Configuration of distributed message converter systems

Finding a configuration of a distributed system satisfying performance goals is a complex search problem that involves many design parameters, like hardware selection, job distribution and process configuration. Performance models are a powerful tool to analyze potential system configurations, however, their evaluation is expensive, such that only a limited number of possible configurations can be evaluated. In this paper we present a systematic method to find a satisfactory configuration with feasible effort, based on a two-step approach. First, performing a queuing network analysis a hardware configuration is determined and then a software configuration is incrementally optimized by simulating Layered Queuing Network models. We applied this method to the design of performant EDI converter systems in the financial domain, where increasing message volumes need to be handled due to the growing importance of B2B interaction. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.