PeopleSoft Architecture and Performance Benchmarking with 'PeopleSoft Ping'

Abstract

his presentation will outline a collaborative activity between various Australian universities to initiate a basic PeopleSoft Architecture Profile and Performance Benchmarking process using the "PeopleSoft Ping" function. PeopleSoft Ping is a standard utility function within PeopleTools 8.19/8.42 and later versions. PeopleSoft Ping repeatedly executes a "standard dummy" component, at specified intervals, and records the execution time at each tier of the application architecture (Browser, Web server, Application Server, Database) along with the overall time. Related options allow a user to view the recorded results in tabular or graphical form. The basis of this idea emerged through informal discussions at user meetings. PeopleSoft Ping results were exchanged and quite wide variations of measures were noted in some cases. Discussions subsequently centred on issues of application and technical architecture to account for such variations. Importantly, from this quite basic analysis some significant issues were noted and useful facts, and potential improvements, were identified for various users. To provide a framework to extend and formalise this process, a simple web application is being developed that enables a user from an institution to periodically enter a set of "PeopleSoft Ping" results along with a profile of the associated PeopleSoft Architecture delivering the service. Users can then compare their metrics with the population, as well as viewing information on aspects such as software versions, hardware details and other architectural elements. A key purpose of this presentation is to widen awareness of this initiative and invite other institutions to submit result sets via the web application in the future. As a larger population is established it is anticipated that "best practice" approaches or directions to application and technical architecture could be potentially identified from this repository.