Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with transient detection for predictive health management are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a health signal from a data outlet. The health signal corresponds to a derivative variable derived from a combination of data processing system metrics not exposed beyond the data outlet. A transient is detected in the health signal. In response to detecting the transient, the method includes performing a corrective action. The example method may also include detecting the transient in a health signal from a data processing system by collecting historical values of the health signal; selecting a first statistical model that best fits the historical values; receiving a present value of the health signal; and applying the first statistical model to the present value of the health signal to determine whether the present value of the health signal is a transient.

Abstract: In general the invention relates to a method for processing signals from a data server. The method includes obtaining, by a monitoring facility, a measured signal from the data server, wherein the monitoring facility comprises a central processing unit, generating a first probing characteristic from the measured signal, and determining that the first probing characteristic is measureless. The method further includes decomposing, by the central processing unit in response to the determination, the first probing characteristic into a plurality of component parts, constructing a reconstructed signal using a first one of the plurality of component parts, generating a second probing characteristic using the reconstructed signal, wherein the second probing characteristic is not measureless, and processing the reconstructed signal by the monitoring facility.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that determines whether a cooling device in a computer system is responsive to control signals. During operation of the computer system, a control signal is sent to the cooling device. Next, a response of the computer system to the control signal is measured, wherein the response includes a temperature profile. The frequency content of the control signal is then compared to the frequency content of the temperature profile to determine whether the cooling device is responsive to the control signal.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that characterizes a response of a component in a computer system to vibrations generated by the computer system. First, the system measures the response of the component to vibrations in a frequency range while the component is located outside of the computer system. The system also measures vibrations generated by the computer system in the frequency range during operation of the computer system, wherein the vibrations are measured at a location in the computer system which is configured to receive the component. The system then characterizes the response of the component to vibrations generated by the computer system based on the measured response of the component to vibrations in the frequency range and the measured vibrations in the frequency range at the location.

Abstract: A method for processing signals from a data server system including generating, by a monitoring module on a monitoring facility, a plurality of frequency data items, where the monitoring facility comprises a central processing unit, obtaining, by the monitoring module, a first signal value from the data server system, where the signal value is a measurement of an element of the data server system, and calculating a plurality of fit errors for the plurality of frequency data items using the first signal value. The method further includes selecting a frequency data item of the plurality of frequency data items with a lowest fit error to obtain a selected frequency data item, removing a cyclic component of the first signal value using the selected frequency data item to obtain a first processed signal value, and displaying the first processed signal value on a graph.

Abstract: A method for generating instructions for a monitoring facility. The method includes obtaining a signal from a data server, where the data server is monitored by the monitoring facility using a task, identifying a signal characteristic of the signal, and determining a first category for the signal based on the signal characteristic. The method further includes identifying a first signal processing tool for the signal based on the task and the first category and instructing the monitoring facility to perform the task by applying the first signal processing tool to the signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with clustering using tri-point arbitration are described. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a data point pair and a set of arbiter points. A tri-point arbitration similarity is calculated for data point pairs based, at least in part, on a distance between the first and second data points and the arbiter points. In one embodiment, similar data points are clustered.

Abstract: A method for generating a service action for a computer system is described. During the method, a longevity index value for a packaging technology in the computer system is calculated using a longevity model and thermal and vibration telemetry data that is collected in the computer system. This longevity model may be based on accelerated failure testing of the packaging technology, field failures of the packaging technology in a group of computer systems that includes the computer system, and/or thermal and vibration telemetry data for the group of computer systems. Furthermore, using the longevity index value, the service action for the computer system is determined. Based on the longevity index value, remedial as action, e.g., repairs to the computer system, may be scheduled and performed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with similarity analysis using tri-point arbitration are described. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a data point pair and an arbiter point from a data set. A tri-point arbitration coefficient (?TAC) is calculated for data point pairs based, at least in part, on a distance between the first and second data points and the arbiter point. A similarity metric is determined for the data set based, at least in part, on an aggregation of tri-point arbitration coefficients for data point pairs in the set of data points using the selected arbiter point.

Abstract: In general the invention relates to a method for processing signals from a data server. The method includes obtaining, by a monitoring facility, a measured signal from the data server, wherein the monitoring facility comprises a central processing unit, generating a first probing characteristic from the measured signal, and determining that the first probing characteristic is measureless. The method further includes decomposing, by the central processing unit in response to the determination, the first probing characteristic into a plurality of component parts, constructing a reconstructed signal using a first one of the plurality of component parts, generating a second probing characteristic using the reconstructed signal, wherein the second probing characteristic is not measureless, and processing the reconstructed signal by the monitoring facility.

Abstract: A system for characterizing vibration of a rack structure having at least one hard disk drive disposed therein and a vibration exciter operatively associated with the rack structure includes one or more computers. The one or more computers are configured to command the vibration exciter to provide vibration input to the rack structure and to command a plurality of reads from the at least one hard disk drive such that, for each of the plurality of reads, data stored on the at least one hard disk drive is retrieved from the at least one hard disk drive. The one or more computers are also configured to obtain read rate information related to the plurality of reads and to identify at least one resonant frequency of the rack structure based on the read rate information.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system for regulating temperature in a computer system are described. During operation, the system estimates a thermal trajectory as a function of time in at least a portion of the computer system. Then, the system modifies a flow resistance of a cooling mechanism in a thermal-regulation system in the computer system based on the estimated thermal trajectory, where the flow resistance is modified to regulate a temperature of at least the portion of the computer system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with transient detection for predictive health management are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a health signal from a data outlet. The health signal corresponds to a derivative variable derived from a combination of data processing system metrics not exposed beyond the data outlet. A transient is detected in the health signal. In response to detecting the transient, the method includes performing a corrective action. The example method may also include detecting the transient in a health signal from a data processing system by collecting historical values of the health signal; selecting a first statistical model that best fits the historical values; receiving a present value of the health signal; and applying the first statistical model to the present value of the health signal to determine whether the present value of the health signal is a transient.

Abstract: An electronic system includes an accelerometer. A method for excessive mechanical shock feature extraction for overstress event registration and cumulative tracking includes obtaining a sample from the accelerometer. Feature extraction is performed on the sample using empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to produce a plurality of modes. A pattern classifier is utilized for processing the plurality of modes to determine if the sample classifies as a shock event. If the sample classifies as a shock event, a shock event counter is incremented. If the shock event counter reaches a specified count, an indication to a user is generated.

Abstract: A system for characterizing vibration of a rack structure having at least one hard disk drive disposed therein and a vibration exciter operatively associated with the rack structure includes one or more computers. The one or more computers are configured to command the vibration exciter to provide vibration input to the rack structure and to command a plurality of reads from the at least one hard disk drive such that, for each of the plurality of reads, data stored on the at least one hard disk drive is retrieved from the at least one hard disk drive. The one or more computers are also configured to obtain read rate information related to the plurality of reads and to identify at least one resonant frequency of the rack structure based on the read rate information.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that generates a composite vibration profile in a frequency range for a computer system. First, a vibration spectrum in the frequency range is measured for a test computer system in each configuration in a set of configurations. Then, the composite vibration profile for the computer system is generated based on the measured vibration spectra.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that schedules read operations for disk drives in a set of disk drives. During operation, the system monitors a write rate for write operations to a given disk drive in the set of disk drives, wherein vibrations generated by the read operations directed to disk drives in the set of disk drives are transmitted to the given disk drive. Then, the read operations for disk drives in the set of disk drives are scheduled based on the write rate for the given disk drive, thereby limiting interference between the write operations and the vibrations generated by the read operations.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that controls a device that generates vibrations in a computer system. During operation, a critical vibration frequency is determined for the computer system. Next, a keep-out zone is generated based on the critical vibration frequency, wherein the keep-out zone specifies a range of frequencies to be avoided. Then, the device is controlled based on the keep-out zone to reduce vibrations generated by the device in the keep-out zone.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that detects the presence of constrained motion in one or more components in a computer system. First, a vibrational spectrum of the computer system is monitored while the computer system operates. Then, the vibrational spectrum is analyzed using a pattern-recognition model to detect constrained motion in one or more components in the computer system, wherein the pattern-recognition model classifies the vibrational spectrum as indicating constrained motion or as not indicating constrained motion.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for determining locations of computers in a group of computers, which may be performed by a system, are described. During operation, the system receives a location of a first computer in the group of computers. Then, the system determines locations of one or more additional computers in the group of computers relative to the first computer based on vibration spectra associated with the first computer and the one or more additional computers.