Method and system for allowing customization of remote data collection in the event of a system error

• US 20040015742A1
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Olson, John Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,051,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0778 Dumping, i.e. gathering error/state information after a fault for later diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/366 using diagnostics G06F11/0703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

In a computer system, a method and system for allowing customization of data collection in the event of a system error is described. In one embodiment, a Program Registration Table (PRT) contains entries associating a program name with an executable file and associated parameters. Additionally, an Error Matrix (EM) includes entries specifying which program(s) in the PRT to execute in response to a particular system error. In the event of a system error, the program(s) to execute is determined by examining the entries in the EM. The program(s) is then executed. The output from the program(s) executed may then be sent offsite for analysis. Changing the behavior of the machine in the event of a system error may be accomplished by updating entries in the PRT and EM, without the need to change any code on the system.

Claims

1. A system for allowing customization of data collection in the event of a system error, said system comprising:

a program configuration database;

means for determining one or more programs to execute in response to said system error, wherein said one or more programs are listed in said program configuration database; and

means for executing said one or more programs, wherein said one or more programs may produce a program output.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said program configuration database further comprises:

a program registration table, comprising one or more program registration table entries; and

an error matrix, comprising one or more error matrix entries.

3. The system of claim 1, said system further comprising:

means for transmitting said program output to a remote server.

4. The system of claim 1, said system further comprising:

means for managing said program configuration database.

5. The system of claim 4, said system further comprising:

a data program manager.

6. The system of claim 4, said system further comprising:

an error matrix manager.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein said program registration table comprises program registration table entries comprising:

a program tag field;

an executable name field;

an attribute field; and

an attribute value field.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein said error matrix comprises error matrix entries comprising:

an error tag field;

a precondition field; and

a result field.

9. The system of claim 3, said system further comprising:

means for receiving an update message, wherein said update message is utilized to update said program configuration database.

10. A method for allowing customization of data collection in the event of a system error, said method comprising the steps of:

determining one or more programs to execute in response to said system error, wherein said one or more programs are listed in a program configuration database; and

executing said one or more programs, wherein said one or more programs may produce a program output.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said program configuration database further comprises:

a program registration table, comprising one or more program registration table entries; and

an error matrix, comprising one or more error matrix entries.

12. The method of claim 10, said method further comprising the step of:

transmitting said program output to a remote server.

13. The method of claim 10, said method further comprising the step of:

managing said program configuration database with a data program manager.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said program registration table comprises program registration table entries comprising:

a program tag field;

an executable name field;

an attribute field; and

an attribute value field.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said error matrix comprises error matrix entries comprising:

an error tag field;

a precondition field; and

a result field.

16. The method of claim 12, said method further comprising the step of:

receiving an update message, wherein said update message is utilized to update said program configuration database.

17. A computer usable medium for allowing customization of data collection in the event of a system error, said computer usable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining one or more programs to execute in response to said system error, wherein said one or more programs are listed in a program configuration database; and

computer program code for executing said one or more programs, wherein said one or more programs may produce a program output.

18. The computer usable medium of claim 17, wherein said program configuration database further comprises:

a program registration table, comprising one or more program registration table entries; and

an error matrix, comprising one or more error matrix entries.

19. The computer usable medium of claim 17, said computer usable medium further comprising:

computer program code for transmitting said program output to a remote server.

20. The computer usable medium of claim 17, said computer usable medium further comprising:

computer program code for managing said program configuration database with a data program manager.

21. The computer usable medium of claim 18, wherein said program registration table comprises program registration table entries comprising:

a program tag field;

an executable name field;

an attribute field; and

an attribute value field.