The Cost of Performance MonitoringJBJB

Performance monitoring tools are quite sophisticated, but they are plagued by the problem common to all experimental tools: Using them changes their results. Performance tools are just applications and, as such, they occupy the processor, use memory and disk space, and tax the graphics subsystem of the Windows NT Executive. Make sure to measure the effects of these tools, and subtract them from your data.

Note

Performance Monitor for Windows NT 4.0 has lower overhead than previous versions, due almost entirely to changes in the Windows NT 4.0 architecture. Most of Performance Monitor overhead is consumed by its graphic displays, which are now more efficient, not by data collection.

Response Probe, a monitoring tool included on the CD, has no apparent overhead. It monitors its own toll on the system and subtracts it before displaying its results.