12.6 Chapter Summary

The Mean Value Analysis technique is arguably one of the most significant contributions to the field of performance evaluation within the past 25 years. It is the primary solution engine behind the large majority of state-of-the-art analytical solution packages currently in use. MVA is intuitive, elegant, and simple.

This chapter first motivates, then develops, then summarizes, then applies, and finally qualifies MVA. Examples from the database server example introduced in previous chapters are used to demonstrate MVA. The following exercises are intended to reinforce and to broaden the reader's understanding and range of applicability of MVA.