Executable High-Level Trace File Generation System and Method

• US 20090013312A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Leeuwen, Paul G. Van, Wieman, Brent M., Albert, Jason T., Engel, Christopher J., Farrugia, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,429,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program

Abstract

An executable high-level trace file generation system and method provide reduced debugging effort and time, particularly on initial startup of new or modified hardware. An executable program invokes high-level application programming interfaces (APIs), to perform various tasks. Instructions within the APIs generate a trace file documenting the invoked sequence of APIs by writing a line to a trace file that documents the API and input parameters received by the API. Upon completion of execution of the API, the return value may be documented as a comment line in the trace file. The resulting trace file is then re-executable as a script and may be edited to alter the sequence of APIs invoked and/or the arguments provided. The script interpreter may be a command line interface through which the APIs are invoked, and trace files may be similarly generated that document sequences of manually entered commands.

Claims

1. A computer-performed method of generating an executable and user-modifiable trace file script, the method comprising:

first executing an executable instruction stream within a computer system that invokes a sequence of high-level procedures; and

generating a trace file during execution of the executable instruction stream that represents invocations of the high-level procedure invocations as a human-readable script; and

responsive to a subsequent command, second executing the trace file within the computer system to reproduce at least part of the behavior of the executable instruction stream.

2. The computer-performed method of claim 1, further comprising editing the trace file prior to the second executing to alter the behavior of the trace file, wherein the second executing produces a behavior of the executable instruction stream in conformity with changes to the trace file made by the editing.

3. The computer-performed method of claim 1, wherein the generating is performed by trace file-generating instructions embedded within the high-level procedures.

4. The computer-performed method of claim 1, wherein the generating generates the trace file such that input parameters supplied to the high-level procedures by the executable instruction stream are documented in the trace file as immediate fixed values.

5. The computer-performed method of claim 1, wherein the generating generates the trace file such that return parameters supplied from the high-level procedures to the executable instruction stream are documented in the trace file as comments.

6. The computer-performed method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call at one of the high-level procedures;

determining whether or not a configuration parameters set indicating that the trace file should be generated;

responsive to determining that the configuration parameter is set, performing the generating; and

responsive to determining that the configuration parameter is not set, skipping the generating.

7. The computer-performed method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a sequence of user input commands invoking the high-level procedures via a command interface, wherein the first executing executes the high-level procedures responsive to the sequence of user input commands, and wherein the generating generates a record of the sequence of user input commands that is subsequently repeated by the second executing.

8. The computer-performed method of claim 7, wherein the command interface performs the second executing via a command that specifies the trace file as a command script.

9. The computer-performed method of claim 1, wherein the high-level procedures are procedures for controlling another processing system via a command port of a service processor that controls operation of the other processing system, whereby startup or maintenance operations are documented by the trace file.

10. A system, comprising a processor coupled to a memory for storing program instructions for execution by the processor, wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions for:

first executing an executable instruction stream that invokes a sequence of high-level procedures; and

generating a trace file during execution of the executable instruction stream that represents invocations of the high-level procedure invocations as a human-readable script; and

responsive to a subsequent command, second executing the trace file to reproduce at least part of the behavior of the executable instruction stream.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising program instructions for editing the trace file to alter the behavior of the trace file, wherein the program instructions for second executing produce a behavior of the executable instruction stream in conformity with changes to the trace file made by execution of the program instructions for editing.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the program instructions for generating are trace file-generating instructions embedded within the high-level procedures.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the program instructions for generating generate the trace file such that input parameters supplied to the high-level procedures by the executable instruction stream are documented in the trace file as immediate fixed values.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the program instructions for generating generate the trace file such that return parameters supplied from the high-level procedures to the executable instruction stream are documented in the trace file as comments.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising program instructions for:

receiving a call at one of the high-level procedures;

determining whether or not a configuration parameters set indicating that the trace file should be generated;

responsive to determining that the configuration parameter is set, performing the generating; and

responsive to determining that the configuration parameter is not set, skipping the generating.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising program instructions for receiving a sequence of user input commands invoking the high-level procedures via a command interface, wherein the program instructions for first executing are executed in response to the sequence of user input commands, and wherein the program instructions for generating generate a record of the sequence of user input commands that is subsequently repeated by the second executing.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the program instructions for receiving further perform the second executing in response to receiving a command that specifies the trace file as a command script.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the high-level procedures are procedures for controlling another processing system via a command port of a service processor that controls operation of the other processing system, whereby startup or maintenance operations are documented by the trace file.

19. A computer program product comprising computer readable storage media containing program instructions for execution by a processor, the program instructions comprising program instructions for:

first executing an executable instruction stream that invokes a sequence of high-level procedures; and

generating a trace file during execution of the executable instruction stream that represents invocations of the high-level procedure invocations as a human-readable script; and

responsive to a subsequent command, second executing the trace file to reproduce at least part of the behavior of the executable instruction stream.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising program instructions for editing the trace file to alter the behavior of the trace file, wherein the program instructions for second executing produce a behavior of the executable instruction stream in conformity with changes to the trace file made by execution of the program instructions for editing.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the program instructions for generating are trace file-generating instructions embedded within the high-level procedures.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the program instructions for generating generate the trace file such that input parameters supplied to the high-level procedures by the executable instruction stream are documented in the trace file as immediate fixed values.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the program instructions for generating generate the trace file such that return parameters supplied from the high-level procedures to the executable instruction stream are documented in the trace file as comments.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising program instructions for:

receiving a call at one of the high-level procedures;

determining whether or not a configuration parameters set indicating that the trace file should be generated;

responsive to determining that the configuration parameter is set, performing the generating; and

responsive to determining that the configuration parameter is not set, skipping the generating.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising program instructions for receiving a sequence of user input commands invoking the high-level procedures via a command interface, wherein the program instructions for first executing are executed in response to the sequence of user input commands, and wherein the program instructions for generating generate a record of the sequence of user input commands that is subsequently repeated by the second executing.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the program instructions for receiving further perform the second executing in response to receiving a command that specifies the trace file as a command script.

27. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the high-level procedures are procedures for controlling another processing system via a command port of a service processor that controls operation of the other processing system, whereby startup or maintenance operations are documented by the trace file.

28. A system, comprising:

a plurality of processors coupled to a system memory;

a service processor for controlling startup and operation of the plurality of processors and having a service processor command port for receiving commands;

a workstation processor coupled to a workstation memory for storing program instructions for execution by the workstation processor, wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions for, first executing an executable instruction stream that invokes a sequence of high-level procedures that send commands to and receive data from the service processor command port, and generating a trace file during execution of the executable instruction stream that represents invocations of the high-level procedure invocations as a human-readable script, and responsive to a subsequent command, second executing the trace file to reproduce at least part of the behavior of the executable instruction stream to send commands to the service processor.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions for editing the trace file to alter the behavior of the trace file, wherein the program instructions for second executing produce a behavior of the executable instruction stream in conformity with changes to the trace file made by execution of the program instructions for editing.

30. A computer program product comprising computer readable storage media containing program instructions for execution by a processor, the program instructions comprising:

program means for automatically invoking a sequence of high-level procedures; and

program means for generating a trace file during the invoking, such that the trace file is re-executable to replicate the sequence of high-level procedures.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the program instructions further comprise program means for receiving user input invoking another sequence of high-level procedures via command-line interface.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the program means for receiving user input further comprises program means for executing the trace file to replicate the sequence of high-level procedures in response to a command specifying the trace file as a command script.