JPH08221296A - Built-in software debug support device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a built-in software debug support device which realizes multiprocessor simulating environment on plural general purpose computers so that the much greater improvement of debugging efficiency can be realized. CONSTITUTION: Pseudo target parts 110a, 110b, 410a, 410b are components ire which the environment of a target machine is generated artificially in virtual space OSs 103, 403 manage and operate on memories CPUs 101, 401 have. The pseudo target parts 110a and 110b are constituted of pseudo on-line OS parts 105a and 105b, shared library parts 106a and 106b, monitoring parts 107a and 107b, and the holding parts of built-in softwares 108a and 108b. The general purpose computers 10, 40 are provided with high-speed communication hardware devices 102, 402, which are connected with each other by a high-speed communication line 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embedded software debug support device, and more particularly to embedded software which enables debugging (testing) of embedded software to be debugged by being embedded on a multiprocessor on a plurality of general-purpose computers. The present invention relates to a debug support device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a software debug support device for debugging a program on a computer while simulating the program for the computer having a different architecture from the computer by software (JP-A-2- No. 308342 gazette: title of invention "method of constructing simulated debugger").

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of this conventional software debug support apparatus. The command processing unit 1 performs a process according to a command received from a user, hardware resources such as a register and a memory of a computer to be simulated. A resource section 2 that realizes the above in a pseudo manner, a resource display section 3 that displays the resource section 2, a program to be simulated is loaded into a memory realized in the resource section 2, and the program is interpreted and executed with reference to the contents. This is a configuration including an interpreter unit 4.

In this conventional apparatus, a command processing unit 1 that can be commonly used by the same command even if the computer to be simulated is changed, and the other units (resource unit 2, resource display unit 3, interpreter unit 4). The purpose is to reduce the development period and shorten the development period when the computer to be simulated is changed.

[0005]

By the way, in recent communication systems, it is common knowledge that a plurality of processors are prepared for each functional unit to balance the load in order to secure processing performance. Partial testing is important. In addition, in order to improve the efficiency of debugging work, a multiprocessor simulation environment is often constructed on one general-purpose computer instead of the test by an actual target machine, and the interprocessor communication test is performed on it.

However, the above-mentioned conventional apparatus constructs one simulation system on one general-purpose computer, and cannot transmit / receive data between simulation systems on different general-purpose computers. In addition, the method of realizing a multiprocessor simulation environment on one general-purpose computer causes a significant decrease in processing capacity because the load on the general-purpose computer increases as the number of processors to be simulated increases.
There is a drawback that it hinders efficient testing of embedded software on a multiprocessor.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a built-in software debug support device that can realize a multiprocessor simulation environment on a plurality of general-purpose computers and can further improve debugging efficiency.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects a plurality of general-purpose computers with a high-speed communication line, and connects each of the plurality of general-purpose computers with
An operating system simulation means that simulates the system call provided by the operating system on the actual target machine and provides an environment for running the debug target embedded software that runs on the actual target machine on a general-purpose computer, and the tester debugs it. Command that is input to execute, converts it to debug instruction data, outputs it, performs memory read / write, register read / write, and running control for debug target embedded software, and outputs the result as debug information It has a configuration including a debug means.

Further, according to the present invention, each of a plurality of general-purpose computers is mapped to an arbitrary virtual address in a program, and the mapped data can be accessed by all processes, and a memory / memory from one process to another process can be accessed. A process control function that can instruct execution control including reading / writing of register contents and running / stopping, an inter-process communication function that realizes data transmission / reception between processes within the same general-purpose computer, and data transmission / reception between processes within different general-purpose computers An operating system having an inter-computer communication function that enables it, a central processing unit that operates by the operating system,
An environment of the target machine in a virtual space that holds a hardware device that realizes communication between computers and embedded software to be debugged that is used by being embedded in the target machine and that is managed and operated by the operating system on the memory of the central processing unit. A pseudo target part that outputs the debug information that is the execution operation result of the embedded software and the debug instruction from the tester to the desired pseudo target part, and edit the debug information from the pseudo target part. And a user interface unit for outputting to the outside.

[0010]

In the present invention, the general-purpose computers are connected even when the plurality of simulation environments composed of the operating system simulation means and the debug means are separated into the plurality of general-purpose computers according to the instruction of the tester. High-speed multiprocessor simulations can be performed using communication lines.

Further, according to the present invention, when a plurality of pseudo target units are operated on the operating systems of a plurality of general-purpose computers connected by the high-speed communication line, the pseudo target units are operated between the pseudo target units in the same manner as the operation in the target machine. Because you can communicate with and send and receive data,
Even with software installed in a plurality of target machines in a network environment, a multiprocessor simulation environment can be realized using a plurality of general-purpose computers without using the target machines.

[0012]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shows a debug support device using two general-purpose computers. In FIG. 1, general-purpose computers 10 and 40 are dedicated displays 20 and 5 serving as display means, respectively.
Has 0. The general-purpose computers 10 and 40 have central processing units (CPU) 101 and 401, respectively, and operating systems (OS) 103 and 403.
The high-speed communication hardware devices 102 and 402 for realizing high-speed general-purpose computer-to-computer communication are provided, which are connected to each other by the high-speed communication line 30.

The general-purpose computers 10 and 40 have the same configuration, and have OSs 103 and 403, pseudo target map data 104 and 404, user interface units 109 and 409, and pseudo target units 110a and 11a.
0b, 410a, 410b. Pseudo target parts 110a, 110b, 410a, 410b
Is a component part that artificially creates the environment of the target machine in the virtual space managed and operated by the OSs 103 and 403 on the memories of the CPUs 101 and 401, respectively.

The pseudo target units 110a and 110b are pseudo online OS units 105a and 105b, shared library units 106a and 106b, and a monitor unit 107a.
And 107b and embedded software 108a and 1
And a holding portion of 08b. Similarly, the pseudo target units 410a and 410b are the pseudo online OS unit 405a.
And 405b, and shared library units 406a and 406
b, monitor units 407a and 407b, and a holding unit for embedded software 408a and 408b.

Since the general-purpose computers 10 and 40 have the same configuration, each component of the general-purpose computer 10 will be described below as a representative for convenience of explanation. OS103
Maps data in a program to an arbitrary virtual address, makes the mapped data accessible to all processes, reads / writes memory / register contents from one process to another process, and executes / stops the program. Provide a process control function that can instruct execution control including. Then, an inter-process communication function for realizing data transmission / reception between processes in the same general-purpose computer and an inter-computer communication function for enabling data transmission / reception between processes in different general-purpose computers are provided.

Pseudo line OS sections 105a and 105b
Is a component that processes online system calls required by the embedded software 108a and 108b.
By using the inter-process communication function or the inter-computer communication function of S103, in different pseudo target units of the same general-purpose computer 10 or different general-purpose computers 4
Inter-processor communication function unit 105a that enables data communication between embedded software in the pseudo target unit of 0
1 and 105b1. This pseudo line OS
The units 105a and 105b constitute the operating system simulation means.

The pseudo target map data 104 is data in which the tester shows the correspondence between the pseudo target units 110a and 110b and the general-purpose computer 10, and the inter-processor communication functions 105a1 and 105b1 perform inter-processor communication from the embedded software 108a and 108b. Referenced when deciding whether to activate the inter-process communication function of the OS 103 or the inter-computer communication function in response to a request.

The shared library units 106a and 106b are
When the embedded software 108a, 108b is actually mounted on the target machine, the embedded software 108a, 108b is a set of data and function groups to be accessed by the embedded software 108a, 108b.
It is installed in 0b. Embedded software 108
Reference numerals a and 108b denote software to be debugged, which is installed in a processor (target machine) that constructs a multiprocessor system, and is held by holding units in the pseudo target units 110a and 110b for debugging.

The monitor units 107a and 107b are constituent parts for monitoring the respective operations of the pseudo target units 110a and 110b, and a plurality of embedded software 108.
The embedded software 108 is managed by managing the process identifier for identifying the execution process by the a and 108b and using the process control function of the OS 103.
Each of a and 108b is executed as a process on the OS 103, the memory / register contents are written to the process, the execution / stop of each embedded software 108a and 108b is controlled, and the debug information of the execution operation result obtained as a result is obtained. Output.

The user interface unit 109 converts the debug instruction from the tester into debug instruction data and inputs it into the general-purpose computer 10, and the monitor unit 107a of the pseudo target units 110a and 110b instructed by the tester.
107b, and each pseudo target unit 110a,
The response from the monitor units 107a and 107b of 110b is received, and the edited response is displayed on the display 20 as debug information. This user interface unit 109
Together with the monitor units 107a and 107b constitute the monitor means.

The embedded software 1 to be tested
08a and 108b run on the OS 103,
Each has a built-in startup routine.
The embedded software 108a and 108b includes initial startup software, and the initial startup software is first activated by the instruction of the tester, and the other embedded software is sequentially activated from the initial startup software. In this way, the embedded software 108a,
When 108b is started, each startup routine is driven, and the pseudo online OS unit 10
5a, 105b and shared library sections 106a, 106
b is mapped to a predetermined virtual address and can be referred to by the embedded software 108a and 108b.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
This embodiment is an example of simulating four test target machines on two general-purpose computers 10 and 40. First, the tester selects four test target machines, that is, the pseudo target unit 110a,
It is determined which general-purpose computer 110b and 440a, 410b are to be activated on. In this embodiment, the general-purpose computer 10 uses the pseudo target units 110a and 11a.
0b, and the general-purpose computer 40 starts the pseudo target units 410a and 410b.

Next, the tester determines the correspondence between the general-purpose computer 10 and the pseudo target units 110a and 110b, and the general-purpose computer 40 and the pseudo target units 410a and 410b.
The pseudo target map data 104, 404 in which the correspondence relationship of 10b is described is created, and the general-purpose computer 10, 4 is created.
0 respectively.

The tester uses the user interface unit 109.
And 409 to send an activation instruction to the monitor units 107a and 107b and 407a and 407b, respectively.
07b uses the process control functions of the OSs 103 and 403 to use the pseudo target units 110a and 1
Initial boot software that is part of the embedded software 108a and 108b and 408a and 408b in 10b and 410a and 410b, respectively, may be started.

At this time, the monitor units 107a and 107b
And 407a and 407b are pseudo online OS units 105a, 105b and 40 operating on the corresponding pseudo target units 110a and 110b, 410a and 410b.
In order to refer to the process information of the embedded software 108a and 108b and 408a and 408b to be tested which are managed by 5a and 405b, the pseudo online OS units 105a and 105b are assigned to predetermined virtual addresses.
And 405a and 405b are mapped.

Each monitor unit 107a, 107b and 407
When the initial startup software started from a and 407b starts executing, other built-in software is sequentially started and the start-up routine included in them is executed, and in addition to the pseudo online OS units 105a and 105b and 405a and 405b. The shared library units 106a and 106b and 406a and 406b are mapped to predetermined virtual addresses, and the built-in software 108a and 108b and 408a and 408b generate pseudo online OS units 105a, 105b and 405.
The online system call provided by a and 405b and the functions provided by the shared library units 106a and 106b and 406a and 406b can be issued.

Here, for example, the embedded software 108a being executed calls the interprocessor communication function unit 105a1 provided in the pseudo online OS unit 105a, and a data transfer request is issued to the embedded software 108b in the pseudo target unit 110b. If there is, the inter-processor communication function unit 105a1 refers to the pseudo target map data 104, and the same general-purpose computer 10
Then, the inter-processor communication function of the OS 103 is driven to simulate inter-processor communication.

In addition, the embedded software 10 being executed
8a calls the interprocessor communication function unit 105a1 included in the pseudo online OS unit 105a, and if there is a data transfer request to the embedded software 408a in the pseudo target unit 410a of the different general-purpose computer 40, the interprocessor communication is performed. The functional unit 105a1 is
The pseudo target map data 104 is referred to, it is determined that the data communication is between different general-purpose computers, the inter-computer communication function of the OS 103 is driven, the high-speed communication hardware device 102 is controlled, and the general-purpose computer is connected via the high-speed communication line 30. Data is transferred to the built-in software 408a in the pseudo target unit 410a on 40 to simulate interprocessor communication.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the same test environment as a plurality of target machines can be realized on the plurality of general-purpose computers 10 and 40 by using the high-speed communication line 30, so that the general-purpose computer can be realized. It is possible to balance the load on the server, and thus prevent a decrease in processing capacity.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the number of pseudo target units in the general-purpose computer may be one or three or more, and the number of general-purpose computers may be three or more. .

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a multiprocessor simulation environment can be realized using a plurality of general-purpose computers without using a target machine by using a communication line connecting general-purpose computers, load distribution to the general-purpose computers can be achieved. It is possible to solve the problem of the decrease in the processing capacity of a general-purpose computer due to the increase in the number of processors to be simulated, which has been a problem in the embedded software test process of the conventional multiprocessor system, and to improve the debugging efficiency further. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 40 General-purpose computer 20, 50 Display 30 High-speed communication line 101, 401 Central processing unit (CPU) 102, 402 High-speed communication hardware device 103, 403 Operating system (OS) 104, 404 Pseudo target map data 105a, 105b, 405a , 405b Pseudo online OS section 105a1, 105b1, 405a1, 405b1 Inter-processor communication function section 106a, 106b, 406a, 406b Shared library section 107a, 107b, 407a, 407b Monitor section 108a, 108b, 408a, 408b Embedded software 109, 409 User Interface part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An embedded software debug support apparatus in which a plurality of general-purpose computers are connected by a high-speed communication line, wherein each of the plurality of general-purpose computers simulates a system call provided by an operating system on an actual target machine. , Operating system simulation means that provides an environment for running the debug target embedded software running on the actual target machine on the general-purpose computer, and accepts the command input by the tester to perform debugging and gives a debug instruction. And a debug means for converting the data and outputting the data to perform memory read / write, register read / write, and running control for the embedded software to be debugged, and output the result as debug information. Embedded software debugging support device. 2. An embedded software debug support apparatus in which a plurality of general-purpose computers are connected by a high-speed communication line, wherein each of the plurality of general-purpose computers maps an arbitrary virtual address in a program, and maps the mapped data. A process control function that can be accessed from all processes and can instruct execution control including reading / writing of memory / register contents and running / stopping from one process to another process, and data transmission / reception between processes in the same general-purpose computer An operating system having an inter-process communication function for controlling the communication and an inter-computer communication function for enabling data transmission / reception between processes in different general-purpose computers, a central processing unit operating by the operating system, and an inter-computer communication function. Hardware device and embedded software to be debugged that is used by being embedded in the target machine, and artificially creates the environment of the target machine in the virtual space managed and operated by the operating system on the memory of the central processing unit. , Input the debug target from which the debug information that is the execution operation result of the embedded software and the debug instruction from the tester to the desired pseudo target, and edit the debug information from the pseudo target. An embedded software debug support device having a user interface unit for outputting to the outside. 3. The pseudo target unit includes a holding unit that holds the embedded software, and a communication function in the target machine that operates on the operating system and is issued when the embedded software runs on the target machine. A pseudo-online operating system unit for simulating a system call provided by an operating system, and activating an interprocess communication function and an intercomputer communication function of the operating system of the general-purpose computer; and the embedded software as the target. A shared library section, which is a set of data and a function group to be accessed from the embedded software when mounted on a machine, and an execution program executed by the retained embedded software. Managing a process identifier for identifying a computer, activating the processor control function of the operating system of the general-purpose computer in response to the embedded software instructed to monitor, and executing the embedded software as a process on the operating system. , Enables all processes to access the pseudo online operating system unit and the shared library unit, performs execution control including reading / writing of memory / register contents and running / stopping for the process, and obtains debug information obtained as a result. An embedded software debug support device comprising: a monitor unit for outputting.