Remote Database Load Testing via Workload Replay

Solution Overview

Problem

Managing complex modern database systems requires specialized technicians, leading to increased costs and delays due to the need for on-site expertise, as system administrators spend considerable time diagnosing problems and installing new components.

Innovation Solution

A remote load testing service that captures performance data from remote computer systems, creates a point-in-time clone of production data, and replays workloads to simulate real-world conditions, providing detailed reports and recommendations for system improvements, thereby reducing the need for on-site specialists.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If specialized technicians are deployed on-site to manage and diagnose database systems, then system management quality and problem diagnosis accuracy are improved, but costs and time delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem management qualityVSAvoidtime delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the production database environment including data, configuration, and workload patterns. This clone allows remote technicians to perform load testing and performance analysis without being physically present at the customer site, thereby maintaining management quality while eliminating travel time and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary load testing system that acts as a bridge between the customer's production environment and the remote technician. The system captures workload traces from the production database and replays them in a controlled test environment, enabling remote experts to diagnose performance issues without direct on-site access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If specialized technicians are deployed on-site to install and upgrade software components, then system management quality is improved, but costs and time delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem management qualityVSAvoidease of maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the production database environment including data, configuration, and workload patterns. This clone allows remote technicians to perform load testing and performance analysis without being physically present at the customer site, thereby maintaining management quality while eliminating travel time and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The load testing system automatically captures workload traces, creates test clones, configures test parameters, and generates performance reports without requiring manual on-site intervention. The system self-manages the entire testing workflow, reducing the need for specialized technician involvement in routine maintenance tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If remote access and automated testing are implemented, then costs and time delays are reduced, but the ability to accurately diagnose complex system problems may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidproblem diagnosis capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the production database environment including data, configuration, and workload patterns. This clone allows remote technicians to perform load testing and performance analysis without being physically present at the customer site, thereby maintaining management quality while eliminating travel time and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The load testing system continuously monitors performance metrics during workload replay and compares them against baseline values. The system provides detailed feedback reports highlighting performance deviations, bottlenecks, and root cause analysis, enabling remote technicians to accurately diagnose issues without on-site presence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3019961B1Cloud services load testing and analysis

Publication Date: 2018.03.21 ORACLE INT CORP

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AI summary

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for providing services related to managing computer systems. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide for providing load testing services to remote computer systems. Generally speaking, such a service can allow a customer to capture and replay realistic workloads from production to test systems. The service can help the customer evaluate the impact of change on their system performance (e.g., upgrades, patches, application changes, schema changes, impact of adding more users, hardware changes, etc.) with a real-life workload captured from production and replayed on comparable test system restored to a captured "point in time." More specifically, the load testing service can setup and capture workloads from production systems and re-execute them with high fidelity on test copies of production databases which have the changes implemented.