1. In a computer system operatively coupled to at least one other computer system to be monitored, a method diagnosing the performance health of the monitored computer system comprising: (A) obtaining source data from the monitored computer system, the source data defining configuration settings and current values for a plurality of performance parameters of the monitored computer system; (B) deriving one or more indices from the source data, each index having a value within a predefined range of values and associated with a performance parameter of the monitored computer system; (C) using the value of the at least one index and at least a portion of the source data to identify one of a plurality of states as true, selected of the states having a diagnostic recommendation associated therewith; and (D) providing access to the diagnostic recommendation associated with the identified state.