Abstract: A system (200) comprises a plurality of data collectors (210), a correlator (220), a context analyser (230), a baseline analyser (250), a database (260), and a graphical user interface (GUI) (270). The data collectors (210) are deployed on the services or applications that they monitor, or on the network between these applications as a network appliance, and are designed to capture messages that are passed between the various services. The data collectors (210) are non-intrusive, i.e. they do not to impact the behavior of the monitored services. The data collectors (210) can capture messages transmitted using communication protocols including, but not limited to, SOAP, XML, HTTP, JMS, MSMQ, and the like.

Abstract: A method for scheduling performance measurements to be collected over a network, each measurement target having an associated measurement interval specifying an approximate time between measurements. The method includes identifying a cost for each target and sorting the targets into a plurality of time periods. Each period has approximately the same total cost of measurement targets. Targets having similar measurement intervals are grouped together within each of the time periods and assigned to a time range within the period. The method further includes sorting the measurement targets within each time range to provide a generally even load balance across the time range. A system for scheduling performance measurements is also disclosed.