Performance Evaluation of Software Architectures with Queueing Network models

We propose an approach for software performance modeling based on UML software specifications and queuing network performance models. We consider the integration of performance and specification model to provide a tool for quantitative evaluation of a software architecture at the design phase in the software development cycle. The approach derives a performance model starting from an annotated Unified Modeling Language (UML) specification, based on a subset of the standard UML Profile for Schedulability, Performance and Time Specification. More specifically, we consider a set of UML diagrams, i.e., Use Case, Activity and Deployment diagrams, and we propose an algorithm for deriving a productform queuing network performance model. Then the queuing network model is easily analyzed with product-form algorithms to obtain a set of performance indices that are used to provide feedback at the software architectural design level. The analysis cycle can be iterated to meet given performance goals or to compare different software alternatives. The approach has been implemented as a prototype tool written in Java.