Kernel debugging in a cluster computing system
View Patent ↗An embodiment of a method of maintaining operation of a cluster of computing devices includes an initial step of detecting a suspended kernel process on a first of the computing devices. In addition to the step of detecting the suspended kernel process the method includes the step of issuing a first signal that causes a cluster management process to disregard the first of the computing devices when determining if there exists a quorum of the computing devices.
1. A method of facilitating kernel debugging in a cluster of computing devices, the method comprising the steps of:
detecting a suspended kernel process on a first of the computing devices; and
issuing a first signal to cause a breakpoint to be set in a kernel process of each of the computing devices, wherein the step of issuing the first signal comprises invoking a function that causes a cluster synchronization process to issue a second signal that causes the breakpoint to be set in the kernel process of each of the computing devices.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of issuing the first signal comprises the steps of:
sending a first message to each of the computing devices via a communication network;
receiving via the communication network a plurality of second messages sent by the computing devices in response to receiving the first message; and
sending a third message to each of the computing devices via the communication network.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the communication network is in the form of a local area network dedicated to transferring kernel debugging data.
4. The method as claim in claim 1 , the method further comprising the steps of:
receiving a first signal that has been issued to cause a breakpoint to be set in a kernel process of each of the computing devices.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving a third signal that has been issued in response to the second signal being issued; and
issuing a fourth signal in response to receiving the third signal.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the steps of issuing the second signal, receiving the third signal and issuing the fourth signal respectively comprises the steps of issuing the second signal to a communication network, receiving the third signal from the communication network, and issuing the fourth signal to the communication network.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
processing by detecting a suspended kernel process on a first of the computing devices.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the processing further comprises:
sending a first message to each of the computing devices via a communication network;
receiving via the communication network a plurality of second messages sent by the computing devices in response to receiving the first message; and
sending a third message to each of the computing devices via the communication network.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the communication network is in the form of a local area network dedicated to transferring kernel debugging data.
10. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the processing further comprises:
receiving a first signal that has been issued to cause a breakpoint to be set in a kernel process of each of the computing devices.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the processing further comprises:
receiving a third signal that has been issued in response to the second signal being issued; and
issuing a fourth signal in response to receiving the third signal.
12. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the processing further comprises issuing the second signal, receiving the third signal and issuing the fourth signal respectively comprises the steps of issuing the second signal to a communication network, receiving the third signal from the communication network, and issuing the fourth signal to the communication network.
13. A method of supporting crash dump debugging in a cluster of computing devices, the method comprising the steps of:
synchronising read operations to obtain crash dumps from the computing devices in order to form a single crash dump reader session; and
facilitating kernel debugging in the cluster of computing devices by steps comprising:
detecting a suspended kernel process on a first of the computing devices; and
issuing a first signal to cause a breakpoint to be set in a kernel process of each of the computing devices, wherein the step of issuing the first signal comprises invoking a function that causes a cluster synchronization process to issue a second signal that causes the breakpoint to be set in the kernel process of each of the computing devices.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the read operations are performed via a debug local area network interface.
15. A method of facilitating kernel debugging in a cluster of computing devices, the method comprising the steps of:
storing, in a memory communicatively coupled to a processor, computer-executable instructions for performing the method of facilitating kernel debugging in a cluster of computing devices;
executing the instructions on the processor;
according to the instructions being executed:
detecting a suspended kernel process on a first of the computing devices; and
issuing a first signal to cause a breakpoint to be set in a kernel process of each of the computing devices, wherein the step of issuing the first signal comprises invoking a function that causes a cluster synchronization process to issue a second signal that causes the breakpoint to be set in the kernel process of each of the computing devices.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the step of issuing the first signal comprises the steps of:
sending a first message to each of the computing devices via a communication network;
receiving via the communication network a plurality of second messages sent by the computing devices in response to receiving the first message; and
sending a third message to each of the computing devices via the communication network.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the communication network is in the form of a local area network dedicated to transferring kernel debugging data.
18. The method as claimed in claim 15 , the method further comprising the steps of:
receiving a first signal that has been issued to cause a breakpoint to be set in a kernel process of each of the computing devices.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving a third signal that has been issued in response to the second signal being issued; and
issuing a fourth signal in response to receiving the third signal.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the steps of issuing the second signal, receiving the third signal and issuing the fourth signal respectively comprises the steps of issuing the second signal to a communication network, receiving the third signal from the communication network, and issuing the fourth signal to the communication network.