1. A computer implemented method for analyzing performance of components of a database cluster by transforming discrete events into a time series to identify dominant signals, the method comprising: sampling, using a measurement instrument, a plurality of discrete event measurements of the database cluster to produce a set of timestamped events, at least some of the timestamped events sampled by one or more hardware components or one or more software components of the database cluster; formatting the set of timestamped events into a time series wherein a time series entry comprises a time indication and a plurality of values, the values corresponding to a state value of the database cluster; and processing the time series to identify at least one state signal.