DETECTION OF AN UNRESPONSIVE APPLICATION IN A HIGH AVAILABILITY SYSTEM

• US 20090252047A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Muttur, Manjunath B., COFFEY, MICHAEL K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,943,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• 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 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/076 by exceeding a count or rate limit, e.g. word- or bit count limit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/202 where processing functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005, redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product for determining if an application has become unresponsive. Network traffic at a receiver node is monitored. The receiver node is determined to have generated a window probe response indicating a predetermined window size. A threshold associated with the window size of the receiver node is set in response to the receiver node having generated the window probe response. The window size of the receiver is determined to have been at the predetermined size for at least one of a time period greater than the threshold and a count greater than the threshold. An application associated with the receiver node is classified as unresponsive in response to the window size of the receiver node having been the predetermined size for at least one of a timer period greater than the threshold and a count greater than the threshold.

Claims

1. A method for determining if an application has become unresponsive, the method comprising:

monitoring network traffic at a receiver node;

determining, in response to monitoring network traffic at the receiver node, that the receiver node generated a window probe response indicating a predetermined window size;

setting, in response to determining that the receiver node generated a window probe response indicating a predetermined window size, a threshold associated with the window size of the receiver node;

determining that the window size of the receiver node has been at the predetermined size for at least one of a time period greater than the threshold and a count greater than the threshold; and

classifying an application associated with the receiver node as unresponsive in response to determining that the window size of the receiver node has been the predetermined size for at least one of a timer period greater than the threshold and a count greater than the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network traffic is TCP/IP traffic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined size is 0.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a threshold further comprises at least one of:

setting a timer; and

setting a threshold count.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the timer is adjustable for different applications at the receiver node.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the classifying further comprises:

determining that window size of the receiver node has been at the predetermined size for a time period greater than the timer.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the classifying further comprises:

determining that the window size of the receiver node has been the predetermined size for a number of consecutive times greater than the threshold count.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restarting, in response to classifying the application associated with the receiver node as unresponsive, the application on one of the receiver node and a different node.

9. An information processing system for determining if an application has become unresponsive, the information processing system comprising:

a memory;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory; and

an application monitor communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor, wherein the application monitor is adapted to;

monitor network traffic at a receiver node;

determine, in response network traffic at a receiver node being monitored, that the receiver node generated a window probe response indicating a predetermined window size;

set, in response to the receiver node having generated a window probe response indicating a predetermined window size, a threshold associated with the window size of the receiver node;

determine that the window size of the receiver node has been at the predetermined size for at least one of a time period greater than the threshold and a count greater than the threshold; and

classify an application associated with the receiver node as unresponsive in response to determining that the window size of the receiver node has been the predetermined size for at least one of a timer period greater than the threshold and a count greater than the threshold.

10. The information processing system of claim 9, wherein the application monitor is adapted to set a threshold by at least one of:

setting a timer; and

setting a threshold count.

11. The information processing system of claim 10, wherein the timer is adjustable for different applications at the receiver node.

12. The information processing system of claim 10, wherein the application monitor is adapted to classify by:

determining that window size of the receiver node has been at the predetermined size for a time period greater than the timer.

13. The information processing system of claim 10, wherein the application monitor is adapted to classify by:

determining that the window size of the receiver node has been the predetermined size for a number of consecutive times greater than the threshold count.

14. The information processing system of claim 10, further comprising:

restarting, in response to classifying the application associated with the receiver node as unresponsive, the application on one of the receiver node and a different node.

15. A computer program storage product for determining if an application has become unresponsive, the computer program storage product comprising instructions for:

monitoring network traffic at a receiver node;

determining, in response to monitoring network traffic at the receiver node, that the receiver node generated a window probe response indicating a predetermined window size;

setting, in response to determining that the receiver node generated a window probe response indicating a predetermined window size, a threshold associated with the window size of the receiver node;

determining that the window size of the receiver node has been at the predetermined size for at least one of a time period greater than the threshold and a count greater than the threshold; and

classifying an application associated with the receiver node as unresponsive in response to determining that the window size of the receiver node has been the predetermined size for at least one of a timer period greater than the threshold and a count greater than the threshold.

16. The computer program storage product of claim 15, wherein the instructions for setting a threshold further comprise instructions for at least one of:

setting a timer; and

setting a threshold count.

17. The computer program storage product of claim 16, wherein the timer is adjustable for different applications at the receiver node.

18. The computer program storage product of claim 16, wherein the instructions for classifying further comprise instructions for:

determining that window size of the receiver node has been at the predetermined size for a time period greater than the timer.

19. The computer program storage product of claim 16, wherein the instructions for classifying further comprise instructions for:

determining that the window size of the receiver node has been the predetermined size for a number of consecutive times greater than the threshold count.

20. The computer program storage product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

restarting, in response to classifying the application associated with the receiver node as unresponsive, the application on one of the receiver node and a different node.