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Basics of Modeling

Modeling basics

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9 views13 pages

Basics of Modeling

Modeling basics

Uploaded by

Nkpah Blessing
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CSC 508:

System Modeling and Simulation

 This Lecture:
— Basics of Modeling
— Computer Systems Performance Evaluation
— Simulation Modeling Example

The purpose is to learn the basics of systems modeling, discrete-event simulation, and
computer systems performance evaluation

1
Basics of Modeling

 What is a model?
— An abstract representation of a (real) system that captures the essential
characteristics or properties of the system
— Often requires making simplifying assumptions about how the system actually
works
 Examples:
— Model airplane; molecular model; performance model

 Modeling is an essential tool in computer system performance


evaluation (as we will see shortly)
 Note that modeling is both an ‘art’ and a ‘science’
2
Modeling: A Reality Check

 A famous quote:

“All models are wrong; some models are useful.”


- George Box, 1976

 Models are useful when they provide critical insights into the system
behaviour (e.g., its performance)
 Models are especially valuable when they are simple, elegant, and
computationally fast

3
Computer Systems Performance Evaluation

 Performance is a key consideration in the design, procurement, and use


of computer systems.
 The typical goal is to get the highest possible performance for a given
cost (e.g., Money value, energy requirements)

 Performance evaluation is a well-defined sub-domain of computer


science that has been around for over 50 years
 Need basic knowledge of the tools and techniques of computer systems
performance evaluation
— What are the performance requirements?
— How to compare different system alternatives?

4
Objectives of Performance Evaluation

Establish a quantitative understanding of system behaviour

This understanding should be sufficient for:


 Evaluating alternative system designs/configurations
— e.g., should our Web site run on one server or two servers?
— e.g., should Web server software be Apache, IIS, or nginx?
 Predicting system performance for a given set of inputs
— e.g., predict the mean response time of a Web server when the number of users is
increased
 Performance debugging and system tuning
— e.g., identify/remove bottlenecks, optimize configuration
— e.g., why is D2L so slow? is it the server, or the network?

5
Approaches to Performance Evaluation

Three main approaches:


1. Experimental
— Obtain measurement data by observing the events and activities on an existing
system; evaluate new algorithms or designs by implementing and comparing them
in a real system
2. Simulation modeling
— Develop a computer program that implements an abstracted model of the physical
system; manipulate the model and/or its inputs to estimate the system performance
(e.g., randomization)
3. Analytical modeling
— Represent the system by an abstract mathematical model of the physical system
(e.g., formula); manipulate parameters of the model to obtain information about
system performance
6
High Level Overview

Performance
Evaluation

Performance Performance
Measurement Modeling

Analytic Modeling Simulation

7
Performance Measurement

 Measure the performance directly on a system


 Need to characterize the workload placed on the system during
measurement
 Generally provides the most valid results
 Nevertheless, not very flexible
— May be difficult (or even impossible) to vary some workload parameters

8
Performance Modeling

 Construct a model
— An abstracted representation of a system obtained by making assumptions about
how the system works
— Captures the most salient characteristics of the system
 Reasons for using models
— Experimenting with the real system may be
 too costly
 too risky, or
 too disruptive to system operation
— System may not even exist yet (e.g., planning stage)

9
Analytic Modeling

 Mathematical methods are used to obtain solutions to the performance


measures of interest
— Examples: queueing models for computer systems or computer communication
networks
 Numerical results are easy to compute if a simple analytic solution is
available
 Useful approach when one only needs rough estimates of performance
measures
 Solutions to complex models may be difficult to obtain

10
Simulation Modeling

 Develop a simulation program that implements the model


 Run the simulation program and use the data collected to estimate the
performance measures of interest (typically using randomization)
 A system can be studied at an arbitrary level of detail
 It may be costly to develop and run the simulation program

11
Advantages of Simulation

 New policies and procedures can be explored without disrupting the


ongoing operation of the real system
 New designs can be tested without committing resources for their
acquisition
 Time can be compressed or expanded to allow for a speed-up or slow-
down of the phenomenon under study
 Insight can be obtained about the interactions of variables, and which
ones have the most impact on system performance
 Can obtain answers to “What if…” questions

12
Areas of Application for Simulation

 Manufacturing applications
 Financial markets
 Military applications
 Logistics and supply chain management
 Transportation modes and traffic
 Business process simulation
 Health care optimization
 Facility placement problems
 Communication networks
 And many more!
13

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