Dynamic Microcore Generation for Network Storage Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network-based storage systems face challenges in generating core dumps, as full core dumps are large and time-consuming to transfer, causing system downtime and network congestion, and existing methods require system rebooting.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating a microcore file, a subset of a full core dump, with a dynamically defined microcore specification at runtime, allowing for online creation and transfer of a compact file that includes specific system information to diagnose issues without system downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a full core dump is generated for system diagnosis, then complete system state information is obtained, but the file size becomes multi-gigabytes causing long transfer times and network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential diagnostic information from the full core dump by generating a microcore file that includes selectively dumped memory regions, register contents, and system state data. This extraction approach retains the necessary diagnostic information while reducing the file size from multi-gigabytes to a manageable size, thereby solving the contradiction between information completeness and transfer time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the core dump process into multiple components: a microcore specification that defines what information to capture, and a microcore file that contains only the essential diagnostic data. This segmentation allows the system to obtain complete diagnostic information through the specification while keeping the actual transferred data minimal, addressing the contradiction between information completeness and transfer time.
2Loss of information
If a full core dump is generated using halt command, then complete diagnostic information is obtained, but the system must go offline and be rebooted reducing availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the core dump process dynamic by allowing it to occur while the system remains online and operational. The microcore generation process can be triggered at any time without requiring system halt or reboot, as the system dynamically captures the necessary diagnostic information from current memory states and register contents. This dynamic approach maintains system availability while obtaining complete diagnostic information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the microcore specification with the necessary diagnostic parameters and memory regions before the actual dump occurs. This preliminary setup allows the system to capture complete diagnostic information without needing to halt or reboot, as all necessary capture parameters are already defined, thereby maintaining system availability.
3Loss of information
If a full core dump is transferred to remote support center, then complete analysis is possible, but network congestion occurs and transfer takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential diagnostic information from the full core dump, creating a microcore file that contains selectively dumped memory regions, register contents, and system state data. This extraction reduces the file size from multi-gigabytes to a manageable size, thereby reducing network traffic and avoiding congestion while retaining all necessary diagnostic information for analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of data size by transforming the full core dump into a microcore file with reduced size. The microcore specification allows the system to control and limit the amount of data captured, changing the data volume parameter from multi-gigabytes to a small file size that can be easily transferred over networks without causing congestion.
4Loss of information
If system is brought down for core dump generation, then complete memory image can be captured, but system downtime is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the memory capture process dynamic by allowing it to occur while the system remains online. The microcore generation process can be triggered at any time without requiring system halt, as the system dynamically captures the necessary diagnostic information from current memory states and register contents. This dynamic approach eliminates system downtime while obtaining complete diagnostic information.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating a microcore file, which is a subset of a full core dump, for a networked storage system includes generating a microcore file according to a microcore specification, and dynamically defining the microcore specification at runtime of the network storage system. The microcore specification is dynamically defined with information provided by results of an event that triggers the generation of the microcore file. After the microcore specification is defined, a region of a system memory is identified according to the microcore specification. The method further includes dumping the data from the region of the system memory into the microcore file.