Discrete event simulation modelling of computer systems for performance evaluation

Performance evaluation through computer simulation consists of three separate phases once one has decided what questions must be answered. First of all, a model of the system, that is a simplification of its structure and its operation in time, has to be described in terms of a computer program. The basic principles of this description will be presented in Chapter II while the implementation languages will be reviewed in Chapter III. The second phase consists in collecting measurements during the execution of the program. This operation is very similar to the measurements of real systems and can be performed with a number of statistical techniques discussed in Chapter IV. Since “the purpose of a simulation experiment is to predict some aspect of reality” (Naylor), it is important to test this function to gain confidence in the results obtained. This problem and its various implications such as the modelling assumptions and random number generation are considered in the last chapter.