Send of software tracer messages via IP from several sources to be stored by a remote server

• US 20030217155A1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Greck, Bertram, Zaniolo, Luiz Cesar, Lima, Robinson Osmar
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for accessing complex computer based systems initiates a trace and debug session via IP causing the resulting output to be stored in a designated remote server on the Internet which can accept large amounts of information. The trace and debug information subsequently can be accessed from any engineering workstation or personal computer from any other location via the Internet. The invention permits the trace sessions to run independent of any local access and permits several technical people in different locations to access the remote storage server simultaneously or independently.

Claims

1. A system for initiating and storing tracer information for subsequent retrieval and analysis comprising:

a target system connected to the Internet, said target system capable of producing tracer information;

a storage server connected to the Internet; and

an access station connected to the Internet, said access station for accessing said target system over the Internet to initiate production of said tracer information, and directing said tracer information to be sent over the Internet to said storage server, said access station further for accessing said storage server to retrieve said tracer information over the Internet.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the target system comprises a plurality of target systems.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the storage server comprises a plurality of storage servers.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the access station comprises a plurality of access stations.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the tracer information contains system memory contents and processor register information and are sent using Internet Protocol (IP).

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said target system is capable of sending said tracer information using at least one of:

a) Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), b) File Transfer Protocol (FTP), c) Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFFP), d) Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), e) Internet Access Protocol revision 4 (IMAP4), f) Internet Message Access Protocol version 4rev1 (ISAKMP), and g) Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

7. A method to initiate a tracer/debug session on a target system from a remote station, the target system and the remote station connected to the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing target system from the remote station by logging on to the target system and receiving authorization via the Internet;

initiating a tracer/debug session within the target system from the remote station;

providing tracer/debug parameters to the target system; and

directing the target system to send tracer/debug output to a remote storage server connected to the Internet.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said target system is capable of sending tracer debug output using a protocol including at least one of:

a) Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), b) File Transfer Protocol (FTP), c) Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), d) Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), e) Internet Access Protocol revision 4 (IMAP4), f) Internet Message Access Protocol version 4rev1 (ISAKMP), and g) Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the target system comprises a plurality of target systems.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the storage server comprises a plurality of storage servers.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the remote station is a plurality of engineering access stations.

12. A method according to claim 7, further including the step of:

providing file naming information for naming a file for storing the tracer/debug output stored on the remote storage server.

13. A method according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

sending said tracer/debug output from the target system to said storage server;

receiving said tracer/debug output at said storage server; and

storing said tracer/debug output in a named file at said storage server.

14. A method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

accessing said storage server from said remote station; and

retrieving said tracer debug output from said storage server.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said step of accessing said storage server includes the step of:

providing a name of said named file.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the said tracer/debug output includes date and time stamps.

17. A method according to claim 7, wherein said remote station is a personal computer.

18. A method according to claim 12, further including the step of:

providing a storage server destination address.

19. A method for remotely managing tracer data, comprising the steps of:

connecting a target system to the Internet;

connecting a remote terminal to the Internet;

connecting storage terminal to the Internet;

using said remote terminal to control said target system to send tracer data to said storage terminal over the Internet;

storing said tracer data with said storage terminal; and

using said remote terminal to retrieve said tracer data from said storage terminal.

20. A method for remotely managing tracer data as recited in claim 19 further comprising the step of:

transferring said tracer data over the Internet using one of a) Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), b) File Transfer Protocol (FTP), c) Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), d) Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), e) Internet Access Protocol revision 4 (IMAP4), f) Internet Message Access Protocol version 4rev1 (ISAKMP), and g) Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).