Extracting Log Files From Storage Devices

Abstract

A storage system to communicate with a plurality of storage devices. The storage system includes a processor to execute system software that includes machine readable instructions configured to add system-level information regarding the storage system to log files stored in a reserved area of the storage device, extract the log file from each of the storage devices automatically at a predetermined interval, and transmit the log files from the storage system for analysis.

1 . A storage system comprising:
 a processor to execute machine readable instructions to:
 add system-level information regarding the storage system to log files stored in reserved user inaccessible areas of storage devices; 
 extract the log files from the storage devices automatically at a predetermined interval; and 
 transmit the log files from the storage system for analysis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the log files are incremental in time and are concatenated during the analysis. 
     
     
         3 . The storage system of  claim 1 , each of the storage devices including firmware to:
 enable the log files to be extracted using a common specification.   
     
     
         4 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the storage devices comprising at least one of hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs). 
     
     
         5 . The storage system of  claim 1 , each of the log files including information regarding at least two of:
 Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART);   a usage of an associated storage device;   an error of the associated storage device;   a performance of the associated storage device;   a temperature of the associated storage device;   a voltage of the associated storage device;   vibration sensor data; or   humidity sensor data.   
     
     
         6 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the system-level information including at least two of:
 a date and a time stamp;   a part number of the storage system;   a serial number of the storage system;   a version of an operating system of the storage system;   a storage device location within the storage system; or   a state of the storage system.   
     
     
         7 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the machine readable instructions further to:
 write the system-level information to an application client log (ACL) page of each of the storage devices based on an occurrence of a predetermined set of events.   
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 7 , each of the storage devices including firmware to:
 accept the system-level information; and   add the system-level information to the log file stored in the reserved user inaccessible area of the storage device.   
     
     
         9 . The storage system of  claim 7 , the machine readable instructions further to:
 update the system-level information in the ACL page of each of the storage devices when a change to the storage system occurs.   
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 9 , the change to the storage system including at least one of:
 admitting a storage device to the storage system;   servicing a drive enclosure for a storage device in the storage system;   a new drive state for a storage device in the storage system;   a firmware update for the storage system;   a firmware update for a storage device in the storage system; or   an operating system upgrade for the storage system.   
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 7 , entries in the ACL page of each of the storage devices including a time and a date, each of the entries associated with a power-on hours (POH), and each time a new entry is added to one of the ACL pages of the storage devices, an updated POH is associated with the new entry. 
     
     
         12 . The storage system of  claim 7 , each storage device including firmware to maintain a circular buffer structure of the ACL page associated with the storage device, the machine readable instructions further to write the system-level information to the circular buffer structure of the ACL page. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the machine readable instructions further to:
 organize the log files that are extracted from the storage devices by suppliers of the storage devices; and   transmit the log files that are organized to a supplier of the storage system.   
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 adding, by a processor, system-level information regarding a storage system to log files stored in reserved user inaccessible areas of storage drives;   extracting, by the processor, the log files with the system-level information from the storage drives automatically at a predetermined interval; and   transmitting, by the processor, the log files with the system-level information from the storage system for analysis.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 writing the system-level information to an application client log (ACL) page of each of the storage devices based on an occurrence of a predetermined set of events.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 updating the system-level information in the ACL page of each of the storage devices when a change to the storage system occurs.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 organizing the log files that are extracted from the storage devices by suppliers of the storage devices; and   transmitting the log files that are organized to a supplier of the storage system.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a storage system to:
 add system-level information regarding the storage system to log files stored in reserved user inaccessible areas of storage drives, the system-level information including a date and time stamp;   extract the log files from the storage drives automatically at a predetermined interval; and   transmit the log files from the storage system for analysis.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , the machine readable instructions further to, when executed, cause the storage system to:
 write the system-level information to an application client log (ACL) page of each of the storage devices based on an occurrence of a predetermined set of events.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , the machine readable instructions further to, when executed, cause the storage system to:
 update the system-level information in the ACL page of each of the storage devices when a change to the storage system occurs.