Diagnostic exerciser and methods therefor

A computer-implemented method for diagnosing the performance of a computer system using a diagnostic application. The method includes providing a diagnostic application and providing an operating system (OS) kernel, the diagnostic application being configured to execute under the OS kernel in the computer system, the OS kernel having a kernel trap arrangement. The method also includes providing a diagnostic monitor, the diagnostic monitor being configured to execute cooperatively with the OS kernel, the diagnostic monitor having a monitor trap arrangement. The method additionally includes ascertaining, using the diagnostic monitor, whether a trap encountered during execution of the diagnostic application is to be handled by the OS kernel or the diagnostic monitor. Furthermore, the method includes passing, if the trap is to be handled by the OS kernel, the trap to the OS kernel for handling.