METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A MONITORING-TARGET PROCESS

• US 20120278478A1
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fujino, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0715 in a system implementing multitasking multitasking per se G06F9/46
• 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 11/0775 Content or structure details of the error report, e.g. specific table structure, specific error fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0793 Remedial or corrective actions recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3003 Monitoring arrangements specially adapted to the computing system or computing system component being monitored
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3017 where the computing system is implementing multitasking multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring a monitoring-target process. A monitored server computer starts a monitoring-target process. After starting the monitoring-target process, the computer ascertains a current operating state of the monitoring-target process which includes utilizing a monitoring condition record included in a monitoring-condition registry. The monitoring-condition registry is a file or database stored in a data storage device in the computer. The monitoring condition record includes monitoring conditions controlling implementation of the monitoring-target process. The monitoring condition record includes a process label that uniquely identifies the monitoring-target process. After ascertaining the current operating state, the computer stops the monitoring-target process.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a monitoring-target process, said method comprising:

a monitored server computer starting a monitoring-target process;

after said starting the monitoring-target process, said computer ascertaining a current operating state of the monitoring-target process, said ascertaining comprising utilizing a monitoring condition record included in a monitoring-condition registry, said monitoring-condition registry being a file or database stored in a data storage device in the computer, said monitoring condition record including monitoring conditions controlling implementation of the monitoring-target process, said monitoring condition record comprising a process label that uniquely identifies the monitoring-target process; and

after said ascertaining the current operating state, said computer stopping the monitoring-target process.

2. The method of claim 1, said starting the monitoring-target process comprising:

said computer determining the monitoring conditions controlling implementation of the monitoring-target process;

after said determining the monitoring conditions, said computer generating the monitoring condition record that includes the monitoring conditions;

after said generating the monitoring condition record, said computer storing the monitoring condition record in the monitoring-condition registry;

after said storing the monitoring condition record, said computer notifying a monitoring server external to the monitored server computer that the monitoring condition record has been stored in the monitoring-condition registry, said monitoring server being another server computer; and

after said storing the monitoring condition record, said computer logging in the computer a message stating that the monitoring condition record has been stored in the monitoring-condition registry.

3. The method of claim 2, said starting the monitoring-target process further comprising:

before said determining the monitoring conditions, said computer searching the monitoring-condition registry for the monitoring condition record, said searching comprising using the process label as a search key for said searching;

said computer determining from said searching that the monitoring condition record is stored in the monitoring-condition registry; and

in response to said determining from said searching that the monitoring condition record is stored in the monitoring-condition registry, said computer deleting the monitoring condition record from the monitoring-condition registry.

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

after said starting the monitoring-target process and before said ascertaining the current operating state, said computer determining that a current time is not within a non-monitoring time period specified a non-monitoring time period schedule stored in the monitoring condition record, said non-monitoring time period denoting an interval of time during which the monitoring-target process is not permitted to be monitored.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said ascertaining the current operating state comprises:

said computer determining that the monitoring condition record specifies an operating-state acquisition method stored in the computer, wherein a returned value resulting from execution of the operating-state acquisition method is the current operating state;

in response to said determining that the monitoring condition record specifies the operating-state acquisition method, said computer executing the operating-state acquisition method; and

said computer ascertaining the current operating state as the returned value resulting said executing the operating-state acquisition method.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said ascertaining the current operating state comprises:

said computer determining that the monitoring condition record does not specify an operating-state acquisition method stored in the computer, wherein a returned value resulting from execution of the operating-state acquisition method is the current operating state;

in response to said determining that the monitoring condition record does not specify the operating-state acquisition method, said computer selecting a listed operating process from a list of operating process, said selecting the listed operating process being based on the process label comprised by the monitoring condition record, said listed operating process having an operational state; and

said computer determining that the operational state of the listed operating process satisfies the monitoring conditions included in the monitoring condition record; and

in response to said determining that the operational state of the listed operating process satisfies the conditions included in the monitoring condition record, said computer ascertaining the current operating state as being the operational state of the listed operating process.

7. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising:

after said ascertaining the current operating state and before said stopping the monitoring-target process, said computer determining that the current operating state has changed from a most recent operating state in a most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process;

said computer determining that an operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred due to the most recent operating state being a normal operating state and the current operating state being an abnormal operating state;

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer notifying a monitoring server external to the monitored server computer that said operating state transition has occurred, said monitoring server being another server computer; and

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer logging in the computer a message stating that said operating state transition has occurred.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein the computer stores a most-recent-operating-state list that includes an entry denoting the most recent operating state in the most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process;

wherein said determining that the current operating state has changed comprises comparing the current operating state with the most recent operating state in the most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process denoted in said entry in the most-recent-operating-state list; and

wherein the method further comprises;

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer replacing the most recent operating state with the current operating state in the most-recent-operating-state list.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the monitoring condition record identifies an autorun procedure configured to be executed in response to a determination that a change in the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to said determining that the operating state transition has occurred, said computer executing the autorun procedure.

10. The method of claim 1, said stopping the monitoring-target process comprising:

said computer deleting the monitoring-condition record from the monitoring-condition registry;

said computer determining that the monitoring-target process is in operation;

in response to said determining that the monitoring-target process is in operation, said computer stopping the monitoring-target process; and

after said stopping the monitoring-target process, said computer notifying a monitoring server external to the monitored server computer that the monitoring-target process has been stopped, said monitoring server being another server computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring condition record comprises the process label and at least three different parameters, each different parameter selected from the group consisting of:

a process name which is a name identifying an operating program that is actually operating while the monitoring-target process is being implemented,

a process user name which is a name of a user who triggers execution of the operating program identified by the process name,

a maximum number of process instances of the monitoring-target process that can be executed simultaneously,

a minimum number of process instances of the monitoring-target process that can be executed simultaneously,

a specification of an operating state acquisition method stored in the computer such that a returned value resulting from execution of the operating-state acquisition method is the current operating state,

an identification of an autorun procedure configured to be executed in response to a determination that a change in an operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred;

a notification event specification which specifies a severity of an abnormal operating state of the monitoring-target process, and

a non-monitoring time period schedule comprising a non-monitoring time period denoting an interval of time during which the monitoring-target process is not permitted to be monitored.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing program code configured to be executed by a monitored server computer to implement a method for monitoring a monitoring-target process, said method comprising:

said computer starting a monitoring-target process;

after said starting the monitoring-target process, said computer ascertaining a current operating state of the monitoring-target process, said ascertaining comprising utilizing a monitoring condition record included in a monitoring-condition registry, said monitoring-condition registry being a file or database stored in a data storage device in the computer, said monitoring condition record including monitoring conditions controlling implementation of the monitoring-target process, said monitoring condition record comprising a process label that uniquely identifies the monitoring-target process; and

after said ascertaining the current operating state, said computer stopping the monitoring-target process.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said ascertaining the current operating state comprises:

said computer determining that the monitoring condition record specifies an operating-state acquisition method stored in the computer, wherein a returned value resulting from execution of the operating-state acquisition method is the current operating state;

in response to said determining that the monitoring condition record specifies the operating-state acquisition method, said computer executing the operating-state acquisition method; and

said computer ascertaining the current operating state as the returned value resulting said executing the operating-state acquisition method.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said ascertaining the current operating state comprises:

said computer determining that the monitoring condition record does not specify an operating-state acquisition method stored in the computer, wherein a returned value resulting from execution of the operating-state acquisition method is the current operating state;

in response to said determining that the monitoring condition record does not specify the operating-state acquisition method, said computer selecting a listed operating process from a list of operating process, said selecting the listed operating process being based on the process label comprised by the monitoring condition record, said listed operating process having an operational state; and

said computer determining that the operational state of the listed operating process satisfies the monitoring conditions included in the monitoring condition record; and

in response to said determining that the operational state of the listed operating process satisfies the conditions included in the monitoring condition record, said computer ascertaining the current operating state as being the operational state of the listed operating process.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, said method further comprising:

after said ascertaining the current operating state and before said stopping the monitoring-target process, said computer determining that the current operating state has changed from a most recent operating state in a most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process;

said computer determining that an operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred due to the most recent operating state being a normal operating state and the current operating state being an abnormal operating state;

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer notifying a monitoring server external to the monitored server computer that said operating state transition has occurred, said monitoring server being another server computer; and

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer logging in the computer a message stating that said operating state transition has occurred.

16. The computer program product of claim 15,

wherein the computer stores a most-recent-operating-state list that includes an entry denoting the most recent operating state in the most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process;

wherein said determining that the current operating state has changed comprises comparing the current operating state with the most recent operating state in the most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process denoted in said entry in the most-recent-operating-state list; and

wherein the method further comprises;

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer replacing the most recent operating state with the current operating state in the most-recent-operating-state list.

17. A system comprising a monitored server computer and a computer readable hardware storage device, said storage device stores program code configured to be executed by the computer to implement a method for monitoring a monitoring-target process, said method comprising:

said computer starting a monitoring-target process;

after said starting the monitoring-target process, said computer ascertaining a current operating state of the monitoring-target process, said ascertaining comprising utilizing a monitoring condition record included in a monitoring-condition registry, said monitoring-condition registry being a file or database stored in a data storage device in the computer, said monitoring condition record including monitoring conditions controlling implementation of the monitoring-target process, said monitoring condition record comprising a process label that uniquely identifies the monitoring-target process; and

after said ascertaining the current operating state, said computer stopping the monitoring-target process.

18. The system of claim 17, said method further comprising:

after said ascertaining the current operating state and before said stopping the monitoring-target process, said computer determining that the current operating state has changed from a most recent operating state in a most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process;

said computer determining that an operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred due to the most recent operating state being a normal operating state and the current operating state being an abnormal operating state;

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer notifying a monitoring server external to the monitored server computer that said operating state transition has occurred, said monitoring server being another server computer; and

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer logging in the computer a message stating that said operating state transition has occurred.

19. The system of claim 18,

wherein the computer stores a most-recent-operating-state list that includes an entry denoting the most recent operating state in the most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process;

wherein said determining that the current operating state has changed comprises comparing the current operating state with the most recent operating state in the most recent cycle of the monitoring-target process denoted in said entry in the most-recent-operating-state list; and

wherein the method further comprises;

after said determining that the operating state transition of the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, said computer replacing the most recent operating state with the current operating state in the most-recent-operating-state list.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the monitoring condition record identifies an autorun procedure configured to be executed in response to a determination that a change in the operating state of the monitoring-target process has occurred, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to said determining that the operating state transition has occurred, said computer executing the autorun procedure.