Performance and scalability analysis on client-server workflow architecture

Abstract

We excogitate a performance analytic model and describe its analysis results conceived to be helpful in the understanding of the spectrum of possibilities for large-scale workflow architecture. The analytic model is extended to represent several types of client-server workflow architectures. Especially, we focus on performance estimates of the conventional workflow management systems that are characterized by the client-server workflow architectures. The development of a workflow management system is typically a large and complex task. Decisions need to be made about the hardware and software platforms, the data structures, the algorithms, and the interconnection of various modules utilized by various users and administrators. These design decisions are further complicated by the requirements, such as scalability, flexibility, robustness, speed, and usability. We are particularly concerned about issues of scalability to see how well the client-server workflow architecture is dealing with the large amount of workcases. Finally, we graphically show the comparisons of performance evaluation results for several types of client-server workflow architectures on behalf of the single-server, and the multiple-server workflow systems on the distribution environment.