JPH06222998A - Executing method for virtual computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To share a device mounted on an extended ROM area by realizing a virtual computer system to simultaneously operate plural virtual computers different in operation modes on a computer which is provided with the plural operation modes and is changed in the memory constitution of the extended ROM area depending on the operation modes. CONSTITUTION:When starting or setting up the virtual computer system, an address where the device mounted on the extended ROM area of the real computer is arranged at the time of changing the memory constitution of the real computer, is stored. Then, the operation modes of all the virtual computers to be started on the real computer are stored and at the time when the memory constitution of the real computer is changed by the instruction of an operator, the addresses to the devices mounted on the extended ROM areas of the virtual computers on all the operation modes operated at the time are mapped again so as to indicate the real device after the memory constitution is changed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of executing a virtual computer system for operating a plurality of virtual computers (virtual computers) having different memory configurations in an expansion ROM area on a single real computer (real computer). It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A computer is used for various purposes, and therefore, various necessary hardware functions and performances are used. Among them, there is a computer which has a plurality of operation modes and in which the contents of the BIOS ROM, the memory configuration of the VRAM, and particularly the memory configuration of the expansion ROM area are changed depending on the operation mode. (Here, the expansion ROM area is an address space allocated to an expansion BIOS that is supplied by ROM together with an option board to be added later to the computer and controls the option board.) For example, high resolution mode and normal mode It has two operation modes with different memory configurations in the expansion ROM area. Select which mode to operate with a hardware switch and then turn on or reset the computer to match that mode. There is a computer that operates with a different memory configuration (an example of the memory configuration for each mode of the computer is shown in FIG. 1). Many conventional computers of this type cannot be switched to another mode during operation due to the hardware specifications, and when it becomes necessary to switch the operating mode, the process is terminated and the computer is stopped. It was reset. Therefore, on this type of computer, even when the virtual computer system is operated, the virtual computer that can operate on it is only in the same mode as the real computer.

Next, a virtual computer system conventionally realized by this type of computer will be described. As a method of implementing a virtual computer system, there is a method of separately managing a sharable hardware resource A such as a BIOS ROM and a non-sharable hardware resource B such as a VRAM (RAM that directly sets the contents of the display screen). . Non-sharable hardware resource B such as VRAM
As an example of the method of using Windows with multiple virtual machines, a known document (Microsoft Systems Journal No.2 1989.8 Win
As described in (Dows / 386 virtual machine environment), there are the following methods.

(1) By exclusive control, the VRAM is occupied by one virtual computer and the operations of the other virtual computers are temporarily stopped, and the virtual computer (VRA) is displayed on the screen.
In accordance with the instruction to switch the virtual machine that occupies M), the display contents of the virtual machine (the contents of VRAM) that were displayed on the screen up to that point are saved in the normal RAM, and the new virtual machine is displayed on the screen. A method of restoring the contents from the RAM (the contents of the VRAM previously saved) to the VRAM (2) The VRAM is occupied by one virtual computer by exclusive control, but the VRAM is used for other virtual computers.
Ordinary RAM (VRAM contents saved) is mapped to the address of, and is operated in the background, and the VRAM contents are saved / restored in the same manner as (1). (3) Each virtual computer On the other hand, a method in which a normal RAM is mapped to a VRAM address and used, and the contents are displayed as a window on a part of the screen (multi-window display).

On the other hand, BIOS ROM and extended RO
For a hardware resource A that can be shared such as M,
Since it is not necessary to perform exclusive control between the virtual machines, (4) B on the virtual machine at the time of creating the virtual machine
Only by first mapping so that the address that points to the IOS ROM or expansion ROM directly points to the actual address (the process to make the address on the virtual computer point to the memory specified by the real computer), BIOS ROM regardless of the state of the virtual machine
It was possible to use an expansion ROM.

[0006]

However, a computer having a plurality of operation modes and in which the contents of the BIOS ROM, the memory configuration of the VRAM, and particularly the memory configuration of the extended ROM area are changed depending on the operation mode (in which, the hardware specifications are specified) Above is a type that can be switched to another mode even while operating), and if a virtual computer system that can execute a virtual computer with a different operation mode is implemented using the above method, the The hardware resource A that could be shared between virtual machines cannot be shared between virtual machines with different operation modes because of different contents and addresses.

Further, when the above methods (1) and (2) are used, since the memory configuration of the VRAM differs depending on the operation mode of the virtual computer, the actual computer is adjusted according to the operation mode of the virtual computer occupying the actual VRAM. However, the actual memory configuration of the hardware resource A is also changed accordingly. Therefore, the method (4) has a problem that the hardware resource A cannot be used between virtual machines having different operation modes.

As one of the solutions to this problem, the method (1) is applied. (5) The hardware resource A (BI) in each operation mode
The contents of the OS ROM, expansion ROM, etc.) are copied to a normal RAM in advance, and the "RAM in which the contents of the hardware resource A in that operation mode is copied" is assigned to the address of the hardware resource A of the virtual machine. There is a method of mapping and using. However, the problem can be solved by this method for the one that the contents are clear like the BIOS ROM and it is known that the operation is possible even if it is copied to the RAM, but what is mounted in the expansion ROM area? The contents cannot be copied simply because it is not known. For example, a device having a plurality of banks of ROMs at the same address, and a program in the ROM itself switching banks to operate as necessary (such as a SCSI HD board described below) or a memory-mapped I / O system I / O system When a device having an O port (such as an outline font board described below) is installed, the method (5) cannot be operated properly.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above and to provide a plurality of virtual machines with different operation modes on a computer in which the memory configuration of the extended ROM area changes depending on the operation mode. An object is to provide a virtual computer address mapping method for realizing a virtual computer system for operating a computer.

The execution method of the virtual computer system of the present invention has a plurality of operation modes, and the extended R is associated with each operation mode.
In a method of executing a virtual computer system in which a plurality of virtual computers having different operation modes are operated on a real computer that changes the memory configuration of the OM area, a step of storing the operation mode of each virtual computer and the operation mode of the real computer A step of storing the memory configuration of the extended ROM area when operating in the above, and the operation mode of the real computer is changed, the operation mode and the memory configuration of the extended ROM area are referred to,
The method further comprises the step of resetting an address for a device mounted in the expansion ROM area of each virtual computer currently operating in accordance with the memory configuration of the real computer. It is possible to use the device installed in the virtual machine on a plurality of virtual machines with different operation modes.

[0011]

First, the operating principle of the present invention will be briefly described.
Expansion ROM of the actual computer when starting the virtual computer system
The outline font board (hereinafter referred to as OFB), SCSI HD board, and other control board devices (hereinafter referred to as "extended ROM") installed in the area have respective operation modes of the computer. It is remembered at which address it is placed and operates when it operates. (Memory of extended ROM area memory configuration) There are many methods of checking this address, such as automatic and manual, but the simplest example is the "extended RO area".
It suffices for the user to specify in advance which address the M operates in each mode and record it.

Next, regarding the mapping of the expansion ROM area when each virtual computer is started from the virtual computer system, the method is as follows: (a) the actual operation mode (memory configuration) of the actual computer; A method for checking the address of the "extended ROM" and mapping so that the address that points to the "extended ROM" on the booting virtual computer points to the actual "extended ROM", and (b) the operating mode of the booted virtual computer According to the operating mode of the actual computer (memory configuration)
There is a method of mapping so that the address indicating the "expansion ROM" becomes the actual address as it is by changing.

Which of these two methods should be adopted may be determined at the time of starting the virtual machine, and the operation mode of the real machine (such as when operating a plurality of virtual machines of different modes in multi-window display) When operating with a fixed memory configuration, use the method of (a), and operate the virtual machine such as when occupying the virtual machine that activates the display screen to operate (hereinafter referred to as full-screen display) When giving priority to the mode, the method (b) is used. Whichever method is used, the operation mode of each virtual computer and the current operation mode of the real computer are stored.

Then, according to an operator's instruction, the multi-window display is stopped and one virtual machine having a different operation mode is operated in full screen display, or vice versa, or is displayed in the state of operating in full screen display. You must change the operating mode (memory configuration) of the real computer, such as switching the virtual computer to another virtual computer with a different operating mode, or starting a new virtual computer with a different operating mode by the method (b). If it is necessary, check the address of the actual "expansion ROM" for the changed operating mode (memory configuration) of the real computer, and according to it, find the address that points to the "expansion ROM" of all virtual computers currently operating. Perform mapping again to point to the actual "expansion ROM".

As a result, the "extended RO" of all virtual machines
The address indicating "M" can always indicate the actual "expansion ROM" at that time, no matter how the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer changes.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 has two operation modes, a high resolution mode and a normal mode.
Memory configuration when three types of devices, SCSI HD board 1, OFB2, and extended ROM A3 that is a board having other functions, are installed in a computer having different ROM contents, VRAM memory configuration, and extended ROM area memory configuration Here is an example. The computer and the device installed in the expansion ROM area are of a type that can be switched to another operation mode during operation. Further, the CPU is equipped with a virtual computer function such as 80x86 (registered trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States) that maps the address of the virtual computer to the memory in page units (1000H is one page) and uses it. The flow of carrying out the present invention on this computer will be described below.

In this example, for simplification of explanation, the method of checking the "address of the" extension ROM "that needs to be mapped to the real address" is specified by the user in advance when setting up the virtual computer system. Then, it is assumed that the user specifies the addresses of the SCSI HD board 1 and the OFB 2 in the high resolution mode and the normal mode (the system automatically detects the address of the SCSI HD board 1, but it is explained here. This address is converted into page units and stored in the system in the form of the table in FIG.

The flow of processing when storing the contents of the BIOS ROM and the "addresses and contents of the" extension ROM "for which no address has been specified by the user" is shown in Fig. 3. When the actual computer is started in high resolution mode , When starting the virtual computer system from there, first set the high-resolution mode B
Copy the contents of IOS ROM to RAM. Then, when the ROM existing in the expansion ROM area (E5000H to EFFFFH) is examined, E7000H, EA000H,
ROM is found in EC000H, but E7000H (O
The FB2) and EC000H (SCSI HD board 1) ROMs are already registered in the "extended ROM" that needs to be mapped to the real address (Fig. 2), so EA
Only the contents of the ROM (expansion ROM A3) of 000H are read
Copy to AM. Then, it is stored in the system in the table format of FIG.

Next, the memory configuration of the actual computer is once switched to the normal mode, and the normal mode BIOS RO
The contents of M are copied to RAM, and then the ROM existing in the expansion ROM area (C0000H to DFFFFH) is examined. Then D0000H, D2000H, DC00
ROM can be found at 0H, but D2000H (OFB2)
And the ROM of DC000H (SCSI HD board 1) already has "extended R" that needs to be mapped to the real address.
Since it is registered in OM "" (Fig. 2), D0000H
Copy only the contents of the ROM (expansion ROM A3) to the RAM, and store it in the system in the table format of FIG.
After that, the memory configuration of the actual computer is returned to the high resolution mode.

If the memory configuration of the machine is changed during operation depending on the type of real computer, the contents of the BIOS ROM of the changed memory configuration may not be read correctly. However, in the case of such a computer, When the system is set up, the contents of the "switching and operating mode BIOS ROM" are output to a file in advance, and this is read into RAM at startup.

6 shows a method of mapping the addresses of the "extended ROM" that needs to be mapped to the real address of the virtual computer according to the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer. , A table for storing and managing the operation modes of all the virtual machines operating in the virtual machine system, recording the handle and the operation mode for controlling the virtual machine each time it is started, and ending Each time the record is deleted, the handle has the meaning of an ID that distinguishes each virtual computer, and the processing corresponding to each virtual computer is executed according to the address pointed to by the handle.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 2 and 6, the BIOS RO at the time of booting the first virtual computer operating in the high resolution mode on the virtual computer system in the full screen display mode.
The flow of address mapping processing for M and the "extended ROM" will be described.

First, the handle and operation mode (high resolution mode) of the virtual computer to be started are recorded in the table of FIG. 7, and then referring to FIG. 4, the method (5) is used for pages 0FOH to 0FFH, High resolution mode BIOS
The contents of the ROM are mapped to point to the copied memory, and the page is write protected. Similarly, the 0EAH page is mapped so as to point to the RAM that is a copy of the ROM content of the EA000H in the high resolution mode, and the page is write-protected. By this processing, pages 0F0H to 0FFH and 0EAH in this virtual computer can point to the contents of ROM in the high resolution mode regardless of the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer.

Next, in this state, the real computer is operating in the high resolution mode, and the operating mode of the virtual computer to be started is also the same, so the "memory configuration of the real computer" in FIG. 0ECH page and 0E7 referring to the mapping method when the mode is also high resolution mode and "Page number in high resolution mode" in Fig. 2.
H page is 0ECH page and 0E7 of real computer
Map to point to page H. By this processing, 0ECH page and 0E7H in this virtual computer
The page can refer to the actual SCSI HD board 1 and OFB 2 while the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer is the high resolution mode. FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the memory configurations of the virtual computer and the real computer at this time.

The flow of the address mapping process for the BIOS ROM and the "expansion ROM" when the second virtual computer operating in the normal mode is started in full screen display will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 2 and 6. explain. First, the handle and operating mode (normal mode) of the virtual machine to be started are recorded in the table of FIG. 7, and then referring to FIG. 5, the BIOS in normal mode is used for pages 0E8H to 0FFH using the method (5). The contents of the ROM are mapped to point to the copied memory, and the page is write protected. Similarly, the 0D0H page is mapped so as to point to the RAM which is a copy of the ROM content of the normal mode D0000H, and the page is write-protected. By this processing, pages 0E8H to 0FFH and 0D0H in this virtual computer can indicate the contents of the ROM in the normal mode regardless of the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer.

Up to this point, the real computer has been operating in the high-resolution mode, but the operating mode of the virtual computer to be activated is the normal mode, and since it is activated in full-screen display, the virtual computer to be activated at this point or in operation. Immediately before starting, the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer is changed to the normal mode (because it is necessary to map the VRAM of the real computer to the address of VRAM). Therefore, for the virtual machine to be started from now on, the mapping method when the "memory configuration of the real machine" in FIG. 6 is the normal mode and the "operation mode of the virtual machine" is also the normal mode, and the "normal mode" in FIG. Refer to the "page number at the time", and map so that the 0DCH page and the 0D2H page directly refer to the 0DCH page and the 0D2H page of the real computer. Moreover, since the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer is changed, referring to FIG. 7, when examining the virtual computer that is already operating, the first virtual computer is operating in the high-resolution mode. In contrast, the mapping method when the "memory configuration of the actual computer" in Fig. 6 is the normal mode and the "operation mode of the virtual computer" is the high resolution mode, and the "page number in the high resolution mode" and the "normal mode" in Fig. 2 Page number at the time ", the 0ECH page is the 0DCH page of the actual computer,
Remap so that the 0E7H page points to the 0D2H page of the real computer.

By this processing, 0DCH page and 0D2H page in the normal mode virtual computer and 0ECH page and 0E in the high resolution mode virtual computer
The 7H page can refer to the actual SCSI HD board 1 and OFB 2 while the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer is the normal mode. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the memory configurations of the virtual computer and the real computer at this time.

Next, in this state, the full-screen display is stopped and the multi-window display (screen is in high resolution mode)
When the operator gives an instruction to operate in the state, the operation mode (memory configuration) of the real computer is changed to the high resolution mode. Therefore, referring to FIG. 7, the virtual computer that is already operating is checked, and for the normal mode virtual computer, the “real computer memory configuration” in FIG. 6 is the high-resolution mode and the “virtual computer operating mode” is the normal mode. For the high-resolution mode virtual computer, refer to the mapping method when the "real computer memory configuration" is high-resolution mode and the "virtual computer operating mode" is also high-resolution mode. The pages shown in FIG. 2 may be remapped so that they can point to the actual SCSI HD board 1 and OFB 2, respectively.

In the same manner, when the memory configuration of the real computer is changed by the operator's instruction, remapping to the address of the "extended ROM" of each virtual computer is performed according to the changed memory configuration. Even if there are more types of operating modes of real computers and the number of virtual computers in operation is larger, the "extended ROM" addresses of all virtual computers with different modes always point to the "extended ROM" of the actual computer at that time. Will be able to work.

In this example, the expansion ROM A3 is set to R
The method of copying to the AM and operating it has been described, but the contents of the expansion ROM A3 in the high resolution mode and the contents of the expansion ROM A3 in the normal mode are compared, and if they match, S
There is also a method of registering in FIG. 2 and mapping to a real address in the same manner as the CSI HD board 1, which has the effect of saving the memory used.

Further, although the present embodiment has been described by taking the high resolution mode and the normal mode as examples of the modes having different memory configurations, the method of the present embodiment can be applied to switching of other modes.

[0032]

As described above, according to the instruction of the operator, the re-mapping to the addresses of the "expansion ROM" of all the virtual computers in operation is performed each time, thereby having a plurality of operation modes. Depending on the computer, the memory configuration of the extended ROM area may change depending on
It becomes possible to realize a virtual computer system in which a plurality of virtual computers having different operation modes are operated at the same time with "M" mounted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a computer having two operation modes, a high resolution mode and a normal mode, used in an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a memory configuration diagram for each mode.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a management table of page numbers of “expansion ROM” that need to be mapped to real addresses.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of storing the contents of the BIOS ROM and the “address and contents of the“ extension ROM ””.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a table for mapping an address for a ROM of a high-resolution mode virtual computer to a RAM in which its contents are copied.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a table for mapping an address for a ROM of a virtual machine in a normal mode to a RAM whose contents are copied.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of mapping an address of an “expansion ROM” of a virtual computer to a real address according to a memory configuration of the real computer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a table for storing and managing operation modes of all virtual machines operating in the virtual machine system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a memory configuration when only one high-resolution mode virtual computer is activated and operated in full-screen display.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a memory configuration when the normal mode virtual machine is designated to operate in a full screen display and started from the state of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: SCSI HD board 2: Outline font board 3: Expansion ROM A

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An execution method of a virtual computer system for operating a plurality of virtual computers having different operation modes on a real computer having a plurality of operation modes and changing a memory configuration of an expansion ROM area corresponding to each operation mode. In the step of storing the operation mode of each virtual computer, the step of storing the memory configuration of the expansion ROM area when the real computer operates in each operation mode, and the operation when the operation mode of the real computer is changed. Referring to the mode and the memory configuration of the expansion ROM area, and resetting an address for a device mounted in the expansion ROM area of each currently operating virtual computer in accordance with the memory configuration of the actual computer. Execution method of virtual computer system.