CPESIM II: A Computer System Simulation for Computer Performance Evaluation Use.

This report describes the development of an education tool which is used in conjunction with a course in computer performance evaluation. The tool is a system composed of background information and software which simulates a computer system. The student is assigned a position in a fictional computer site, and is given performance problems to solve. The instructor prepares scenarios, constructs a model of the sites workload, and describes the initial computer configuration. The student takes this information and uses it to decide if additional data is required from the hardware and software monitors. The student forms an improvement hypothesis and makes changes to the simulated computer site. Changes to the simulated computer configuration are made by an interactive user interface. The configuration changes, along with the workload description and monitor requests are submitted to the simulation. The simulation uses these inputs to simulate a large mainframe computer with attached software and hardware monitors. Accounting and monitor logs are generated by the simulation. After examining the outputs, the student provides further changes until he is satisfied with the simulated computer sites performance. This document provides a copy of the current software used to imitate the computer, the software used to generate the user interface, and instructions to the instructor and the student on executing the software on the ASD computer systems which support AFIT.