Method and apparatus for dynamic configurable logging of activities in a distributed computing system

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Filing Information

  • Patent Number: US7120685
  • Application Number: US9891584
  • Filing date: 06/26/2001
  • Issue date: 10/10/2006
  • Prior Publication Data:
  • Predicted expiration date: 07/16/2023
  • Patent term adjustment: 750
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  • U.S. Classifications: 709/224  · 710/18  ·
  • International Classifications: G06F15173 ·
  • View document at: (opens new window):
    USPTO  ·  PAIR  ·  esp@cenet  ·  Patent Family
    * Related patent documents may or may not exist on these sites
22 Claims, 8 Drawings


Abstract

A system and method for implementing tracking of computing system activities wherein the tracking can be dynamically adjusted. The system provides a multiple level logging system having a first level for detecting message level errors and a second trace level for obtaining trace information and for filtering same to provide more details to be used for implementing corrective action. A set of filters is provide to further refine the data which is provided to a user/system administrator. The system also provides for selective activation of tracking and logging for selected subsystems, as well as the ability to vary the frequency at which the tracking is performed. The frequency of logging can be adjusted upward in response to detection of a error and can then be decreased, or the tracking selectively disabled or entirely stopped upon detection of a stop event.

References Cited

U.S. Patent Documents

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* cited by examiner

Other Publications

Netzer, Robert H.B., “Adaptive Message Logging for Incremental Replay of Message-Passing Programs”, ACM Press New York, USA, Year of Publication: 1993.*
* cited by examiner

Referenced By

Patent Family


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Independent Claims | See all claims (22)

  1. 1. A method for providing variable frequency logging of activities in a distributed computing system comprising a plurality of computing locations having at least one message logger for monitoring messages and for generating message logger output and a plurality of selectively-enabled trace loggers capable of logging system activities from respective computing locations comprising the steps of: detecting an event trigger comprising a message level error indicative of an error at a computing location based on message logger output; determining the computing location at which said error occurred; responsive to the event trigger and the determined computer location, activating a temporary logging function starting logging by a respective selectively-enabled trace logger for logging system activities for at least said one computing location at which said error occurred so that a source of said error can be determined; logging system activities by the selectively-enabled trace logger; and terminating logging of system activities based on detection of a stop event by selectively disabling the selectively-enabled trace logger.
  2. 10. Apparatus for providing selective control of variable frequency logging of activities in a distributed computing system comprising a plurality of computing locations comprising: a plurality of logging components comprising at least one message logger, for monitoring messages and for generating message logger output, and at least one selectively-enabled trace logger for logging system activities for each computing location; an event trigger detection component for detecting at least one predefined trigger event comprising a message level error indicative of an error at a computing location based on message logger output from at least one message logger; a logging activator responsive to input from the event trigger detection component for determining the location of said error and for temporarily activating at least one selectively-enabled trace logger of said plurality of logging components to log system activities in at least said location of said error; and a stop event detection component for detecting a step event and for effecting termination of logging of system activities based on detection of a stop event.
  3. 18. A program storage device readable by machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for providing variable frequency logging of activities in a distributed computing system comprising a plurality of computing locations having at least one message logger for monitoring messages and for generating message logger output and a plurality of selectively-enabled trace loggers capable of logging system activities from respective computing locations, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an event trigger comprising a message level error indicative of an error at a computing location based on message logger output; determining the computing location at which said error occurred; responsive to the event trigger and the determined computer location, activating a temporary logging function starting logging by a respective selectively-enabled trace logger for logging system activities for at least said one Computing location at which said error occurred so that a source of said error can be determined; logging system activities by the selectively-enabled trace logger; and terminating logging of system activities based on detection of a stop event by selectively disabling the selectively-enabled trace logger.