Memory growth detection

• US 20080250276A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Guthrie, Zack, Martinez, Robbie
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03019 adaptive, i.e. capable of adjustment during data reception

Abstract

A process for monitoring memory growth of a software application includes measuring a baseline memory usage for processes operating on a computer system. A background memory logging script is then executed to log process memory usage. At some later time, a trending script is executed which outputs a list showing how memory usage has changed for each process operating on the system.

Claims

1. A method for memory growth detection comprising:

defining a baseline memory usage for at least one process operating in a computer system;

periodically logging a memory usage for the at least one process; and

comparing a logged memory usage and the baseline memory usage.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising outputting a result indicative of a difference between the logged memory usage and the baseline memory usage.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein periodically logging memory usage comprises running a background script on the computer system.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said script logs a memory usage of a plurality of processes operating on the computer system.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein defining a baseline memory usage comprises recording a memory usage of processes operating on the computer system at an initial time.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein recording a memory usage comprises executing a ps command.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising generating a list of memory usage changes for said at least one process.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said list comprises changes in memory usage between logging cycles for the at least one process.

9. The method according to claim 7 comprising ascertaining from said list whether memory usage changes are indicative of memory leak.

10. The method according to claim 1 comprising executing a first utility to produce a log file of memory usage for the at least one process, said log file comprising a comparison with said baseline memory usage.

11. The method according to claim 10 comprising executing a second utility that processes said log file to produce a list associating the at least one process with changes in memory usage of the respective at least one process.

12. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

executing a logging script that periodically logs memory usage for processes running on a computer system; and

executing a trending script while the logging script is running, the trending script producing an output indicating trends in memory usage of said processes.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 12 comprising instructions for recording a baseline memory usage for said processes.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 13 comprising instructions for comparing a measured memory usage with the baseline memory usage.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 12 comprising instructions for generating a list associating a process with memory usage by the process.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 12 further comprising instructions for configuring a logging period.

17. A computer system for testing a software application, the computer system comprising:

at least one memory utilized during execution of said software application; and

at least one processor configured to;

execute said software application;

execute a memory monitoring process that records a memory usage of said software application while said software application is executing; and

output a memory log of said software application.

18. The computer system according to claim 17 wherein said memory monitoring process records a baseline memory usage of said software application.

19. The computer system according to claim 17 wherein said memory monitoring process operates in a background of said computer system.

20. The computer system according to claim 17 wherein said memory log comprises changes in memory usage of the software application between logging cycles.