Abstract: A system that generates a dynamic power-flux map for a set of computer systems. During operation the system determines the locations of the computer systems. Next, the system receives dynamic traces of power consumption for the computer systems, wherein a dynamic trace of power consumption for a given computer system is generated based on dynamic traces of monitored inferential variables for the given computer system. The system then correlates the locations of the computer systems with the dynamic traces of power consumption for the computer systems, and generates the dynamic power-flux map for the set of computer systems based on the correlated locations and the dynamic traces for the computer systems.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that monitors a physical variable associated with an electronic component within a computer system. During operation, the system receives telemetry signals of the physical variable which are collected by one or more physical sensors associated with the electronic component. The system also collects electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals generated by the electronic component. Next, the system builds an inferential model for the physical variable by correlating the EMI signals with the telemetry signals. The system then uses the inferential model to infer values for the physical variable from the EMI signals.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that proactively monitors and detects metal whisker growth in a target area within a computer system. During operation, the system collects target electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals using one or more antennas positioned in the vicinity of the target area. Next, the system analyzes the target EMI signals to proactively detect the onset of metal whisker growth in the target area.

Abstract: A system that select tests to exercise a given computer system is described. During operation, the system tests the given computer system using a set of tests, where a given test includes a given load and a given cycling time selected from a range of cycling times. Moreover, for the given test, the system monitors a stress metric in the given computer system. Additionally, the system selects at least one of the tests from the set of tests to exercise the given computer system based on the monitored stress metric.

Abstract: A computer system to predict a value of a signal from a sensor schedule loads across a set of processor cores is described. During operation, the computer system generates N models to predict the value of the signal based on a set of quantized telemetry signals, where a given model produces a value of the signal using a subset of the set of quantized telemetry signals, and where the subset is selected from the set of quantized telemetry signals based on an objective criterion. Next, the computer system predicts the value of the signal by aggregating the values produced by the N models.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that non-intrusively detects counterfeit components in a target computer system. During operation, the system collects target electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals generated by the target computer system using one or more antennas positioned in close proximity to the target computer system. The system then generates a target EMI fingerprint for the target computer system from the target EMI signals. Next, the system compares the target EMI fingerprint against a reference EMI fingerprint to determine whether the target computer system contains a counterfeit component.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that generates a synthetic workload to test power utilization in a computer system. During operation, the system monitors power utilization of a reference computer system while the reference computer system executes a workload-of interest, wherein the monitoring process produces a power profile. Next, the system determines characteristics of the workload-of-interest from the power profile. Finally, the system uses the determined characteristics to construct the synthetic workload, wherein the synthetic workload has similar power utilization to the workload-of-interest.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that camouflages business-activity information in telemetry signals from a computer system. During operation, the system monitors telemetry signals from the computer system to obtain a time series containing a telemetry metric which provides business-activity information. Next, the system computes a serial correlation between data values in the time series. The system then determines if the computed serial correlation between the data values in the time series is above a predetermined threshold level. If so, the system performs frequency domain analysis on the time series. The system then generates artificial activity on the computer system which causes the frequency spectra of the time series to reduce the serial correlation between the data values in the time series.

Abstract: A method of tagging a manufactured product with a passive tag includes processing a subset of a plurality of unique combinations of at least two axis ratios, where the subset is determinable by a plurality of parameters that define a portion of a coordinate space, to determine a first particular unique combination of the at least two axis ratios. A gas having the determined particular one unique combination of at least two axis ratios is incorporated into the manufactured product. The product to be tagged may be a first product, characterized by a first particular characteristic, and a second product is characterized by a second particular characteristic different from the first particular characteristic. The unique combination of at least two axis ratios is a first unique combination.

Abstract: A system that generates an electromagnetic interference (EMI) fingerprint for a computer system is presented. During operation, the system executes a load script on the computer system, wherein the load script includes a specified sequence of operations. Next, the system receives EMI signals generated by the computer system while executing the load script. The system then generates the EMI fingerprint from the received EMI signals.

Abstract: A system that monitors electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals to facilitate proactive fault monitoring in a computer system is presented. During operation, the system receives EMI signals from one or more antennas located in close proximity to the computer system. The system then analyzes the received signals to proactively detect anomalies during operation of the computer system.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that generates a synthetic workload to test power utilization in a computer system. During operation, the system monitors power utilization of a reference computer system while the reference computer system executes a workload-of interest, wherein the monitoring process produces a power profile. Next, the system determines characteristics of the workload-of-interest from the power profile. Finally, the system uses the determined characteristics to construct the synthetic workload, wherein the synthetic workload has similar power utilization to the workload-of-interest.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provides a system that optimizes a regression model which predicts a signal as a function of a set of available signals. These embodiments use a genetic technique to optimize the regression model, which involves using a portion of the sample signals used to generate each parent regression model from a pair of best-fit parent regression models to generate a child regression model. In addition, in embodiments of the present invention, the system introduces “mutations” to the set of sample signals used to create the child regression model in an attempt to create more robust child regression models during the optimization process.

Abstract: A system that generates a dynamic power-flux map for a set of computer systems. During operation the system determines the locations of the computer systems. Next, the system receives dynamic traces of power consumption for the computer systems, wherein a dynamic trace of power consumption for a given computer system is generated based on dynamic traces of monitored inferential variables for the given computer system. The system then correlates the locations of the computer systems with the dynamic traces of power consumption for the computer systems, and generates the dynamic power-flux map for the set of computer systems based on the correlated locations and the dynamic traces for the computer systems.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that camouflages business-activity information in telemetry signals from a computer system. During operation, the system monitors telemetry signals from the computer system to obtain a time series containing a telemetry metric which provides business-activity information. Next, the system computes a serial correlation between data values in the time series. The system then determines if the computed serial correlation between the data values in the time series is above a predetermined threshold level. If so, the system performs frequency domain analysis on the time series. The system then generates artificial activity on the computer system which causes the frequency spectra of the time series to reduce the serial correlation between the data values in the time series.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that reconstructs a high-resolution signal from a set of low-resolution quantized samples. During operation, the system receives a time series containing low-resolution quantized signal values which are sampled from the high-resolution signal. Next, the system performs a spectral analysis on the time series to obtain a frequency series for the low-resolution quantized signal values. The system next selects a subset of frequency terms from the frequency series which have the largest amplitudes. The system then reconstructs the high-resolution signal by performing an inverse spectral analysis on the subset of the frequency terms.