The National Bureau of Standards was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901. The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Bureau conducts research and provides: (1) a basis for the Nation's physical measurement system, (2) scientific and technological services for industry and government, (3) a technical basis for equity in trade, and (4) technical services to promote public safety. The Bureau consists of the Institute for Basic Standards, the Institute for Materials Research, the Institute for Applied Technology, the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology, and the Office for Information Programs. THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC STANDARDS provides the central basis within the United States of a complete and consistent system of physical measurement; coordinates that system with measurement systems of other nations; and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical measurements throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry, and commerce. The Institute consists of a Center for Radiation Research, an Office of Measurement Services and the following divisions:

Applied Mathematics - Electricity - Mechanics - Heat - Optical Physics - Nuclear Sciences Applied Radiation - Quantum Electronics - Electromagnetics - Time and Frequency - Laboratory Astrophysics - Cryogenics".

THE INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH conducts materials research leading to improved methods of measurement, standards, and data on the properties of well-characterized materials needed by industry, commerce, educational institutions, and Government; provides advisory and research services to other Government agencies; and develops, produces, and distributes standard reference materials. The Institute consists of the Office of Standard Reference Materials and the following divisions:

Analytical Chemistry - Polymers - Metallurgy - Inorganic Materials
Radiation Physical Chemistry.

Computer Performance Evaluation:

Report of the 1973 NBS/ACM Workshop

National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 406
Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 406, 180 pages (Sept. 1975)
CODEN: XNBSAV

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $2.45 (paper cover)
Stock Number 003-003-01393 (Order by SD Catalog No. C13.10:406).

Abstract

An ACM/NBS Workshop on Computer Performance Evaluation (CPE) was held in San Diego, Calif. in March 1973. The papers, workshop discussions, conclusions and recommendations presented in this volume address specific problems in making computer performance evaluation a commonplace and productive practice.

While several of the conclusions indicate that improvements are needed in performance analysis tools, another suggests that improved application of CPE could be achieved by better documentation of analysis field to develop its full potential. Particapants noted that the common emphasis on data collection or modeling, to the exclusion of considering objectives, often seriously degrades the value of performance analysis.

Key words: Computer architecture; computer performance evaluation; installation management; measurement; modeling; monitoring; operating systems; performance objectives.