Patent ID: 7315856

Claim:
A system for managing computer system performance, comprising: a workstation including existing installed components, the installed components including at least one of software, hardware device, system upgrade, and a peripheral device; a consolidated monitoring tool executing on the workstation, the consolidated monitoring tool monitoring activities occurring on the workstation with respect to the existing installed components; and a communications link to a vendor system, the vendor system supplying at least one of a component and service to the workstation; wherein upon encountering an error relating to the at least one of a component and a service of the workstation, the consolidated monitoring tool performs: searching a database at the workstation for the error, the database including product information relating to the existing installed components, comprising: product name, current release level, current maintenance level, web site address for each vendor system associated with the existing installed components, product alerts, validation of the product's maintenance level, current message translation tables, and diagnostic information; if the error is a minor error: retrieving from the database, and displaying on the workstation, a corresponding explanation of the minor error for a user via the current message translation tables stored in the workstation; and displaying a corresponding set of action items for resolving the minor error or preventing a future occurrence of the minor error; and wherein, if the error is a severe error relating to the at least one of a component and a service of the workstation, the consolidated monitoring tool performs: retrieving from the database, and displaying on the workstation, a detailed explanation of the severe error, an explanation of a recovery plan underway to correct the severe error, and connecting to a vendor system web site for assistance, the vendor system supplying the at least one of a component and a service to the workstation.