Evaluating performance attributes of layered software architecture

• Published in: Component-Based Software Engineering pp. 66 - 81
• Main Authors: Sharma, Vibhu Saujanya, Jalote, Pankaj, Trivedi, Kishor S.
• Format: Conference Proceeding Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.01.2005; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer
• Series: ACM Conferences
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Computer science; control theory; systems; Computing methodologies; Computing methodologies > Modeling and simulation; Computing methodologies > Modeling and simulation > Model development and analysis; Computing methodologies > Modeling and simulation > Model development and analysis > Modeling methodologies; Exact sciences and technology; General and reference; General and reference > Cross-computing tools and techniques; General and reference > Cross-computing tools and techniques > Performance; Social and professional topics; Social and professional topics > Professional topics; Social and professional topics > Professional topics > Computing profession; Social and professional topics > Professional topics > Computing profession > Testing, certification and licensing; Software; Software engineering; Performance evaluation; System architecture; Software development; Decision support system; Decision making; Software performance evaluation; Software package; Systems theory; Software component; Abstraction; Queueing network; Modeling; Time response; Workload; Exact solution; Markov chain; Closed systems; Software architecture; Response time; Time average; Discrete time
• ISBN: 9783540258773; 3540258779
• ISSN: 0302-9743; 1611-3349
• DOI: 10.1007/11424529_5

The architecture of a software system is the highest level of abstraction whereupon useful analysis of system properties is possible. Hence, performance analysis at this level can be useful for assessing whether a proposed architecture can meet the desired performance specifications and can help in making key architectural decisions. In this paper we propose an approach for performance evaluation of software systems following the layered architecture, which is a common architectural style for building software systems. Our approach initially models the system as a Discrete Time Markov Chain, and extracts parameters for constructing a closed Product Form Queueing Network model that is solved using the SHARPE software package. Our approach predicts the throughput and the average response time of the system under varying workloads and also identifies bottlenecks in the system, suggesting possibilities for their removal.