Hierarchical fault descriptors in computer systems

• US 6,708,291 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2000
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Equipe Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Kidder, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Yolanda L
• Application Number:
  US09/574,340
• Time in Patent Office: 1,396 Days
• Field of Search: 714/26, 714/39, 714/27, 714/33, 714/37, 714/45, 714/46, 714/47, 714/57, 709/224
• US Class Current: 714/39
• 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 11/0775 Content or structure details of the error report, e.g. specific table structure, specific error fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0784 Routing of error reports, e.g. with a specific transmission path or data flow
• 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 11/327 Alarm or error message display

Abstract

Computer systems and methods of data processing are disclosed in which hierarchical descriptors define levels of fault/event management to intelligently monitor hardware and software and proactively take action in accordance with a defined fault policy. A fault policy based on a defined hierarchy ensures that for each particular type of failure the most appropriate action is taken. Hierarchical descriptors can be used to provide information specific to each failure or event. The hierarchical descriptors provide granularity with which to report faults, take action based on fault history and apply fault recovery policies. The descriptors can be stored in a master event log file or local event log files through which faults and events may be tracked and displayed to the user and allow for fault detection at a fine granular level and proactive response to events. In addition, the descriptors can be matched with descriptors in a fault policy to determine the recovery action to be taken.

Claims

1. A method of managing events in a computer system comprising:

detecting one or more events;

creating a hierarchical level event descriptor; and

responding to the one or more events in accordance with the hierarchical level event descriptor;

wherein responding to the event comprises;

sending the hierarchical level event descriptor to a hierarchical level event manager.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical level event descriptor includes a plurality of fields which include data relevant to the event and wherein responding to the event comprises:

taking actions in accordance with information stored in the plurality of fields.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating a hierarchical level event descriptor comprises:

grouping events into categories within a top hierarchical level; and

grouping events into categories within one or more lower hierarchical levels; and

wherein the step of responding to the detected events comprises;

responding to the detected events in accordance with the categories within each hierarchical level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical level event descriptor is selected to comprise hierarchical fields representing events at different hierarchical levels.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hierarchical fields include;

a top hierarchical level field; and

one or more lower hierarchical level fields.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the top hierarchical level field comprises:

a class field indicating whether the event is related to hardware or software.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more lower hierarchical level fields comprise:

a sub-class field indicating whether the event is related to particular hardware or software groups.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more hierarchical level fields comprise:

a next lower hierarchical level type field, wherein the type field more specifically defines the sub-class field event.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more lower hierarchical level fields comprise:

a lowest hierarchical level instance field identifying specific hardware or software related to the event.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more lower hierarchical level fields include data indicating more specific event descriptors than data in the top hierarchical level field.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the events includes a failure.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

comparing the hierarchical level event descriptor with entries in a policy table;

determining a best match between an entry in the policy table and the hierarchical level event descriptor; and

responding to the event in accordance with the entry in the policy table.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the best match comprises an exact match.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the hierarchical level event descriptor in an event log.

15. A method of managing events in a computer system comprising:

detecting an event;

creating a hierarchical level event descriptor, wherein creating the hierarchical level event descriptor comprises;

assigning the event a value at a top hierarchical level;

assigning the event a value at one or more lower hierarchical levels; and

wherein the method further comprises;

responding to the detected event in accordance with the assigned values at the top and lower hierarchical levels.