ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SYSTEM EVENT LOGS

A method of processing system event logs (SELs) of a second electronic device using a first electronic device. The SELs are stored in a second storage device of the second electronic device. Once a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the second electronic device sends warning signal, which indicates that a remaining space of the second storage device, is less than a predetermined value, the first electronic device obtains the SELs in the second storage device, and stores the obtained SELs in a first storage device of the first electronic device. The first electronic device further controls the BMC to delete the SELs in the second storage device, to release space of the second storage device.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to data management technology, and more particularly to an electronic device and a method for processing system event logs (SELs) of a target electronic device.

2. Description of related art

A baseboard management controller (BMC) acts as a monitoring unit of an electronic device (e.g., a server or a computer). The BMC monitors events of the electronic device and generates the SELs to record the events. The SELs are stored in a storage device of the electronic device by the BMC. However, if the electronic device runs for a long time, more events may occur, and the storage device may be full of the SELs and cannot store newly generated SELs, as storage space of the storage device is limited. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a block diagram of one embodiment of a first electronic device1in communication with a second electronic device2. In this embodiment, the first electronic device1and the second electronic device2are computers or servers or a combination. Depending on the embodiments, the second electronic device2is regarded as a target device for the first electronic device1.

The first electronic device1includes a processing system10, a first storage device11and at least one processor12. The second electronic device2includes a baseboard management controller (BMC)20, which includes a second storage device201. The first electronic device1and the second electronic device2may include more or fewer components than illustrated, or have a different configuration of the various components in other embodiments.

The BMC20monitors events of the second electronic device2. The event may represent a temperature value or other system parameters (e.g., a speed value of a fan) of the second electronic device2that exceed a preset threshold value. When the BMC20monitors that more than one event occurs, the BMC20generates a system event log (SEL) to record an occurrence time of the event. The BMC20further stores the SEL in the second storage device201.

For example, if the BMC20finds that the temperature value (e.g.,45C) of the second electronic device2, exceeds the preset threshold value (e.g.,40C) at Dec. 28, 2012 12:30 pm, the BMC20generates a SEL to record the temperature value (45C) of the second electronic device2, exceeds the preset threshold value (40C) at2012/12/28, 12:30 pm time, and stores the SEL in the second storage device201.

In this embodiment, the BMC20further monitors a remaining space of the second storage device201. Once the remaining space of the second storage device201is less than a predetermined value, the BMC20sends a warning signal to the first electronic device1. When the first electronic device1receives the warning signal, the processing system10obtains the SELs that are stored in the second storage device201, and stores the obtained SELs in a first storage device11of the first electronic device1. Details will be given in the following paragraphs.

In this embodiment, the second storage device201is an Electrically Erasable

Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM). The first storage device11is a hard disk of the first electronic device1. The first electronic device1further includes at least one processor12.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of function modules of the processing system10included in the first electronic device1ofFIG. 1. In this embodiment, the processing system10may include a receiving module101, an obtaining module102, a storing module103, and a controlling module104. The modules101-104comprise computerized codes in the form of one or more programs that may be stored in the first storage device11. The computerized code includes instructions that are executed by the at least one processor12.

FIG. 3is a flowchart of a first embodiment of a method of processing the SELs of the second electronic device2ofFIG. 1. Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others deleted, and the ordering of the steps may be changed.

In step S1, the receiving module101receives the warning signal sent from the BMC20, the warning signal indicating that the remaining space of the second storage device201is less than the predetermined value.

As mentioned above, the BMC20monitors the events of the second electronic device2, and generates the SELs to record the events. The SELs are stored in the second storage device201by the BMC20. The BMC20further monitors the remaining space of the second storage device201, and sends the warning signal to the first electronic device1, when the remaining space of the second storage device201is less than the predetermined value.

For example, if a memory space of the second storage device201is 500 MB (megabytes), and the predetermined value is 100 MB, when the BMC20finds that the remaining space of the second storage device201is less than 100 MB, the BMC20sends the warming signal to the first electronic device1.

In step S2, the obtaining module102obtains the SELs from the second storage device201. In this embodiment, the obtaining module102obtains the SELs by sending a first predetermined Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) command to the BMC20. The first IPMI command controls the BMC20to return the SELs of the second storage device201. That is, the obtaining module102obtains the SELs when the first electronic device11receives the returned SELS.

In step S3, the storing module103stores the obtained SELs in the first storage device11. In this embodiment, the storing module103stores the obtained SELs in the first storage device11, according to the occurrence time of the events.

In step S4, the controlling module104controls the BMC20to delete the SELs in the second storage device201. In this embodiment, the controlling module104sends a second predetermined IPMI command to the BMC20, the second predetermined IPMI command controls the BMC20to delete the SELs in the second storage device201. When the BMC20receives the second predetermined IPMI command, the BMC20deletes the SELs in the second storage device201, to release space of the second storage device201to store newly generated SELs by the BMC20.

FIG. 4is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a method of processing the SELs of the second electronic device2ofFIG. 1. Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others deleted, and the ordering of the steps may be changed.

In step S11, the receiving module101receives a request signal to obtain specified SELs which record events occurred within a predetermined time period, from the BMC20.

For example, the SELs record events occurring between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31,2012 and are stored in the first storage device11. If the BMC20needs to obtain event logs occurring between Dec. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2012 the BMC20sends the request signal to obtain the SELs occurred between Dec. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2012 to the first electronic device1. Then, the receiving module101receives the request signal.

In step S12, the obtaining module102obtains the specified SELs which record the events occurred within the predetermined time period, by searching the first storage device11. When the obtaining module102obtains the specified SELs from the first storage device11, the obtaining module102sends the specified SELs to the BMC20.