System trace unit
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorJeremy G. Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hardware trace unit is integrated into a computer system that has a main memory. The trace unit includes registers that contain information defining a location in main memory, and has an input connection. This is used to eavesdrop on communications in the computer system, thereby obtaining information about the state and/or operation of the system. A trigger mechanism then compares the information received against one or more trigger conditions, such as whether a particular event has occurred. Responsive to the trigger conditions being satisfied, the trace unit generates an output record containing diagnostic information. This is sent for storage in the main memory of the computer at the location defined in the registers.
Claims44
A hardware trace unit integrated into a computer system having a main memory, said trace unit including:
- a store containing information specifying an output location in main memory;
- an input for monitoring the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- a trigger unit for comparing data from the input against one or more trigger conditions;
- and
- an output generator responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied to write diagnostic information to the main memory of the computer at the output location specified in the store.
A hardware trace unit integrated into a computer system having a main memory, said trace unit including:
- means for storing information specifying an output location in main memory;
- input means for monitoring the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- means for comparing data from the input means against one or more trigger conditions;
- and
- means responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied for writing diagnostic information to the main memory of the computer at the output location specified in the means for storing.
A computer system including a main memory and a hardware trace unit integrated into the computer system, said trace unit including:
- a store containing information specifying an output location in main memory;
- an input for monitoring the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- a trigger unit for comparing data from the input against one or more trigger conditions;
- and
- an output generator responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied to write diagnostic information to the main memory of the computer at the output location specified in the store.
A processor for use in a computer system including a main memory, the processor incorporating a trace unit including:
- a store containing information specifying an output location in main memory;
- an input for monitoring the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- a trigger unit for comparing data from the input against one or more trigger conditions;
- and
- an output generator responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied to write diagnostic information to the main memory of the computer at the output location specified in the store.
A computer system including a main memory and a processor, the computer system including a distributed trace unit comprising a data generation portion and a data record portion, wherein:
- the data generation portion includes an input for monitoring the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- a trigger unit for comparing data from the input against one or more trigger conditions;
- and an output generator responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied to send diagnostic information to the data record portion;
- and the data record portion includes a store containing information specifying an output location in main memory;
- and an output for writing the diagnostic information sent by the data generation portion to the main memory of the computer at the output location specified in the store.
A processor for use in a computer system including a main memory, the processor including a distributed trace unit comprising a data generation portion and a data record portion, wherein:
- the data generation portion includes an input for monitoring the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- a trigger unit for comparing data from the input against one or more trigger conditions;
- and an output generator responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied to send diagnostic information to the data record portion;
- and the data record portion includes a store containing information specifying an output location in main memory;
- and an output for writing the diagnostic information sent by the data generation portion to the main memory of the computer at the output location specified in the store.
A method of obtaining diagnostic information for a computer system having a main memory from a hardware trace unit integrated into said computer system, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing information specifying an output location in main memory;
- monitoring the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- comparing data received from the monitoring against one or more trigger conditions;
- and
- responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied, writing diagnostic information to the main memory of the computer at the specified output location specified in the store.
A method of obtaining diagnostic information on a processor for use in a computer system including a main memory, the processor incorporating a distributed trace unit comprising a data generation portion and a data record portion, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring at the data generation portion the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- comparing at the data generation portion data obtained by monitoring the state and/or operation of the computer system against one or more trigger conditions;
- sending, responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied, diagnostic information to the data record portion;
- storing within the data record portion an output location in main memory;
- writing the diagnostic information sent by the data generation portion to the main memory of the computer at the output location specified in the store.
A method of obtaining diagnostic information on a computer system including a processor and a main memory, the computer system incorporating a distributed trace unit comprising a data generation portion and a data record portion, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring at the data generation portion the state and/or operation of said computer system;
- comparing at the data generation portion data obtained by monitoring the state and/or operation of the computer system against one or more trigger conditions;
- sending, responsive to said one or more trigger conditions being satisfied, diagnostic information to the data record portion;
- storing within the data record portion an output location in main memory;
- writing the diagnostic information sent by the data generation portion to the main memory of the computer at the output location specified in the store.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.