| 摘要 |
A method for monitoring the availability of a data processing system is proposed. For example, the system runs a management application ( 205,240 ), which involves the periodic transmission of blocks of data from multiple local computers ( 105 ) to a central computer ( 110 ). In the method of the invention, whenever a block of data must be transmitted by a generic local computer, an expected transmission delay of a next block of data (with respect to the current one) is estimated ( 210 - 225 ); this information is then attached ( 210 ) to the block of data. As a result, the central computer receiving ( 230 ) the updated block of data can calculate ( 235 - 255 ) an expected receiving time of the next block of data accordingly. If the next block of data is not received in due time, the central computer determines ( 260 ) a failure of the local computer. Preferably, the central computer also scans ( 265 - 270 ) a subset of ports of the local computer, so as to ascertain whether the problem is due to a temporary unavailability of the application or to an actual crash of the local computer.
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