Even the most experienced teams of engineers can run into roadblocks or frustrating delays when developing new OCTEON software or porting a legacy system to a multi-processor architecture. When you need solutions in a hurry, CSS's PerformancePLUS program is ready to step in and help.

Whether your team needs guidance on a discrete piece of architecture or you require full-scale analysis and implementation services, PerformancePLUS will meet or exceed your expectations. CSS’s experienced software architects will analyze your application and make detailed performance improvement recommendations. The PerformancePLUS program also offers an optional Analysis and Assistance package in which Cavium architects works directly with your team to implement and tune our recommendations.

PerformancePLUS is available in two package options:

Option A: Performance Analysis
Performance is what multi-core technology is all about. But even Cavium’s published performance metrics may not apply to your specific application. Using our proven methodology, CSS architects are able to model your system’s real-world performance with remarkable accuracy. We will identify performance bottlenecks and recommend specific solutions. Once the new architecture has been implemented, we will help you analyze the results and, if needed, suggest further actions..

Option B: Performance Analysis and Assistance
Includes everything in Option A, but provides a dedicated CSS architect who will implement the recommendations. This process usually includes the following services:

• Review of architecture with CSS experts
• Identify performance metrics
• Apply profiling tools
• Provide the tools and documentation you need to optimize performance
• Identify bottlenecks and their impact on performance
• Suggest performance tuning solutions and strategy
• Assist as needed with code changes

Architectural Review
Great architecture is founded on clearly articulated objectives. To fully understand your goals and challenges, we spend up to two full days at your site discussing your product’s current architecture and its future requirements. This conversation will include a high-level architectural review and in-depth discussions with your engineers to gain their critical perspective on the project.

Performance Metrics
To measure our progress we will, in collaboration with your team, specify target performance metrics and document how we will capture the information. To establish a baseline against which to measure future results, we will collect performance data for your current product configuration. Your team may supply this data, or we may perform tests to collect the information..

Implementation Analysis
Next, our architects will work with your engineers to identify important software functionality, review the code, and describe each piece's impact on the system's performance.

Apply Performance Tools – Determine Performance Bottlenecks
Cavium has created a number of performance profiling tools. A CSS architect will help your team use these tools to profile application performance. We will analyze the results and document the performance bottlenecks.

Determine Plan of Action
Based on the data and information we have collected, we will develop a plan of action, including a list of recommended changes. Each proposed change will include the following details:

• Description of the change
• Expected performance gain
• Difficulty of implementing change
• Risks and implications associated with making that change

Your CSS architect will review the list with you and work with your team to set priorities.

Implementation
Our experts will work closely with your team to implement and test all of the recommended changes

Deliverable
We will deliver a final performance review document that captures the following:

• Performance metrics
• Results of performance tools
• Identified system bottlenecks
• List of suggested changes and expected performance impact
• Schedule and resource estimate for implementation.