Monitoring a system using weighting

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for collecting data processing system status information monitoring network communications with the data processing system to observe transaction(s) associated with the data processing system. The transaction(s) is analyzed to determine if the transaction(s) complies with a quality standard and a trigger is generated based on the analysis of the transaction(s). System status information is collected responsive to the generation of the trigger. The collection of system status information may be provided by collecting system status information so that collection of the system status information automatically time correlates the collected system status information with the trigger.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY [0001] The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 405,463, titled “Methods, Systems and Computer Program Products for Triggered Data Collection and Correlation of Status and / or State in Distributed Data Processing Systems,” filed on Apr. 3, 2003, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 369,580, entitled “Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products for Triggered Data Collection and Correlation of Status and / or State in Distributed Data Processing Networks, Systems, and / or Applications”, filed Apr. 4, 2002; both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0002] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, titled “Data Collection with User Identification,” by Patrick Charles O'Sullivan, filed on the same date herewith, (attorney docket no. WILY-01037US1), and is incorporated her...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems and computer program products for collecting data processing system status information by monitoring network communications with the data processing system to observe transaction(s) associated with the data processing system. The transaction(s) is analyzed to determine if the transaction(s) complies with a quality standard and a trigger is generated based on the analysis of the transaction(s). System status information is collected responsive to the generation of the trigger.

Problems solved by technology

Distributed data processing may pose a unique set of management challenges.

Because functionality is, typically, distributed and may interact across a wide variety of communications media including, but not limited to, local area networks (LANS), wide area networks (WANS), satellite communications, cellular networks, packet radio networks, and so forth, it may be difficult to manage service quality in such systems, in locating the components causing service quality problems, and / or in allocating resources to improve service quality.

Because a data processing system may be composed of a number of physical and logical systems, and these systems may in turn host a great number of software components, which in turn, may host more dependent software components, the problem may not be just one of distribution, but of complexity as well.

The volume of data available for inspection may make it difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain the causes of service quality problems in complex distributed data processing systems.

In the event that a large number of components experience a problem, a large number of these traps may be generated as well.

Service quality could be affected when one or more components involved in the delivery of the service experience a problem or problems.

In both cases this approach often relies upon after-the-fact time correlation between performance and / or availability issues and component traps.

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