JP2002007173A - Function evaluating method for computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the system evaluation of a parallel processing computer system, which consists of plural virtual computers and at least one connection mechanism, in a state close to an actual operational environment and in a state of applying a high load to the connection mechanism even with relatively small-scaled resources. SOLUTION: A virtual computer which executes an on-line simulation program operating on an OS for issuing an instruction close to an actual operational environment and a virtual computer which executes a test program for continuously issuing an instruction to be issued to a connection mechanism are allowed to share a message path and a message sub-channel corresponding to the message path and the connection mechanism, and a load is simultaneously applied so that an environment close to an actual operational environment and the high competitive state of the message path, the message sub-channel, and the connection mechanism can be realized with relatively small-scaled resources.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system function evaluation method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hardware resources such as a central processing unit (hereinafter abbreviated as a CPU), an input / output device (hereinafter abbreviated as an I / O), a memory and the like of a real computer are time-divisionally or exclusively divided by a virtual computer system. In this way, a plurality of virtual machines (Logical partitions) each of which operates as a logically separate machine and can execute software independently.
on: hereinafter abbreviated as LPAR), a coupling mechanism that is a computer that manages the operation of the virtual computer group by receiving a request from the virtual computer group as a message and data and returning a response, and the data, message, and A message sub-channel for executing a message operation for transferring a response, and a message path connected to the virtual computer group and a coupling mechanism for transferring the data, the message, and the response between the two. In the system function evaluation test of the parallel processing system, it is essential to evaluate the message path, the message subchannel, and the coupling mechanism under the conditions as close as possible to the actual operation environment.

In order to satisfy such conditions, an operating system (hereinafter referred to as an OS) as shown in the example of FIG.
Above), there is a method of creating and executing a simulation model of the online system.

In FIG. 3, 5100 and 5200 are:
This is an LPAR obtained by logically dividing the actual computer 5000.
10 and 5210 are LPAR5100 and 5
OS running on the H.200, 5111 and 5211
Are online simulation programs executed on the OSs 5110 and 5210, respectively. 5
300 is a message subchannel mounted on the real computer 5000, 6000 is a message path, 7000 is a coupling mechanism, 7100 is a message subchannel mounted on the coupling mechanism, and 7200 is a coupling mechanism control program executed on the coupling mechanism. Each is shown. Real computer 5
000 and the coupling facility 7000 are associated with the message path 600
Connected by 0. LPA of 5100 and 5200
R has a message subchannel 5300 and a message path 6000 corresponding to the message subchannel.
Assign to share.

When the online simulation programs 5111 and 5211 are executed, the OSs 5110 and 5210 cause the message subchannels 5300 and 7100 and the message path 600
0, an instruction to transmit a message and data to the coupling mechanism control program 7200 is issued.

However, the simulation model of the online system is intended to provide an environment as close as possible to actual operation, and is processed not only by instructions to be processed by the coupling mechanism but also by the LPAR itself executing the online simulation model. In this method, hardware resources such as a CPU close to the actual operating environment, memory, and I / O are allocated to the LPARs (5110 and 5210) for executing the simulation model. Unless the processing capacity of the LPAR itself is increased, it is not possible to reproduce the workload close to the actual operation environment and the competitive situation of the message path, the subchannel, and the coupling mechanism.

Further, in terms of an evaluation test of the connection mechanism between the coupling mechanism and the LPAR, as shown in FIG.
In the above, there is a method of executing a test program for regularly issuing an instruction for transmitting a message and data to the coupling mechanism.

FIG. 4 has substantially the same configuration as FIG.
On each LPAR denoted by 100, 8200, 811
The test program indicated by 0, 8210 is executed.

In this method, the test program itself is a small program having far fewer steps than the OS, compared to the method using the OS.
It can be executed with overwhelmingly few hardware resources, and the commands to be processed by the coupling facility can be issued continuously by changing the frequency of issue by operator intervention, so that the message path, sub-channel, and the coupling facility can easily compete. Can be adjusted.

[0010] However, since instructions are issued regularly, the contention of message paths, sub-channels, and coupling mechanisms becomes regular, and a satisfactory system function evaluation is required in an environment close to an actual operation environment. It is difficult to do.

[0011]

According to the online simulation model on the OS, an evaluation environment close to the actual operation environment can be provided.
In order to increase the contention load of the sub-channel and the coupling mechanism to a level close to the actual operation environment, a large-scale hardware resource such as CPU / I / O equivalent to the actual operation environment is required. Conversely, in a test program, by issuing specific instructions in succession with a relatively small program, it is possible to easily apply an adjustable contention load on the message path, subchannel, and coupling mechanism with a small amount of hardware resources. However, the environment will be different from the actual operation environment. Therefore, in the conventional technique, it is difficult to perform a system evaluation in a state close to the actual operation environment and with a high load applied to the coupling mechanism, even though the resources are relatively small.

An object of the present invention is to enable system evaluation under a high load environment easily at low cost.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, a system function evaluation test method according to the present invention is based on the following configuration.

That is, an LPAR running an OS executing an online simulation model and an LPAR executing a test program, which are logically divided on the same real computer, are logically divided by a function provided by a channel / path sharing mechanism. Connect to the same coupling mechanism using a shared message path.

Thus, a message command transmitted from each LPAR to the coupling facility is processed by the coupling facility via the same message path and message subchannel. At this time, in the online simulation model on the OS, an instruction is issued to the coupling mechanism with a command and data of a type similar to the actual operation, and an instruction to be issued to the coupling mechanism is issued from the test program. By issuing the message continuously according to a certain rule, a race condition of the message path, sub-channel, and coupling mechanism is created, an evaluation environment that is relatively close to the actual operation environment is realized, and the system function under high load condition is realized. Enables evaluation tests.

An LPA for executing a test program
R can be used with much less hardware resources compared to the LPAR on which the OS runs, so by increasing or decreasing the number of LPARs that execute the test program, it does not significantly affect the hardware resources of the entire system. In addition, it is possible to easily change the race condition of the message path, the sub-channel, and the coupling mechanism to adjust the race load condition suitable for the evaluation test.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for evaluating a function of a system having a coupling mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention as a nucleus, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a system function evaluation test according to the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The parallel processing system of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises a real computer 1000 and a coupling mechanism 3000, and both are connected by a message path 2000. 1500 and 3100 are real computers 1000, respectively.
And a message sub-channel mounted on the coupling mechanism 3000 and corresponding to the message path 2000. The real computer 1000 has a plurality of LPARs (1100 to 1n0).
0), and each LPAR has a message subchannel 1500 and a message path 2000 connected to the real computer and corresponding to the message subchannel.
Is shared. LPAR1100 and LPAR1
In OS 200, OS 1110 and OS 1210 are operated, and the same kind of online / software as 5111 and 5211 in FIG.
The simulation programs 1111 and 1211 are executed, and the LPAR1300 to LPAR1n00 execute a test program 13 of the same type as 8110 and 8210 in FIG.
Perform 10-1n10.

In FIG. 1, as an embodiment of the present invention, the number of coupling mechanisms, the number of message paths, and the number of message
Although one sub-channel is shown on each of the actual computer side and the coupling mechanism side, these are for convenience only, and each can be implemented in a larger number.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a system function evaluation test according to the present invention.

First, a test environment as shown in FIG. 1 is constructed (step 4000). Next, the OS is started and the online simulation program is executed (steps 4001 and 4002).

Next, a test program is executed by another LPAR (step 4003) to increase the contention load on the message path, sub-channel, and coupling mechanism. Step 4001
The processing from step to step 4003 is performed before a series of system evaluation tests, so that the message sub-channel, message path, and coupling mechanism shared by each LPAR can be used for the message, data, and test transmitted from the OS. Since both messages and data sent from the program are processed, the contention load can be increased.

Here, a resource monitoring program provided by the OS, which displays the usage rate of the resources allocated to each LPAR, the usage rate of the coupling mechanism, and the like in real time or by a post-processing program, and the resource activity status of the hardware Check the competing load status using the monitoring function (step 4
004), it is determined whether or not the competitive load status has reached the target level (step 4005). If the competitive load status has not reached the target level, it is determined whether the instruction frequency of the test program is the maximum value (step 4005). 4006) If the maximum value has not been reached, the issuing frequency is adjusted (step 4007), and the process returns to step 4004 again. If the test program instruction issue frequency has reached the maximum value,
The test program is executed by another LPAR (step 4008), and the process returns to step 4004. Steps 4004 and subsequent steps are repeated until the target competitive load situation is reached. By simultaneously executing test programs that issue instructions continuously with a plurality of LPARs, the maximum contention load situation can be realized.

When the target competitive load situation is reached, an evaluation test item is executed (step 4009).

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the advantages of these two methods can be obtained without changing the simulation model or test program used conventionally. In other words, an environment close to the actual operation environment can be provided, and a high contention load can be applied to the message path, the message subchannel, and the coupling mechanism with relatively small hardware resources. Further, the contention load state can be adjusted without significantly affecting the hardware resources.

In the present invention, the coupling mechanism is either a configuration that is a computer independent of the LPAR group that generates a workload, or a configuration that is an LPAR on the same real computer on which the LPAR group operates. It is also possible to apply to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system function evaluation test according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a system function evaluation test execution according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a system function evaluation test using an OS according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a system function evaluation test using a test program according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1000, 5000 ... real computers, 1100, 1200,
1300-1n00, 5100, 5200, 8100,
8200 ... LPAR, 1110, 1210, 5110,
5210... OS, 1111, 1211, 5111, 52
11 ... Online simulation program, 1
310-1n10, 8110, 8210 test program 1500, 3100, 5300, 7100 message subchannel, 2000, 6000 message path, 3000, 7000 coupling mechanism, 3200, 7
200: coupling mechanism control program.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B042 GA11 GA22 GA39 GC10 HH07 HH20 5B085 AC08 5B098 AA10 GA02 GC10 GC16 GD06 GD15 HH01 JJ05

Claims (2)

[Claims] A central processing unit for an actual computer, an input / output device,
In a virtual computer system realized by time-sharing or exclusively dividing hardware resources such as memory,
A plurality of virtual computer groups that operate as logically separate computers, each of which can independently execute software, and receive requests from the virtual computer groups as messages and data,
At least one coupling mechanism that is a computer that manages the operation of the virtual machine group by returning a response, a message subchannel for executing a message operation for transferring the data, the message, and the response, and the message A parallel processing system associated with a sub-channel, connected to the previous virtual computer group and a coupling mechanism, and configured with a message path for transferring the data, the message, and the response therebetween; By sharing the same message sub-channel in the virtual machines and executing a random workload and a fixed workload on each virtual machine, a message sub-channel shared by each virtual machine and the message Easily implement a competitive environment for message paths and coupling mechanisms corresponding to subchannels Function evaluation method of a computer system, wherein. 2. The system function evaluation test method according to claim 1, wherein the number of virtual machines sharing a message subchannel is increased or decreased, so that a message path, a message subchannel, and a coupling mechanism shared by each virtual machine are increased. A function evaluation method for a computer system characterized in that a competitive load can be easily increased or decreased.