Methods for monitoring and managing processes

• US 8,010,964 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Glicklich, Barry J., Kurek, Scott R., Stern, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Meng
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, TAMMY EUNHYE
• Application Number:
  US11/292,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 718/101, 714/39, 726/4, 726/6, 726/9, 709/224
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/468 Specific access rights for resources, e.g. using capability register
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for managing process execution within an operating system. The systems and method store a process initialization file, preparing a process list of processes that can be controlled by an individual user, and monitoring execution of the processes based on the process list for each user. The process initialization file is managed by a user with a first level of access to the operating system, and indicates which processes may have process execution controlled by users of the system having a different second level of access to the operating system. A process list is prepared for each individual user having the second level of access.

Claims

1. A method for managing control over process execution by an operating system, the method comprising:

defining first and second user levels of access to the operating system, the first user level having more privileges than the second user level;

storing a process initialization file in a computer memory device, the process initialization file identifying processes, for which process execution is controlled by users having only the second user level of access to the system;

preparing a process list, identifying each user having the second user level of access that affords the user control over execution of the identified processes; and

monitoring execution of the identified processes based on the process list for each user having the second level of access, wherein monitoring includes starting a user-level process monitor upon initialization or restarting of the operating system.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the process initialization file comprises at least one of the following:

i) processes to start during an initialization of the operating system;

ii) processes to start during normal operation of the operating system;

iii) processes to restart upon occurrence of a particular event;

iv) processes to shut down during a shut down or re-booting of the operating system; and

v) a particular operating system configuration in which a process should start.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the process list comprises instructions informing the operating system of processes that should be running based on at least one of the following:

i) a prior request of a user,

ii) a name of the user that submitted a request, and

iii) any parameters to apply when starting corresponding processes.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein monitoring execution of the processes includes starting a user-level process monitor that constitutes a script with a running loop that continuously checks and executes instructions in the process list.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising allowing a user with the first level of access to add processes to the process list, modify processes on the process list, and remove processes from the process list, on a user by user basis for users having a second level of access.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring execution of the processes based on the process list comprises:

accessing an entry in the process list associated with a first process; and

determining a state of the first process associated with the entry in the process list.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring execution of the processes based on the process list comprises:

initializing a counter;

accessing an entry in the process list corresponding to the counter; and

determining a state of a process represented by the counter.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

determining when all entries in the process list have been accessed.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring execution of the processes based on the process list comprises:

accessing an entry in the process list associated with a first process;

determining whether the first process is running;

determining whether the first process is supposed to be running; and

adjusting execution of the first process based on determining operations.

10. A computer system for managing control over process execution by an operating system, comprising:

memory storing a user-level process list and a process initialization file, the process initialization file being accessible by users of the system having a first level of access, and identifying processes for which process execution is controlled by users of the system having a different second level of access to the system, the processes being executed by an operating system;

the user-level process list identifying processes and users with the second level of access having privileges to control execution of the corresponding process; and

a user-level process monitor module that monitors execution of the identified processes based on the user-level process list, and starts a user-level process monitor upon initialization or restarting of the operating system.

11. A computer system according to claim 10 further comprising:

an add user-level process module allowing a user with the first level of access to add processes from the user-level process list for individual users having a second level of system access.

12. A computer system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a remove user-level process module allowing a user with the first level of system access to remove processes from the user-level process list for individual users having the second level of system access.

13. A computer system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a modify user-level process module allowing a user with the first level of system access to modify processes previously added by the user.

14. A computer system according to claim 10 further comprising an add user-level process module accepting input from a user to add a process to the user-level process list including a particular configuration of the operating system under which the process should be run.

15. A computer system according to claim 10 further comprising an add user-level process module accepting input from a user to add a process to the user-level process list, the add user level process module determining if the process to be added is already included in the user-level process list.

16. A computer system according to claim 10 wherein the process initialization file comprises at least one of the following:

i) processes to start during an initialization of an operating system;

ii) processes to start during normal operation of the operating system;

iii) processes to restart upon a particular event;

iv) processes to shut down during a shut down or re-booting of the operating system; and

v) a particular operating system configuration in which a process should be started.

17. A computer system according to claim 10 wherein the user-level process list comprises instructions to the operating system indicating which processes should be running based on at least one of the following:

i) a prior request of a user,

ii) a name of the user that submitted the request, and

iii) any parameters to apply to individual processes upon starting.

18. A computer system according to claim 10 wherein the user-level process monitor comprises a script having a running loop that continuously checks and executes instructions in the user-level process list.

19. A computer system according to claim 10 wherein the user-level process monitor determines a state of the process represented by an entry in the user-level process list.

20. A computer system according to claim 10 wherein the user-level process monitor accesses an entry in the user-level process list and determines a state of a process represented by the entry.

21. A computer system according to claim 10 wherein an operating system for said computer system comprises one of a Unix operating system, a Solaris operating system, a Linux operating system, and a Unix-like operating system.

22. A computer system according to claim 10 wherein the user-level process monitor accesses an entry in the user-level process list representing one of the processes;

determines when the process represented by the entry in the user-level process list is running;

determine when the process represented by the entry in the user-level process list is supposed to be running; and

adjusts execution of the process represented by the entry in the user-level process list based on the results of the determinations.

23. A computer program product for, managing control over processes to be executed by an operating system, the product disposed on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

store and execute a process initialization file, the process initialization file being accessible by users identified by the operating system as having a first level of access, the process initialization file identifying processes for which process execution is controlled by users identified by the operating system as having a second level of access,

maintain a user-level process list that identifies users with the second level of access having privileges to control execution of the identified processes;

monitor execution of the processes based on the user-level process list; and

starts a user-level process monitor upon initialization or restarting of the operating system.