Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery – Data processing system error or fault handling – Reliability and availability
Utility Patent
1997-10-01
2001-01-02
Hua, Ly V. (Department: 2785)
Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery
Data processing system error or fault handling
Reliability and availability
C714S031000, C714S057000
Utility Patent
active
06170067
ABSTRACT:
APPENDICES
Appendix A, which forms a part of this disclosure, is a list of commonly owned copending U.S. patent applications. Each one of the applications listed in Appendix A is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.
COPYRIGHT RIGHTS
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the reporting of problems and/or failure conditions in electronic systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for automatically reporting failure conditions in a server system.
2. Description of the Related Technology
In the computer industry, the fast and efficient detection of system errors and/or failures, and the subsequent correction of such failures, is critical to providing quality performance and product reliability to the users and buyers of computer systems. Particularly with respect to server computers which are accessed and utilized by many end users, early detection and notification of system problems and failures is an extremely desirable performance characteristic, especially for users who depend on the server to obtain data and information in their daily business operations, for example.
Typically, after a server has failed, users trying to access that server do not know that a problem exists or what the nature of the problem is. If a user experiences undue delay in connecting to the server or accessing a database through the server, the user typically does not know whether there is something wrong with the server, something wrong with his or her connection line, or whether both problems exist. In this scenario, the user must wait for a system operator, at the site where the server is located, to detect the error or failure and correct it. Hours can elapse before the failure is corrected. Often, a system operator or administrator will not discover the failure until users experience problems and start complaining. In the meantime, an important event may be missed and time is wasted, leading to user dissatisfaction with the server system.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and system for early detection of system failures or problems and prompt notification to a system operator or control center of the failure condition so that remedial actions may be quickly taken. In addition, for servers which may be remotely located from a control center, for example, a method and system for notifying the control center at a remote location is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a method and system for detecting a system failure and automatically reporting the failure to a system operator who may be located at or near the site where the server is present, or remotely located from the server such that the system operator communicates with the server via a modem connection. As used herein, the terms “failure”, “system failure”, “system failure condition” and any combination or conjugation of these terms refers to any problem, error, fault, or out of tolerance operating condition or parameter which may be detected in a computer and/or server system. Additionally, these terms may refer to a change in a status or condition of the server system, or a component or subsystem thereof.
In one embodiment of the invention, a system for reporting a failure condition in a server system, includes: a controller which monitors the server system for system failures, and generates an event signal and failure information if a system failure is detected; a system interface, coupled to the controller, which receives the event signal; a central processing unit, coupled to the system interface, wherein, upon receiving the event signal, the system interface reports an occurrence of an event to the central processing unit; and a system log which receives failure information communicated from the system interface and stores said failure information.
In another embodiment, the system described above further includes a system recorder, coupled between the controller and the system log, for receiving the failure information from the controller, assigning a time value to the failure information, and subsequently storing the failure information with the time value into the system log.
In another embodiment, a failure reporting system for a server system, includes the following: a controller which monitors the server system for system failures and generates an event signal and failure information if a system failure is detected; a system recorder, coupled to the controller, which receives failure information and assigns a time value to the failure information; a system log which stores failure information received from the system recorder; and a system interface, coupled to the controller, which receives and stores the event signal, and reports an occurrence of an event to a central processing unit which is coupled to the system interface, wherein the central processing unit executes a software program which allows a system operator to access the system log to read failure information stored therein.
In a further embodiment, the system described above 12 further includes a remote interface, coupled to the controller, which receives the event signal and reports the occurrence of an event to a computer external to the server system.
In yet another embodiment, a failure reporting system for a server system, includes: a controller which monitors the server system for system failures and generates an event signal and failure information if a system failure is detected; a system recorder, coupled to the controller, which receives the failure information and assigns a date and time to the failure information; a system log which stores the failure information; a system interface, coupled to the controller, which receives and stores the event signal and reports an occurrence of an event to a central processing unit, coupled to the system interface, wherein the central processing unit executes a software program which allows a system operator to access the system log to read failure information stored therein; a remote interface, coupled to the controller, which receives the event signal and reports the occurrence of an event to a computer external to the server system; and a switch, coupled to the remote interface, which switches connectivity to the remote interface between a first computer and a second computer, wherein the first computer is a local computer, coupled to the switch via a local communications line, and the second computer is a remote computer, coupled to the switch via a modem connection.
In a further embodiment, a failure reporting system in a server system, includes: means for detecting a system failure condition; means for transmitting failure information related to the failure condition to a system recorder; means for storing the failure information; and means for reporting an occurrence of an event to a central processing unit of the server system.
In another embodiment, the invention is a program storage device which stores instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method, wherein the method comprises: detecting a system failure condition; transmitting failure information related to the failure condition to a system recorder; storing the failure information in a system log; and reporting an occurrence of an event to a central processing unit of the server system.
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patent: 4
Johnson Karl S.
Liu Ji-hwan
Nguyen Ken
Hua Ly V.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
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