Metrics for distributed C/sup 3/ systems: Rationale and approach

The empirical nature of distributed computing techniques used in developing Command, Control, and Communication (C/sup 3/) systems requires a comprehensive definition, implementation, and usage of metrics to ascertain how the system meets its functional and performance requirements. The additional objectives of adaptive fault-resistance and resource management need new metrics that are dynamically implementable. The authors present rationale/needs of metrics and an approach to their development and usage. This approach is based upon a framework that covers various aspects of metrics including usage across system life-cycle, metrics views across system functions and levels of abstraction, and instrumentation architecture/tools for implementation.