FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING DATA THAT PROVIDES CORRELATION INFORMATION IN A DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING SYSTEM

摘要

A framework for managing data that provides correlation information in a distributed computing system is provided. The framework includes a generic correlator da ta structure and service for generating and managing correlators. The generic correlator data structure defines a generic correlator to uniquely identify a specific event occurring at a specific time on a specific thread of a specific process of a specific application executi ng on a specific machine in the distributed computing system. The correlator may be used to correlate the specific event with another event, even one occurring on a different machine . The generic correlator data structure may be extended, optionally, to include additional context data, for example, specific information selected by a service, tool or other application requiring the correlators. Preferably, the generic correlator data structure is configured to include an association to a partner correlator for a correlated event. The service generates a correlator for an event of a series of events on a computer within the distributed system with a temporal identifier representative of the unique temporal order of th e event in the series of events. The temporal identifier may be defined by one or more sequential counters each responsive a characteristic of the event. The service may provide the correlator for transporting to another computer in the distributed system fo r associating with a related event correlator. Accordingly, the service may receive a correlato r and associate it with the related correlator.