29. Performance Analysis

Image

Performance analysis and tuning are often likened to system administration witchcraft. They’re not really witchcraft, but they do qualify as both science and art. The “science” part involves making careful quantitative measurements and applying the scientific method. The “art” part relates to the need to balance resources in a practical, level-headed way, since optimizing for one application or user may result in other applications or users suffering. As with so many things in life, you may find that it’s impossible to make everyone happy.

A sentiment widespread in the blogosphere has it that today’s performance problems ...

Get Unix® and Linux® System Administration Handbook, Fourth Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.