degradation in transaction performance is detected, a signal (1712) is generated to indicate that a degradation in performance has occurred, to enable the status data and/or performance indicators to be analysed at the time at which the performance degradation occurs.