1. A method for monitoring the performance of at least two data processing elements, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a portable performance monitoring system that includes two or more capture devices and at least one monitoring device;
releasably connecting a first one of the two or more capture devices to a first one of the data processing elements, the first capture device capturing performance monitoring data related to the first data processing element;
releasably connecting a second one of the two or more capture devices to a second one of the data processing elements, the second capture device capturing performance monitoring data related to the second data processing element;
sending the performance monitoring data captured by the first capture device to the monitoring device;
sending the performance monitoring data captured by the second capture device to the monitoring device;
analyzing at least some of the performance monitoring data received from the first and second capture devices via the monitoring device;
providing an output; and
disconnecting the first capture device from the first data processing element, and disconnecting the second capture device from the second data processing element.
2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of sampling selected performance monitoring data from at least one of the data processing elements.
3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of temporarily storing selected performance monitoring data from at least one of the data processing elements before sending the performance monitoring data to the monitoring device.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sending step sends the performance monitoring data captured by the capture devices to the monitoring device via a bus.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sending step sends the performance monitoring data captured by the capture devices to the monitoring device via a hub.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing an output includes providing a real or near real-time output.
7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting from which of the capture devices that performance monitoring data is sent to the monitoring device.
8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:
delivering the portable performance monitoring system to the data processing system prior to the releasably connecting steps; and
delivering the portable performance monitoring system to another data processing system after the disconnecting step.
9. A method for monitoring performance of a number of data processing elements, the method including:
capturing data from selected nodes of two or more data processing elements using two or more data capture devices;
caching selected data obtained from each data capture device in a first level cache;
caching selected data obtained from two or more data capture devices provided by the first level cache in a second level cache; and
transferring selected data from the second level cache to a monitoring device.
10. A system for monitoring the performance of one or more nodes of a data processing element, the system comprising:
an access element for each of the one or more nodes or sets of nodes to be monitored, each access element providing a hardware interface to transfer data;
a number of portable capture devices, wherein each of the access elements is electrically coupled to a portable capture device;
a number of communication facilitating elements, each communication facilitating elements coupled to two or more capture devices; and
a monitoring device coupled to two or more communication facilitating elements.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A wave energy transmission apparatus for transmitting optical wave energy from a high-temperature environment to a thermally-protected environment, comprising:
a conic, open-ended tube made from at least one refractory oxide, said tube adapted to be installed in a thermally-protective structure such that said tube extends therethrough, said tube having a tapered end positioned proximate to a sidewall of the structure that will be exposed to a high-temperature environment; and
a transparent window made from an amorphous ceramic selected from the group consisting of yttria and zirconia, said window being bonded into said tube at and flush with said tapered end thereof.
2. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the sidewall is a heat shield, and wherein said tapered end protrudes from, or is flush with, an outer surface of the heat shield.
3. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one refractory oxide is selected from the group consisting of hafnia, yttria, and zirconia.
4. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising at least one optical fiber disposed in said tube and extending therethrough.
5. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of said tube defines at least one stepped region adapted to be captured within the structure.
6. A wave energy transmission apparatus, comprising:
a thermal protection structure having a first side exposed to a high-temperature environment and a second side that is thermally protected from the high-temperature environment;
a substantially conically-shaped conduit defined by solid walls made from refractory oxide, said conduit having a first open end and a second open end with a diameter of said first open end being less than a diameter of said second open end, said solid walls further defining an exterior region engaged within said thermal protection structure, said conduit extending from said first side of said structure to said second side of said structure; and
a transparent window fitted into said conduit at and flush with said first open end thereof wherein wave energy entering said first open end passes through said window, said window being made from an amorphous ceramic selected from the group consisting of yttria and zirconia.
7. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said refractory oxide is selected from the group consisting of hafnia, yttria, zirconia, and mixtures thereof.
8. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said first open end of said conduit protrudes from, said first side of said structure.
9. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said exterior region defines at least one step captured within said thermal protection structure.
10. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising at least one optical fiber disposed in said conduit and extending between said first open end and said second open end.
11. A wave energy transmission apparatus for transmitting optical wave energy from a high-temperature environment experienced by a space vehicle during atmospheric re-entry to a thermally-protected environment within the space vehicle, comprising:
a thermally-protective structure that includes an ablative heat shield adapted to be exposed to the high-temperature environment experienced during atmospheric re-entry;
an open-ended, concially-shaped tube made from at least one refractory oxide and installed in said thermally-protective structure such that said tube extends therethrough, said tube having an end positioned proximate to said ablative heat shield; and
a transparent window made from an amorphous ceramic selected from the group consisting of yttria and zirconia, said window being bonded into said tube at and flush with said end proximate to said ablative heat shield.
12. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said end of said tube and said window protrude from, ablative heat shield.
13. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said at least one refractory oxide is selected from the group consisting of hafnia, yttria, and zirconia.
14. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising at least one optical fiber disposed in said tube and extending therethrough.
15. A wave energy transmission apparatus as in claim 11, wherein an exterior surface of said tube defines at least one step captured within said thermally protective structure.