JPH04268643A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently keep the balance between the power consumption and the processing redundancy request by periodically starting a cold standby computer system to update its data in a system mounted on a satellite or the like. CONSTITUTION:In the system mounted on the satellite, a start means 6 of a first computer system 1 periodically transfers a command for start of a second computer system 2 to a non-stop power supply circuit 4 of this system 2 through a bus 5. When it is informed by a report means 9 that the system 2 is normally started, an update information transfer means 7 transfers backup information. The system 2 reports the end of update of backup information to the system 1 after executing the processing as a backup computer based on backup information. Thus, a power supply stop means 10 of the system 1 transfers a power-off command to turn off the power source of the system 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is used for backing up data in information processing. The present invention relates to an information processing system that can efficiently balance allowable power consumption and processing redundancy requirements.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information processing system consisting of at least two computer systems with this kind of redundant configuration has either been made online and each computer system is made to perform different processing. Alternatively, the same process was performed on all computers and the results were compared. Furthermore, in this type of system, if an abnormality is detected in one of the computer systems among multiple computer systems, the computer system in which the abnormality was detected is disconnected, and the remaining computer systems are operated.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional method described above, all the redundant computers are activated, so
The drawback is that it requires a large amount of electricity, making it impractical to operate in remote locations or other locations where power supply is limited.

The present invention solves these problems and provides a system that can efficiently balance the power consumption allowed for a system in a remote location and the processing redundancy required of the system. The purpose is to

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has a redundant configuration in which one bus is configured with a cold standby system in which the power supply is constantly stopped, in contrast to an online system in which power is constantly supplied to one bus. In an information processing system in which a plurality of computer systems are connected, a startup means for periodically sending a command to the cold standby computer system in order to back up information processing to the online computer system; an update information transfer means for transferring backup update information updated during the stop period at the timing when the standby computer system is normally started up, and the backup update information from the online computer system is transferred to the cold standby computer system. The computer system is characterized by comprising a backup processing means for performing backup processing based on information, and a reporting means for sending a start-up report when the backup process is normally started and a backup processing completion report when the backup process is completed to the online computer system. shall be.

[0006] It is preferable that the online computer system is provided with a power supply stop means for stopping the power supply to the cold standby power circuit when receiving a backup processing completion report from the cold standby computer system.

[0007]

[Operation] The online computer system periodically starts up a cold standby computer system as a backup for the information processing system, transfers the backup information held by the online computer system to the cold standby computer system, and then restarts the cold standby computer system. When the system finishes updating backup information, the power is turned off so that the system enters a cold standby state. The power supply may be stopped automatically by the cold standby system or by control from the online system.

[0008] By performing such processing regularly, even if an abnormality occurs in the online computer system and a redundant switch is made to the cold standby computer system, the cold standby computer system will not be able to send data from the online computer system. Information processing can be performed from the point of time on the latest backup information, which makes it possible to efficiently balance the power consumption allowed by the system in a remote location and the processing redundancy required of the system. consumption can be reduced.

[0009]

Embodiments Next, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a first computer system 1 as an online system to which power is constantly supplied to one bus 5 is set to cold standby in which the power supply is constantly stopped. Two computer systems having a redundant configuration are connected by a second computer system 2 as a system, the first and second computer systems 1 and 2 are respectively provided with uninterruptible power supply circuits 3 and 4, and further,
The present invention is characterized by a startup means 6 for starting up the second computer system 2 by periodically sending commands to the first computer system 1 in order to back up information processing; 2, the update information transfer means 7 transfers the backup update information updated during the stop period at the timing when the computer system 2 starts up normally, and the backup update information from the first computer system 1 is transferred to the second computer system 2 a backup processing means 8 that performs backup processing, and a reporting means 9 that sends a start-up report when the backup process is normally started and a backup processing completion report when the backup process is completed to the first computer system 1; , a power supply stop means 10 for stopping the power supply to the uninterruptible power supply circuit 4 of the second computer system 2 when the first computer system 1 receives a backup processing completion report from the second computer system 2; Equipped with

[0011] This embodiment shows an example installed on a satellite, in which the first computer system 1 operates as an online system, and the second computer system 2 is in a cold state, that is, the power is not turned on. Wait in state.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above will be explained. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of operations in the embodiment of the present invention.

Start-up means 6 for the first computer system 1
periodically transfers a command to start up the second computer system 2 to the uninterrupted power supply circuit 4 in the second computer system 2 via the bus 5. The non-stop power supply circuit 4 instructed by this command starts up the second computer system 2. When the reporting means 9 reports that the second computer system 2 has started up normally, the update information transfer means 7 of the first computer system 1 transfers the update information to the second computer system 2.
Backup update information necessary for backup up to the present time is transferred via the bus 5 from the backup information in the information processing sent out at the time.

The backup processing means 8 of the second computer system 2 executes processing to prepare the second computer system 2 to function as a backup computer for the information processing system based on the latest backup information sent. After that, the reporting means 9 reports to the first computer system 1 via the bus 5 that the backup processing has been completed normally. When the completion of updating the backup information is reported, the power supply stop means 10 of the first computer system 1 transfers a power OFF command to the non-stop power supply circuit 4 via the bus 5, and Turn off the power of
Make it.

Similarly, by periodically performing the above-described processing, even if an abnormality occurs in the first computer system 1 and redundancy switching occurs in the second computer system 2, the second computer system 2 The information processing system can be operated from the time of the latest backup information sent from the first computer system. Note that this embodiment is just one example, and there is no limit to the number of online systems and the number of cold standby systems.

[0016]

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently balance the power consumption allowed for a system in a remote location and the processing redundancy required of the system, thereby reducing power consumption. It has the effect of reducing

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the flow of operations in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 First computer system (online computer system) 2 Second computer system (cold standby computer system) 3, 4 Uninterruptible power supply circuit 5 Bus 6 Startup means 7 Update information transfer means 8 Backup processing means 9 Reporting means 10 Power supply stop means

Claims (2)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A plurality of redundant computer systems are connected to one bus, with an online system to which power is constantly supplied and a cold standby system to which power supply is regularly stopped. In the information processing system, the online computer system includes a startup means for periodically sending a command to the cold standby computer system in order to back up information processing, and a startup means for normally sending a command to the cold standby computer system to back up information processing. update information transfer means for transferring backup update information updated during the stop period to the cold standby computer system,
A backup processing means that performs backup processing based on backup update information from the online computer system, and sends a start-up report when the backup process is successfully started and a backup processing completion report when the backup process is completed to the online computer system. An information processing system characterized by comprising a reporting means. [Claim 2] The online computer system includes:
2. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising power supply stopping means for stopping power supply to the cold standby power circuit when receiving a backup processing completion report from the cold standby computer system.