Abstract: A data processing system performs a multithreaded performance benchmark with a rampup interval and a rampdown interval. The master thread signals a start test event and begins the rampup interval. After the rampup interval, the master thread signals a start measurement event. In response to the start measurement event, the worker threads record the units of work they complete. After the measurement interval, the master signals the workers to stop measuring, but to continue running. This begins the rampdown interval. After the rampdown interval, the master thread signals a stop test event. The rampup and rampdown intervals are long enough to ensure that measurements are not recorded during skew intervals. Thus, thread skew does not impact the results.

Abstract: Server performance is bench marked using multiple master processes. A local master process is created for each client computer system applying load on the server. Then a global master process is created on a physical computer system on which neither client nor server processes are running. The global master is responsible for the proper execution of the bench mark. The global master uses an inter-master communications protocol that enforces coordination among the disparate client systems and processes.

Abstract: A program is profiled with enablement of trace record generation during a first period of time and with disablement of trace record generation during a second period of time. The number of trace records output during the first period of time is determined, and a trace overhead calibration value is computed as an average time for writing the number of trace records output during the first period of time. The trace overhead calibration value may be stored for subsequent use in a profiling-related process in the data processing system. The trace overhead compensation value represents the amount of time required to generate a trace record, and the trace times retrieved from the trace records are adjusted to compensate for the amount of time required to generate those trace records.

Abstract: A method and system for compensating for output overhead in trace data is provided by analyzing and compensating for the overhead associated with outputting trace information to a trace buffer or a trace file in the form of trace records. A trace record represents an occurrence of some profiling event of interest. Each trace record contains a starting timestamp representing the time at which the generation of the trace record was commenced and an ending timestamp representing the time at which the generation of the trace record was completed. In order to compute the period of execution time attributable to the application program or system being profiled, a starting timestamp of a trace record is compared with the ending timestamp of a preceding trace record, and the difference between the timestamps is directly related to the execution time of the application program or system being profiled.

Abstract: A method and system for compensating for trace overhead is provided by analyzing and compensating for the temporal overhead associated with generating or outputting trace information to a trace buffer or a trace file in the form of trace records. A trace record generally represents an occurrence of a profiling event of interest. The amount of time required to generate a trace record may be determined, and the trace times retrieved from the trace records are adjusted to compensate for the amount of time required to generate those trace records. A trace overhead calibration value may be determined by computing the average time necessary to generate a trace record, or in certain cases, by computing the minimum time necessary to generate a trace record. The trace overhead calibration value is stored for subsequent use in a profiling-related process in the data processing system.

Abstract: A data processing system performs a multithreaded performance benchmark with a rampup interval and a rampdown interval. The master thread signals a start test event and begins the rampup interval. After the rampup interval, the master thread signals a start measurement event. In response to the start measurement event, the worker threads record the units of work they complete. After the measurement interval, the master signals the workers to stop measuring, but to continue running. This begins the rampdown interval. After the rampdown interval, the master thread signals a stop test event. The rampup and rampdown intervals are long enough to ensure that measurements are not recorded during skew intervals. Thus, thread skew does not impact the results.

Abstract: Server performance is bench marked using multiple master processes. A local master process is created for each client computer system applying load on the server. Then a global master process is created on a physical computer system on which neither client nor server processes are running. The global master is responsible for the proper execution of the bench mark. The global master uses an inter-master communications protocol that enforces coordination among the disparate client systems and processes.

Abstract: A method and system for compensating for instrumentation overhead in trace data is provided. To profile a program, the program is executed to generate trace records that are written to a trace file. A set of event trace records in a trace file is processed to determine one or more trace overhead compensation values. The trace overhead compensation values are determined by computing, for each successive pair of event trace records in the trace file, a difference between a first timestamp in a preceding event trace record and a second timestamp in a succeeding event trace record. The minimum value of all of these differences is then stored as a trace overhead compensation value representing an amount of time for instrumentation processing of an event. The one or more trace overhead compensation values are applied to the event trace records during subsequent processing of the set of event trace records.