Telemetry data filtering through sequential analysis

1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing telemetry data from a computer system, comprising:

periodically obtaining the telemetry data from the computer system;

preprocessing the telemetry data using a sequential-analysis technique, wherein the sequential-analysis technique is a sequential probability ratio test;

detecting a statistical deviation in the telemetry using the sequential analysis technique;

in response to the detection,

identifying a subset of the telemetry data associated with the statistical deviation,

applying a root-cause-analysis technique to the subset of the telemetry data to determine a source of the statistical deviation, wherein the root-cause-analysis technique is a multivariate state estimation technique, and

using the source of the statistical deviation to perform a remedial action for the computer system, which involves correcting a fault in the computer system corresponding to the source of the statistical deviation.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the computer-implemented method is performed by a service processor associated with the computer system.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein applying the sequential-analysis technique to the subset of the telemetry data involves:

analyzing a set of summary statistics obtained from the telemetry data.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the root-cause-analysis technique is associated with a higher computational cost than the sequential-analysis technique.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the source of the statistical deviation is determined from one or more residuals produced from the multivariate state estimation technique.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the telemetry data comprises at least one of:

a load metric;

a CPU utilization;

an idle time;

a memory utilization;

a disk activity;

a transaction latency;

a temperature;

a voltage;

a fan speed; and

a current.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein using the source of the statistical deviation to perform the remedial action for the computer system additionally involves at least one of:

generating a replacement signal to maintain normal operation in the computer system; and

identifying a degradation mode of the computer system.

8. A system for analyzing telemetry data from a computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a monitoring mechanism configured to periodically obtain the telemetry data from the computer system;

a filtering apparatus configured to detect a statistical deviation in the telemetry data using a sequential-analysis technique, wherein the sequential-analysis technique is a sequential probability ratio test; and

an analysis apparatus configured to, in response to the detection:

identify a subset of the telemetry data associated with the statistical deviation;

apply a root-cause-analysis technique to the subset of the telemetry data to determine a source of the statistical deviation, wherein the root-cause-analysis technique is a multivariate state estimation technique; and

use the source of the statistical deviation to perform a remedial action for the computer system, which involves correcting a fault in the computer system corresponding to the source of the statistical deviation.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein applying the sequential-analysis technique to the subset of the telemetry data involves:

analyzing a set of summary statistics obtained from the telemetry data.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the root-cause-analysis technique is associated with a higher computational cost than the sequential -analysis technique.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the source of the statistical deviation is determined from one or more residuals produced from the multivariate state estimation technique.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the telemetry data comprises at least one of:

a load metric;

a CPU utilization;

an idle time;

a memory utilization;

a disk activity;

a transaction latency;

a temperature;

a voltage;

a fan speed; and

a current.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein using the source of the statistical deviation to perform a remedial action for the computer system additionally involves at least one of:

generating a replacement signal to maintain normal operation in the computer system; and

identifying a degradation mode of the computer system.

14. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for analyzing telemetry data from a computer system, the method comprising:

periodically obtaining the telemetry data from the computer system;

preprocessing the telemetry data using a sequential-analysis technique;

detecting a statistical deviation in the telemetry using the sequential analysis technique, wherein the sequential analysis technique is a sequential probability ratio test;

in response to the detection,

identifying a subset of the telemetry data associated with the statistical deviation,

applying a root-cause-analysis technique to the subset of the telemetry data to determine a source of the statistical deviation, wherein the root-cause-analysis technique is a multivariate state estimation technique, and

using the source of the statistical deviation to perform a remedial action for the computer system, which involves correcting a fault in the computer system corresponding to the source of the statistical deviation.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the method is performed by a service processor associated with the computer system.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the root-cause-analysis technique is associated with a higher computational cost than the sequential-analysis technique.