Log Master Server Consolidates Scattered System Logs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual management and archival of system and application log files across multiple servers is time-consuming and lacks an automated process to consolidate logs into a unified format for ease of management and archiving.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a log master server that accesses and combines log files from shared storage, compresses them, and stores them in an archival location, with automated scripts and error checking to streamline the process and reduce oversight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If log files are maintained separately on each server, then each server can independently capture and store its own log data, but log files become scattered across multiple servers making management and archival difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelog capture reliabilityVSAvoidlog management ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates log files from multiple servers into a single centralized location. The system collects log files from different servers, combines them into one unified log file, and stores it centrally, transforming scattered individual log files into a single manageable entity that can be easily archived and analyzed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual processes are used to manage and archive log files, then flexibility in handling individual log files is maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelog management flexibilityVSAvoidlog archival efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated self-service functionality where the log management process operates without manual intervention. The system automatically collects log files from multiple servers, combines them into a unified format, compresses the data, and archives it to storage, eliminating the need for manual handling while maintaining adaptability through configurable parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If multiple separate log files are kept on different servers, then each server's specific log data is preserved, but consolidation and analysis become complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelog data completenessVSAvoidconsolidation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary consolidation actions by collecting and combining log files from multiple servers into a unified format before archival. This preliminary processing organizes the scattered log data into a single structured file, making subsequent analysis straightforward and eliminating the time-consuming process of manually gathering and correlating logs from different sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11868308B2Managing and archiving system and application log files

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 RED HAT INC

AI summary

Log files are received from disparate remote system machines separate from the log master server machine. Error checking code is executed to identify missing log files of the received log files from the disparate remote system machines and determine whether to ignore the missing log files. In response to determining to ignore the missing log files the received log files are stored on shared storage of the log master server machine.