JP2000250845A - Method and device for controlling recording medium competition and medium recorded with the processing program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a waiting time caused by the competition of access generated to the same recording medium by stopping using a recording medium when a use request to the recording medium under use is generated and performing processing for which the use request is generated. SOLUTION: A file output processing part 121 of a memory 102 performs archive processing for moving the prescribed file of low use frequency or the like among files stored in a magnetic disk device 103 built in an information processor 100 to a magnetic tape library device 110. Afterwards, while the use request to a magnetic tape medium 113 under use is generated, the use of the magnetic tape medium is stopped by a medium use end processing part 123 of the memory 102 and the notice of use end is sent to a medium use request processing part 122 which generates the use request to the magnetic tape medium. Thus, the waiting time caused by the competition of access generated to the same recording medium can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium contention control method for controlling access to a recording medium when performing file input / output processing, and in particular, generates another use request for a magnetic tape medium in use. The present invention relates to a technique which is effective when applied to a recording medium contention control method for controlling access to the magnetic tape medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When storing and managing a large amount of data in a conventional information processing apparatus, a large-capacity library apparatus having a large number of recording media such as a magnetic tape cartridge is connected to the information processing apparatus, and is required. Accordingly, the file is moved between the information processing device and the library device and managed.

In an information processing apparatus to which the library apparatus is connected, when a predetermined state such as when the free space of a storage device such as a magnetic disk device built in the information processing apparatus is reduced, a predetermined state such as infrequent use is determined. Archive processing for moving the file from the information processing device to a predetermined recording medium in the library device.

When a file that a user tries to access has been moved to a library device, a recall process for moving a file requested to be accessed from a recording medium of the library device to a magnetic disk device of the information processing device is performed. After that, the file on the magnetic disk device is accessed. At this time, if a request for use of the same recording medium in the library device by a plurality of users conflicts, another request is made to wait until the previously requested process is completed, and then the previous process is completed. And then perform other processing.

[0005] As described above, in the information processing apparatus to which the library apparatus is connected, the file is moved between the information processing apparatus and the library apparatus as needed, so that the user can obtain a large capacity without being aware of the existence of the library apparatus. Storage area can be used. Note that, in the library management method for computer data, an automatic library control method that allows a user to write and read data without being conscious of the library device is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-128153.

[0006]

In the conventional information processing apparatus, when contention for access to the same recording medium conflicts, a later use request is waited. Therefore, archive processing for moving a plurality of files to the recording medium is performed. If a recall process for accessing a file stored in the recording medium occurs during the operation, there is a problem that the recall process waits for a long time until the archive process ends.
In particular, when a library device having a plurality of large-capacity magnetic tape media is used as a recording medium, the waiting state until the archiving process of moving a large amount of data to the magnetic tape is completed may reach several hours. .

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide a technique capable of reducing a waiting time due to an access conflict occurring on the same recording medium.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium contention control method for controlling access to the same recording medium by a plurality of input / output processes. The use of the recording medium is stopped and the process of generating the use request is performed.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not a recording medium to be accessed is in use during file input processing for accessing a file on a recording medium in a library device. Then, a use request for the recording medium is generated, and a wait state for waiting for a use end notification of the recording medium is entered.

In the file output process for moving a plurality of files from the information processing device to the library device, every time each file is moved to the recording medium, it is checked whether a use request for the recording medium has been generated. If the use request for the recording medium has been generated by the file input processing, the output processing to the recording medium is stopped, a use end notification is sent to the file input processing, the recording medium is changed, and the output processing is continued. I do. In the file input process, access to the recording medium is performed after receiving the use end notification. In the file output process, the output process to the same recording medium may be restarted after the completion of the file input process.

As described above, according to the recording medium contention control method of the present invention, when a use request for a used recording medium is issued, the use of the recording medium is stopped. It is possible to reduce the waiting time due to access competition.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following, when a file input process is to be performed on a magnetic tape medium being used by a file output process in an information processing device connected to a magnetic tape library device, selection of a magnetic tape medium is controlled. A recording medium contention control method according to an embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a file input processing unit 120, a file output processing unit 121, a medium use request processing unit 122
And a medium use end processing unit 123.

The file input processing unit 120 is a processing unit that performs a recall process of moving a file requested to be accessed by a user among the files moved to the magnetic tape library device 110 to the magnetic disk device 103.

The file output processing unit 121 is an archive for moving a predetermined file, such as an infrequently used file, from the files stored in the magnetic disk device 103 built in the information processing device 100 to the magnetic tape library device 110. This is a processing unit that performs processing.

The medium use request processing unit 122 generates a use request for the magnetic tape medium 113 to which the access request has been made when the magnetic tape medium 113 is in use, and indicates that the use of the magnetic tape medium has been completed. The processing unit waits for a use end notification.

When a use request for the magnetic tape medium 113 in use is generated, the medium use end processing unit 123 stops using the magnetic tape medium and generates a use request for the magnetic tape medium. A processing unit that sends a use end notification to the request processing unit 122.

A program for causing the information processing apparatus 100 to function as the file input processing section 120, the file output processing section 121, the medium use request processing section 122, and the medium use end processing section 123 is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape. After being stored in the magnetic disk device 103, the memory 1
02 and executed. The medium on which the program is recorded may be a medium other than the magnetic tape.

The magnetic tape library device 1 of the present embodiment
10 is equipped with an input magnetic tape device 111 and an output magnetic tape device 112, and stores a plurality of magnetic tape media 113. All the magnetic tape media 113 are managed in the magnetic tape medium directory 106. When the stored magnetic tape media 113 is used, the input magnetic tape device 111 or the output magnetic tape device 112 is used.
Mount and use. The input magnetic tape device 1
11 and the output magnetic tape device 112 can be provided respectively. If a plurality of devices are provided, an unused device is selected from the plurality of devices. Wait for use before using.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the data format of the magnetic tape medium directory 106 according to this embodiment. One piece of data in the figure corresponds to one magnetic tape medium 113. The volume serial number 21 corresponds to the magnetic tape library device 11.
0 is a number for identifying each magnetic tape medium 113 stored therein, and it is possible to mount the magnetic tape medium 113 on the input magnetic tape device 111 or the output magnetic tape device 112 by designating this volume serial number 21. it can.

The used / unused flag 22 is a flag that records the use status of the magnetic tape medium 113, and indicates whether the magnetic tape medium 113 is currently used. The usage rate 23 indicates how much of the total capacity of the magnetic tape medium 113 is used.
The number of stored files 24 indicates the number of files stored in the magnetic tape medium 113. When “0”, it indicates that no file is recorded in the magnetic tape medium 113.

FIG. 3 shows a file input processing unit 1 according to this embodiment.
20 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of Step 20. FIG. 3 shows an outline of a file input process for reading a file stored in the magnetic tape library device 110 in the present embodiment, and the input process is performed in the following procedure.

In the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, when a file storing a program or data is accessed by a user and the file is moved to the magnetic tape library apparatus 110, an access request The volume serial number 21 of the magnetic tape medium 113 in which the file is stored is read from the file directory 107, and an input request for the file is made.

When a file input requesting the volume serial number 21 is received, the file input processing unit 120 allocates an input magnetic tape device 111 in step 30 and a magnetic tape mounted on the input magnetic tape device 111 in step 31. The medium 113 is selected.

In the selection process of step 31, first, in step 31A, the medium use request processing unit 122 searches the magnetic tape medium directory 106 using the volume serial number 21 as a key, and uses / not use the flag 22 corresponding to the volume serial number 21. See

In step 31B, the medium use request processing unit 12
2 judges whether or not the magnetic tape medium 113 requested to be input is being used by another using the use / unused flag 22. If the magnetic tape medium 113 is being used by another, the process proceeds to step 31C. move on.

In step 31C, the medium use request processing unit 12
2 registers the volume serial number 21 in the input wait table, generates a use request for requesting use of the magnetic tape medium, and enters a wait state to wait for the end of use of the magnetic tape medium. Upon receiving a use end notification indicating that the use of the magnetic tape medium has been completed, the medium use request processing unit 122 returns control to the file input processing unit 120 and causes the file input processing unit 120 to access the magnetic tape medium. To start.

In step 31D, the file input processing unit 12
0 updates the magnetic tape medium directory 106 by changing the use / unused flag 22 of the data of the corresponding volume serial number 21 of the magnetic tape medium directory 106 to in use,
In step 31E, the magnetic tape medium is mounted on the input magnetic tape device 111.

In step 32, a file is input from the mounted magnetic tape medium 113, and when the input is completed, the magnetic tape medium 113 is released in step 33.
In the release processing of step 33, first, in step 33A, the magnetic tape medium 113 is demounted from the input magnetic tape device 111, and it is determined in step 33B whether a use request for the used magnetic tape medium 113 is registered in the input waiting table. . Magnetic tape medium 113 used
If a use request for is registered in the input wait table, the other processing units are considered to be in a wait state, and the process proceeds to step 33C to notify the use request source in the wait state. Finally, in step 34, the input magnetic tape device 1
Release 11.

FIG. 4 shows a file output processing unit 1 according to this embodiment.
21 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an outline of a file output process for storing a file in the magnetic tape library device 110 in the present embodiment, and the output process is performed in the following procedure.

At step 40, the file output processing section 121
Assigns the output magnetic tape device 112, and selects the magnetic tape medium 113 to be mounted on the output magnetic tape device 112 in step 41. In this selection process, the volume serial number 21 is not specified, and the file output processing unit 121 determines the magnetic tape medium 113.

In the selection process in step 41, first, it is checked in step 41A whether or not the output is the second or subsequent file.
Proceed to 1B, and if it is not the second or subsequent file, proceed to step 41E.

In step 41B, it is determined whether or not the magnetic tape medium 113 currently in use has a free space capable of continuously outputting the next file and the number of stored files is within a predetermined number. Usage rate of tape media 23
And if the number of stored files is 24, the process proceeds to step 41C if output is possible continuously. If the magnetic tape medium 113 cannot be continuously output to the currently used magnetic tape medium 113, the magnetic tape medium 113 is demounted from the output magnetic tape device 112, and the use / unused flag 22 corresponding to the magnetic tape medium is changed to unused. Proceed to step 41E.

In step 41C, the medium use end processing unit 12
3 to determine whether a use request for the currently used magnetic tape medium 113 has been generated by referring to the input waiting table, and the file output processing unit 121 determines whether or not the use request for the currently used magnetic tape medium 113 is file input. If it is generated by the processing unit 120, the process proceeds to step 41D.

In step 41D, the medium use end processing section 12
3 indicates that the magnetic tape medium 113 currently in use is stopped and the magnetic tape medium 113 is output to the output magnetic tape device 11.
2, the use / unused flag 22 corresponding to the magnetic tape medium is changed to unused, and then a use end notification is sent to the medium use request processing unit 122 that has generated a use request for the magnetic tape medium. With this notification, the waiting state in step 31C of the medium use request processing unit 122 is released.

At step 41E, the file output processing unit 12
Reference numeral 1 denotes a magnetic tape medium 11 which refers to the magnetic tape medium directory 106, has free space for outputting files, and has a stored number of files within a predetermined number.
3 is determined from the usage rate 23 and the number of stored files 24, and the used / unused flag 22 of the data of the corresponding volume serial number 21 in the magnetic tape medium directory 106 of the selected magnetic tape medium 113 is changed to “in use” to change the magnetic field. The tape medium directory 106 is updated, and the output magnetic tape device 1 is updated.
12, the magnetic tape medium 113 is mounted.

In step 42, the file is output to the mounted magnetic tape medium 113, and when the output is completed, the name of the file output to the magnetic tape medium is registered in the file register 107 together with the volume serial number 21 of the magnetic tape medium. I do. In step 43, it is determined whether or not to output the next file continuously. If the file is to be output, the process returns to step 41, and a request for selecting the magnetic tape medium 113 is made. If no file is output, the process proceeds to step 44, where the magnetic tape medium 113 is released.

In the release processing in step 44, first, in step 44A, the magnetic tape medium 113 is demounted from the output magnetic tape device 112, and the used / unused flag 22 corresponding to the magnetic tape medium is changed to unused. Step 44B determines whether or not a use request for the used magnetic tape medium 113 is registered in the input waiting table.
If it has been registered, it is determined that another processing unit is in the waiting state, and the process proceeds to step 44C to notify the use request source in the waiting state. Finally step 45
To release the output magnetic tape device 112.

When the output processing to the magnetic tape medium 113 takes a long time, the input processing from the same magnetic tape medium 113 has to wait for the output processing to be completed. I will. However, according to the present embodiment, by checking the presence or absence of an input request at a break in the output processing, the output destination magnetic tape medium 113 is released, and the output processing is continued with another magnetic tape medium. In this case, it is possible to minimize the reduction in the processing time, greatly reduce the waiting time for input processing, and improve the overall throughput.

In the present embodiment, the process of moving a file storing programs and data used in the process of the information processing apparatus 100 to and from the magnetic tape library apparatus 110 has been described. The present invention may be applied to a process of moving content such as moving image data stored in a device to and from a video tape.

As described above, according to the recording medium contention control method of the present embodiment, when the use request for the used recording medium is issued, the use of the recording medium is stopped. It is possible to reduce the waiting time due to the generated access conflict.

[0042]

According to the present invention, when a use request for a used recording medium is issued, the use of the recording medium is stopped, so that the waiting time due to the access conflict occurring for the same recording medium can be reduced. Is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data format of a magnetic tape medium directory 106 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a file input processing unit 120 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a file output processing unit 121 according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: information processing device, 101: CPU, 102: memory, 103: magnetic disk device, 104: keyboard,
105: display device, 106: magnetic tape medium directory, 107: file directory, 110: magnetic tape library device, 111: magnetic tape device for input, 112
... magnetic tape device for output, 113 ... magnetic tape medium, 1
20: File input processing unit, 121: File output processing unit, 122: Medium use request processing unit, 123: Medium use end processing unit, 21: Volume serial number, 22: Used / unused flag, 23: Usage rate, 24 ... Number of stored files.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Niimura 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-term in Hitachi Software Division Software Division (Reference) 5B014 EB01 GD01

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a recording medium contention control method for controlling access to the same recording medium by a plurality of input / output processes, a use request for the recording medium is generated when a recording medium to be accessed is in use. Waiting for a use end notification of the recording medium; and, if a use request for the used recording medium has been generated, suspending use of the recording medium and sending a use end notification to a source of the use request for the recording medium. Sending a recording medium contention control method. 2. An information processing apparatus for controlling access to the same recording medium by a plurality of input / output processes, wherein when a recording medium to be accessed is being used, a use request for the recording medium is generated and the recording is performed. A medium use request processing unit that waits for a medium use end notification, and stops use of the recording medium when a use request for the used recording medium has been generated, and terminates use to the source of the use request for the recording medium. An information processing apparatus comprising: a medium use end processing unit that sends a notification. 3. A medium in which a program for causing a computer to function as an information processing apparatus for controlling access to the same recording medium by a plurality of input / output processes is recorded when a recording medium to be accessed is in use. A medium use request processing unit that generates a use request for the recording medium and waits for a use end notification of the recording medium, and stops using the recording medium when a use request for the used recording medium is generated. A medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as a medium use end processing unit for sending a use end notification to a source of a use request for the recording medium is recorded.