Cluster Core File Debugging With Support Bundles for Faster Triage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cluster network debugging solutions are inefficient due to the large size of core files, which leads to lengthy processing times and delayed issue resolution, especially with increasing system memory, impacting customer network bandwidth and debugging speed.
Innovation Solution
A cluster network debugging solution that collects and transfers core files efficiently using a support bundle processor, which gathers information from all nodes in parallel through a coordinator-worker design, providing a unified interface for comprehensive analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If core files are copied to vendor or offsite third party for analysis, then comprehensive debugging can be performed, but the upload time increases significantly due to large file size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential debugging information from core files by using analysis tools to process them locally and generate condensed support bundles. Instead of uploading entire core files (which can be many gigabytes), the system extracts relevant data such as error traces, system state information, and diagnostic data into a much smaller package that can be quickly transmitted to vendors for analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of the core file data through support bundles. Rather than copying the actual core files, the system generates condensed versions containing only the necessary debugging information, effectively creating a lightweight replica that serves the same purpose for vendor analysis while being much faster to transmit.
2Productivity
If system memory is increased to handle larger data sets, then processing capability is improved, but core file size increases leading to even longer upload times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by using analysis tools to pull out only the essential debugging information from the core files. Even as core files grow larger with increased system memory, the support bundle generation process extracts only the relevant diagnostic data, maintaining a consistent and manageable upload size regardless of the underlying core file growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of data representation by transforming core files into support bundles with different characteristics. The support bundles use compressed formats and selective inclusion of data, changing the size, structure, and composition parameters to achieve faster transmission while preserving debugging capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate interfaces are used to provide information back to users, administrators, and vendors, then specific problem areas can be addressed, but unifying all information for analysis becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple information sources and interfaces into a unified support bundle format. By collecting data from various system components, user reports, and diagnostic tools into a single standardized package, the system eliminates the complexity of managing separate interfaces while maintaining the ability to address specific problem areas through structured data organization within the bundle.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bundle serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides debugging information to vendors, status reports to administrators, and diagnostic data for automated analysis. This universal interface replaces multiple specialized interfaces, reducing complexity while maintaining adaptability to different analysis needs through the structured organization of information within the single bundle.
Data Source
AI summary
Providing issue resolution in a cluster system by monitoring system operation to detect occurrence of a system error, and automatically generating, upon detection of the error condition, a core file for a user node. The core file captures a current memory state of a respective node, where the current memory state comprises system statistics, system information, and logs. An intelligent core debugger extracts information from a core file to generate a core file report that is sent to a vendor for a quick determination of whether sufficient information is in the report to allow the vendor to recommend a fix, or whether further information from is required, including the core file itself, if necessary. This prevents the need to send an entire core file to a vendor in every instance of a system fault.