COMPUTER SYSTEM, METHOD OF DETECTING SYMPTOM OF FAILURE IN COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM

• US 20100083049A1
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: MIKI, Takafumi
• Application Number:
  US12/510,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20100083049A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0715 in a system implementing multitasking multitasking per se G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0754 by exceeding limits

Abstract

Provided is a computer system comprising: a failure symptom detection unit for detecting a symptom of a failure in hardware of a computer based on a measurement of a sensor; and a plurality of the sensors each provided to a component of the hardware, for measuring a status quantity of the component. The failure symptom detection unit comprises: a failure symptom determination processing unit for obtaining, from a characteristic information for each application, an estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to current load information, obtaining a current status quantity as a current value for the each component, and determining, when an absolute value of a difference between the estimation and the current value is equal to or more than a permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a computer comprising;

a processor for carrying out an arithmetic operation; and

a memory for storing an application and an OS which are executed by the processor;

a plurality of sensors each provided to a component of hardware of the computer, for measuring a status quantity of the component; and

a failure symptom detection unit for detecting a symptom of a failure in the hardware based on a measurement of each of the plurality of sensors,

wherein the failure symptom detection unit comprises;

an operation information acquisition unit for acquiring, from the OS, load information on the processor used for the application;

a sensor information processing unit for acquiring the measurement from the each of the plurality of sensors for each component;

a characteristic data storage unit for associating, in advance, each load information on the processor when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing the associated load information and the associated measurement as characteristic information on the application;

a failure symptom determination processing unit for obtaining, from current load information acquired by the operation information acquisition unit and the characteristic information corresponding to the application, an estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to the current load information, obtaining, from the sensor information processing unit, a current status quantity as a current value for the each component, and comparing, for the each component, an absolute value of a difference between the estimation and the current value with a permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present; and

a failed location determination processing unit for identifying the component having the absolute value of the difference equal to or more than the permissible error as a component in which the symptom of the failure is present.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor executes a plurality of the applications;

the operation information acquisition unit acquires the load information on the processor used for each of the plurality of the applications;

the characteristic data storage unit stores the characteristic information corresponding to the each of the plurality of the applications; and

the failure symptom determination processing unit obtains, from the current load information acquired for the each of the plurality of the applications by the operation information acquisition unit and the characteristic information corresponding to the each of the plurality of the applications, the estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to the current load information for the each of the plurality of the applications, obtains a sum of the estimations obtained for the each of the plurality of the applications, and, from the sensor information processing unit, the current status quantity as the current value for the each component, and compares, for the each component, an absolute value of a difference between the sum of the estimations and the current value with the permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present.

3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor executes a virtualization module for providing a virtual computer with a virtual processor so that the application is executed by the virtual computer;

the operation information acquisition unit acquires load information on the virtual processor used for the application; and

the characteristic data storage unit associates, in advance, each load information on the virtual processor when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and stores the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the application.

4. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein:

the processor executes a virtualization module for providing each of a plurality of virtual computers with a virtual processor so that the each of the plurality of the applications is executed by the each of the plurality of virtual computers;

the operation information acquisition unit acquires load information on the virtual processor used for the each of the plurality of the applications; and

the characteristic data storage unit associates, for the each of the plurality of the applications in advance, each load information on the virtual processor when the each of the plurality of the applications is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the each of the plurality of the applications is executed with each other, and stores the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the each of the plurality of the applications.

5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the failure symptom determination processing unit identifies an application corresponding to the load information on the processor, which is acquired by the operation information acquisition unit, and, when the characteristic information on the identified application is not present in the characteristic data storage unit, prohibits the comparison of, for the each component, the absolute value of the difference between the estimation and the current value with the permissible error set in advance.

6. A method of detecting a symptom of a failure in a computer system comprising:

a computer comprising;

a processor for carrying out an arithmetic operation; and

a memory for storing an application and an OS which are executed by the processor; and

a plurality of sensors each provided to a component of hardware of the computer, for measuring a status quantity of the component,

the symptom of the failure in the hardware being detected based on a measurement of each of the plurality of sensors,

the method comprising;

acquiring, by the processor from the OS, load information on the processor used for the application when the processor executes the application;

acquiring, by the processor, the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the processor executes the application;

associating, by the processor in advance, each load information when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in a storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as characteristic information on the application;

acquiring, by the processor from the OS, current load information on the processor used for the application, and obtaining, from the characteristic information corresponding to the application, an estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to the current load information;

acquiring, by the processor from the each of the plurality of sensors, a current status quantity as a current value for the each component;

comparing, by the processor for the each component, an absolute value of a difference between the estimation and the current value with a permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present; and

identifying, by the processor, the component having the absolute value of the difference equal to or more than the permissible error as a component in which the symptom of the failure is present.

7. The method of detecting a symptom of a failure in a computer system according to claim 6, wherein:

the processor executes a plurality of the applications;

the acquiring, by the processor from the OS, the load information on the processor used for the application when the processor executes the application comprises acquiring the load information on the processor used for each of the plurality of the applications;

the associating, by the processor in advance, the each load information when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in the storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the application comprises storing the characteristic information corresponding to the each of the plurality of the applications;

the acquiring, by the processor from the OS, the current load information on the processor used for the application, and obtaining, from the characteristic information corresponding to the application, the estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to the current load information comprises obtaining, from the current load information acquired for the each of the plurality of the applications and the characteristic information corresponding to the each of the plurality of the applications, the estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to the current load information for the each of the plurality of the applications, and obtaining a sum of the estimations obtained for the each of the plurality of the applications; and

the comparing, by the processor for the each component, the absolute value of the difference between the estimation and the current value with the permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present comprises comparing, by the processor for the each component, an absolute value of a difference between the sum of the estimations and the current value with the permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present.

8. The method of detecting a symptom of a failure in a computer system according to claim 6, wherein:

the processor executes a virtualization module for providing a virtual computer with a virtual processor so that the application is executed by the virtual computer;

the processor acquires load information on the virtual processor used for the application as the load information; and

the associating, by the processor in advance, the each load information when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in the storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the application comprises associating, in advance, each load information on the virtual processor when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in the storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the application.

9. The method of detecting a symptom of a failure in a computer system according to claim 7, wherein:

the processor executes a virtualization module for providing each of a plurality of virtual computers with a virtual processor so that the each of the plurality of the applications is executed by the each of the plurality of virtual computers;

the processor acquires load information on the virtual processor used for the each of the plurality of the applications as the load information; and

the associating, by the processor in advance, the each load information when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in the storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the application comprises associating, for the each of the plurality of the applications in advance, each load information on the virtual processor when the each of the plurality of the applications is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the each of the plurality of the applications is executed with each other, and storing, in the storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the each of the plurality of the applications.

10. The method of detecting a symptom of a failure in a computer system according to claim 6, wherein the comparing, by the processor for the each component, the absolute value of the difference between the estimation and the current value with the permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present comprises identifying an application corresponding to the load information on the processor, and, when the characteristic information on the identified application is not present in the storage system, prohibiting the comparing, for the each component, the absolute value of the difference between the estimation and the current value with the permissible error set in advance.

11. A machine-readable medium for storing a program for detecting a symptom of a failure in a computer system comprising:

a computer comprising;

a processor for carrying out an arithmetic operation; and

a memory for storing an application and an OS which are executed by the processor; and

a plurality of sensors each provided to a component of hardware of the computer, for measuring a status quantity of the component,

the symptom of the failure in the hardware being detected based on a measurement of each of the plurality of sensors,

the program controlling the computer to execute the procedures of;

acquiring, from the OS, load information on the processor used for the application when the application is executed;

acquiring the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed;

associating, in advance, each load information when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in a storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as characteristic information on the application;

acquiring, from the OS, current load information on the processor used for the application, and obtaining, from the characteristic information corresponding to the application, an estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to the current load information;

acquiring, from the each of the plurality of sensors, a current status quantity as a current value for the each component;

comparing, for the each component, an absolute value of a difference between the estimation and the current value with a permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present; and

identifying the component having the absolute value of the difference equal to or more than the permissible error as a component in which the symptom of the failure is present.

12. The machine-readable medium for storing a program according to claim 11, wherein:

the processor executes a plurality of the applications;

in the procedure of acquiring, from the OS, the load information on the processor used for the application when the application is executed, the load information on the processor used for each of the plurality of the applications is acquired;

in the procedure of associating, in advance, the each load information when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in the storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the application, the characteristic information corresponding to the each of the plurality of the applications is stored;

in the procedure of acquiring, from the OS, the current load information on the processor used for the application, and obtaining, from the characteristic information corresponding to the application, an estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to the current load information, from the current load information acquired for the each of the plurality of the applications and the characteristic information corresponding to the each of the plurality of the applications, the estimation of the status quantity of the each component, which corresponds to the current load information for the each of the plurality of the applications is obtained, and a sum of the estimations obtained for the each of the plurality of the applications is obtained; and

in the procedure of comparing, for the each component, the absolute value of the difference between the estimation and the current value with the permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present, the processor compares, for the each component, an absolute value of a difference between the sum of the estimations and the current value with the permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present.

13. The machine-readable medium for storing a program according to claim 11, wherein:

the processor executes a virtualization module for providing a virtual computer with a virtual processor so that the application is executed by the virtual computer;

as the load information, load information on the virtual processor used for the application is acquired; and

in the procedure of associating, in advance, the each load information when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in the storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the application, each load information on the virtual processor when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed are associated with each other in advance, and the associated load information and the associated measurement are stored in the storage system as the characteristic information on the application.

14. The machine-readable medium for storing a program according to claim 12, wherein:

the processor executes a virtualization module for providing each of a plurality of virtual computers with a virtual processor so that the each of the plurality of the applications is executed by the each of the plurality of virtual computers;

as the load information, load information on the virtual processor used for the each of the plurality of the applications is acquired; and

in the procedure of associating, in advance, the each load information when the application is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the application is executed with each other, and storing, in the storage system, the associated load information and the associated measurement as the characteristic information on the application, for the each of the plurality of the applications in advance, each load information on the virtual processor when the each of the plurality of the applications is executed and the measurement of the each of the plurality of sensors for the each component when the each of the plurality of the applications is executed are associated with each other, and the associated load information and the associated measurement are stored in the storage system as the characteristic information on the each of the plurality of the applications.

15. The machine-readable medium for storing a program according to claim 11, wherein, in the procedure of comparing, for the each component, the absolute value of the difference between the estimation and the current value with the permissible error set in advance, to thereby determine, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or more than the permissible error, that the symptom of the failure is present, an application corresponding to the load information on the processor is identified, and, when the characteristic information on the identified application is not present in the storage system, the comparison of for the each component, the absolute value of the difference between the estimation and the current value with the permissible error set in advance is prohibited.