IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,817,742
Granted Patent B2
US 9,817,742 · App. 13/925,910 · Granted Nov 14, 2017

Detecting hardware and software problems in remote systems

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,817,742
App. No.
13/925,910
Granted
Nov 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for detecting hardware and/or software anomalies in remote systems. The method may include aggregating, in a centralized electronic database, by an electronic database server, data received via a network from each of the remote systems, the data relating to operating statistics of one or more subcomponents of the remote systems over time. The method may also include utilizing an electronic database client communicatively coupled to the centralized database to automatically periodically access and analyze data stored in the centralized database to identify anomalies in hardware and/or software components of the remote systems. In one embodiment, the data relating to operating statistics of the subcomponents may include data from statistics counters corresponding to the subcomponents, each statistics counter, in one state, indicative of an identifiable error. In this regard, analyzing data stored in the centralized database may involve comparing data from the statistics counters to identify the anomalies.

Claims (31)

1. A method for detecting hardware and/or software anomalies in remote systems, the method comprising:

aggregating, in a centralized electronic database, by an electronic database server, data received via a network from each of the remote systems, the data relating to operating statistics of each of one or more subcomponents of the remote systems over time, each remote system being separate and operably independent from the other remote systems and comprising a data storage system having a data storage system controller and a data storage device;

utilizing an electronic database client communicatively coupled to the centralized electronic database to automatically periodically access and analyze data stored in the centralized electronic database to identify anomalies in at least one of hardware and/or software components of one or more of the remote systems; and

applying one or more false positive rules to the identified anomalies to detect a falsely identified anomaly, and where a falsely identified anomaly is detected, overriding the identification of the falsely identified anomaly as an anomaly:

wherein the data relating to operating statistics of each of one or more subcomponents of the remote systems over time comprises data from statistics counters corresponding to the one or more subcomponents, each statistics counter with a non-zero count value identifying an occurrence of an error.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote systems each comprise at least one network adapter.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, for each remote system, aggregating data received from each of the one or more subcomponents thereof in a database local to the respective remote system.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein aggregating data received via a network from each of the remote systems comprises receiving, via the network, replicated data from each of the local databases of each remote system.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising, for each of the one or more subcomponents of a remote system, collecting operating statistics associated with the respective subcomponent for reporting to the database local to the remote system of which the subcomponent is a part.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein aggregating data received via a network from each of the remote systems comprises receiving data from the remote systems on a periodic basis.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein aggregating data received via a network from each of the remote systems comprises receiving data from the remote systems on-demand, at the request of the database server.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein aggregating data received via a network from each of the remote systems comprises receiving data from the remote systems upon request of a user-operator.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing data stored in the centralized electronic database to identify anomalies comprises comparing data from the statistics counters to identify the anomalies.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising defining rules for application against the data in the centralized electronic database, the rules designed to identify anomalies in the at least one of the hardware and/or software components of one or more of the remote systems, wherein analyzing data stored in the centralized electronic database to identify anomalies comprises applying the rules to the data stored in the centralized electronic database.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing the electronic database client to access and automatically analyze, at the request of a user-operator, data stored in the centralized electronic database to identify anomalies in the at least one of hardware and/or software components of one or more of the remote systems.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating and outputting a visual report of identified anomalies.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically taking measures to resolve a failure in at least one of the hardware and/or software components of a remote system identified as associated with an anomaly.

14. An information handling system comprising:

a plurality of remote systems, each remote system being separate and operably independent from the other remote systems and comprising a data storage system having a data storage system controller, a data storage device, and at least one network adapter;

an electronic database server communicatively coupled with the plurality of remote systems, the electronic database server comprising a centralized electronic database associated with the remote systems and storing data received via a network from the plurality of remote systems relating to operating statistics of each of one or more subcomponents of the plurality of remote systems over time; and

an electronic database client communicatively coupled to the electronic database server and configured to automatically periodically access and analyze data stored in the centralized electronic database to identify anomalies in at least one of hardware and/or software components of one or more of the plurality of remote systems; and

one or more false positive rules configured to detect a falsely identified anomaly, and where a falsely identified anomaly is detected, override the identification of the falsely identified anomaly as an anomaly;

wherein the data relating to operating statistics of each of one or more subcomponents of the plurality of remote systems over time comprises data from statistics counters corresponding to the one or more subcomponents.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , further comprising, for each remote system, a database local to the respective remote system for aggregating data received from each of the one or more subcomponents thereof.

16. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the data stored in the centralized electronic database is replicated from the local databases of each remote system.

17. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the electronic database client is configured to analyze data stored in the centralized electronic database to identify anomalies by comparing data from the statistics counters to identify the anomalies.

18. A method for detecting hardware and/or software anomalies in remote systems, the method comprising:

aggregating, in a centralized electronic database, by an electronic database server, data received via a network from each of the remote systems, the data relating to operating statistics of each of one or more subcomponents of the remote systems over time, each remote system being separate and operably independent from the other remote systems and comprising a data storage system having a data storage system controller and a data storage device; and

utilizing an electronic database client communicatively coupled to the centralized electronic database to automatically periodically access and analyze data stored in the centralized electronic database to identify anomalies in at least one of hardware and/or software components of one or more of the remote systems; and

applying one or more false positive rules to the identified anomalies to detect a falsely identified anomaly, and where a falsely identified anomaly is detected, overriding the identification of the falsely identified anomaly as an anomaly;

wherein the data relating to operating statistics of each of one or more subcomponents of the remote systems over time comprises data from statistics counters corresponding to the one or more subcomponents.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 10, 2016
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 038058/0502 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2013
From: HANKINS, RYAN
To: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 030855/0291 →