Patent ID: 7406686

Claim:
A computer implemented method of determining a level of performance of a first application in a computer system, the method to be performed on a computer comprising the operations of: receiving a first performance probe from a plurality performance probes, each of the plurality of performance probes adapted for producing data indicating one or more levels of performance of the first application; executing the first performance probe, thereby producing data indicating the one or more levels of performance of the first application; providing documentation associated with the first performance probe describing a manner of interpreting the data indicating the one or more levels of performance of the first application; suggesting execution of at least one of the plurality of performance probes that can provide additional information to assess the one or more levels of performance of the first application; and obtaining one or more levels of performance of the first application based on obtaining additional information from execution of the at least one of the plurality of performance probes that can provide additional information to assess the one or more levels of performance of the first application.