Performance Assurance for IT Systems

INDIVIDUAL AREAS OF INTEREST Preparing for the Challenge Abstract Introduction In the Beginning The Need to Address New Applications Definition of Performance The Required Skills Performance Assurance Within a Project Lifecycle Summary Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware) Abstract Software Product Lifecycle Hardware Product Lifecycle Marketing Technical Reviews of Products Lies, Damned Lies and Benchmarks Abstract Introduction Industry Benchmarks Vendor Benchmarks Independent Benchmarking In-House Benchmarking "Tricks of the Trade" Using Benchmarks Non-Functional Requirements and Solutions Abstract Introduction The Problems Sizing Information Performance Requirements Hardware Sizing Hardware Deployment and Scalability Availability The Need for Business Continuity Summary Hardware Sizing: The Crystal Ball Gazing Act Abstract The Challenge Summary of Hardware Sizing Approaches High Level Sizing Method Batch Processing Considerations Sizing Software Products Sizing Reviews Deliverables Hardware Sizing Revisited Change Summary Bid Logistics Abstract The Challenge Bid Qualification The Political Dimension Teaming Dealing with Hardware and Software Vendors Iterative Sizing Bid Reviews Prototypes BAFO Documentation Summary Designing for Performance, Scalability, and Resilience Abstract Initial Observations Basic Design Principles General Thoughts and Guidelines Coding and Testing Summary Awareness of Queues Abstract Queues Locks Tackling Delays Analytic and Simulation Modeling Tools Alternative Approaches Summary Non-Functional Acceptance Abstract The Issues Stress Testing Soak Testing Operational-Readiness Testing Summary Post-Production Abstract Introduction Classic Capacity Management A Minimalist Approach to Capacity Management Softer Issues Abstract Introduction Devil's Advocate and Seductive Technology Communication Awareness of Cost Awareness of Time Over-Engineering Smoke-Filled Rooms Team Balance Multi-Tasking Client Responsibilities Technical Postmortem All-Rounders So What? "My Way" Informed Approach TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION Introduction to Technology Tasters Operating Systems CPU Basics Memory Hard Disk Basics Server Infrastructure Multiprocessors (Shared Memory) Hard Disk: Fibre Channel, SAN and NAS File Access Basics Relational Database Basics Back-End Server Clusters Network Basics Firewalls Server Load Balancing Web Server and Cache Server LDAP Server Modern Server-Side Development Technologies