Abstract
Very large Markov models often result when modeling realistic computer systems and networks. We describe a new tool for solving large Markov models on a typical engineering workstation. This tool does not require any special properties or a particular structure in the model, and it requires only slightly more memory than what is necessary to hold the solution vector itself. It uses a disk to hold the state-transition-rate matrix, a variant of block Gauss-Seidel as the iterative solution method, and an innovative implementation that involves two parallel processes: the first process retrieves portions of the iteration matrix from disk, and the second process does repeated computation on small portions of the matrix. We demonstrate its use on two realistic models: a Kanban manufacturing system and the Courier protocol stack, which have up to 10 million states and about 100 million nonzero entries. The tool can solve the models efficiently on a workstation with 128 Mbytes of memory and 4 Gbytes of disk.
This work was supported, in part, by NASA Grant NAG 1-1782.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
G. Ciardo, “Advances in compositional approaches based on Kronecker algebra: Application to the study of manufacturing systems,” in Third International Workshop on Performability Modeling of Computer and Communication Systems, Bloomingdale, IL, Sept. 7–8, 1996.
G. Ciardo and M. Tilgner, “On the use of Kronecker operators for the solution of generalized stochastic Petri nets,” ICASE Report #96-35 CR.-198336, NASA Langley Research Center, May 1996.
D. D. Deavours and W. H. Sanders, “'On-the-fly’ solution techniques for stochastic Petri nets and extensions,” to appear in Petri Nets and Performance Models, 1997.
S. Donatelli, “Superposed generalized stochastic Petri nets: Definition and efficient solution,” in R. Valette, editor, Application and Theory of Petri Nets 1994, Lecture Notes in computer science 815 (Proc. 15th Int. Conf. on Application and Theory of Petri Nets, Zaragoza, Spain), pp. 258–277, Springer-Verlag, June 1994.
G. Horton, “Adaptive Relaxation for the Steady-State Analysis of Markov Chains,” ICASE Report #94-55 NASA CR-194944, NASA Langley Research Center, June 1994.
P. Kemper, “Numerical analysis of superposed GSPNs,” in Proc. Int. Workshop on Petri Nets and Performance Models (PNPM'95), pp. 52–61, Durham, NC, Oct. 1995. IEEE Comp. Soc. Press.
P. Kemper, “Numerical Analysis of Superposed GSPNs,” in IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 1996, to appear.
Y. Li, “Solution Techniques for Stochastic Petri Nets,” Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, May 1992.
J. F. Meyer, A. Movaghar, and W. H. Sanders, “Stochastic activity networks: Structure, behavior, and application,” In Proc. International Workshop on Timed Petri Nets, pp. 106–115, Torino, Italy, July 1985.
A. Movaghar and J. F. Meyer, “Performability modeling with stochastic activity networks,” In Proc. 1984 Real-Time Systems Symp., Austin, TX, December 1984.
W. H. Sanders, W. D. Obal II, M. A. Qureshi, F. K. Widjanarko, “The UltraSAN modeling environment,” in Performance Evaluation, pp. 89–115, Vol. 24, 1995.
W. J. Stewart, “Introduction to the Numerical Solution of Markov Chains,” Princeton University Press, 1994.
A. S. Tanenbaum, Modern Operating Systems, Prentice Hall, 1992.
C. M. Woodside and Y. Li, “Performance Petri Net Analysis of Communications Protocol Software by Delay-Equivalent Aggregation,” in Proc. Fourth Int. Workshop on Petri Nets and Performance Models, pp. 64–73, Melbourne, Australia, Dec. 2–5, 1991.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Deavours, D.D., Sanders, W.H. (1997). An efficient disk-based tool for solving very large Markov models. In: Marie, R., Plateau, B., Calzarossa, M., Rubino, G. (eds) Computer Performance Evaluation Modelling Techniques and Tools. TOOLS 1997. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1245. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0022197
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0022197
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-63101-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-69131-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive