Presentations
This section contains presentations given by Capacitas staff at various public events.
itSMF Norway Annual Conference, 3rd-4th March 2010
How to Deliver Business-Driven Demand Planning
Now more than ever there is a need for organisations to ensure there is optimal infrastructure capacity in place to support business services. Excess capacity can result in unacceptable capital and operating costs, impacting business profitability. Conversely, insufficient capacity can impact service performance and business competitiveness. The Capacity Plan should determine the optimal capacity required and a key input into it is forecast service demand. This presentation details a number of techniques to forecast service demand using a business-driven approach.
A number of important considerations are addressed, including business seasonality, forecast error and techniques for translating business demand to service and component demand. The techniques are demonstrated with case studies based on real-life client engagements.
itSMF UK Annual Conference, 9th-10th November 2009
How to Deliver Business-Driven Demand Planning
Now more than ever there is a need for organisations to ensure there is optimal infrastructure capacity in place to support business services. Excess capacity can result in unacceptable capital and operating costs, impacting business profitability. Conversely, insufficient capacity can impact service performance and business competitiveness. The Capacity Plan should determine the optimal capacity required and a key input into it is forecast service demand. This presentation details a number of techniques to forecast service demand using a business-driven approach.
A number of important considerations are addressed, including business seasonality, forecast error and techniques for translating business demand to service and component demand. The techniques are demonstrated with case studies based on real-life client engagements.Service Strategy: Balancing Demand, Supply and Cost
ITIL provides advice on how to formulate the IT strategy that an organisation should follow, based on various driving factors, including demand, supply and cost.
These drivers are also core to capacity management, and so it offers a useful opportunity for Service Managers with an understanding of capacity management to contribute to IT strategy.
This presentation demonstrates how Service Strategy, should be driven from the IT strategy, which in turn is driven from the business strategy, and how Service Managers can leverage their knowledge in this area to contribute.
Congreso Internacional itSMF España - Barcelona 26-27 October 2009
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Ensuring End-to-End Service Performance: A Practical Approach
This presentation focuses on the e-commerce service easyJet.com which handles 95% of easyJet's revenue stream. Service performance was critical to business operation and the IT department was required to support plans for aggressive business growth. A vendor-neutral modelling and planning solution was developed within tight budget constraints to ensure that sufficient capacity was made available at the right time and cost. The approach provided the justification for immediate hardware upgrades, whilst delivering the capability to assess how failure scenarios could impact the service. The approach ensured SLAs were met, thus improving revenue recognition and reducing customer churn.
Butler Group Event 'Software Testing: A Fresh Approach to Testing and Test Management', 17 September 2009
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Combining Performance Testing And Modelling for easyJet.com
easyJet is Europe's fourth largest airline and has seen growth in passenger numbers of 37% per annum1 over the last 10 years. It operates 175 aircraft over a pan-European network of 20 bases and 400 routes.
Capacitas is a UK-based technology consulting and training company focussed on ICT performance, capacity and cost.
Over 98% of easyJet's revenue is earned through its e-commerce platform; meaning software reliability, performance and scalability are critical to successful business operation. easyJet is a recognised innovator in a highly competitive market and this necessitates frequent software releases using an agile development methodology. All of this must be achieved within the context of a low-cost business model.
In many organisations performance testing and performance modelling have long been used to reduce the risk of poor performance impacting business services, but often in isolation. This presentation describes how performance testing and modelling can be used in tandem to compensate for the weaknesses of each other, within the context of an agile development process. The presentation demonstrates how Capacitas and easyJet have integrated performance testing and modelling processes to provide cost-effective risk mitigation for the easyJet.com service.
1 Compound annual growth rate.
CMG 2008 International Conference, 10th December 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada
Low Cost Accurate Batch Modelling - A Case Study
There are a few tried and somewhat tested batch modelling tools available but even those that work well are often eventually designated as shelf-ware. This is a Case Study that demonstrates how a model of a relatively complex batch system was built with Microsoft Excel to allow a customer to predict how their critical batch would run dependant on time, increased business volumes and data migrations. The model was also enhanced to include some job performance fixes.
UKCMG EuroTEC 2009
Testing and Modelling: A Two-pronged Approach to Risk Mitigation
Performance testing and performance modelling have long been used to reduce the risk of poor performance impacting business services, but often in isolation. This presentation discusses the relative merits and weaknesses of each approach, and the tools, people and processes required to deliver them. The presentation shows how Capacitas has integrated testing and modelling processes in order to provide cost-effective risk mitigation for the www.easyJet.com service.
itSMF South West and Wales Regional Event, 12th December 2008
Tools for ITIL Capacity Management: How not to spend £100,000
Capacity Management requires data to produce meaningful deliverables such as models and capacity plans. While there are a considerable number of tools on the market for collecting data, manipulating it, analysing it and reporting the results, most of these cost in excess of £100,000 to purchase. Capacitas has a strong ethos of using whatever is available, whether it is OS bundled products or inexpensive third-party products. This presentation highlights some of the useful products already available to the capacity manager without incurring significant capital expenditure.
TestExpo, 11th December 2008, Plaisterers Hall, London
Experiences in Agile Performance Testing
Capacitas has for some years delivered performance testing as a managed service. In 2007 a well-known low-cost airline adopted an Agile software development methodology; increasing the number of releases from three or four per year to one per month. This presentation describes our experiences in conducting performance testing for this customer, within their Agile development process, and how we are overcoming the challenges encountered.
CMG 2008 International Conference, 10th December 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada
Low Cost Accurate Batch Modelling - A Case Study
There are a few tried and somewhat tested batch modelling tools available but even those that work well are often eventually designated as shelf-ware. This is a Case Study that demonstrates how a model of a relatively complex batch system was built with Microsoft Excel to allow a customer to predict how their critical batch would run dependant on time, increased business volumes and data migrations. The model was also enhanced to include some job performance fixes.
UKCMG North West Region, 3rd December 2008, Barclays, Knutsford
Service Management Service Oriented Architecture and Agile Development - A Governance Framework
Two separate approaches to IT are gaining acceptance independently; both will affect the role of Service Management considerably as they are adopted. Firstly Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is used to increase business flexibility and re-use existing application capabilities in new applications. Secondly Agile Development is used to dramatically reduce the time-to-market of new applications with short development and release cycles. Traditional Service Management techniques as prescribed by ITIL will have to be adapted to fit both these approaches: what ITIL processes should, or possibly should not, be followed so that the maximum benefit can be gained from SOA and Agile, whilst minimising the risk to the business. This presentation looks at these issues from a performance and capacity perspective and proposes a governance framework that can assist with these choices, with the aim of maximising the investment in these two approaches balanced with good risk management techniques.
UKCMG Forum, 14th October 2008
Service-Oriented Architecture and Agile Development - A Governance Framework
Two separate approaches to IT are gaining acceptance independently; both will affect the role of Service Management considerably as they are adopted. Firstly Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is used to increase business flexibility and re-use existing application capabilities in new applications. Secondly Agile Development is used to dramatically reduce the time-to-market of new applications with short development and release cycles. Traditional Service Management techniques as prescribed by ITIL will have to be adapted to fit both these approaches: what ITIL processes should, or possibly should not, be followed so that the maximum benefit can be gained from SOA and Agile, whilst minimising the risk to the business. This presentation looks at these issues and proposes a governance framework that can assist with these choices, with the aim of maximising the investment in these two approaches balanced with good risk management techniques.
Ensuring End-to-End Service Performance: A Practical Approach
This presentation focuses on the e-commerce service www.easyjet.com which handles 95% of easyJet's revenue stream. Service performance was critical to business operation and the IT department was required to support plans for aggressive business growth. A vendor-neutral modelling and planning solution was developed within tight budget constraints to ensure that sufficient capacity was made available at the right time and cost. The approach provided the justification for immediate hardware upgrades, whilst delivering the capability to assess how failure scenarios could impact the service. The approach ensured SLAs were met, thus improving revenue recognition and reducing customer churn.
itSMF Scottish Regional Event, 9th September 2008
Low Cost Accurate Batch Modelling - A Case Study
There are a few tried and somewhat tested batch modelling tools available but even those that work well are often eventually designated as shelf-ware. This is a Case Study that demonstrates how a model of a relatively complex batch system was built with Microsoft Excel to allow a customer to predict how their critical batch would run dependant on time, increased business volumes and data migrations. The model was also enhanced to include some job performance fixes.
UKCMG TEC 2008, 19th to 21st May 2008
ITIL V3 Capacity Management: A Practitioner's Review
ITIL Version 3 has been launched to much fanfare with its structure a radical re-design from ITIL Version 2. The Capacity Management process is affected considerably as it is now spread across all five of the 'core' books: Service Strategy, Service Design, Service Transition, Service Operation and Continual Service Improvement. In this session the changes within ITIL Version 3 that impact on the Capacity Management process will be covered in detail.
Low Cost Accurate Batch Modelling - A Case Study
There are a few tried and somewhat tested batch modelling tools available but even those that work well are often eventually designated as shelf-ware. This is a Case Study that demonstrates how a model of a relatively complex batch system was built with Microsoft Excel to allow a customer to predict how their critical batch would run dependant on time, increased business volumes and data migrations. The model was also enhanced to include some job performance fixes.
Conducting Workload Management on Windows Server
This presentation will describe how Windows System Resource Manager (WSRM) can be used to conduct workload management, allowing the allocation of CPU and memory resources to applications running on Windows Server. Topics that will be explained include:- Managing Memory
- Managing CPU
- Building workloads using 'Resource Allocation Policies' and 'Process Matching Criteria'
- WSRM Accounting
- WSRM Resource Monitor
- WSRM Performance Monitor Counters
CMG 2007, December 2nd to 7th 2007, San Diego, California
Performance Assurance: How To Add Value Beyond Performance Testing
Whilst performance testing is well recognised as a discipline within the application development lifecycle it is only part of an end-to-end performance assurance process. Software and systems quality, with specific regard to performance, should be assessed using a triumvirate of methods: firstly performance and capacity modeling; secondly performance, load and soak testing; and finally capacity management. By utilising all three techniques appropriately it is possible to provide a holistic approach to application performance that can significantly improve mitigation of risks, thereby adding considerable value to the development process. This presentation will demonstrate how and when each of these three processes should be used, how to provide an integrated approach across the development lifecycle and, using real-life case-studies, how this has added value to clients' projects. Also addressed is how this three-phased approach can work within the challenges of an Agile development process.
ITIL V3 Capacity Management: A Practitioner's Review
ITIL Version 3 has recently been launched to much fanfare with its structure a radical re-design from ITIL Version 2. The Capacity Management process is affected considerably as it is now spread across all five of the 'core' books: Service Strategy, Service Design, Service Transition, Service Operation and Continual Service Improvement. In this presentation the changes within ITIL Version 3 that impacting on the Capacity Management process will be covered in detail.
UKCMG Forum, November 26th 2007
Cross-Charging Mechanisms, demonstrated with real-life Case Studies IT Chargeback or recharge, is not a new concept, ITIL has described Financial Management from its inception. Typically, organisations are told that their charging mechanisms have to be fair, consistent, auditable and easily understood. This presentation looks at some real-life situations and how the existing and enhanced charging mechanisms of the organisations being described have shaped customer behaviour and influenced the organisations decisions, both positively and with unfortunate circumstances. The emphasis of the presentation is placed on how IT hardware resource costs are measured and apportioned and how subtle changes can make significant differences to how the business operates.
Performance Assurance: Providing Value Beyond Performance Testing
Whilst performance testing is well recognised as a discipline within the application development lifecycle it is only part of an end-to-end performance assurance process. Software and systems quality, with specific regard to performance, should be assessed using a triumvirate of methods: firstly performance and capacity modeling; secondly performance, load and soak testing; and finally capacity management. By utilising all three techniques appropriately it is possible to provide a holistic approach to application performance that can significantly improve mitigation of risks, thereby adding considerable value to the development process. This presentation will demonstrate how and when each of these three processes should be used, how to provide an integrated approach across the development lifecycle and, using real-life case-studies, how this has added value to clients' projects. Also addressed is how this three-phased approach can work within the challenges of an Agile development process.
itSMF Capacity Management, July 11th 2007
Cost Effective Capacity Modelling - A Real-life Case Study
This presentation explains how Excel was used to develop a detailed capacity model for a key system. The goals of the model were as follows:
Predict CPU, memory and filesystem space requirements for the next 18 months
1. Model different hardware configurations
2. Determine capacity requirements during various failover scenarios
3. Model the impact of planned changes to the application. The model ensured that the system had sufficient capacity to support the peak demand for the next 18 months
4. The model was delivered within ten weeks elapsed time; at a cost equivalent to approximately 1% of the daily revenue dependent on the system.
UKCMG Annual Conference and Exhibition 2007, 25th to 27th June 2007
Windows Vista© and Windows Server 2008© Performance
Microsoft recently released the Windows Vista© desktop operating system, whilst Windows Server 2008© is expected to be available from late 2007. Both products contain a number of bundled performance monitoring tools. This presentation provides an introduction to Microsoft's latest operating system versions, and describes the changes to Task Manager and Performance Monitor as well as the new Reliability and Performance tool.
Using ITIL to Build a Successful Capacity Management Process
It may be agreed that the ITIL Capacity Management Process has some weaknesses but its major strength is in the framework that it provides, particularly in the way that Capacity Management should interface with other ITIL processes. In this presentation we look at how ITIL can be used to provide the framework for a sound Capacity Planning Process and how the ITIL self-assessment can be improved upon to enable that work to begin.
Application Virtualisation: The Future of Distributed Computing?
Virtualisation is rapidly becoming the standard operating model for many aspects of information technology. Recently desktop applications have become the latest target of virtualisation with Microsoft's SoftGrid technology. This presentation covers the principles behind this new technology and the dramatic impact this will have on the processes, resources and infrastructure needed to manage a modern complex IT environment.
itSMF Seminar: Financial Management - The Chamber of Secrets, 6th December 2006
Cross-Charging Mechanisms, demonstrated with real-life Case Studies IT Chargeback or recharge, is not a new concept, ITIL has described Financial Management from its inception. Typically, organisations are told that their charging mechanisms have to be fair, consistent, auditable and easily understood. This presentation looks at some real-life situations and how the existing and enhanced charging mechanisms of the organisations being described have shaped customer behaviour and influenced the organisations decisions, both positively and with unfortunate circumstances. The emphasis of the presentation is placed on how IT hardware resource costs are measured and apportioned and how subtle changes can make significant differences to how the business operates.
UKCMG Industry Forum, 27th November 2006
Capacity and Performance Management of IP Networks Using IP Flow Measurement
Capacity and performance management of IP networks has traditionally been a difficult task given the large number of ICT services that typically share network resources. The continued convergence of services onto a single IP network will exacerbate things further.
This paper discusses the how IP flow measurement works and the benefits of employing it for network capacity and performance management. The paper details the challenges associated with deploying IP flow measurement and provides a discussion of the current IP flow measurement market offerings.
UKCMG 2006 Annual Conference, 25th to 28th June 2006
A Ten Step Plan to Effective Capacity Management
Designing and building an effective capacity management function has never been harder: the competition for talented staff is high, as is the current workload of projects and 'business-as-usual'. At the same time salary and training budgets are often constrained. How does the contemporary capacity manager cope with these challenges? Follow our ten-step plan to designing and building an effective capacity management function; wherever your starting point and whatever your challenges you will find useful techniques here!Cost Effective Capacity Modelling - A Real-life Case Study
This presentation explains how Excel was used to develop a detailed capacity model for a key system. The goals of the model were as follows:
Predict CPU, memory and filesystem space requirements for the next 18 months
1. Model different hardware configurations
2. Determine capacity requirements during various failover scenarios
3. Model the impact of planned changes to the application. The model ensured that the system had sufficient capacity to support the peak demand for the next 18 months
4. The model was delivered within ten weeks elapsed time; at a cost equivalent to approximately 1% of the daily revenue dependent on the system
UKCMG Industry Forum, 21st November 2005
Ten Days to Better Application Performance: A Real-life Case Study
This presentation explains an investigation that was conducted to identify and fix the causes of poor performance of a goods tracking and ordering system
Freely available monitoring tools were used to monitor the performance and capacity of the production system over a period of a few days
A number of key business transactions were identified and monitored in more detail in isolation using profiling tools
After five days of investigation conducted over a ten-day period, a set of recommendations were delivered that were used to reduce end-user response times for some transactions from minutes to seconds
EuroCMG 2005 Annual Conference, 23rd to 25th May 2005
Understanding Linux Performance
Linux is gaining in popularity as a commercial operating system. It is highly tuneable and has evolved rapidly between distributions/releases. However, documentation on how each distribution/release of the operating system works is scarce. In this presentation I will discuss problems I have identified when attempting to determine the factors important for Linux performance and capacity planning (such as differences in the paging algorithm between versions of Linux). This presentation will be of interest to anyone who wants to conduct performance and capacity management or configuration management on systems running Linux.Performance Anti-Patterns using Enterprise Java Beans (EJB)
The performance on a system may be dependent on the health of external systems. This paper highlights designs where the response time of inbound transactions is coupled to the performance of external systems. The presentation concentrates on an example using EJB technology.Implementing an End-to-End Performance Model of an E-Commerce System in Microsoft Excel
This paper describes the implementation of an end to end performance model of a business critical e-commerce system. The model was developed to ensure that service levels were met in the face of growing business volumes. The author discusses the methodology used and issues encountered.ITIL Capacity Management: Is it really 'best practice' or is there room for improvement?
The IT Infrastructure Library covers the comprehensive topic of Capacity Management in a mere 44 pages of its Service Delivery book. Whilst ITIL does a good job at explaining the main deliverables of a capacity management process, in the context of a service management framework, it does lack some key details of "best-practice" capacity management. ITIL also does not stress the importance of Capacity Management to the entire Service Delivery set of processes. This presentation recognises the true importance of capacity management and its relationship as the foundation of Service Delivery.
UKCMG Industry Forum, 24th November 2004
UKCMG 2004 Annual Conference, 24th to 26th May 2004
UKCMG South East Regional Meeting, 23rd March 2004
UKCMG Industry Forum, 20th November 2003
Network Capacity Planning: Why is it so different?
Many novice and seasoned system capacity planners avoid network capacity planning. It is often regarded as significantly different to mainframe or distributed systems capacity planning. With the introduction of Internet Protocol Virtual Private Networks (IP VPNs) the systems capacity planner must now adapt their skills to include network capacity planning or they will be ignoring a major factor within end-to-end performance of contemporary applications. This presentation is intended to dispel the myths surrounding network capacity planning, and hence enable the systems capacity planner to understand how to plan end-to-end systems.Network Service Continuity Management
Service Continuity Management is of paramount importance in the modern global environment. One component of all information services that is often ignored is "the network". By purchasing a service level agreement with a network supplier it is often believed that the problem of risk management has been outsourced to them too! This is an incorrect and dangerous assumption, as the last two years have shown. Drawing on several real incidents this presentation demonstrates the very real need to perform stringent risk management on the network, especially if it is outsourced.
UKCMG 2003 Annual Conference, 21st to 23rd May 2003
UKCMG South East Regional Meeting, 24th March 2003
Effective Demand Driven Capacity Planning:- Improved Expenditure Control and Customer Service
Capacity Planners require a proactive planning method which can accurately determine future required network or system capacity - trending techniques alone do not offer this level of accuracy. Although they can be the basis for general growth forecasts, they cannot reflect step changes or new services. Only Demand Driven techniques can respond to market changes rapidly while assisting the Capacity Planner with their quest for accuracy.