Method and device for analyzing an execution of a predetermined program flow on a physical computer system
First Claim
1. A method for analyzing a predetermined program flow including a plurality of execution steps on a physical computer system operable to execute the predetermined program flow, the system including a plurality of interacting physical hardware units, the method comprising the following steps:
- generating, by a hypervisor, a virtual hardware unit corresponding with a physical hardware unit of the physical computer system;
replicating, by the hypervisor, a computing service provided by the physical hardware unit as a computing service provided by the virtual hardware unit in order to develop at least part of a virtual computer system which corresponds to the physical computer system;
executing the predetermined program flow a first time using the replicated computing services of the virtual hardware unit, and monitoring a first execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit, wherein execution of the replicated computing services of the virtual hardware unit simulates a non-defective operation of the physical hardware unit;
varying, by the hypervisor, the replicated computing service to provide a varied computing service of the virtual hardware unit, the varied computing service simulating a defect in the physical hardware unit;
executing the predetermined program flow a second time using the varied computing service of the virtual hardware unit, and monitoring a second execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit, wherein execution of the varied computing services of the virtual hardware unit simulates a defective operation of the physical hardware unit;
identifying an execution behavior change by comparing the first execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit with the second execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit; and
based on the identified execution behavior change of the virtual hardware unit, changing the program flow for subsequent execution on the physical hardware unit to avoid the simulated defective operation of the physical hardware unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The functionality of simulated, virtual hardware units is varied during the execution of a program flow on the virtual hardware units, for example via an interface device of a simulation device, in such a manner that the execution behavior changes of a program flow can be identified by using at least one faulty, physical hardware unit. A method and a device are used for analyzing an execution of a predetermined program flow on a physical computer system. The method and the device are used to determine execution behavior changes of software products which changes are due to faulty hardware components. The method and device allow execution behavior changes to be identified systematically, using an operating system and eliminates the need for expensive, physical hardware components and for modifications to a physical computer system.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing a predetermined program flow including a plurality of execution steps on a physical computer system operable to execute the predetermined program flow, the system including a plurality of interacting physical hardware units, the method comprising the following steps:
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generating, by a hypervisor, a virtual hardware unit corresponding with a physical hardware unit of the physical computer system; replicating, by the hypervisor, a computing service provided by the physical hardware unit as a computing service provided by the virtual hardware unit in order to develop at least part of a virtual computer system which corresponds to the physical computer system; executing the predetermined program flow a first time using the replicated computing services of the virtual hardware unit, and monitoring a first execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit, wherein execution of the replicated computing services of the virtual hardware unit simulates a non-defective operation of the physical hardware unit; varying, by the hypervisor, the replicated computing service to provide a varied computing service of the virtual hardware unit, the varied computing service simulating a defect in the physical hardware unit; executing the predetermined program flow a second time using the varied computing service of the virtual hardware unit, and monitoring a second execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit, wherein execution of the varied computing services of the virtual hardware unit simulates a defective operation of the physical hardware unit; identifying an execution behavior change by comparing the first execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit with the second execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit; and based on the identified execution behavior change of the virtual hardware unit, changing the program flow for subsequent execution on the physical hardware unit to avoid the simulated defective operation of the physical hardware unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer installation for analyzing a predetermined program flow including a plurality of execution steps on a physical computer system including a physical hardware unit which interacts with at least one further physical hardware unit, comprising:
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computer instructions stored in non-transitory computer-readable media, and a processor configured to execute the computer instructions to; generate, using a hypervisor, a virtual hardware unit corresponding with the physical hardware unit; replicate, using the hypervisor, a computing service provided by the physical hardware unit as a computing service provided by the virtual hardware unit, execute the predetermined program flow a first time using the replicated computing service of the virtual hardware unit, and monitoring a first execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit, wherein execution of the replicated computing services of the virtual hardware unit simulates a non-defective operation of the physical hardware unit, vary, using the hypervisor, the computing service of the virtual hardware unit to provide a varied computing service of the virtual hardware unit that simulates a defect in the physical hardware unit, execute the predetermined program flow a second time using the varied computing service of the virtual hardware unit, and monitoring a second execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit, wherein execution of the varied computing services of the virtual hardware unit simulates a defective operation of the physical hardware unit, identify an execution behavior change by comparing the execution behaviors of the virtual hardware unit, and based on the identified execution behavior change of the virtual hardware unit, change the program flow for subsequent execution on the physical hardware unit to avoid the simulated defective operation of the physical hardware unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed on a computer installation for analyzing a predetermined program flow using a physical computer system including a physical hardware unit which interacts with at least one further physical hardware unit, the computer installation comprising a control entity operable to replicate the functionality of the physical hardware unit as a functionality of a virtual hardware unit, to vary a functionality of the virtual hardware unit, to monitor execution behaviors, to compare the execution behaviors, and perform the steps of:
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generating, using a hypervisor, a virtual hardware unit corresponding with a physical hardware unit of the physical computer system; replicating, using the hypervisor, a computing service provided by the physical hardware unit as a computing service provided by the virtual hardware unit in order to develop at least part of a virtual computer system which corresponds to the physical computer system; executing the predetermined program flow a first time using the replicated computing services of the virtual hardware unit, and monitoring a first execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit, wherein execution of the replicated computing services of the virtual hardware unit simulates a non-defective operation of the physical hardware unit; varying, by the hypervisor, the replicated computing service to provide a varied computing service of the virtual hardware unit, the varied computing service simulating a defect in the physical hardware unit; executing the predetermined program flow a second time using the varied computing service of the virtual hardware unit, and monitoring a second execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit, wherein execution of the varied computing services of the virtual hardware unit simulates a defective operation of the physical hardware unit; identifying an execution behavior change by comparing the first execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit with the second execution behavior of the virtual hardware unit; and based on the identified execution behavior change of the virtual hardware unit, changing the program flow for subsequent execution on the physical hardware unit to avoid the simulated defective operation of the physical hardware unit.
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Specification