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On System Scalability

Technical Note
This 2006 report presents an analysis of what is meant by scalability and a description of factors to be considered when assessing the potential for system scalability.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-2006-TN-012
DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
10.1184/R1/6575879.v1

Abstract

A significant number of systems fail in initial use, or even during integration, because factors that have a negligible effect when systems are lightly used have a harmful effect as the level of use increases. This scalability problem (i.e., the inability of a system to accommodate an increased workload) is not new. However, the increasing size (more lines of code, greater number of users, widened scope of demands, and the like) of U.S. Department of Defense systems makes the problem more critical today than in the past.

This technical note presents an analysis of what is meant by scalability and a description of factors to be considered when assessing the potential for system scalability. The factors to be considered are captured in a scalability audit, a process intended to expose issues that, if overlooked, can lead to scalability problems.

Cite This Technical Note

Weinstock, C., & Goodenough, J. (2006, March 1). On System Scalability. (Technical Note CMU/SEI-2006-TN-012). Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6575879.v1.

@techreport{weinstock_2006,
author={Weinstock, Charles and Goodenough, John},
title={On System Scalability},
month={Mar},
year={2006},
number={CMU/SEI-2006-TN-012},
howpublished={Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library},
url={https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6575879.v1},
note={Accessed: 2024-Mar-28}
}

Weinstock, Charles, and John Goodenough. "On System Scalability." (CMU/SEI-2006-TN-012). Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library. Software Engineering Institute, March 1, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6575879.v1.

C. Weinstock, and J. Goodenough, "On System Scalability," Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library. Software Engineering Institute, Technical Note CMU/SEI-2006-TN-012, 1-Mar-2006 [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6575879.v1. [Accessed: 28-Mar-2024].

Weinstock, Charles, and John Goodenough. "On System Scalability." (Technical Note CMU/SEI-2006-TN-012). Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Mar. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6575879.v1. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Weinstock, Charles; & Goodenough, John. On System Scalability. CMU/SEI-2006-TN-012. Software Engineering Institute. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6575879.v1