SMT Processor Usage Adjustment Factor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) processors distort CPU usage measurements, leading to inaccurate throughput estimates, which can result in misperceptions about processing capacity and impact capacity planning, causing potential performance issues and incorrect server requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system to determine a CPU usage adjustment factor by sampling CPU usage and thread states, deriving a distribution of running threads, and applying an adjustment factor to provide accurate CPU usage estimates for SMT processors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SMT processors execute multiple threads in parallel, then processor throughput is improved, but CPU usage measurements become distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary adjustment factor that mediates between the reported CPU usage by the operating system and the actual processor throughput. This adjustment factor acts as a translation layer that converts distorted OS-reported metrics into accurate throughput measurements, resolving the contradiction between maintaining SMT parallel execution and achieving measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of CPU usage measurement by introducing an adjustment factor that transforms the reported CPU usage percentage into an accurate throughput estimate. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain SMT execution while obtaining precise measurements through mathematical adjustment of the reported values.
2Device complexity
If standard CPU usage reporting is used on SMT processors, then system simplicity is maintained, but capacity planning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment factor serves as an intermediary that adds minimal complexity to the reporting system while dramatically improving capacity planning accuracy. Rather than fundamentally redesigning the OS reporting mechanism, the patent introduces a simple multiplicative adjustment that bridges the gap between standard reporting and accurate measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a parameter change approach by modifying the CPU usage value through a scaling factor. This simple parameter transformation maintains system simplicity while correcting the fundamental inaccuracy in capacity planning measurements, achieving high accuracy without complex system redesign.
3Speed
If unadjusted CPU usage estimates are used, then processing speed is maintained, but resource allocation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating the adjustment factor based on the relationship between reported CPU usage and actual throughput. This pre-computed factor is then applied to future measurements, allowing rapid resource allocation decisions without real-time computation overhead, thus maintaining processing speed while improving allocation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by transforming the raw CPU usage report through a pre-determined adjustment factor. This parameter transformation occurs in advance or in real-time with minimal computation, preserving processing speed while ensuring accurate resource allocation decisions are made based on corrected throughput measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a processor usage adjustment factor and for automatically applying the processor usage adjustment factor to provide an accurate processor usage estimate for an SMT processor. In one implementation, the methods and systems obtain samples of processor usage reported by the operating system at a predefined sampling rate over a predefined sampling interval. Thread states for the threads substantially corresponding to the reported processor usage are so obtained at the predefined sampling rate and over the predefined sampling interval. This sampling may be performed for servers running different applications and having diverse processing loads. An estimate of the distribution of the number of threads running for the processor usage reported may then be determined from the sampled data. A processor usage adjustment factor may then be derived, based on the distribution, and used to provide a more accurate processor usage estimate.