초록 ▼

A method and apparatus features a system for automatically monitoring the operating environment and other physical conditions around and in which a host computer system operates. Sensors located around a computer system, including inside equipment cabinets and under the floor where cabling and air a

A method and apparatus features a system for automatically monitoring the operating environment and other physical conditions around and in which a host computer system operates. Sensors located around a computer system, including inside equipment cabinets and under the floor where cabling and air are ducted, are used to collect data that is frequently and periodically collected and stored along with an indication of the time and data of collection. The stored data is checked against a list of environmental parameters for the location of each sensor and an indication given when measurements indicate an environmental condition is outside discrete limits and rates of change of conditions. The stored parameters may be changed at any time from a console of the computer system. The stored data is also used to prepare histograms that are used to indicate trends in environmental conditions that can point to potential problems that may then be remedied before actual problems arise, and to faulty computer system installation design. Generation of histograms may be requested from remote locations via telephone links and then forwarded over the links to the remote locations for analysis. Trouble conditions indicated by out of parameter limits checking causes alarms to be given at the computer site and to be selectively sent to remote sites to initiate remedial action. In addition, a failsafe monitoring operation monitors the communications between the computer system and the monitoring apparatus to detect troubles.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for monitoring an operating environment of a computer system that includes a computer facility housing a central processor and memory for storage of data and programs, said method comprising the steps of: utilizing monitoring equipment for generating indicator signals indicating a state of

A method for monitoring an operating environment of a computer system that includes a computer facility housing a central processor and memory for storage of data and programs, said method comprising the steps of: utilizing monitoring equipment for generating indicator signals indicating a state of a plurality of environmental conditions in and around said computer system including its environment using a like plurality of sensors; storing over a period of time said indicator signals periodically generated by said sensors along with signals indicating the date and time that each of said indicator signals were stored; checking said indicator signals to determine if the environmental conditions they indicate exceed one or more predetermined levels including predetermined rates of change over a predetermined period of time and predetermined fixed levels; providing an alarm indication when said checking indicates that any of said indicator signals has exceeded any of said predetermined levels; and producing a histogram for each sensor using the stored indicator signals from each sensor and the time and date signals associated therewith, said histograms indicating environmental trends in said computer system which can point to potential troubles in the operating environment of the computer system, which potential troubles may be rectified before they actually become troubles that cause damage to the computer system.