JPH06274426A - Remote console repeater system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute the system so that the system can be adjusted even if a maintenance person does not go to a job site, for instance, at the time of trouble of the system by constituting the system so that a console operation which can be performed only by a console provided in the vicinity of a host computer main body up to the present can be performed even from a remote place by the minimum modification to the existing system (hardware). CONSTITUTION:The system is provided with a host computer transmission device 3 for taking charge of an interface between a host computer 1, a console 8, and a remote terminal 9, a console transmission device 4 and a terminal equipment transmission device 5, and a transmission line determining device 6 for deciding whether the connection can be executed or not, in the case a connection request is given from a terminal equipment. Also, this system is provided with a transmission line switching device 7 for switching the connection between each transmission device 3, 4 and 5, respectively, usually so as to connect the host computer transmission device 3 and the console transmission device 4, and so as to connect the terminal equipment transmission device 5 and the host computer transmission device 3, in order that a console operation of the host computer 1 from the terminal equipment 9 can be executed, in the case it is decided that the connection can be executed against the connection request from the terminal equipment 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote console relay device. More specifically, the present invention relates to any host computer system, and the existing hardware environment is used as it is, and not only the console attached to the host computer is used. , A remote console relay device that enables console operation from a terminal device at a remote place.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a host computer system has been widely used in which a plurality of operators can simultaneously develop and execute programs by using terminal devices. In this host computer system, a plurality of channels for serial data transmission between the terminal device and the host computer are prepared, and by connecting the terminal device to this channel via a modem or telephone line, Programs can be developed or executed from remote locations.

[0003]

However, in the conventional remote terminal device as described above, when operating the host computer from a remote location, only operations related to applications such as program development and execution are possible. Console operations related to the basic system such as starting up or shutting down the host computer, stopping the CPU when a system trouble occurs and reading or rewriting the contents of the CPU register or memory are installed near the host computer. It is only possible on consoles that have

Therefore, for example, when a system trouble occurs in a so-called process control (computer for process control) that controls steel process control, a maintenance worker rushes to the site to grasp the trouble situation and then restarts it. It is necessary to carry out a series of operations to be performed from the console on site.

Under these circumstances, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-21
An invention called "remote console operation method" disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5159 has been proposed. This Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-2151
The invention of Japanese Patent No. 59 displays the display image on the console on a dedicated terminal device installed in a remote place by modifying the console itself, or the information input on the terminal device from the console. It is possible to send to the host computer in the same manner as. However, the invention of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-215159 has many problems in terms of versatility because the hardware of the terminal device needs to be replaced with a dedicated product.

Further, the remote console provides the convenience of being able to perform all console operations without going to the site, but at the same time, there is a risk that an outsider may make unauthorized access and cause system trouble. Also included. However, it is hard to say that the current technical level is still high regarding the security function for eliminating such a risk. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade the connection judgment logic of the relay device at a time when advanced security functions are required in the future and the technical level can respond to it, but at that time it is already installed in the field. It would be very convenient if the connection judgment logic could be replaced by remote operation rather than by field change.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the conventional system (hardware) can perform console operations that could be conventionally performed only by a console provided in the vicinity of the host computer main body. By making it possible to implement the system from a remote place with a minimum modification, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote console relay device that allows the system to be adjusted even if a maintenance staff does not go to the site when a system trouble occurs.

[0008]

A remote console relay device according to the present invention is installed at a remote location, a host computer transmission means for controlling the interface with a host computer, a console transmission means for controlling the interface with a console, and a remote computer. The transmission means for the terminal device that controls the interface with the established terminal device, the transmission path determination means that determines whether the connection is possible when the terminal device requests a connection, and the transmission means for the host computer and the console device are usually used. When the transmission path determining means determines that the connection is possible in response to a connection request from the terminal device so that the transmission means is connected, the transmission for the terminal device is made to enable the console operation of the host computer from the terminal device. And a transmission path switching means for switching the connection between the respective transmission means so as to connect the means and the transmission means for the host computer. .

Also, the logic for determining the connection of the transmission path determining means can be loaded from the terminal device via the terminal device transmitting means.

[0010]

In the remote console relay device of the present invention, the host computer transmission means is normally connected to the host computer transmission means by the transmission path switching means so that the console operation to the host computer is possible from the console, and the terminal device When the transmission path determining means determines that the connection is possible in response to the connection request, the terminal device transmitting means and the host computer transmitting means are connected, and the console operation of the host computer from the terminal device becomes possible.

Further, the logic for determining the connection of the transmission path determining means is loaded from the terminal device via the terminal device transmitting means, and the subsequent transmission path determining means determines whether or not the connection is possible.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a remote console relay device according to the present invention, which is connected between a host computer 1, a console 8 and a terminal device 9.

The remote console relay device 2 of the present invention comprises a host computer transmission device 3, a console transmission device 4, a terminal device transmission device 5, a transmission line determination device 6 and a transmission line switching device 7. .

The host computer transmission device 3 controls non-procedural serial communication to the host computer 1, the console transmission device 4 controls non-procedural serial communication to the console 8, and the terminal device transmission device 5 controls non-procedure to the terminal device 9. Controls serial communication. Furthermore, when the terminal device 9 is connected via a modem, the terminal device transmission device 5 also controls the modem.

When the system operation manager works in the computer room in normal times, when the keyboard is input from the console 8, the input command data is transmitted from the console 8 and the console transmission device 4 of the remote console relay device 2 is transmitted. Is transmitted to the host computer transmission device 3 via the transmission line switching device 7, and the predetermined speed,
It is sent to the host computer 1 under the conditions.

The host computer 1 performs some processing on the command data sent as described above,
As a result, the data is sent out on the same transmission line as above. This result data is returned to the console 8 by following the route opposite to that of the command data. Therefore, the person who operates the console 8 can perform the operation without being aware of the fact that the remote console relay device 2 is installed on the transmission path.

On the other hand, when it is desired to operate the console 8 from the terminal device 9 installed at a remote place in response to a sudden system trouble or the like, first, a command meaning a connection request is input from the terminal device 9. The input connection request command is transmitted from the terminal device 9 and reaches the terminal device transmission device 5 of the remote console relay device 2 via a communication line such as a telephone line.

The data that has reached the transmission device 5 for the terminal device is input to the transmission path determination device 6, where a security check of the user name, password, etc. is performed by the connection determination logic. If the result of this security inspection is connectable, the transmission path determination device 6 outputs a control signal to switch the transmission path switching device 7 from the console 8 side to the terminal device 9 side, and at the same time inform the terminal device 9 accordingly. . When the connection is established in this way, the command data input from the terminal device 9 is transmitted from the terminal device transmission device 5 to the host computer via the transmission path switcher 7 in the remote console relay device 2 thereafter. It is passed to the device 3 and sent to the host computer 1.

Result data from the host computer 1 is returned to the terminal device 9 by following a route opposite to the above. Therefore,
For the person who operates from the terminal device 9, after the connection request is accepted, the operation can be performed in exactly the same way as when operating the console 8 near the main body of the host computer 1.

Then, when it is desired to end the remote operation from the terminal device 9, a command indicating a disconnection request is input to the terminal device 9 similarly to the console command. The transmission path determination device 6 monitors all the data sent from the terminal device 9, and when the disconnection request command from the terminal device 9 is recognized, the data is transmitted without being sent to the host computer 1 side. The switching device 7 is switched from the terminal device 9 side to the console 8 side. While the connection with the terminal device 9 was being established, the data input from the console 8 was read and discarded due to the exclusive control, but from this point the console 8 can be used again.

As described above, in the remote console relay device of the present invention, the connection / disconnection request command of the terminal device 9 is piggybacked on the transmission line for transmitting the console command from the console transmission device 4, and the transmission line is switched by software. By adopting the device described above, the control signal line from the outside, which was conventionally required for switching the transmission line, is not required, so the device configuration becomes compact.

When it is desired to improve the security function for the terminal device 9, first, a command indicating logic switching is input from the terminal device 9. The input logic switching command reaches the transmission path determination device 6 by following the same route as in the case of the connection request command described above. When the transmission path determination device 6 determines that the command sent is a connection determination logic switching command, the data sent from the terminal device transmission device 5 will be regarded as a connection determination logic for transmission path determination and transmitted. The data is stored in the storage device in the route determination device 6.

After that, the connection request command sent from the terminal device 9 is judged by the new connection judgment logic as to whether the connection is possible or not. In this way, by controlling the transmission path switching unit 7 by software, it becomes possible to easily deal with the case where it is desired to enhance the security function for a foreign user from a remote place.

It should be noted that this function has an advantage that even if a failure occurs in the connection determination logic itself, the correction can be easily performed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a concrete example in which the remote console relay device of the present invention is applied to a system in a steel mill. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 10 and 20 are A, respectively.
Factory and Factory B are shown. Computers (pro computers) 11 for process control, remote console relay devices 12 and 22 of the present invention, and consoles 18 and 28 are installed in both plants 10 and 20, respectively.

Reference numeral 39 is a maintenance base 30 in the steel mill.
The terminal device installed in the system engineering department 40 is shown in FIG. The individual remote console relay devices 12 and 22 and the individual terminal devices 39 and 49 are connected to each other via a public telephone line network 50 via a modem having an automatic call originating / receiving function.

Each of the process control computers 11 and 12 can perform console operations such as booting the system from the consoles 18 and 28 installed in the computer room or referring to the contents of the CPU and memory. Consider a case where a system trouble occurs in the process control computer 11 of the A factory 10 while these computer systems are operating for 24 hours.

In such a case, conventionally, when a trouble is reported from the A factory 10 side to the maintenance base 30, the maintenance person in charge rushes to the site and operates the console 18 to grasp the trouble phenomenon and confirm the system. Although the system was restarted, in the system using the remote console relay device of the present invention, a maintenance worker calls from the terminal device 39 of the maintenance base 30 to the remote console relay device 12 of the A factory 10 to connect. Issue the request command.

Next, the remote console relay device at Factory A 10
In response to the request from 12, the maintenance staff inputs the user name, password and the like to the terminal device 39 of the maintenance base 30. As a result, if the user is correctly authenticated by the remote console relay device 12 as described above, the trouble can be recovered by the same operation as the console 18 of the A factory 10 thereafter. Then, when the remote operation is desired to be ended, the maintenance person inputs a command indicating a disconnection request to the terminal device 39 of the maintenance base 30, and the operation is ended.

Although the above description is for the case of the A factory 10, in the case of the B factory 20, the procedure similar to the above is performed from the terminal device 39 of the maintenance base 30 to the remote console relay device 22 of the B factory 20. I'll do it. In this way, by using the terminal device 39 of the maintenance base 30, it is not necessary for the maintenance personnel to move within the vast steel mill premises, so that the system down time is expected to be greatly shortened.

Further, when the trouble that has occurred is complicated and it is difficult to investigate the cause at the maintenance personnel level, the system department 40 company-wide is asked to support, and the terminal device 49 installed there supports a professional engineer. It is also possible to do. As described above, the use of the remote console relay device of the present invention enables N: N connection between the terminal device and the host computer.

Next, a case where the security function for the terminal device is desired to be upgraded will be described. In such a case, the terminal device 39 of the maintenance base 30 first sends a command indicating the connection determination logic switching to the remote console relay device 12 of the A factory 10, and then a new connection determination logic. After that, if the remote console relay device 12 of the A factory 10 is reset, a new connection determination logic operates after that point, so that advanced security inspection such as user authentication can be performed.

Although the above description is for the case of the A factory 10, in the case of the B factory 20, the same procedure may be performed for the remote console relay device 22. Therefore, even if the remote console relay device of the present invention is arranged in every department in the factory, all the connection determination logics can be exchanged from one terminal device, which contributes to the reduction of maintenance cost.

[0034]

As described in detail above, according to the remote console relay device of the present invention, the existing hardware environment is used as it is for any host computer system, and conventionally, only in the vicinity of the host computer main body. The console operation can be performed from any terminal device installed in a remote place. As a result, it is possible to significantly reduce the system down time.

Further, since the logic for determining whether or not the connection can be made when there is a console operation request from the terminal device can be loaded from the terminal device, it is possible to easily change or enhance the security function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a remote console relay device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example in which the remote console relay device of the present invention is applied to a system in a steel mill.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 host computer 2 remote console relay device 3 host computer transmission device 4 console transmission device 5 terminal device transmission device 6 transmission path determination device 7 transmission path switcher 8 console 9 terminal device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A host computer transmission means for controlling the interface with a host computer, a console transmission means for controlling the interface with a console, and a terminal device for controlling the interface with a terminal device installed at a remote location. Transmitting means, a transmission path determining means for determining whether or not connection is possible when there is a connection request from the terminal device, and usually for connecting the host computer transmitting means and the console transmitting means, When the transmission path determining means determines that the connection is possible in response to a connection request from the terminal device, the terminal device transmitting means and the host computer to enable the console operation of the host computer from the terminal device. Remote transmission means for switching the connection between the respective transmission means so as to connect the transmission means for use with the remote transmission means. Console relay device. 2. The logic for determining the connection of the transmission path determining means can be loaded from the terminal device via the terminal device transmitting means. Remote console relay device.