Supermarket chain Tesco is using a performance management system to better utilise its fleet of mainframe computers.

The system is designed to drive down processing power utilisation of the mainframes, which run core 24-hour commercial applications such as ordering and distribution systems.

The retailer claims that the system has already helped reduce its server power usage, measured in MIPS (millions of instructions per second).

"Mainframe usage rises significantly at Christmas because of the volume of activity. So our initial aim is to achieve greater efficiency in MIPS usage to help avoid buying more processing power in the run-up," said Tesco IT director John Westnedge.

"We want to make performance a standard part of our development cycle, so that we are resolving performance issues before any new systems or changes go into production.

"Our view is that, in order to keep control of MIPS utilisation, we need to be writing efficient code from the start."

The software is being supplied by Macro 4.