Controller Data Recording Window for IHS Failure Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems often experience failures due to various reasons, leading to data loss as existing technologies do not effectively capture and store video and serial data during such events, resulting in difficulties in diagnosing and recovering from system crashes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detect system event log incidents in information handling systems, retrieve a data recording window containing video and serial data from volatile memory, and store it in non-volatile memory, enabling the capture and preservation of critical data during failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video data and serial data are stored in volatile memory during normal operation, then data accessibility is improved, but data loss occurs during system failure due to power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously capturing and buffering video data and serial data in volatile memory before a failure occurs. When a failure is detected, the buffered data is immediately transferred to non-volatile storage, preserving information that would otherwise be lost due to power loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a controller that monitors system health and manages data transfer between volatile and non-volatile storage. This intermediary detects failure conditions and orchestrates the emergency save operation, bridging the gap between fast but volatile memory and slow but persistent storage.
2Reliability
If data is continuously captured and stored in non-volatile memory, then data preservation is improved, but storage space is wasted for data that may never be needed
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously saving to non-volatile storage, the system performs preliminary buffering in volatile memory and only transfers data to non-volatile storage when a failure is detected. This preliminary action approach preserves data reliability while minimizing unnecessary storage consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using different storage characteristics for different data needs - volatile memory for active buffering during operation and non-volatile memory for preserving critical failure data. Each storage medium is used in its optimal context, avoiding the waste of using non-volatile storage for all data.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the system captures video data and serial data during failure, then diagnostic capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional memory and control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions - it manages normal system operation, monitors for failure conditions, captures video and serial data, and orchestrates emergency transfers to non-volatile storage. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, managing complexity while enabling comprehensive diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares diagnostic data in advance by continuously buffering video and serial data in volatile memory during normal operation. When failure occurs, this pre-prepared data is immediately available for transfer, eliminating the need for complex real-time capture systems and reducing overall device complexity.
4Speed
If a data recording window is maintained in volatile memory, then data retrieval speed is improved, but data loss risk increases during system failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains a data recording window in volatile memory for fast access during normal operation, and when failure is detected, immediately performs the preliminary action of transferring this window's contents to non-volatile storage. This preserves the speed advantage during operation while eliminating the reliability risk during failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that manages the data recording window in volatile memory and orchestrates its transfer to non-volatile storage upon failure detection. This intermediary mechanism reconciles the conflict between fast volatile storage and reliable non-volatile storage, enabling both speed and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, an information handling system (IHS), and a system for capturing video data and serial data during an IHS failure. The method includes detecting, via a controller, an occurrence of a system event log (SEL) incident in the IHS. In response to detecting the occurrence of the SEL incident in the IHS, a data recording window is retrieved from a volatile controller memory. The data recording window contains video data and serial data for a time period up to a time of detection of the SEL incident. The method further includes storing the data recording window including the video data and the serial data for the time period to a non-volatile controller memory.