Component Lock Tracing for OS Error Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating systems face challenges in managing locks, leading to software errors such as deadlocks, which negatively impact system performance due to the inability to effectively analyze and diagnose lock-related issues at a component level.
Innovation Solution
Implementing component-level lock tracing by associating locks with specific components of the operating system and instrumenting them with tracing program instructions, either statically at development time or dynamically at runtime, to analyze lock errors and improve reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional lock analysis methods are used, then individual lock debugging is possible, but analysis time and complexity increase significantly when dealing with multiple locks in a component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual lock tracing capabilities into a unified component-level lock tracing system. By merging the analysis of multiple locks under a single component abstraction, the system enables simultaneous monitoring and analysis of all locks within a component, significantly improving analysis efficiency and reducing the time required to diagnose lock-related issues compared to analyzing each lock individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal lock tracing mechanism that can trace multiple different locks across various functions and modules within a component through a single component-level interface. This multi-functional approach allows the same tracing infrastructure to handle diverse lock types and locations, making the analysis process more efficient and reducing the time investment required for comprehensive lock analysis.
2Reliability
If component-level lock tracing is implemented, then analysis of all locks in a component is enabled simultaneously, but system complexity increases due to additional tracing infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a component-level abstraction as an intermediary layer between individual locks and the tracing system. This intermediary component lock object aggregates multiple locks and provides a unified interface for tracing operations. By using this mediator, the system achieves comprehensive lock tracing with reduced complexity, as the intermediary manages the intricacies of individual lock tracking while presenting a simplified component-level view to analysts.
3Measurement precision
If locks are traced individually, then detailed lock information is captured, but the ability to analyze multiple locks simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tracing system into two distinct layers: individual lock tracking (maintaining detailed information) and component-level aggregation (enabling simultaneous analysis). Each lock maintains its detailed tracing information independently, while the component lock object segments and aggregates these individual traces into a unified component-level view. This segmentation allows both detailed information capture and simultaneous multi-lock analysis to coexist effectively.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and computer program products for lock tracing at a component level are disclosed. The one or more embodiments of the invention include computer program instructions for associating one or more locks with a component of the operating system; initiating lock tracing for the component; and instrumenting the component-associated locks with lock tracing program instructions in response to initiating lock tracing. The locks are selected from a group of locks configured for use by an operating system and individually comprise locking code. The component lock tracing may be static or dynamic.