Patent ID: 6763517
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for analyzing a core file created by a computer system, the core file comprising a memory image including information on software executing on the computer system at the time of an unexpected, operating interrupt and including fault information corresponding to the interrupt, the method comprising:determining packages installed on the computer system; accessing patch files comprising descriptive data for patches useful for correcting bugs in the computer system; and processing the patch files to create a patch search set comprising the patches in the patch files which are configured for use with the installed packages; assigning a score to each of the patches in the patch search set based on a set of scoring rules; creating a patch search report including the patch scores; wherein the core file is a kernel core file related to a kernel on the computer system and the score assigning includes identifying a type of fault, gathering fault metrics, and creating a scoring criteria based on the identified type of fault and the gathered fault metrics; and wherein the type of fault is selected from the set of panic types and the fault metrics are selected from the group consisting of panic strings, pre-panic functions, and pre-panic modules.