The global resource request rate is the number of global resource requests that the systems in the ring actually generate, most conveniently expressed as the number of global resource requests per second.

If the systems generate more requests than the ring can process, the RSA-message cannot hold all of the requests. Some requests must wait for at least one additional cycle before getting into the RSA-message, thus increasing response time. Using the RNLs to reduce the number of unnecessary global resource requests is a possible solution. Lowering the residency time (RESMIL value) is often a better way to deal with a high global resource request rate. The lower RESMIL value increases ring capacity; the RSA-message makes more cycles around the ring in any given time period, and thus the ring can process more requests in the same amount of time.

If the systems generate very few requests, global resource serialization might raise the actual RESMIL to avoid excessive CPU utilization. In rare cases, this can noticeably increase the average response time. If the increased response time is unacceptable, specify a RESMIL slightly lower than the value specified in Table 1 or Table 2.