A method, load regulator, and profiling tool for monitoring and analyzing system performance and spare CPU capacity in a system such as a telecommunication system. The load regulator and profiling tool utilize a communication interface to balance the profiling performance of the profiling tool with the available spare CPU capacity in the system. The load regulator regularly sends information to the profiling tool of any spare CPU capacity during profiling, and the profiling tool adjusts the profiling performance gradually in response to the received information.