Automatically defining arrival rate meters

A determination is made that a database system is resource bound resulting in a resource bound condition. Signals for the resources being bound in the database system are identified. Events associated with the signals are extracted. Events are correlated temporally to identify a time interval for which an arrival rate meter (ARM) is helpful. Database system segments are selected that effect key performance indicators associated with the identified time interval. Parameters for the selected database system segments to be deferred by the database system are estimated. The estimated parameters are incorporated into an arrival rate meter (ARM). The ARM is put into effect.