[LINK] Linux poised for desktop failure: Gartner

[Craig Sanders]

On Sun, Nov 17, 2002 at 08:23:25AM +1100, Rick Welykochy wrote:
> I'd like to point out to Linkers that software like BugToaster can
> only report errors back to base when an application or OS component
> fails, and the underlying networking subsystems are still functioning
> and unaffected by the crash. There are no stats from BugToaster on the
> number of complete machine crashes (i.e. frozen, 'blue screen of
> death' [bsod], reboot required).

it is possible to write a version that reports these crashes, but it
wouldn't be able to distinguish between a genuine crash and a power
failure. BugToaster would need to keep track of whether the system was
shut down cleanly and report back to the database on the next reboot
after an improper shutdown.

all it would have to do is create a semaphore file when it shuts down
and check if it exists (and deleting it if it does) when it starts up.
if the semaphore is there, then it must have shut down properly.
otherwise a reportable crash or power failure has occurred.

it also needs a little extra code to check whether this is the first
time BugToaster has ever run - to avoid skewing the stats as new
machines start running it.

i have no idea whether bugtoaster already does this.  i should check the
docs, i suppose, but i don't care all that much since i don't run windows :)


craig

-- 
craig sanders <cas@taz.net.au>

Fabricati Diem, PVNC.
 -- motto of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch