Performance analysis in the real world of on line services.

Performance analysis has always been an integral part of a computer architect's agenda. However, the term performance is used largely to measure “speed”. The dictionary defines performance more broadly as “the manner in which or the efficiency with which something reacts or fulfills its intended purpose”. In today's internet based on line computing environment, performance has taken a broader view. For example, power and energy efficiency is becoming as or more important measures of system performance as speed of computation. The industry's ability to deliver speed has outpaced the ability of most applications to consume it effectively. This talk will discuss how performance is viewed in the world of on line web services from an end user's point of view.