Historical software diagnostics using lightweight process snapshots

摘要

A debugging and diagnostics system allows users to take lightweight process snapshots of running debuggee processes so the users may analyze those snapshots at a later time. The snapshot mechanism allows diagnostic tools to compare an original process or one or more process snapshots or to compare any of a series of snapshots to each other. The snapshot mechanism further allows users to inspect a snapshot of process memory while allowing the original process to continue running with minimal impact. A user may do historical debugging using process snapshots of a debuggee process taken over time. This allows the user to view the state of the debuggee process as it existed when the snapshot was taken. The lightweight process snapshot is less invasive because it does not require a full copy of the memory and allows the original process to run un-interrupted while specific collections and inspections are completed.

主权项

1. In a computing environment, a method of analyzing an executing process, the method comprising:
generating a process snapshot from the executing process, with the process snapshot and executing process allowed to run independently; associating a diagnostic tool with the snapshot process; and collecting data from the process snapshot using the diagnostic tool without affecting the executing process.