Visualizing System Latency

ChelleChelle writes "Latency has a direct impact on performance — thus, in order to identify performance issues it is absolutely essential to understand latency. With the introduction of DTrace it is now possible to measure latency at arbitrary points; the problem, however, is how to visually present this data in an effective manner. Toward this end, heat maps can be a powerful tool. When I/O latency is presented as a visual heat map, some intriguing and beautiful patterns can emerge. These patterns provide insight into how a system is actually performing and what kinds of latency end-user applications experience."

Comments

The sky is falling...

[PPalmgren]

Informative article, all on one page, not chock full of ads. Now excuse me while I stock my bunker.

easy.

[jd2112]

Take, for example, AT&T Network performance:
Current: Snail
Expected, after customers leave in droves over data plan changes: Snail on meth (see yesterday /. article)
Expected, once AT&T upgrades equipment: Sloth on vallium

Heat?

[scottwilkins]

Heat kinda makes me slow too...