Operating computer memory
View Patent ↗Operating computer memory in a computer including dynamically monitoring, by a predictive failure analysis (‘PFA’) module, correctable memory errors and memory temperature and managing cooling resources in the computer in dependence upon the correctable memory errors and memory temperature.
1. A method of operating computer memory in a computer, the method comprising:
dynamically monitoring, by a predictive failure analysis (‘PFA’) module, correctable memory errors and memory temperature; and
managing cooling resources in the computer in dependence upon the correctable memory errors and memory temperature, wherein managing cooling resources includes controlling a fan speed; including:
determining, upon identification of a current correctable memory error from historical error data, a current correctable memory error rate; and
operating the computer memory with additional cooling when the current correctable memory error rate is between a dynamically adjustable baseline error rate and a maximum error threshold rate and when the current memory temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold temperature, including:
determining whether the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the maximum error threshold rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the maximum error threshold rate, logging a PFA alert;
if the current correctable memory error rate is not greater than the maximum error threshold rate, determining whether the current memory temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold temperature,
if the current memory temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold temperature, determining whether the current correct memory error rate is greater than the baseline error rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the baseline error rate, increasing cooling in the computer and updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error; and
if the current correctable memory error rate is not greater than the baseline error rate, operating the computer memory without increasing cooling and updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein managing cooling resources further comprises:
operating the computer memory at a temperature above the manufacturer's recommended maximum operating temperature for the memory.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein managing cooling resources further comprises:
determining, upon identification of a current correctable memory error from historical error data, a current correctable memory error rate; and
operating the computer memory for a predefined period of time with additional cooling in the computer only if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than a predetermined PFA threshold rate, current memory temperature is greater than a predetermined memory temperature threshold, and additional cooling is available in the computer.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein operating the computer memory for a predefined period of time with additional cooling in the computer further comprises:
determining whether the current correctable memory error rate exceeds a PFA threshold rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate does not exceed the PFA threshold rate, updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error; and
if the current correctable memory error rate exceeds the PFA threshold rate, determining whether the current memory temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold;
if the current memory temperature does not exceed the predetermined temperature threshold, logging a PFA alert;
if the current memory temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold, determining whether maximum cooling is engaged;
if maximum cooling is not engaged, increasing cooling in the computer and starting a predefined cooling countdown timer;
if maximum cooling is engaged, determining whether a previously started cooling countdown timer has expired;
if the previously started predefined cooling countdown timer has expired, logging a PFA alert; and
if the previously started predefined cooling countdown timer has not expired, clearing the historical error data.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
if the current memory temperature is not greater than the predetermined threshold temperature, dynamically adjusting the baseline error rate in dependence upon the current correctable memory error rate.
6. An apparatus for operating computer memory, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, the computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions capable of:
dynamically monitoring, by a predictive failure analysis (‘PFA’) module, correctable memory errors and memory temperature; and
managing cooling resources in the computer in dependence upon the correctable memory errors and memory temperature, wherein managing cooling resources includes controlling a fan speed, including:
determining, upon identification of a current correctable memory error from historical error data, a current correctable memory error rate; and
operating the computer memory with additional cooling when the current correctable memory error rate is between a dynamically adjustable baseline error rate and a maximum error threshold rate and when the current memory temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold temperature, including:
determining whether the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the maximum error threshold rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the maximum error threshold rate, logging a PFA alert;
if the current correctable memory error rate is not greater than the maximum error threshold rate, determining whether the current memory temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold temperature,
if the current memory temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold temperature, determining whether the current correct memory error rate is greater than the baseline error rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the baseline error rate, increasing cooling in the computer and updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error; and
if the current correctable memory error rate is not greater than the baseline error rate, operating the computer memory without increasing cooling and updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein managing cooling resources further comprises:
operating the computer memory at a temperature above the manufacturer's recommended maximum operating temperature for the memory.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein managing cooling resources further comprises:
determining, upon identification of a current correctable memory error from historical error data, a current correctable memory error rate; and
operating the computer memory for a predefined period of time with additional cooling in the computer only if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than a predetermined PFA threshold rate, current memory temperature is greater than a predetermined memory temperature threshold, and additional cooling is available in the computer.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein operating the computer memory for a predefined period of time with additional cooling in the computer further comprises:
determining whether the current correctable memory error rate exceeds a PFA threshold rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate does not exceed the PFA threshold rate, updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error; and
if the current correctable memory error rate exceeds the PFA threshold rate, determining whether the current memory temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold;
if the current memory temperature does not exceed the predetermined temperature threshold, logging a PFA alert;
if the current memory temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold, determining whether maximum cooling is engaged;
if maximum cooling is not engaged, increasing cooling in the computer and starting a predefined cooling countdown timer;
if maximum cooling is engaged, determining whether a previously started cooling countdown timer has expired;
if the previously started predefined cooling countdown timer has expired, logging a PFA alert; and
if the previously started predefined cooling countdown timer has not expired, clearing the historical error data.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising computer program instructions capable of:
if the current memory temperature is not greater than the predetermined threshold temperature, dynamically adjusting the baseline error rate in dependence upon the current correctable memory error rate.
11. A computer program product for operating computer memory, the computer program product disposed in a computer readable recording medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions capable of:
dynamically monitoring, by a predictive failure analysis (‘PFA’) module, correctable memory errors and memory temperature; and
managing cooling resources in the computer in dependence upon the correctable memory errors and memory temperature, wherein managing cooling resources includes controlling a fan speed, including:
determining, upon identification of a current correctable memory error from historical error data, a current correctable memory error rate; and
operating the computer memory with additional cooling when the current correctable memory error rate is between a dynamically adjustable baseline error rate and a maximum error threshold rate and when the current memory temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold temperature, including:
determining whether the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the maximum error threshold rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the maximum error threshold rate, logging a PFA alert;
if the current correctable memory error rate is not greater than the maximum error threshold rate, determining whether the current memory temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold temperature,
if the current memory temperature is not greater than the predetermined threshold temperature, dynamically adjusting the baseline error rate in dependence upon the current correctable memory error rate;
if the current memory temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold temperature, determining whether the current correct memory error rate is greater than the baseline error rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than the baseline error rate, increasing cooling in the computer and updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error; and
if the current correctable memory error rate is not greater than the baseline error rate, operating the computer memory without increasing cooling and updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein managing cooling resources further comprises:
operating the computer memory at a temperature above the manufacturer's recommended maximum operating temperature for the memory.
13. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein managing cooling resources further comprises:
determining, upon identification of a current correctable memory error from historical error data, a current correctable memory error rate; and
operating the computer memory for a predefined period of time with additional cooling in the computer only if the current correctable memory error rate is greater than a predetermined PFA threshold rate, current memory temperature is greater than a predetermined memory temperature threshold, and additional cooling is available in the computer.
14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein operating the computer memory for a predefined period of time with additional cooling in the computer further comprises:
determining whether the current correctable memory error rate exceeds a PFA threshold rate;
if the current correctable memory error rate does not exceed the PFA threshold rate, updating the historical error data in accordance with the identified current correctable memory error; and
if the current correctable memory error rate exceeds the PFA threshold rate, determining whether the current memory temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold;
if the current memory temperature does not exceed the predetermined temperature threshold, logging a PFA alert;
if the current memory temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold, determining whether maximum cooling is engaged;
if maximum cooling is not engaged, increasing cooling in the computer and starting a predefined cooling countdown timer;
if maximum cooling is engaged, determining whether a previously started cooling countdown timer has expired;
if the previously started predefined cooling countdown timer has expired, logging a PFA alert; and
if the previously started predefined cooling countdown timer has not expired, clearing the historical error data.