Patent ID: 6950816

Claim:
A method for sizing the hardware resources for a yet-to-be built database management system, wherein said hardware resources include a number of processors, the method comprising the steps of: providing one or more desired hardware utilization limits for the yet-to-be built database management system; obtaining one or more throughput workload requirements for the yet-to-be built database management system; determining the hardware resources needed for the yet-to-be built database management system to satisfy the one or more throughput workload requirements while remaining within the desired hardware utilization limits; accepting user entered changes to the desired hardware utilization limits; re-determining the hardware resources needed to remain within said desired hardware utilization limits; and outputting the determined hardware resources to the human user in a format to advise the human user; wherein the desired hardware utilization limits include a desired percent processor utilization limit and said accepting step includes accepting changes to said desired percent processor utilization limit and said determining and re-determining steps include determining said hardware resources such that said desired percent processor utilization limit is maintained and includes changing said number of processors required when necessary to remain within said desired processor utilization limit.