Systems and methods for improving reliability and availability of an information handling system

• US 8,639,964 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Berke, Stuart Allen, Khatri, Mukund Purshottam
• Primary Examiner(s): Manoskey, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US12/726,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20110231697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 714/3, 714/4.1, 714/5.1, 714/10, 714/47.1, 714/47.2, 714/48
• US Class Current: 714/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/004 Error avoidance G06F11/07 and subgroups take precedence

Abstract

In one aspect, a method for improving reliability and availability of an information handling system is disclosed. Operational data associated with an operating margin may be captured. A threshold specified by a pre-defined profile may be identified. The pre-defined profile may be useable in adjusting the operating margin. The captured operational data may be compared to the pre-defined threshold. A parameter specified by the pre-defined profile may be identified. The operation of a component of the information handling system may be modified based, at least in part, on the identified parameter specified by the pre-defined profile. The modification may result in adjusting the operating margin.

Claims

1. A method for improving reliability and availability of an information handling system, the method comprising:

capturing operational data associated with an operating margin;

identifying a threshold specified by a user pre-defined profile, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin, wherein the user pre-defined profile is included in a policy that at least partially controls a subsystem of the information handling system;

wherein the operating margin includes a thermal margin, a frequency margin, a voltage margin, a timing margin, and at least one of a memory cell retention margin, an error rate margin, and a signal integrity margin;

comparing the captured operational data to the user pre-defined threshold;

identifying a parameter specified by the user pre-defined profile; and

modifying the operation of a component of the subsystem of the information handling system based, at least in part, on the identified parameter specified by the user pre-defined profile, wherein the modification results in adjusting the operating margin.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an error notification associated with the operating margin prior to capturing operational data associated with the operating margin.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

consequent to receiving the error notification, setting the modification of the operation of the component of the information handling system to occur along with a subsequent boot of the information handling system.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the modification of the operation of the component of the information handling system does not occur until after a subsequent boot of the information handling system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin to improve performance of the information handling system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin to improve power efficiency of the information handling system.

7. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory system communicatively coupled to the processor;

a computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and having stored thereon executable instructions to cause the processor to;

capture operational data associated with an operating margin;

identify a threshold specified by a user pre-defined profile, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin, wherein the user pre-defined profile is included in a policy that at least partially controls a subsystem of the information handling system;

wherein the operating margin includes a thermal margin, a frequency margin, a voltage margin, a timing margin, and at least one of a memory cell retention margin, an error rate margin, and a signal integrity margin;

compare the captured operational data to the user pre-defined threshold;

identify a parameter specified by the user pre-defined profile; and

modify the operation of a component of the subsystem of the information handling system based, at least in part, on the identified parameter specified by the user pre-defined profile, wherein the modification results in adjusting the operating margin.

8. The information handling system according to claim 7, wherein executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive an error notification associated with the operating margin prior to capturing operational data associated with the operating margin.

9. The information handling system according to claim 7, wherein the modification of the operation of the component of the information handling system does not occur until after a subsequent boot of the information handling system.

10. The information handling system according to claim 7, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin to improve performance of the information handling system.

11. The information handling system according to claim 7, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin to improve power efficiency of the information handling system.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing a computer program for improving reliability and availability of an information handling system, including executable instructions to cause a processor to:

capture operational data associated with an operating margin;

identify a threshold specified by a user pre-defined profile, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin, wherein the user pre-defined profile is included in a policy that at least partially controls a subsystem of the information handling system;

wherein the operating margin includes a thermal margin, a frequency margin, a voltage margin, a timing margin, and at least one of a memory cell retention margin, an error rate margin, and a signal integrity margin;

compare the captured operational data to the user pre-defined threshold;

identify a parameter specified by the user pre-defined profile; and

modify the operation of a component of the subsystem of the information handling system based, at least in part, on the identified parameter specified by the user pre-defined profile, wherein the modification results in adjusting the operating margin.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive an error notification associated with the operating margin prior to capturing operational data associated with the operating margin.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein executable instructions cause the processor to:

consequent to receiving the error notification, set the modification of the operation of the component of the information handling system to occur along with a subsequent boot of the information handling system.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the modification of the operation of the component of the information handling system does not occur until after a subsequent boot of the information handling system.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin to improve performance of the information handling system.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the user pre-defined profile is useable in adjusting the operating margin to improve power efficiency of the information handling system.