As for the first question, I don't believe this is stored in a file anywhere, though if your using *nix you may be able to extract some useful info using the dmesg command.

As for the second question, that really depends on how your system is designed; something derived from this client-server system might be useful to you.

HTH...

_______________
DamnDirtyApe

Those who know that they are profound strive for clarity. Those who
would like to seem profound to the crowd strive for obscurity.
            --Friedrich Nietzsche