Performance analysis model for distributed simulations

Abstract

Distributed simulation has proved to be a cost effective technique for studying and understanding complex realworld systems. Many distributed simulations need to incorporate hundreds or even thousands of processors, across both local and wide area networks. As the size and complexity of distributed simulations increase so do the demands on the hardware and software resources that provide simulation services, causing performance bottlenecks that limit the effectiveness of distributed simulation. Different abstractions of performance are needed depending on who is analyzing the distributed simulation and for what reason. This paper proposes a framework for identifying the factors affecting performance and provides a technique for associating the performance factors with high-level system metrics that describe the behavior of the physical and logical resources and services used in the design and implementation of distributed simulations. Dynamic and static analysis of the performance information provides feedback on the execution of the simulation and can provide meaningful information as a guide in making decisions about the configuration and control of the available hardware and software resources for distributed simulation exercises.