Abstract:
The present invention is a system and method for providing clarity and simplicity to the task of screening for errors occurring in a data storage system and improving the effectiveness of the response to these errors. The system and method includes and employs a graphical user interface (GUI) for providing clarity and simplicity. Also by constraining entry texts into a controlled entry field, the likelihood of text-entry errors are greatly reduced. Further by providing menu options, simplicity and clarity are improved while likelihood of text-entry errors are also further reduced. Text-entry error checking tools are also provided to further decrease the probability that such errors will occur. The system and method employ a mechanism to allow for remote error screening and responding to the error from a remote location also.

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains command formats and other computer language listings, all of which are subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner, EMC Corporation, has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to error detection and correction of errors in a data storage environment, and more particularly to a system and method for augmenting and simplifying the task of service professionals who handle such errors for data storage systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As is known in the art, computer systems generally include a central processing unit (CPU), a memory subsystem, and a data storage subsystem. According to a network or enterprise model of the computer system, the data storage system associated with or in addition to a local computer system, may include a large number of independent storage devices or disks housed in a single enclosure or cabinet. This array of storage devices is typically connected to several computers over a network or via dedicated cabling. Such a model allows for the centralization of data that is to be shared among many users and also allows for a single point of maintenance for the storage functions associated with the many host processors. 
     The data storage system stores critical information for an enterprise that must be available for use substantially all of the time. If an error occurs on such a data storage system it must be fixed as soon as possible because such information is at the heart of the commercial operations of many major businesses. A recent economic survey from the University of Minnesota and known as Bush-Kugel study indicates a pattern that after just a few days (2 to 6) without access to their critical data many businesses are devastated. The survey showed that 25% of such businesses were immediately bankrupt after such a critical interruption and less than 7% remained in the marketplace after 5 years. 
     Recent innovations by EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. provide business continuity solutions that are at the heart of many enterprises data storage infrastructure. Nevertheless, the systems (including devices and software) being implemented are complex and vulnerable to errors that must be quickly serviced for the continuity to be maintained. 
     EMC has been using a technique for responding to errors as they occur by “calling home” to report the errors. The data storage system is equipped with a modem and a service processor (typically a laptop computer) for error response. Sensors that are built into its storage systems monitor things such as temperature, vibration, and tiny fluctuations in power, as well as unusual patterns in the way data is being stored and retrieved—over 1,000 diagnostics in all. Periodically (about every two hours), an EMC data storage system checks its own state of health. If an error is noted, a machine-implemented “call home” is made to customer service over a line dedicated for that purpose. 
     Every day, an average of 3,500 such calls home for help reach EMC&#39;s customer service center in Hopkinton. About one-third of the calls from EMC&#39;s machines trigger the dispatch of a customer engineer to fix some problem. Remarkably under such a service program, many problems are resolved before the owner of the data storage system is even aware that there has been a problem. However, some error codes that result in calls home are the result of known problems for which a design engineering fix is pending, or minor problems that do not require immediate attention. Such calls can be deferred or ignored so that more urgent and important errors may be dealt with. This is known as screening or filtering errors 
     However when filtering errors it is important to not introduce costly mistakes. If the error for which screening is intended is not properly filtered then expensive, wasteful, unnecessary, and burdensome calls back to home continue. If, on the other hand, an important error is wrongly ignored, then that could cause harm. These two situations could occur at the same time flooding the customer service center with unimportant calls while important errors are ignored. 
     What is needed is a way to screen for known errors occurring in a data storage system in a simple and clear manner, while reducing the risk that mistakes are created. Furthermore, it would be an advancement in the art if such a screening tool could be administered on a remote basis so it could handle data storage systems located anywhere in the world. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a data storage management system and method that includes a simple clearly presented tool for screening out or filtering errors occurring in a data storage system. 
     In one embodiment, the invention includes a method that is useful in a data storage system with more than one storage device. The method provides steps for the management of errors related to a data storage system. The method includes receiving at an error response station a message about an error related to the data storage system, and providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for enabling the selective entry of error handling information in response to receiving the message. The method may be further useful for suppression of such handling information, diagnosing such messages, and taking or recommending corrective action. 
     In another embodiment the invention includes a system capable of performing the method and computer-executed logic capable of carrying out the method. 
     In another embodiment, the above-specified techniques are enabled to be remotely deployed to manage response to errors occurring on data storage systems anywhere in the world. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and further advantages of the present invention may be better under stood by referring to the following description taken into conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data storage management system including filter logic that operates with the filter log for operating the present invention and including a data storage system, a service processor, and a remote error response station; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the architecture for the logic shown in FIG. 1 as implemented on the service processor of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the architecture for the logic shown in FIG. 1 as implemented on the error response station of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of contents comprising the filter log of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is in a schematic representation of contents comprising an embodiment of the filter log of FIGS. 1 and 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a flow logic diagram of the method of this invention using the filter logic and filter log on the system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is another flow logic diagram and is a continuation of the illustration of the method begun in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is another flow logic diagram and is a continuation of the illustration of the method begun in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 9 is another flow logic diagram and is a continuation of the illustration of the method begun in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 10 is another flow logic diagram and is a continuation of the illustration of the method begun in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 11 is another flow logic diagram and is a continuation of the illustration of the method begun in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 12 is an example of a graphical user interface (GUI) tool useful for creating an error handling information denoted as a filter entry for the filter log of FIG.  1  and useful for the method shown in FIGS. 6-11; 
     FIG. 13 is another example of a graphical user interface (GUI) tool useful for placing error handling information in the filter log of FIG.  1  and useful for the method shown in FIGS. 6-11; 
     FIG. 14 is another example of a graphical user interface (GUI) tool useful for placing error handling information in the filter log of FIG.  1  and useful for the method shown in FIGS. 6-11; and 
     FIG. 15 is another example of a graphical user interface (GUI) tool useful for placing error handling information in the filter log of FIG.  1  and useful for the method shown in FIGS. 6-11. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The methods and apparatus of the present invention are intended for use in data storage systems, such as the Symmetrix Integrated Cache Disk Array system available from EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, MA and in particular are useful for managing errors that may occur on such a system. 
     The methods and apparatus of this invention may take the form, at least partially, of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, are the CD-ROMs, hard drives, random access or read only-memory, or any other machine-readable storage medium. When the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The methods and apparatus of the present invention may also be embodied in the form of program code that is transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission. And may be implemented such that herein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to specific logic circuits. 
     The logic for carrying out the method is embodied as part of the Data Storage Management System  102  described below beginning with reference to FIGS. 1-3, and which is useful for implementing a method described with reference to FIGS. 6-11. For purposes of illustrating the present invention, the invention is described as embodied in a specific configuration, but one skilled in the art will appreciate that the device is not limited to the specific configuration but rather only by the claims included with this specification 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, Local System  100  includes a data storage system  119  that in a preferred embodiment is a Symmetrix Integrated Cache Disk Arrays system available from EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. Such data storage systems and their implementations are fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,497 issued Aug. 8, 2000, and also in U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,939 issued Apr. 27, 1993, each of which is assigned to EMC the assignee of this invention and each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Consequently, the following discussion makes only general references to the operation of such systems. 
     The local system  100  comprises major components including a computer system  113  formed of a computer processor and the data storage facility  119  that includes a system memory  114  and sets or pluralities  115  and  116  of multiple data storage devices or data stores. The system memory  114  can comprise a buffer or cache memory; the storage devices in the pluralities  115  and  116  can comprise disk storage devices, optical storage devices and the like. The sets  115  and  116  represent an array of storage devices that may be arranged in a variety of known configurations. However, in a preferred embodiment the storage devices are disk storage devices. 
     Channel directors (CD)  117 - 118  provide communications between the computer system  113  and the system memory  114 ; device or disk directors (DD)  120  and  121  provide pathways between the system memory  114  and the storage device pluralities  115  and  116 . A bus  122  interconnects the system memory  114 , the channel directors  117  and  118  and the disk directors  120  and  121 . Remote Data Facility Adapter (RDFA)  132  may provide access along path  112  to an optional remote data storage system (not shown). 
     System memory  114  is used by various elements within the respective systems to transfer information and interact between the respective channel directors and disk directors. Additionally, a service processor  123  monitors and controls certain operations and provides a primary interface for an external operator to respective systems and may be used for implementing utilities such as a utility for carrying out operations of the present invention. 
     Logic for carrying out the methods of this invention is preferably included as part of the data storage system  119 , and preferably as part of the service processor  123  and also as part of an error response station  138  that is part of a remote system  111 . Nevertheless, one skilled in the computer arts will recognize that the logic, which may be implemented interchangeably as hardware or software may be implemented in various fashions in accordance with the teachings presented now. 
     Generally speaking, the local system  100  operates in response to commands from one or more computer systems, such as the computer system  113 , that a connected channel director, such as channel director  117  receives. The channel directors  117  and  118  transfer commands to a command buffer that is part of system memory  114 . The command buffer stores data structures and write requests that the channel directors generate. The disk directors, such as the disk directors  120  or  121 , respond by effecting a corresponding operation using the information in a command buffer. The selected disk adapter then initiates a data operation. Reading operations transfer data from the storage devices to the system memory  114  through a corresponding disk adapter and subsequently transfer data from the system memory  114  to the corresponding channel director, such as channel director  117  when the computer system  113  initiates the data writing operation. 
     The data storage system  119  includes a service processor  123  that communicates along path  122  to the elements of the data storage system. Although the service processor  123  and shown is being an integral part of the data storage system, one skilled the art will recognize that the service processor only needs to be in communication with the data storage system  119  to complete the operations of this invention. Preferably the service processor and the data storage devices are separated by distance of less than 10 meters; however, greater distances may separate them as long as there is communication between the service processor and the data storage system. 
     The service processor  123  includes filter logic  128  that enables it to operate as a special-purpose digital computer. Complementary filter logic  142  on error response station  138  likewise enables it to operate as a special-purpose digital computer. The filter logic  128  operates in memory  126  (such as conventional electronic memory, for example RAM or cache memory) on the service processor in a cooperative fashion with filter logic  142  that in turn operates in memory  144  of the error response station to enable the method of this invention. 
     The service processor  123  further includes a display  124 , the CPU  130  (e.g., a conventional microprocessor), a fixed memory  132  (e.g., a hard disk), and a communications device  136  (e.g., a modem). That communications device  136  communicates across path  135   a  through network cloud  137  and across path  135   b  to communications device  152  (e.g., a modem) at error response station  138 . 
     Error response station  138  is located in the remote system  111  so that it is remote from the data storage system  119 . The complementary filter logic  128  and  142  enable the error response station  138  to be used by the operator  104  to have remote control over the service processor  123 . In this fashion, the operator  104  may diagnose, correct, and screen out or filter errors occurring at the data storage system  119 . Regarding the remote aspect of the error response station, it is preferred that the error response station and the data storage devices of data storage system  119  are separated by distance of at least one kilometer. 
     The error response station  138  also includes a display  140 , memory  142  (such as conventional electronic memory, for example RAM or cache memory), a CPU  146  (e.g., a conventional microprocessor), and a fixed memory  148  (e.g., a hard disk). 
     Referring again to the service processor  123  (FIG.  1 ), the fixed memory  132  is provided with special information data and files that are used by the respective filter logic elements when  128  and  142  for caring out the method of this invention. A special file for keeping track of “filtering” commands is denoted as the filter.log  133 . One or more text files denoted as Filtertxtfiles  134  may be used as templates for inserting commands in filter.log  133 . Filtertxtfiles  134  may be directly inserted in the filter.log and are operated on by the INCLUDE or EXCLUDE statement discussed with reference to FIG. 6-11 below. Similarly, Filtertxtfiles  150  may be stored in fixed memory  148  for similar purpose as Filtertxtfiles  134  for the convenience of operator  104  using the error response station  138  in a stand-alone, i.e. non-remote controlling fashion over service processor  123 . 
     FIG. 2 shows further detail regarding service processor  123 . Filter logic  128  operates in memory  126  and includes several interoperating logic modules  154 - 162 . All of the logic modules are preferably implemented as software. The modules include a remote agent  154 , GUI logic  156 , error notification logic  158 , error handling information logic herein denoted as filter entry logic  160 , and communications logic  162 . 
     FIG. 3 shows further detail regarding service processor  138 . Filter logic  142  operates in memory  144  and includes several interoperating logic modules  164 - 172 . All of the logic modules are preferably implemented as software. The modules include a remote agent  164 , GUI logic  166 , error message or notification logic  168 , error handling information logic herein denoted as filter entry logic  170 , and communications logic  172 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the remote agent  154  may be an integrated or separate module from the other modules. The remote agent  154  acts in cooperation with remote agent  164  that is part of filter logic  139  that operates in memory  138  of the error response station  134 . The remote agents  154  and  164  are each implemented preferably as software, such as the SymmRemote software offered by EMC Corp. of Hopkinton, Mass. 
     Referring to the error response station  134  (FIG.  3 ), The GUI logic  166  enables a GUI presentation  147  on display  136 , examples of which are shown in FIGS. 12-16. The GUI presentation or tool  147  can be used by operator  104  working at error response station  138  to make changes directly to filter.log  133  to filter errors occurring at data storage system  119 . Since the operator has remote control over the service processor  123  when using the GUI tool  147  he may select Filtertxtfiles  134  for inclusion in the filter.log for reasons that will become clearer upon reading the sections referring to the flowcharts (FIGS. 6-11) describing the method. When the operator saves the filter.log after using the GUI tool  147  presented on display  136  of error response station  138 , it is saved in fixed memory  128  in filter.log  133 . 
     The GUI logic  166  may be an integrated or separate module from the other modules. It is implemented preferably as software such as the SymmWin software by EMC Corp. of Hopkinton Mass. Conveniently, the SymmWin software provides a graphical user interface that operates in cooperation with the Windows operating system provided by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond Wash. 
     Service processor  123  also includes GUI logic  156  for presenting a graphical user interface  125  on display  124 . This allows the GUI tool to be used with the filter entry logic  160  for a field engineer (not shown) operating on the data storage system independence from an operator at the error response station. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 2-3, error message or notification logic  158  sends a signal using communications logic  162  through communications device  136  that an error has occurred at data storage system  119 . The error message or notification is received through the communications device  152  in cooperation with communications logic  172  by error receiving and response logic  168  on error response station  134 . The errors are coded so that the operator  104  may look up the error and attempt to debug the problem. If the error is of the type that is a likely candidate for filtering, then the operator may use filter entry logic  170  that cooperates with GUI logic  166  to enable the operator to make an entry into the filter.log  133 . 
     The types of errors that may be filtered are those that are determined to be unimportant, or one for which a solution is pending, usually because the engineering group has become involved and is making an engineering change, such as a microcode revision. 
     Several detailed examples are explained herein; however, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular illustrative examples explained. Rather, this invention that provides a novel and inventive system and process for managing errors occurring on data storage system should only be limited by the claims appended below. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show the contents of filter.log  133 . The file is preferably a text file, including a Header  174 , a Body  176  and Footer  178 . The Header includes introductory information and Footer precedes a group  180  of INCLUDE statements that cause the insertion of many Filtertxtfiles  134 . FIG. 5 shows an exemplary illustration of the contents of filter.log  133  after being operated upon by operator  104  using GUI tool  147 . The example “EXCLUDE ERROR CODE” statement  175  is part of the Body  176   a . When such an EXCLUDE statement  175  is encountered, the filter logic prevents a normal “call home” for the particular error identified by the particular error code. Any of the Filtertxtfiles  134  may have EXCLUDE statements embedded in them, all of which will be encountered when the filter.log  133   a  is processed. 
     The process of filtering errors and filter logs existed prior to the creation of this invention. But the inventors of this invention critically recognized that prior to the creation of the present invention, there was no easy simple way to create entries into a filter log without a significant risk of the operator making mistakes. Such mistakes would result in critical errors being ignored and/or the call center being flooded with calls that should have been deferred or ignored by correctly implemented filtering process. 
     For example, at EMC, prior to this invention, any changes to a filter log had to be made by laboriously editing a file containing one-character field representations of critical bytes that were arranged contiguously. Each of these critical bytes are known as “sense bytes,” which are specific areas reserved in the memory data storage system  119  for identifying and handling errors. For example, a certain type of error, identified as the “0467” error has sense bytes  12  and  13  reserved for its identification and handling. 
     Following, in Table 1, is a representation of sense bytes  00 - 21  with information placed in their respective information fields for indicating how to handle certain errors: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 00 —— 02 —— 04 —— 06_07_08 ——— 11_12 ——— 15_16 —— 18_19_20_21 
               
               
                 ??????????DDDCCH ?? ADADADAD SKFFYYYY ???? AQ ?? PP IN 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 wherein, for example, 
               
               
                   
                 GDP = DEVICE 
               
               
                   
                 CCC = CYLINDER 
               
               
                   
                 H = HEAD 
               
               
                   
                 ADADADAD = ADDRESS FOR MEMORY ERRORS 
               
               
                   
                 ? = BYTE NOT USED ( Mask representing 0-F (Hex)) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Under program control the sense bytes are interpreted to determine which error is present and any specific information related to it. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate the ease with which errors may be introduced. For example, the mere placement of information one or more places off in the information fields will change the interpreted meaning entirely. It can be appreciated that it would be very easy to introduce an error that would produce the kind of problems described above, especially when one considers that the operator attempting to handle such problems has responsibility for dealing with multiple calls from multiple data storage systems from locations all over the world. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates how such sense bytes are handled using the present invention and is now explained with comparison to prior art techniques. Referring now to FIG. 12, in this example the GUI presentation  147  is shown as display screen presentation capture  1000  (hereafter screen  1000 ). The flex filter contents box  1032  shows the contents of the filter.log created using the GUI tool of this invention. It shows similar information as that described above referenced in Table 1, but the operator is given a much clearer and simpler way of manipulating the information fields than in with prior art techniques. 
     Referring again to FIG. 12, and box  1032 , line  1032   a  shows the case number for identification purposes, line  1032   b  shows the type of error, in this example “CEKDRSF,” meaning in this case the error applies to all of the directors in data storage system  119 . Errors may be excluded on a device or director level and each of the fields  1016 - 1028  provide a way for the operator  104  to indicate which action should be taken. In this example, the letter C stands for “Channel.” The letter E stands for “ESCON.” The letter K indicates a special configuration regarding the amount of devices in storage system  119 . The letter D indicates a device or disk director. The letter R indicates a remote device facility adapter. The letter S indicates SCSI. The letter F Indicates Fibre. If for example, the error were only to be excluded from requiring a call home if it dealt with a specific director or device or channel then only the appropriate box on the GUI presentation would be checked. Alternatively, field  1030  may be used to select that the error be excluded from calling home for all directors. 
     Referring again to FIG. 12, line  1032   c  shows the particular error code 0472 and also indicates the quantification threshold that is acceptable before this error requires a call home. The threshold in this example is indicated by BURST_COUNT  4  and BURST_TIME  3 H. In this example, this means the error may occur four times within a three-hour timeframe without requiring a call home. However if the error occurred for a 5th time within this same three-hour team timeframe, then a call home would be required. Furthermore, line  1032   c  shows that the threshold is accumulated per director and per device is indicated by the following text “SENSE DIR DV.” 
     Line  1032   e  shows the sense pattern for each sense byte, wherein each sense byte relates to byte of information that is used to actually indicate which errors to exclude or ignore. 
     Referring now to FIG. 12, Screen  1000  includes a menu bar  1002  with menu selections File, Action, Option, and Help. Field  1004  on the GUI screen  1000  may be used to indicate which error code should be filtered. Regarding terminology, such an action may also be known as “flexing” an error. Hence field  104  is labeled “Error to be flexed.” In this example, the error to be flexed is 0472. Conveniently, field  1005  may be used to include an identifying case number. Field  1006  is used to indicate identification for each sense byte number (#) that may be involved in flexing the error. Field  1010  is used to indicate the count threshold and whether to accumulate per director. Likewise field  1012  is used to indicate the burst length and whether to accumulate per director. Field  1014  is a field for offering menu selections to indicate how the error will be flexed. Examples of such menu options shall be shown in the example figures of screen  1000  below. 
     The operator may save the file by clicking on Field  1034 . Although the operator can see the GUI presented on error response station  138 , in fact the filter.log  133  is saved on the hard disk  128  of the service processor  123  such that errors can be filtered occurring on data storage system  119 . This remote aspect provides an important advantage of this invention over the prior art. 
     The GUI tool also provides an important advantage over the prior art. An important aspect of the GUI tool is that the entry fields for the sense bytes for data being interrelated to the filter entry are constrained to follow a predetermined format. This greatly minimizes the risk of inadvertent errors being introduced by the filter entry process. The GUI tool includes menu options for inputting data related to the filter entry that also provides another important advantage over the prior art. The GUI tool is supported by filter logic which is computer-executable and which checks for text entry errors in accordance with predetermined conventions. 
     The method is now described with reference to FIGS. 6-11. The process starts its step  200 . In step  202  an error notification is sent by the service processor to indicate that an error has occurred at data storage system  119 . This error notification is also referred to as a “call home.” The error notification is received in step  204  by the filter logic  142  in error response station  138 . The error handling routine begins in step  206 . The continuation step  207   a  connects with  207   b  (FIG.  7 ). 
     Error analysis begins in step  208  (FIG.  7 ). An inquiry in step  210  poses the question whether human intervention is needed. The operator  104  answers this question. If the answer is “yes” a customer service engineer is dispatched in step  212 . But if the answer is “no,” than the operator determines whether they error can be filtered in step  214 . If the answer to that question is “no,” then the process turns to the beginning of the error analysis routine beginning in step  208 . But if the answer is “yes,” then the filter routine is began in step  222 . The continuation step  223   a  connects with  223   b  (FIG.  8 ). 
     The operator may create a filter entry for the filter log with the GUI based tool in step  224  (FIG.  8 ). If applicable the operator may add an error quantification threshold in step  226 . In step  228 , the operator may further use the GUI based tool to place EXCLUDE statements in the log as described above. Any INCLUDE statements are placed in the log in step  230 . The continuation step  231   a  connects with  231   b  (FIG.  9 ). 
     Using the GUI based tool, the operator may add a director and/or device level EXCLUDE to the EXCLUDE statements if applicable in step  232 . The filter logic invokes checking for data entry errors in step  234 . In step  236  the operator uses field  1034  (FIG. 12) to save the filter.log. This action saves the filter.log  133  on the service processor  123 , even though the action was presented on the display  140  of station  138 . This is part of the remote aspect of this invention. Error checking, which includes error filtering may now continue at the service processor in step  238 . The continuation step  239   a  connects with  239   b  (FIG.  10 ). 
     The filter log process begins in step  240  (FIG.  10 ). All INCLUDE statements are processed in step  242 , and all EXCLUDE statements are processed in step  244 . The INCLUDE statements process Filtertxtfiles such as those in group  180  (FIG. 5) which may cause EXCLUDE statements to be added to the filter.log. Error codes may be excluded on a global, device or director level as shown in respective steps  246 ,  248  and  250 . The continuation steps  251   a  and  249   a  connect with  251   b  and  249   b , respectively (FIG.  11 ). 
     Referring to FIG. 11, if the exclusion is on a device level (e.g., a disk drive), then the device may be made inoperable and all errors excluded for this device. Thus, in step  253  a query is posed to determine whether, in this example, a disk drive should be spun down, i.e., stopped. If the answer is “yes,” then all calls for errors related to that disk drive are prevented from causing a call home, in step  254 . If the answer is “no,” then in step  252 , a query is posed to determine whether thresholds apply in step  252 . Step  252  is reached directly, without doing step  253 , if the exclusion is at the director or global level and not the device level. Regardless, if the answer to the question of step  252  is “no,” then the error is excluded from calling home (step  254 ). If on the other hand the answer is “yes,” then another question is posed to determine whether thresholds have been exceeded in step  256 . If the answer is “no,” then the error is excluded from calling home (step  254 ). ). But, if on the other hand, the answer is “yes,” then the call is made for the error in step  258 . 
     Additional visual representations of different information appearing on screen  1000 , shown in FIGS. 13-15, further illustrate advantages provided by this invention. FIG. 13 shows a configuration of screen  1000  wherein the menus of filed  1014  presented by the GUI have been used to indicate that exclusions are to be performed globally (denoted as “entire box” in this example). 
     FIG. 14 shows a configuration of screen  1000 , and wherein in this example the menus of field  1014  exclude errors on a director level (denoted as “Director  4 A” in this example). 
     FIGS. 14 and 15 each demonstrate the error checking ability of this invention. In FIG. 14, an error message “Symptom code required in field  1032 ,” is presented because in this example shown on screen  1000  has a blank entry in field  1004 . An alert error message  1050  is presented on screen  1000  of FIG. 15 because the burst length is entered without time units, e.g. seconds (S), minutes (M), or hours (H) and the operator is also given a chance to fix the entry error. 
     A system and method has been described for managing errors occurring in a data storage system. Having described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it may occur to skilled artisans to incorporate these concepts into other embodiments. Nevertheless, this invention should not be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but rather only by the spirit and scope of the following claims and their equivalents.