Method and apparatus for determining the effects of temperature variations within a computer system

1. A method for determining the effects of temperature variations in a computer system, comprising:

commencing operation of the computer system, wherein prior to commencing operation of the computer system, the method further comprises installing a telemetry harness within the computer system to gather performance parameters for the computer system;

varying a flow of a coolant through the computer system to produce a temperature variation in the computer system while the computer system is operating; and

monitoring the computer system to determine effects of the temperature variation on the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the computer system involves monitoring for system errors that arise during operation of the computer system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises attempting to determine a root cause of an error that arises during operation of the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the computer system involves monitoring physical performance parameters within the computer system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein monitoring the physical performance parameters involves monitoring temperature, voltage and/or current within the computer system.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein monitoring physical performance parameters involves attempting to detect a failing sensor within the computer system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the computer system involves monitoring internal performance parameters maintained by software within the computer system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein varying the flow of the coolant involves varying the flow in a manner that produces a periodic variation in the temperature of the computer system.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein varying the flow of the coolant involves varying the flow in a manner that produces a substantially sinusoidal variation in the temperature of the computer system.

10. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the coolant is air; and

wherein varying the flow of the coolant through the computer system involves varying the speed of a cooling fan that blows air through the computer system.

11. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the coolant is a liquid; and

wherein varying the flow of the coolant through the computer system involves varying the speed of a coolant pump that pumps the coolant through the computer system.

12. An apparatus that determines the effects of temperature variations in a computer system, comprising:

a variation mechanism configured to vary a flow of a coolant through the computer system to produce a temperature variation in the computer system while the computer system is operating; and

a monitoring mechanism configured to monitor the computer system to determine effects of the temperature variation on the computer system, wherein the monitoring mechanism includes a telemetry harness, which is configured to gather performance parameters for the computer system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is configured to monitor for system errors that arise during operation of the computer system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is configured to determine a root cause of an error that arises during operation of the computer system.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is configured to monitor physical performance parameters within the computer system.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein while monitoring the physical performance parameters, the monitoring mechanism is configured to monitor temperature, voltage and/or current within the computer system.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein while monitoring temperature, voltage and/or current, the monitoring mechanism is configured to detect a failing sensor within the computer system.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is configured to monitor internal performance parameters maintained by software within the computer system.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the variation mechanism is configured to vary the flow of coolant in a manner that produces a periodic variation in the temperature of the computer system.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the variation mechanism is configured to vary the flow of coolant in a manner that produces a substantially sinusoidal variation in the temperature of the computer system.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 ,

wherein the coolant is air; and

wherein the variation mechanism is configured to vary the speed of a cooling fan that blows air through the computer system.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 ,

wherein the coolant is a liquid; and

wherein the variation mechanism is configured to vary the speed of a coolant pump that pumps the coolant through the computer system.

23. A computer system that is configured to determine the effects of temperature variations within the computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a variation mechanism configured to vary a flow of a coolant through the computer system to produce a temperature variation in the computer system while the computer system is operating; and

a monitoring mechanism configured to monitor the computer system to determine effects of the temperature variation on the computer system, wherein the monitoring mechanism includes a telemetry harness, which is configured to gather performance parameters for the computer system.

24. The computer system of claim 23 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is configured to monitor for system errors that arise during operation of the computer system.

25. The computer system of claim 24 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is configured to determine a root cause of an error that arises during operation of the computer system.

26. The computer system of claim 23 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is configured to monitor physical performance parameters within the computer system.

27. The computer system of claim 23 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is configured to monitor internal performance parameters maintained by software within the computer system.

28. The computer system of claim 23 , wherein the variation mechanism is configured to vary the flow of coolant in a manner that produces a periodic variation in the temperature of the computer system.

29. The computer system of claim 28 , wherein varying the flow of the coolant involves varying the flow in a manner that produces a substantially sinusoidal variation in the temperature of the computer system.

30. The computer system of claim 23 ,

wherein the coolant is air; and

wherein the variation mechanism is configured to vary the speed of a cooling fan that blows air through the computer system.

31. The computer system of claim 23 ,

wherein the coolant is a liquid; and

wherein the variation mechanism is configured to vary the speed of a coolant pump that pumps the coolant through the computer system.

32. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for determining the effects of temperature variations in a computer system, wherein the computer-readable storage medium includes magnetic and optical storage devices, disk drives, magnetic tape, CDs (compact discs), and DVDs (digital versatile discs or digital video discs), the method comprising:

prior to commencing operation of the computer system, installing a telemetry harness within the computer system to gather performance parameters for the computer system;

varying a flow of a coolant through the computer system to produce a temperature variation in the computer system while the computer system is operating; and

monitoring the computer system to determine effects of the temperature variation on the computer system.