Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery – Data processing system error or fault handling – Reliability and availability
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-10
2001-01-30
Le, Dieu-Minh T. (Department: 2785)
Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery
Data processing system error or fault handling
Reliability and availability
C714S045000, C712S227000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182244
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a trace facility used to troubleshoot a software-controlled system and more particularly to a trace facility that automatically collects different amounts of information depending on the particular situation.
BACKGROUND ART
It is well-known in the art to monitor the operating condition of a computer system through the use of a troubleshooting program known as a trace program. Typically, a standard set of trace entries will resolve the majority of problems encountered in the operation of the computer system. However, the creation of a trace entry requires a certain amount of memory in the central processing unit (CPU) of the system. Hence, in order to minimize the amount of CPU memory utilized by the standard trace program, the size of trace programs is usually kept small. This limits the type of information that can be collected by the standard trace program. Additionally, a larger trace program would slow down the performance of the operating system of the computer system.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention comprises a method for collecting information about the operating condition of a computer system. The method comprises the steps of running a first (or standard) trace program that collects information about the operating condition of the computer and, in response to the detection of an error by the first program, determining whether a first flag is on or off. The first flag indicates whether or not a second (or enhanced) trace program should be run. If the first flag is on, the second program is run. The second trace program is designed to collect different information about the operating condition of the computer system than the first trace program collects.
Additional levels of information about the operating condition of the computer system can be obtained through the use of a second or additional flags, with each of the additional flags being linked to additional trace programs which provide different types of information about the operating condition of the computer system. The flags can be turned off either manually, through commands issued by an operator, or automatically in response to predetermined events recognized by the software.
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Bankemper Michael Francis
Ratliff James Mitchell
Ward Ronald Preston
Wood Michael William
International Business Machines - Corporation
Le Dieu-Minh T.
Pagel Donald J.
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