Method and System for Computer Assisted Hot-Tracing Mechanism
AssigneeNEC Laboratories America, Inc.
InventorsNipun Arora, Hui Zhang, Junghwan Rhee, Guofei Jiang, Kenji Yoshihira
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention provides a new mechanism for “Hot-Tracing” using a novel placeholder mechanism and binary rewriting techniques, which leverages existing compiler flags in order to enable light-weight and highly flexible dynamic instrumentation. Broadly, I-Probe can be divided in 2 distinct workflows—1. Pre-processing (ColdPatch), and 2. Hot Tracing. The first phase is a pre-processing mechanism to prepare the binary for phase 2. The second phase is the actual hot-tracing mechanism, which allows users to dynamically instrument functions (more specifically symbols) of their choice.
Claims18
A computer implemented method for monitoring systems for misconfigurations difficult to detect, the method comprising the steps of:
- employing a cold patch preprocess for preparing a target application for hot tracing including adding placeholders to binary using selective compiler flags;
- implementing instrumentation or de-instrumentation at a run time of the target application enabled by the hot tracing;
- preloading the instrumentation in the form of a shared library before start of execution of the target application,
- generating a list of offsets that act as placeholders for the hot tracing;
- and
- providing interactive graphical user interfaces for the cold patch and the hot tracing,
- wherein the hot tracing enables users to dynamically instrument functions in the system for monitoring for misconfigurations.
A system for monitoring for misconfigurations difficult to detect in large scale complex systems, the system comprising:
- a cold patch preprocess for preparing a target application for hot tracing including adding placeholders to binary using selective compiler flags;
- an instrumentation or de-instrumentation implemented at a run time of the target application enabled by the hot tracing;
- a shared library from preloading the instrumentation before start of execution of the target application, and
- a list of offsets generated that act as placeholders for the hot tracing;
- and
- interactive graphical user interfaces provided for the cold patch and the hot tracing,
- wherein the hot tracing enables users to dynamically instrument functions in the system for monitoring for misconfigurations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.