Method and system for providing performance diagnosis of a computer system

• US 5,668,944 A
• Filed: 09/06/1994
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berry, Robert Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Snyder, Glenn
• Application Number:
  US08/301,089
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 395/575, 395/184.01
• US Class Current: 714/47.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/34 Recording or statistical evaluation of computer activity, e.g. of down time, of input/output operation ; Recording or statistical evaluation of user activity, e.g. usability assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3452 Performance evaluation by statistical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/81 Threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/835 Timestamp
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/88 Monitoring involving counting

Abstract

A performance diagnosis system (PDS) is utilized to analyze, diagnose and provide reports concerning the operation of a computer system. The PDS includes a system model database that contains historical and configuration information which is received on a periodic basis from resource managers within the computer system. The information is updated on a regular basis by individual collectors which are coupled to the resource managers. A reporter receives the historical and configuration information from the database to provide reports on different aspects of the performance of the computer system. In addition, different types of assessments of performance of the computer system is provided by the PDS.

Claims

1. A method for providing an indication of the performance of a computer system;

the computer system including an operating system, the operating system including a plurality of resource managers;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving data from the plurality of resource managers;

each being coupled to a plurality of data collectors within the computer system;

the data being received by

(a1) requesting status information from the associated resource manager;

(a2) collecting historical information from the associated resource manager;

(a3) requesting a record; and

(a4) sending the record to the database;

(b) providing historical and configuration information responsive to the received data, a database including an application program interface for providing the historical and configuration information in a standard format;

(c) providing a report of the performance of the computer system;

(d) controlling information provided to the database;

(e) controlling the reports generated; and

(f) retaining configuration and historical information within the database for a predetermined time period by

(f1) reading a retention file;

(f2) reading records in the database; and

(f3) determining if a record is to be kept in the database.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the copying step (f4) further comprises discarding the record if the record is not to be kept.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the report providing step (c) further comprises the steps of:

(c1) reading the information data in the database;

(c2) providing assessments of the computer system; and

(c3) providing a report.

4. The method of claim 3 in which assessments providing step (c2) further comprises providing an out-of-balance assessment.

5. The method of claim 3 in which assessments providing step (c2) further comprises providing an out-of-range assessment.

6. The method of claim 3 in which assessments providing step (c2) further comprises providing a change in profile assessment.

7. The method of claim 3 in which assessments providing step (c2) further comprises providing a configuration anomaly assessment.

8. A performance diagnosis system (PDS) for providing an indication of the performance of a computer system;

the computer system including an operating system, the operating system including a plurality of resource managers;

the performance diagnosis system comprising;

a plurality of collector means;

each of the collector means being coupled to one of the plurality of resource managers for receiving data therefrom;

wherein each of the collector means further comprises;

means for requesting status information from the associated resource manager;

means for collecting historical information from the associated resource manager;

means responsive to the collecting means for requesting a record; and

means for sending the record to the database;

a database coupled to the plurality of collection means for providing historical and configuration information responsive to the received data, the database including an application program interface for providing the historical and configuration information in a standard format;

reporter means responsive to the historical and configuration information from the database for providing a report of the performance of the computer system;

collector control means coupled to the plurality of collector means for controlling information provided to the database;

reporter control means coupled to the reporter means for controlling the reports generated by the reporter;

retention control means coupled to the database for retaining configuration and historical information for a predetermined time period;

wherein the retention control means includes;

means for reading a retention file;

means responsive to the retention file reading means, for reading records in the database;

means responsive to the records reading means for determining if a record is to be kept in the database; and

timing means coupled to the collector control, reporter control and retention control means for timing the operation of the plurality of collectors, the reporter and the database.

9. The PDS of claim 8 in which the record copying means further comprises means for discarding the record if the record is not to be kept.

10. The PDS of claim 9 in which the reporter comprises

means for reading the information data in the database;

means responsive to the database reading means for providing assessments of the system; and

means responsive to assessments providing means for providing a report.

11. The PDS of claim 10 in which assessment providing means further comprises providing an out-of-balance assessment.

12. The PDS of claim 10 in which assessment providing means further comprises providing an out-of-range assessment.

13. The PDS of claim 10 in which assessment providing means further comprises providing a changes in profile assessment.

14. The PDS of claim 10 in which assessment providing means further comprises providing a configuration anomaly assessment.

15. A computer readable medium containing program instructions providing an indication of the performance of a computer system;

the computer system including an operating system, the operating system including a plurality of resource managers;

the program instructions comprising;

(a) receiving data from the plurality of resource managers;

each being coupled to a plurality of data collectors within the computer system;

the data being received by

(a1) requesting status information from the associated resource manager;

(a2) collecting historical information from the associated resource manager;

(a3) requesting a record; and

(a4) sending the record to the database;

(b) providing historical and configuration information responsive to the received data, a database including an application program interface for providing the historical and configuration information in a standard format;

(c) providing a report of the performance of the computer system;

(d) controlling information provided to the database;

(e) controlling the reports generated; and

(f) retaining configuration and historical information within the database for a predetermined time period by

(f1) reading a retention file;

(f2) reading records in the database; and

(f3) determining if a record is to be kept in the database.