Method and apparatus for monitoring components of a computer system

Claim 2

A computer system, comprising: a processing unit for executing programs; a plurality of hardware resources utilized by said processing unit; a plurality of interface mechanisms to said hardware resources; and a performance monitoring program that interacts with said hardware resources using said interface mechanisms so as to monitor performance of said hardware resources, said performance monitoring program being executed by said processing unit, wherein said interface mechanisms are registered with said performance monitoring program so that said interface mechanisms know to send particular information on at least said hardware resources to said performance monitoring program.

Claim 3

A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface mechanisms are drivers.

Claim 4

A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said hardware resources produce event information, and wherein the event information is supplied to said interface mechanisms, and said interface mechanisms forward at least a portion of the event information to said performance monitoring program.

Claim 5

A computer system as recited in claim 3, wherein said performance monitoring program notifies said interface mechanisms of a portion of the event information desired, and wherein said interface mechanisms forward the portion of the event information desired to said program monitoring program without forwarding the remaining portion of the event information that is undesired.

Claim 6

A computer system as recited in claim 4, wherein said interface mechanisms are drivers.

Claim 7

A computer system as recited in claim 5, wherein said computer system further comprises an operating system, and wherein said operating system interacts with said hardware resources through said drivers.

Claim 8

A computer system as recited in claim 4, wherein said computer system is coupled to a network, and wherein said performance monitoring program is located and operated on another computer system that is also coupled to the network.

Claim 9

A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer system further comprises a display device, wherein said performance monitoring program receives the particular information sent by said interface mechanisms, generates analysis data and images from the information provided by said interface mechanisms, and displays the analysis data and images produced by said performance monitoring program.

Claim 10

A computer system as recited in claim 8, wherein said performance monitoring program provides essentially real-time monitoring of the hardware resources associated with said interface mechanisms.

Claim 11

A computer system as recited in claim 9, wherein said interface mechanisms forward event information to said performance monitoring program, and said performance monitoring program utilizes the event information to monitor the performance of the hardware resources.

Claim 12

A computer system as recited in claim 10, wherein the event information includes at least periodic events and immediate events.

Claim 15

A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said maintaining operates to provide essentially real-time monitoring of the hardware resources associated with the registered drivers.

Claim 16

A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the event information is produced by the registered drivers, and the event information includes at least periodic events and immediate events.

Claim 17

A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said forwarding of the event information from the registered drivers to the performance monitoring program comprises the operations of: determining whether a periodic event or an immediate event has occurred; when the periodic event has occurred, updating periodic event information, determining whether a periodic update is due, and forwarding the periodic event information to the performance monitoring program when the periodic update is determined to be due; and when the immediate event has occurred, updating immediate event information.

Claim 18

A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said method further comprises: unregistering drivers from the performance monitoring program when the drivers become inactive.

Claim 19

A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the performance monitoring program sends commands to the registered drivers to control operations performed by the drivers.

Claim 20

A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said method further comprises: displaying graphic representations of the performance information.

Claim 21

A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the performance information can include or provide data to determine rates, averages and totals.

Claim 22

A computer readable medium containing program instructions for monitoring components of a computer system, the computer system including interface mechanisms for interacting with the components, said computer readable medium comprising: first computer readable code for registering interface mechanisms that are active with a behavioral monitoring program, the interface mechanisms having behavioral information for the respective components; second computer readable code for informing the registered interface mechanisms of behavioral information that the behavioral monitoring program is interested in receiving from the registered interface mechanisms; third computer readable code for selectively forwarding behavioral information from the registered interface mechanisms to the behavioral monitoring program to the extent interested; fourth computer readable code for receiving the behavioral information at the behavioral monitoring program; and fifth computer readable code for maintaining, at the behavioral monitoring program, performance information on the components associated with the registered interface mechanisms in accordance with the behavioral information received.

Claim 23

A computer readable medium containing program instructions for monitoring components of a computer system, the computer system including interface mechanisms for interacting with the components, said computer readable medium comprising: first computer readable code for registering interface mechanisms that are active with a behavioral monitoring program, the interface mechanisms having behavioral information for the respective components; second computer readable code for informing the registered interface mechanisms of behavioral information that the behavioral monitoring program is interested in receiving from the registered interface mechanisms; third computer readable code for selectively forwarding behavioral information from the registered interface mechanisms to the behavioral monitoring program to the extent interested; fourth computer readable code for receiving the behavioral information at the behavioral monitoring program; and fifth computer readable code for maintaining, at the behavioral monitoring program, performance information on the components associated with the registered interface mechanisms in accordance with the behavioral information received.

Claim 24

A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the interface mechanisms are drivers, the behavioral information includes events, and the components are hardware resources.

Claim 25

A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the behavioral data is produced by the components and includes at least one of events, rates, totals, averages and states, and the components of the computer system include at least one of drivers, hardware resources, application programs and operating system programs.

Claim 26

A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein said behavioral monitoring program notifies said interface mechanisms of a portion of the behavioral information desired, and wherein said interface mechanisms forward the portion of the behavioral information desired to said program monitoring program without forwarding the remaining portion of the behavioral information that is undesired.

Claim 27

A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the behavioral information being monitored pertains to at least one of performance, security and health of the components of the computer system.

Claim 28

A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the behavioral information being monitored pertains to at least one of performance, security and health of the components of the computer system.

Claim 29

A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein said computer system is coupled to a network, and wherein said behavioral monitoring program is located and operated on another computer system that is also coupled to the network.

Claim 30

A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein said computer system further comprises a display device, wherein said behavioral monitoring program receives the particular information sent by said interface mechanisms, generates analysis data and images from the information provided by said interface mechanisms, and displays the analysis data and images produced by said behavioral monitoring program.

Claim 31

A computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein said behavioral monitoring program provides essentially real-time monitoring of the hardware resources associated with said interface mechanisms.

Claim 32

A computer system, comprising: a processing unit for executing programs; a plurality of hardware resources utilized by said processing unit; a plurality of interface mechanisms to said hardware resources; and a behavioral monitoring program that interacts with said hardware resources using said interface mechanisms so as to monitor behavior of said hardware resources, said behavioral monitoring program being executed by said processing unit, wherein said interface mechanisms are registered with said behavioral monitoring program so that said interface mechanisms know to send particular information on at least said hardware resources to said behavioral monitoring program.

Claim 33

A computer system, comprising: a processing unit for executing programs; a plurality of hardware resources utilized by said processing unit; a plurality of interface mechanisms to said hardware resources; and a behavioral monitoring program that interacts with said hardware resources using said interface mechanisms so as to monitor behavior of said hardware resources, said behavioral monitoring program being executed by said processing unit, wherein said interface mechanisms are registered with said behavioral monitoring program so that said interface mechanisms know to send particular information on at least said hardware resources to said behavioral monitoring program.

Claim 34

A computer system as recited in claim 29, wherein the programs executed by said processing unit include system software resources, wherein said interface mechanisms are provided to said hardware resources and to said system software resources, and wherein said behavioral monitoring program that interacts with said hardware resources and said system software resources using said interface mechanisms so as to monitor behavior of said hardware resources and said system software resources.

Claim 35

A computer system as recited in claim 30, wherein said hardware resources produce event information, and wherein the event information is supplied to said interface mechanisms, and said interface mechanisms forward at least a portion of the event information to said behavioral monitoring program.

Claim 36

A computer system as recited in claim 31, wherein said behavioral monitoring program notifies said interface mechanisms of a portion of the event information desired, and wherein said interface mechanisms forward the portion of the event information desired to said program monitoring program without forwarding the remaining portion of the event information that is undesired.