Performance of a new application is one of the most important metrics. If a thorough architecture analysis was not performed, some customers can end up with substandard performance substantially lower than expected or achievable in a given OCTEON part. These performance shortcomings can occur in both control plane or data plane applications alike. With the Cavium PerformancePLUS™ service you have dedicated experienced OCTEON software architects working directly with you to analyze your data plane application and make detailed performance improvement recommendations. Additionally, PerformancePLUS™ offers optional hands-on Analysis and Assistance package where Cavium architects work directly with your team to implement recommendations. The Cavium PerformancePLUS™ service will accelerate your data plane application performance optimization and tuning.

Two available package options to maximize the impact of Cavium PerformancePLUS recommendations:

• Option A: Performance Analysis
• Dedicated Cavium architects work directly with you to identify performance bottlenecks and solutions
• Post implementation, dedicated Cavium architects help you analyze results, review changes and suggest further actions if needed


• Option B: Performance Analysis and Assistance
  • In addition to the analysis of Option A, a dedicated Cavium Architect will work hand-in-hand to implement recommendations

Generally, the following process is followed for Performance PLUS

• Architecture review with Cavium experts
• Identify performance metrics
• Apply profiling tools
• Knowledge transfer for tools and performance tuning methods
• Identify bottlenecks and their relative impact
• Suggested performance tuning solutions / strategy
• Assistance with code changes

Architectural Review
Up to two full days will be dedicated, at customer site, to discuss current architecture and future requirements.

In addition to high-level architectural review, input from customer engineers will be sought as to their plans and ideas for making changes going forward

Performance Metrics
Working with the customer, a set of performance metrics will be clearly identified along with the conditions under which those metric are to be collected.

Actual CURRENT performance numbers will be collected and noted. Sources may come from existing customer data. Alternatively, tests will be performed to collect and document current performance metrics.

Focused Implementation Details – Including code review
Cavium architects and customer engineers shall identify and code review major software functions having an impact on performance.

Apply Performance Tools – Determine Performance Bottlenecks
Cavium offers a number of performance profiling tools. The Cavium architect will help the customer use these tools in order to profile application performance. Knowledge transfer on performance profiling tools will be provided on as needed bases.

As a result of this activity, analysis of results and customer discussions, performance bottlenecks will be identified and documented.

Determine Plan of Action
Reflecting upon the data collected, bottlenecks identified and results of architectural review, a plan of action is developed. These would include a LIST of recommended changes along with the following characteristics for each item:

• Description of the change
• Expected performance gain
• Difficulty of implementing change
• Risks and implications associated with making that change

Given the above list, Cavium architect will work with customer engineers to help priorities implementation of the identified recommendations.

Implementation
Working with the customer to help implement suggested changes.

Deliverable:
Performance review document will be presented that captures the following:

• Identified performance metrics
• Results of performance tools
• Identified system bottlenecks
• List of suggested changes and expected performance impact
• Schedule and resource estimate for implementation