Patent ID: 7721266
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An integrated tracing and logging system employed within a network comprising: a computer system having: a processor coupled with a memory, a tracing module associated with specified program code regions of an application, the tracing module to receive via an application programming interface (API) and process tracing method calls generated by the application when the specified program code regions are executed, a logging module separate from the tracing module, the logging module associated with specified categories related to the network, the logging module to receive via the API and process logging method calls from network components associated with the categories, wherein the logging module and the tracing module are different respective subclasses of a controller class, wherein an initial configuring of the logging module and the tracing module includes both the logging module and the tracing module automatically inheriting from the controller class a first output destination to receive formatted messages, and a formatter coupled to the tracing module and to the logging module, the formatter to receive tracing messages from the tracing module and logging messages from the logging module, the formatter including a configuration file storing a default format definition for the formatter, the formatter initially to format messages from the tracing module and the logging module according to the default format definition during a runtime of the formatter, wherein the formatter further to be reconfigured during the runtime to format messages from the tracing module and the logging module according to a changed format definition, the reconfiguring the formatter including the configuration file receiving a change to the default format definition during the runtime, wherein the reconfiguring the formatter does not require recompiling of any source code of the integrated tracing and logging system, the formatter initially to automatically send formatted messages of the tracing module and logging module to the first output destination based on the automatic inheritance of the first output destination by the tracing module and logging module; and a second output destination different from the first output destination, wherein a method call of one of the logging module and the tracing module is performed during the runtime to store in the configuration file data assigning the second output destination to the one of the logging module and the tracing module, the formatter further to automatically send formatted output of the tracing module and the logging module to the second output destination based on the data assigning the second output destination to the one of the logging module and the tracing module.