Kernel performance tuning

Kernel performance tuning is art not science
http://blog.kreyolys.com/2011/03/05/kernel-performance-tuning-is-art-not-science-part-1/

RedHat summit: RHEL Kernel Performance Optimization, Characterization and Tuning
http://www.redhat.com/promo/summit/2008/downloads/pdf/Wednesday_1015am_John_Shakshober_and_Larry_Woodman_Decoding_the_Code.pdf