Method for deferred data collection in a clock running system

• US 20050268187A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Swaney, Scott B., Meaney, Patrick J., Grassmann, Kurt A., Marquardt, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0724 in a multiprocessor or a multi-core unit multiprocessors per se G06F15/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0772 Means for error signaling, e.g. using interrupts, exception flags, dedicated error registers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0778 Dumping, i.e. gathering error/state information after a fault for later diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program

Abstract

A method for deferred logging of machine data following an error or event in order to capture critical information for that error or event treats the data as persistent and it does not get logged until a disruption occurs to the system (e.g. system reset, restart, deactivation, or powered-down). This way, important debug data can be held in the hardware or software, without a need for complicated hardware and code for logging this debug data. Methods are also disclosed for setting a switch to indicate deferred logging is required, referencing the log data with the original event information, calling home with the debug data, resetting the deferred logging switch, setting the deferred logging switch manually, viewing whether the switch is already set, and supporting different kinds of switches.

Claims

1. A method for saving debug data in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting errors in said computer system;

(b) preserving debug data for the said detected errors;

(d) setting flags indicating that said errors occurred; and

(e) upon an event, checking the said flags and logging the debug data corresponding to the said errors.

2. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said event is disruptive.

3. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said event is a power-down of the machine.

4. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said event is a restart of the machine.

5. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of preserving debug data is accompanied by the additional step of:

(c) logging some or all of said debug data while the machine is running.

6. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said setting flags includes saving the reference codes and timestamps of the said errors.

7. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said steps are accompanied by the additional step of:

(f) resetting the flags during a restart.

8. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said steps are accompanied by the additional step of:

(f) resetting the flags during a power-down.

9. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said steps are accompanied by the additional step of:

(f) resetting the flags during a power-up.

10. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said debug data includes the hardware state of the machine.

11. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said debug data includes the software state of the machine.

12. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of logging the debug data is done via scanning.

13. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of logging the debug data is done via microcode dumps.

14. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said steps are accompanied by the additional steps of:

(g) calling home with debug data information;

(h) indicating the reference codes of the original errors;

(i) indicating the timestamps of the original errors.

15. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of setting flags is done manually.

16. The method for saving debug data in a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said flags can be viewed.