Use of hashing function to distinguish random and repeat errors in a memory system

A memory system, comprising:

• a memory controller including error detection control logic for detecting single-bit errors in the memory module;
• a random-error counter for counting random errors occurring during a time interval;
• a repeat-error counter for counting repeat errors occurring during the time interval;
• a threshold comparator for comparing the random-error counter against a random-error threshold and for comparing the repeat-error counter against a repeat-error threshold, wherein the repeat-error threshold is smaller than the random-error threshold;
• and
• an alert generator configured to generate an alert in response to the random-error counter reaching the random-error threshold or the repeat-error counter reaching the repeat-error threshold during the time interval.

A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable storage medium, the computer program product comprising:

• computer usable program code for detecting single-bit errors in a memory module;
• computer usable program code for identifying each single-bit error as a random error or a repeat error;
• computer usable program code for counting each identified random error and each identified repeat error occurring in a time interval;
• and
• computer usable program code for generating an alert in response to a number of identified random errors reaching a random-error threshold or a number of identified repeat errors reaching a repeat-error threshold during the time interval, wherein the repeat-error threshold is lower than the random-error threshold.