Capacity and performance analysis of computer systems

This paper presents a general tutorial for the use of discrete event simulation in support of software performance engineering (SPE) for computer systems focusing on client-server systems. Topics include definitions and tools of SPE, output measures of interest, a transaction approach to client-server computing simulation, the rationale for conducting SPE simulations versus alternatives, how and when simulation fits into a software development process, modeling techniques, input and output analysis issues, and verification and validation.