FAILURE AND PERFORMANCE TRACKING SYSTEM

The occurrence of a failure within the customer system is identified using these rules, hypotheses, collected real time data as well as historical performance and diagnostic data to isolate the source of the error in the customer system and, whenever possible, "fence" or isolate the failed field replaceable unit that has caused the error. This failure identification process is enhanced by the provision of memory on each field replaceable unit within the customer system. The memory is used to provide history data on a filed replaceable unit basis. In particular, data is written into the field replaceable unit to identify the content and repair status of the field replaceable unit. Data is also provided to indicate failed operational elements contained on the field replaceable unit as well as prior maintenance activity in which the field replaceable unit was identified as a suspected failed unit. The memory can contain varying quantities of data indicative of the performance and life history of the field replaceable unit as well as the various environments in which it was operational, including identified failures.