Managing logs of storage systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9465684-B1
Application number	US-201313832331-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

A method is used in managing logs of storage systems. Log data is collected in response to receiving a request to diagnose a problem. The log data is stored on a central system. Data analysis techniques are performed automatically on the log data. A result of performing the data analysis techniques is evaluated for diagnosing the problem.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of managing logs of storage systems, the method comprising:
collecting log data in response to receiving a request to diagnose a problem from a storage system user of a storage system, wherein the log data is uploaded on a service request receiving system by the storage system user;
retrieving the log data from the service request receiving system to a central system, wherein the log data is stored on the central system, wherein information gathered from the storage system of the storage system user is uploaded to the central system configured to store a plurality of log data from a plurality of storage systems of a plurality of storage system users;
automatically performing data analysis techniques on the log data uploaded to the central system, wherein the data analysis techniques include a set of diagnostic tools, wherein performing data analysis techniques include applying predictive analysis techniques on the plurality of log data collected from the plurality of storage systems by extracting error messages from the plurality of log data for detecting failure trends across the plurality of storage systems in use by the plurality of storage system users;
evaluating a result of performing the data analysis techniques for diagnosing the problem, wherein the result include a link to a triage report; and
providing the result to a storage system expert for diagnosing the problem, wherein information gathered on the central system is accessible to a plurality of storage system experts for diagnosing problems reported by the plurality of storage system users.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least two storage system experts accesses the central system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
gathering error messages from the information collected from the storage system;
storing the error messages in a central error messages database; and
applying the predictive analysis techniques on the error messages for identifying an error trend.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring upload of the log data by a customer; and
downloading the log data to the central system upon detecting the upload of the log data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the log data includes system logs of a storage system, configuration information and memory dumps.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising;
applying a set of best practices to the information collected from the storage system.

7. A system of managing logs of storage systems, the system comprising a processor configured to:
collect log data in response to receiving a request to diagnose a problem from a storage system user of a storage system, wherein the log data is uploaded on a service request receiving system by the storage system user;
retrieve the log data from the service request receiving system to a central system, wherein the log data is stored on the central system, wherein information gathered from the storage system of the storage system user is uploaded to the central system configured to store a plurality of log data from a plurality of storage systems of a plurality of storage system users;
automatically perform data analysis techniques on the log data uploaded to the central system, wherein the data analysis techniques include a set of diagnostic tools, wherein performing data analysis techniques include applying predictive analysis techniques on the plurality of log data collected from the plurality of storage systems by extracting error messages from the plurality of log data for detecting failure trends across the plurality of storage systems in use by the plurality of storage system users;
evaluate a result of performing the data analysis techniques for diagnosing the problem wherein the result include a link to a triage report; and
provide the result to a storage system expert for diagnosing the problem, wherein information gathered on the central system is accessible to a plurality of storage system experts for diagnosing problems reported by the plurality of storage system users.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least two storage system experts accesses the central system.

9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
gather error messages from the information collected from the storage system;
store the error messages in a central error messages database; and
apply the predictive analysis techniques on the error messages for identifying an error trend.

10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
monitor upload of the log data by a customer; and
download the log data to the central system upon detecting the upload of the log data.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the log data includes system logs of a storage system, configuration information and memory dumps.

12. The system of claim 7 , further comprising;
apply a set of best practices to the information collected from the storage system.

Assignees

• Emc Corp

Inventors

• Carter Stephen
• Griffin Gearoid T
• MacSweeney Killian

Classifications

• G06F11/0727 Primary

  in a storage system, e.g. in a DASD or network based storage system (drivers for digital recording or reproducing units G06F3/06; circuits for error detection or correction within digital recording or reproducing units G11B20/18; for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097) · CPC title

• G06F11/0787 Primary

  Storage of error reports, e.g. persistent data storage, storage using memory protection · CPC title

• G06F11/079

  Root cause analysis, i.e. error or fault diagnosis (in a hardware test environment G06F11/22; in a software test environment G06F11/36) · CPC title

• G06F11/0766 Primary

  Error or fault reporting or storing · CPC title

• G06F11/3476

  Data logging (G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence) · CPC title