Flexible result data structure and multi-node logging for a multi-node application system

• US 6,826,591 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: French, Steven Michael, McIntyre, Joseph Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILLIPS, HASSAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/737,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/227, 709/229, 709/232, 709/319, 709/204, 709/205, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/328 in the presentation layer [OSI layer 6]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method, system, and program product for managing result information in a multi-node networked data processing system is provided. In one embodiment, first results of execution from a task executed on a second node in the networked data processing system are received at a first node. The results comprise an array of result messages, wherein each result message contains a unique message identifier and associated message text content. The result messages are modified, if necessary, to create second results, wherein the second results comprise an array of result messages. The second results are sent to a requesting client node.

Claims

1. A method for managing result information in a multi-node networked data processing systems, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first node, first results of execution from a task executed on a second node in the networked data processing system, wherein the first results comprise an array of result messages;

modifying, at the first node, at least one of the result messages to create second results, wherein the second results comprise a second array of result messages including the modified result message(s);

receiving, at a third node, the second results;

modifying, at the third node, at least one of the second result messages to create third results, wherein the third results comprise a third array of result messages including the modified second result message(s); and

sending the third results to a requesting client node.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the result messages comprise at least one log entry.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the log entry comprises a system log.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the log entry comprises a security log.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the log entry comprises an audit log.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the log entry comprises an application log.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the entries in the result messages is an error message and includes a severity field indicating a severity of the error.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the severity field is a warning.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the severity field is an informational field.

10. A method for transmitting log entries within result data structures through a chain of nodes in a multi-node networked data processing system, the method comprising:

sending, from a first node, a command request to a second node;

receiving, at the first node, a result of execution from the second node, wherein the result of execution contains both a program result from one or more tasks executed and a set of log messages, wherein each log message contains a unique identifier and associated text content; and

modifying, at the first node, at least one of the log messages in the set of log messages received in the result to produce a modified result and appending the modified result to an existing log system on the first node, the existing log system comprising a first node result of execution from one or more tasks executed by the first node.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting the modified result to a requesting node.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein at least some of the set of log messages in the modified result are identical to corresponding log messages in the result.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the modified result contains all of the log messages contained within the result.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the modified result contains none of the log messages contained within the result.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the step of modifying comprises placing a modified log entry in the modified results corresponding to an unmodified log entry in the set of log messages in the results.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein modifying the set of log messages comprises translating at least one of the log entries in the set of log entries from a first language into a primary language of the requesting client node if the first language is different from the primary language of the requesting client node.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the translating the log entries comprises matching the message identification of a log entry with a corresponding replacement text in the primary language of the requesting client node.

18. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for managing result information in a multi-node networked data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving, at a first node, first results of execution from a task executed on a second node in the networked data processing system, wherein the first results comprise an array of result messages;

second instructions for modifying, at the first node, at least one of the result messages to create second results, wherein the second results comprise a second array of result messages including the modified result message(s);

third instructions for receiving, at a third node, the second results;

fourth instructions for modifying, at the third node, at least one of the second result messages to create third results, wherein the third results comprise a third array of result messages including the modified second result message(s);

fifth instructions for sending the third results to a requesting client node.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein the result messages comprise at least one log entry.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein the log entry comprises a system log.

21. The computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein the log entry comprises a security log.

22. The computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein the log entry comprises an audit log.

23. The computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein the log entry comprises an application log.

24. The computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one of the entries in the result messages is an error message and includes a severity field indicating a severity of the error.

25. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the severity field is a warning.

26. The computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the severity field is an informational field.

27. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for transmitting log entries within result data structures through a chain of nodes in a multi-node networked data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for sending, from a first node, a command request to a second node;

second instructions for receiving, at the first node, a result of execution from the second node, wherein the result of execution contains both a program result from one or more tasks executed and a set of log messages, wherein each log message contains a unique identifier and associated text content; and

third instructions for modifying, at the first node, at least one of the log messages in the set of log messages received in the result to produce a modified result and appending the modified result to an existing log system on the first node, the existing log system comprising a first node result of execution from one or more tasks executed by the first node.

28. The computer program product as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

fourth instructions for transmitting the modified result to a requesting node.

29. The computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein at least some of the set of log messages in the modified result are identical to corresponding log messages in the result.

30. The computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the modified result contains all of the log messages contained within the result.

31. The computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the modified result contains none of the log messages contained within the result.

32. The computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the step of modifying comprises placing a modified log entry in the modified results corresponding to an unmodified log entry in the set of log messages in the results.

33. The computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein modifying the set of log messages comprises translating at least one of the log entries in the set of log entries from a first language into a primary language of the requesting client node if the first language is different from the primary language of the requesting client node.

34. The computer program product as recited in claim 33, wherein the translating the log entries comprises matching the message identification of a log entry with a corresponding replacement text in the primary language of the requesting client node.

35. A system for managing result information in a multi-node networked data processing system, the system comprising:

first means for receiving, at a first node, first results of execution from a task executed on a second node in the networked data processing system, wherein the first results comprise an array of result messages;

second means for modifying, at the first node, at least one of the result messages to create second results, wherein the second results comprise a second array of result messages including the modified result message(s);

third means for receiving, at a third node, the second results;

fourth means for modifying, at the third node, at least one of the second result messages to create third results, wherein the third results comprise a third array of result messages including the modified second result message(s);

fifth means for sending the second results to a requesting client node.

36. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein the result messages comprise at least one log entry.

37. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the log entry comprises a system log.

38. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the log entry comprises a security log.

39. The system is recited in claim 36, wherein the log entry comprises an audit log.

40. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the log entry comprises an application log.

41. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein at least one of the entries in the result messages is an error message and includes a severity field indicating a severity of the error.

42. The system as recited in claim 41, wherein the severity field is a warning.

43. The system as recited in claim 41, wherein the severity field is an informational field.

44. A system for transmitting log entries within result data structures through a chain of nodes in a multi-node networked data processing system, the system comprising:

first means for sending, from a first node, a command request to a second node;

second means for receiving, at the first node, a result of execution from the second node, wherein the result of execution contains both a program result from one or more tasks executed and an array of log messages, wherein each log message contains a unique identifier and associated text content; and

third means for modifying, at the first node, at least one of the log messages in the set of log messages received in the result to produce a modified result and appending the modified result to an existing log system on the first node, the existing log system comprising a first node result of execution from one or more tasks executed by the first node.

45. The system as recited in claim 44, further comprising:

fourth means for transmitting the modified result to a requesting node.

46. The system as recited in claim 44, wherein at least some of the set of log messages in the modified result are identical to corresponding log messages in the result.

47. The system as recited in claim 44, wherein the modified result contains all of the log messages contained within the result.

48. The system as recited in claim 44, wherein the modified result contains none of the log messages contained within the result.

49. The system as recited in claim 44, wherein the step of modifying comprises placing a modified log entry in the modified results corresponding to an unmodified log entry in the set of log messages in the results.

50. The system as recited in claim 44, wherein modifying the set of log messages comprises translating at least one of the log entries in the set of log entries from a first language into a primary language of the requesting client node if the first language is different from the primary language of the requesting client node.

51. The system as recited in claim 50, wherein the translating the log entries comprises matching the message identification of a log entry with a corresponding replacement text in the primary language of the requesting client node.