Unit 12 - Baselines & Benchmarks
Overview
In this unit, we focus on baselining, benchmarking, testing methodology, and data analytics — all essential skills for Linux system administrators. These topics allow us to understand the current state of our systems, measure performance under varying loads, and validate improvements with real data.
We’ll explore how to gather accurate system information using tools like iostat, sar, stress, and iperf3, and learn how to develop test plans that can support decision-making and capacity planning. Whether you're justifying budget increases or validating a new storage solution, knowing how to gather and present performance data makes you a more effective administrator.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Define and use key concepts: baseline, benchmark, high watermark, scope, and methodology
- Use tools like sar, iostat, stress, and iperf3 to collect performance data
- Create and execute test plans to evaluate system behavior under different loads
- Apply data analytics concepts: descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive
- Communicate system performance clearly with stakeholders through objective evidence
Key Terms and Definitions
| Baseline | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| High Watermark | Scope |
| Methodology | Testing |
| Control | Experiment |
| Analytics | Analytics - Descriptive |
| Analytics - Predictive |