USE method
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Three resource metrics: U, S, E.
Definition
USE applies to resources: CPU, Memory, Disk I/O, Network. Utilization = % busy time. Saturation = queue depth (run queue, I/O queue). Errors = hardware/driver errors. Complementary to RED (services).
Origin
Published by Brendan Gregg in 2013 on brendangregg.com ; book Systems Performance 2nd ed. 2020.
Example in context
An EDI server tracks USE for CPU: utilization > 80% sustained + saturation > 1 → capacity alert.
Related terms
- RED — service complement.