JP3208885B2 - Fault monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network system in which a plurality of data processing devices are connected via a network, and more particularly to a fault monitoring system for monitoring a fault in a data processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method disclosed and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-142540 is known as a method for displaying and storing fault information relating to a fault that has occurred in each computer in a network system. In this publication, when a computer other than the monitoring computer in the network system fails, the failure is notified to the monitoring computer, the failure information is displayed on the console of the monitoring computer, and the failure information is displayed as the failure information. Is stored in the external storage device of the faulty computer in which the error occurred.

In this way, by distributing and accumulating the failure information of all the computers, the capacity of the external storage device required for one computer has been suppressed.

[0004]

However, in the prior art disclosed in the above publication, the failure information is dispersed and accumulated, so that maintenance operations such as referring to the failure information again or backing up the information are troublesome. is there. Further, when the scale of the network is increased, only one fault computer can monitor the fault, so that a communication medium near the monitor computer (that is, an interface connecting the network and the monitor computer) has failed. In that case, the failure cannot be monitored.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fault monitoring system capable of storing fault information in groups and monitoring faults in the entire system.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of data processing devices are connected via a communication line, and a plurality of data processing devices are monitored for faults. In the monitoring system, a data processing device other than a predetermined specific data processing device among the data processing devices in each group into which the plurality of data processing devices are grouped is a fault detected by its own device. The failure information related to the failure detected by the own device is transferred to the specific data processing device of the group to which the own device belongs without storing the failure information related to the failure to the own device. Information and fault information transferred from other data processing devices in the group, and stores the stored fault information in each of the specific data processing devices. To a predetermined data processing device which has a function of monitoring the entire system in advance, and the predetermined data processing device has its own device for fault information from a specific data processing device belonging to another group. Only output processing is executed without accumulation. In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the at least one other data processing device in addition to the predetermined data processing device among the plurality of data processing devices,
In addition to functioning as the predetermined data processing device set in advance, the data processing device other than the specific data processing device for each of the groups backs up the fault information accumulated by the specific data processing device. I do. In a third aspect based on the first or third aspect, each of the data processing devices monitors its own device body, peripheral devices connected to the device body, and failures of the device body and the peripheral device. And a failure detecting means for detecting an abnormality of the failure.

[0007]

According to the present invention, only a specific data processing device of each group accumulates fault information relating to a fault detected by a data processing device in a group including its own processing device, and also stores the fault information stored therein. The data is transferred to a predetermined data processing device having a function of monitoring the entire system (one data processing device among specific data processing devices for each of a plurality of groups), and the predetermined data processing device
In addition to accumulating fault information on faults detected by the data processing devices in the group to which the self belongs, output processing (display processing) is also performed, while fault information from a specific data processing device belonging to another group (ie, other Output processing (display processing) without accumulating in its own device.
Only run. Therefore, according to the present invention, the fault information is centrally stored for each group, so that the storage medium resources of the entire system can be effectively used, and only the preset data processing device displays the fault information. So
Failure information of the entire system can be centrally managed.
Further, in the present invention, in addition to a predetermined data processing device having a function of monitoring the entire system, at least one other data processing device also has a function of monitoring the entire system, and a specific data processing device accumulates for each group. The failure information is backed up by at least another data processing device.
For this reason, according to the present invention, even when one predetermined data processing device is down and the monitoring function of the entire system cannot be performed, other data having the monitoring function of the entire system can be used. The processing device can monitor the failure of the entire system. Further, even if a failure has occurred in the means (external storage means) storing the failure information in a specific data processing device, the failure information can be restored based on the backup failure information.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a fault monitoring system according to the present invention. In the figure, a plurality of computers G1-S1, G1-S2,..., G1-Sn, G
2-S1, G2-S2,..., G2-Sn, Gn-S1,
Gn-S2,..., Gn-Sn are connected via a network 10. Each computer has an external storage device G1-D1, G1-D2,..., G1-Dn, G2-D.
1, G2-D2, ..., G2-Dn, Gn-D1, Gn-
D2,..., Gn-Dn and consoles G1-C1, G1
-C2, ..., G1-Cn, G2-C1, G2-C2,
..., G2-Cn, Gn-C1, Gn-C2, ..., Gn-
Cn.

Here, the computers G1-S1, G1-S
, G1-Sn form a group 1 with n computers, in which the computers G1-S1
The system has a system monitoring function for controlling the entire system and a group monitoring function for monitoring information in the group 1. Hereinafter, this computer is defined as a system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1.

The computers G2-S1, G2-S2,...
A group 2 is formed by n computers G2-Sn. In this group 2, the computer G2-S1 has a group monitoring function of monitoring information in the group 2.
Hereinafter, this computer is defined as a group monitoring computer G2-S1.

Further, computers Gn-S1, Gn-S2,.
A group n is formed by n computers Gn-Sn. In the group n, the computer Gn-S1 has a group monitoring function of monitoring information in the group n.
Hereinafter, this computer is defined as a group monitoring computer Gn-S1.

Here, the system monitoring & group monitoring computer and computers other than the group monitoring computer are referred to as general computers.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the computer G1-S1. The computer G1-S1 has a failure module 240 having a failure information handler 210, a failure processing information setting unit 220, and a failure detection unit 230. It has.

The fault processing information setting section 220 gives fault processing information set by the user to the fault information handler 210. The failure detection unit 230 monitors the statuses of the computer G1-S1, the console G1-C1, and the external storage device G1-D1.
Notify 0. The failure information handler 210 sends the failure information to the console G1-C1 based on the failure processing information.
Alternatively, the failure information is output to a local output device such as the external storage device G1-D1, or the failure information is transferred to another computer, or the failure information is output to a local output device and transferred to another computer. Is carried out. Further, when the failure information handler 210 receives from the failure detection unit 230 that the output device is abnormal, the failure information handler 210 transfers the failure information to another computer based on the failure processing information.

The other computers have the same configuration as above.

Here, FIG. 3 shows an example of the format of the failure processing information.

As shown in FIG. 3, the failure processing information is in the form of a table. The type of the failure information, the display processing, the transfer destination when the display is abnormal, the accumulation processing, the transfer destination when the accumulation is abnormal, and the transfer processing are described. It is composed of fields 310 to 360.

The failure processing information includes an entry 371 in which information about processing relating to the failure information that has occurred in its own computer is described, and a request to display failure information from another computer. An entry 372 in which information on the processing related to the failure information is described in the entry 372 when the failure information is requested from another computer (this includes the case where the external storage device is abnormal). Of the failure information, and an entry 374 in which information on the failure information processing when another computer is requested to display and store the failure information is described. are doing.

In a field 310, information on a fault that has occurred in its own computer (hereinafter referred to as local fault information) and fault information requested to be displayed by another computer (hereinafter referred to as remote (display) fault information). Failure information requested to be stored by another computer (hereinafter referred to as remote (storage) failure information), and failure information requested to be displayed and stored by another computer (hereinafter referred to as remote (display & storage))
Of the failure information is set. This is not the type of fault information itself, but the display /
It can be said that it is a type of processing such as accumulation.

In the display processing field 320, information indicating whether or not to display the fault information is set.

In the transfer destination field 330 when the display is abnormal, transfer destination information indicating where to transfer the fault information when the console of the computer is abnormal, for example, an address is set.

In the storage process field 340, information indicating whether or not the fault information is stored is set.

In the transfer destination field 350 at the time of accumulation abnormality, transfer destination information indicating where the failure information is to be transferred, for example, an address, is set when the external storage device of the computer is abnormal.

In the field 360 of the transfer process, information indicating whether or not to transfer the fault information, and, if so, destination information indicating where to transfer the fault information, are set.

Here, FIG. 4 shows an example of failure processing information of a general computer, for example, the computer G2-S2 of group 2.
Group monitoring computer, for example, group monitoring computer G2-S
FIG. 5 shows an example of the failure processing information of the first system.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the failure processing information of the group monitoring computer G1-S1.

In FIG. 4, the computer G2-S2 includes local fault information of a fault occurring in the computer G2-S2, remote (display) fault information from another computer, remote (accumulated) fault information, Neither the remote (display & storage) failure information performs display processing and storage processing,
It is shown that local fault information of a fault that has occurred in the computer G2-S2 is transferred to the group monitoring computer G2-S1 as display data and accumulated data.

In FIG. 5, the group monitoring computer G2
-S1 is local fault information of a fault that has occurred in the group monitoring computer G2-S1, remote (accumulation) fault information from another computer, and remote (display & accumulation) fault information, Although not performed, the storage process is performed, and the fault information is transferred to the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1 to request display of the fault information.
Further, remote (display) fault information from another computer is not subjected to display processing and accumulation processing, but is transferred to the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1 to request display of this fault information. It is shown.

In FIG. 6, the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1 includes local fault information of a fault that has occurred in the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1, and a remote (display) fault from another computer. It is shown that display processing and storage processing are performed for all pieces of information, remote (storage) failure information, and remote (display & storage) failure information, and that these pieces of failure information are not transferred.

Next, a specific example will be described. When a failure occurs in itself, the general computer G2-S2 transmits the failure information to request display and accumulation of the failure information based on the contents of the entry 371 of the failure processing information shown in FIG. -Transfer to S1. At this time, the general computer G2-S2 does not store or display the fault information. The group monitoring computer G2-S1, which has received the remote (display & accumulation) failure information, stores the failure information in the external storage device G2-D1 based on the contents of the failure processing information entry 374 shown in FIG. System monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1 to request display
Transfer to Of course, the group monitoring computer G2-S1 only stores the fault information of the fault that has occurred in itself based on the contents of the fault processing information entry 371 shown in FIG. Transfer to the group monitoring computer G1-S1. Since the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1 also serves as the group monitoring computer, the entry 3 of the failure processing information shown in FIG.
Based on 74, the failure information transferred from the other computers in the group is displayed on the console G1-C1 and stored in the external storage device G1D1. In addition, only the display of the remote (display) fault information from the group monitoring computer of another group is performed.

Other general computer and group monitoring computer G
The n-S1 performs the same processing operation as described above.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the failure information is stored in units of groups, and its display is displayed by the system monitoring computer which manages the system. It is only necessary to perform a maintenance operation such as referring again to a backup or performing a backup in a group unit, and the maintenance operation can be easily performed.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the fault monitoring system according to the present invention. This configuration is shown in FIG.
In the configuration of the configuration diagram of the first embodiment, the computer G1-
S2 is changed to the computer G1-S2a, and the computer G2-S2
Is changed to the computer G2-S2a, the computer G2-Sn is changed to the computer G2-Sna, and the computer Gn-S2 is changed to the computer Gn-S2a.

Computers G1-S2a, G2-Sna, Gn
-S2a is a computer for backing up the failure information accumulated by the group monitoring computer in each group (hereinafter referred to as a computer).
Backup computer).

The computer G2-S2a is a computer having a system monitoring function for controlling the entire system (hereinafter, referred to as a system monitoring computer).

That is, in the second embodiment, 2
The system is monitored by one computer, failure information is stored in a representative of each group, and the stored information is automatically backed up in each group.

Here, a general computer, for example, the computer G1-S
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the failure processing information of the group monitoring computer G2-S1 in FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the failure processing information of the system monitoring computer G2-S2a. Monitoring & Group Monitoring Computer G1
FIG. 11 shows an example of the failure processing information of -S1. The backup computer, for example, the backup computer G2-Sna
FIG. 12 shows an example of the failure processing information. These pieces of failure processing information are set in a format as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, the computer G1-Sn includes local fault information of a fault occurring in the computer G1-Sn, remote (display) fault information from another computer, remote (accumulated) fault information, Neither the remote (display & storage) failure information performs display processing and storage processing,
The figure shows that local fault information of a fault that occurred in the computer G1-Sn is transferred to the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1 to request display and accumulation.

In FIG. 9, the group monitoring computer G2
-S1 does not execute the display process but executes the accumulation process for the local fault information of the fault that has occurred in the group monitoring computer G2-S1, and further requests the computer G1-S1 and the computer G1-S1 to request the display of the fault information. In addition to the transfer to G2-S2a, the transfer to the computer G2-Sna to request the storage, and neither the display processing nor the storage processing for the remote (display) failure information from other computers,
It is transferred to the computers G1-S1 and G2-S2a to request a display, and remote (accumulation) failure information from other computers is not displayed, but accumulation is performed.
Further, the computer G2-Sna is transferred to the computer G2-Sna to request a backup, and for each remote (display & storage) failure information from another computer, the display processing is not performed, but the storage processing is performed, and the computer G1-Sna is requested to perform the display request. S1, G2-S2a
To the computer G2-S to request a backup
In this case, it is indicated that the transfer is made to the N.A.

In FIG. 10, the system monitoring computer G
2-S2a transfers the local fault information of the fault that has occurred in the system monitoring computer G2-S2a to the computer G2-S1 without performing any display processing and storage processing, and transmits the remote information from another computer ( Display) fault information,
For remote (display & accumulation) failure information, display processing is executed, but accumulation processing and transfer processing are not executed. For remote (accumulation) failure information from other computers, display processing, accumulation processing and This indicates that no transfer processing is performed.

In FIG. 11, the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1 has local fault information of a fault which has occurred in the computer G1-S1 and remote (display & accumulation) fault information from another computer. , Display processing and storage processing, and transfer to the computer G1-S2a to request a backup. Remote (display) failure information from other computers is displayed, but storage processing and storage processing are performed. No transfer is performed, and no display processing is performed for remote (accumulated) failure information from another computer, but accumulation processing is performed and the information is transferred to the computer G1-S2a to request a backup. It is shown.

In FIG. 12, the backup computer G2-Sna performs neither display processing nor accumulation processing for the local failure information of the failure that has occurred in the computer G2-Sna, and requests the computer to display and accumulate it. G2
-Transfer to S2a and perform remote (display) failure information from other computers without performing any display processing, storage processing, and transfer processing, and further perform remote (display) failure information from other computers. Display processing and transfer processing are not performed for remote (display & storage) failure information.
This indicates that the backup process is performed.

Next, a specific example will be described.

When a failure occurs in the general computer G1-Sn, the computer G1-Sn transmits the failure information based on the contents of the entry 371 of the failure processing information shown in FIG. & Transfer to the group monitoring computer G1-S1. The system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1 stores the failure information from the computer G1-Sn in the entry 3 of the failure processing information shown in FIG.
Based on the content of the error information 74, the failure information is displayed and stored, and the failure information is stored in the backup computer G1.
-Transfer to S2a. Backup computer G1-S2
In a, the transferred fault information is stored in the external storage device G1-
D2a.

When a failure occurs in the group monitoring computer G2-S1, the group monitoring computer G2-S1 performs system monitoring to request display of failure information based on the contents of the failure processing information entry 371 shown in FIG. & Group monitoring computer G1-S1 and system monitoring computer G2-S
2a and to the backup computer G2-Sna to back up the failure information. The system monitoring computer G2-S2a that has received the failure information from the group monitoring computer G2-S1 performs display processing on the failure information based on the contents of the failure processing information entry 372 shown in FIG. Neither accumulation processing nor transfer processing is performed. Also, the group monitoring computer G2-S
Backup computer G2 that has received the failure information from
-Sna, entry 3 of the failure processing information shown in FIG.
Based on the contents of 73, the failure information is stored in the external storage device G2-Dna. On the other hand, in the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1, based on the contents of the failure processing information entry 372 shown in FIG. 11, the display processing is performed on the failure information, but the accumulation processing and the transfer processing are not performed.

When a fault occurs in the system monitoring computer G2-S2a, the fault information is input to the group monitoring computer G2-S1 according to the contents of the entry 371 of the fault processing information in FIG. After that, the trouble information
The contents of the entry 374 shown in FIG. 9 are displayed on the consoles of the system monitoring and group monitoring computer G1-S1 and the system monitoring computer G2-S2a, and the external storage device G2-Dna of the backup computer G2-Sna. Is accumulated in If the system monitoring computer G2-S2a has an abnormality in the console G2-C2a, the failure information is not displayed. However, since the same content as the fault information is displayed on the console G1-C1 of the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1, in this case, the system monitoring computer G2-
Even if a failure has occurred in the computer and the output device in S2a, the entire system can be monitored by another system monitoring computer, the system monitoring & group monitoring computer G1-S1.

Further, when a failure occurs in the backup computer G2-Sna, the failure information is input to the group monitoring computer G2-S1 according to the contents of the failure processing information entry 371 shown in FIG. Group monitoring computer G
The failure information input to 2-S1 is based on the contents of the failure processing information entry 374 shown in FIG.
2-S2a is displayed on each console, and is stored in the external storage device G2-Dna of the backup computer G2-Sna.

Similarly, when a failure occurs in another general computer, another group monitoring computer, or another system monitoring computer, the failure information is processed based on the failure processing information set by the user. become.

That is, when a failure occurs, each computer
The failure information is transferred to the group monitoring computer of the group, the group monitoring computer accumulates the received failure information, and further transfers the accumulated information to the two system monitoring computers and the backup computer in the group.

The system monitoring computer may be provided for each group, or a plurality of (for example, two) computers may be provided for one group.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, since a plurality of system monitoring computers are provided in addition to the operation and effect of the first embodiment, one system monitoring computer is provided. Even if it goes down, the system can be monitored by another system monitoring computer. Further, since the failure information is backed up, even if the failure information stored in the group monitoring computer is destroyed, the failure information can be restored.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Only a specific data processing device of each group stores fault information on faults detected by data processing devices in the group including the self-processing device, and has a function of monitoring the stored fault information of the entire system. The data is transferred to a predetermined data processing device that is set in advance, and the predetermined data processing device accumulates fault information regarding a fault detected by a data processing device in a group to which the data processing device belongs, and also performs an output process (for example, a display process). On the other hand, fault information from a specific data processing device belonging to another group is not stored in its own device, and only output processing (for example, display processing) is executed. Since the information is centrally stored, the storage medium resources of the entire system can be used effectively, and the data processing device of a preset data processing device can be used. There therefore view the failure information can be 1-way managing fault information of the whole system. That is, there is an advantage that the failure can be monitored in a group unit and the failure can be monitored in the entire system. According to the present invention, in addition to a predetermined data processing device having a function of monitoring the entire system, at least one other data processing device has a function of monitoring the entire system, and a specific data processing device is provided for each group. Since the fault information to be stored is configured to be backed up by at least another data processing device, even when one predetermined data processing device is down and the monitoring function of the entire system cannot be performed, A fault in the entire system can be monitored by another data processing device having a function of monitoring the entire system. Further, even when a failure has occurred in the means for storing the failure information in a specific data processing device, the failure information can be quickly restored based on the backup failure information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a fault monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of each computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a format of failure processing information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure processing information of a general computer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure processing information of a group monitoring computer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure processing information of a system monitoring & group monitoring computer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the fault monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure processing information of a general computer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure processing information of a group monitoring computer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure processing information of a system monitoring computer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure processing information of a system monitoring & group monitoring computer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure processing information of a backup computer according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

G1-S1, G1-S2, G1-Sn, G1-S2a ...
Computers in group 1, G2-S1, G2-S2, Gn-Sn, G2-S2a ...
Computers in group 2, Gn-S1, Gn-S2, Gn-Sn, G2-Sna,
Gn-S2a: Computers in group n, G1-D1, G1-D2, G1-Dn, G1-D2a ...
External storage devices in group 1, G1-C1, G1-C2, G1-Cn, G1-C2a,.
Consoles in group 1, G2-D1, G2-D2, Gn-Dn, G2-D2a ...
External storage devices in group 2, G2-C1, G2-C2, Gn-Cn, G2-C2a...
Consoles in group 2, Gn-D1, Gn-D2, Gn-Dn, G2-Dna,
Gn-D2a: external storage devices in group n, Gn-C1, Gn-C2, Gn-Cn, G2-Cna,
Gn-C2a: Console in group n, 10: Network, 210: Fault information handler, 220: Fault processing information setting unit, 230: Fault detection unit, 240: Fault module in the computer.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fault monitoring system in which a plurality of data processing devices are connected via a communication line, respectively, and wherein the plurality of data processing devices are monitored for faults, wherein the plurality of data processing devices are grouped. Among the data processing devices of each group, the data processing devices other than the specific data processing device set in advance do not store the failure information relating to the failure detected by the own device in the own device, The specific data processing device of the group to which it belongs is transferred to the specific data processing device, and the specific data processing device of each group is provided with fault information on a fault detected by its own device and fault information transferred from another data processing device in the group. And the stored fault information is stored in a predetermined format having a function of monitoring the entire system in each of the specific data processing devices. The predetermined data processing device transfers the failure information from a specific data processing device belonging to another group to its own device, and executes only the output process without storing the failure information in its own device. Characteristic fault monitoring system. 2. At least one other data processing device in addition to the predetermined data processing device of the plurality of data processing devices functions as the preset predetermined data processing device, and 2. The fault monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein a data processing device other than the specific data processing device for each group backs up the fault information accumulated by the specific data processing device. 3. Each of the data processing devices includes a self-device main unit, a peripheral device connected to the device main unit, and a fault detecting unit that monitors a fault in the device main unit and the peripheral device and detects an abnormality of the fault. The fault monitoring system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: