JP2002278768A - Setting processing method involved in module upgrade and information processing system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid system stopping by an error at the time of changing module initialization processing involved in module upgrade. SOLUTION: This information processing system is provided with a module 6, system software for performing setting processing of the module 6 involved in the upgrade of the module 6 based on setting processing data, a control storage device 3 storing the system software and setting processing initialization data, and a storage device 5 for storing the setting processing data. The system software downloads the setting processing data from the storage device 5 at the time of starting the information processing system, performs setting processing of the module 6 on the basis of the setting processing data and also performs setting processing of the module 6 on the basis of the setting processing initialization data when an error occurs in setting processing based on the setting processing data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a setting processing method associated with a module upgrade, in which system firmware for controlling activation of an information processing system executes a module setting processing associated with a module upgrade based on setting processing data. Note that a module is a structural unit of a system, such as a CPU,
A chip set, an input / output device, and the like.

[0002] In other words, the present invention relates to an information processing system, and more particularly to a method for changing a module initialization setting process accompanying a module upgrade and a method for avoiding a startup abnormality due to a change in the initialization setting process.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a device initialization setting process has been changed due to a module upgrade to an information processing system, those processing routines are hard-coded in system firmware. It was necessary to change and update the firmware itself. Also, if the power is turned off during this update, it is necessary to take some sort of firmware recovery method.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-307726 discloses a pre-update firmware stored in an external storage device in advance as a recovery method in which the operating system does not start due to a problem at the time of updating the system firmware. An error recovery method has been proposed in which, when a failure occurs during firmware update, error information is stored and the firmware before update is downloaded again from an external storage device.

[0005]

However, according to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-307726, it is difficult to access the external storage device due to a setting failure of the updated firmware in the external storage device. Causes the following problems. That is, in order to update the system firmware again, the ROM must be physically replaced, or if the ROM is directly attached to the board, it must be replaced on a board-by-board basis.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a setting processing method associated with a module upgrade which can avoid a situation where a ROM replacement or a board replacement is performed even if an error occurs in the module setting processing accompanying a module upgrade. And an information processing system using the same.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a module setting process for upgrading a module.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a setting processing method associated with a module upgrade and an information processing system using the same, which can change the setting processing of the module without updating the system firmware.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a setting processing method in accordance with a module upgrade, wherein a system firmware which is stored in a control storage device comprising a semiconductor memory and controls start-up of the information processing system comprises: The setting processing of the module accompanying the upgrade of the constituent modules is executed based on the setting processing data. Then, the setting processing initial data is stored in the control storage device in advance, and the setting processing data is stored in a storage device different from the control storage device.
Subsequently, when the information processing system is activated, the system firmware downloads the setting processing data from the storage device, sets the module based on the setting processing data, and executes an error in the setting processing based on the setting processing data. Next, the module is set based on the setting process initial data.

[0009] The system firmware, in the module setting process accompanying the module upgrade,
For example, even if an error occurs that prevents access to a storage device (for example, an external storage device), the setting processing initial data is stored in the control storage device along with the system firmware. Can be. In addition, in setting processing of a module accompanying the upgrading of the module, new setting processing data is stored in the storage device, so that it is not necessary to update the system firmware.

Further, the system firmware may set the module based on the setting process initial data when the setting process data cannot be downloaded for some reason (claim 2). Further, when an error occurs in the setting processing based on the setting processing data, the system firmware may store the error information (claim 3).

The information processing system according to the present invention uses the setting processing method accompanying the module upgrade according to the present invention, and controls the modules constituting the information processing system and the activation of the information processing system. A system firmware for executing a module setting process based on the setting process data according to the module upgrade, a control storage device including a semiconductor memory storing the system firmware and the setting process initial data, and a control storage device for storing the setting process data A storage device separate from the device. When the information processing system is started, the system firmware downloads the setting processing data from the storage device, sets the module based on the setting processing data, and sets an error in the setting processing based on the setting processing data. The module performs setting processing based on the setting processing initial data.

[0012] The system firmware, in the module setting process accompanying the module upgrade,
For example, even if an error occurs due to the inability to access a storage device (for example, an external storage device), since the setting processing initial data is stored in the control storage device together with the system firmware, the information processing system is started using this data. be able to. In addition, in setting processing of a module accompanying the upgrading of the module, new setting processing data is stored in the storage device, so that it is not necessary to update the system firmware.

Further, the system firmware may set the module based on the setting process initial data when the setting process data cannot be downloaded for some reason. Further, when an error occurs in the setting process based on the setting process data, the system firmware may store the error information (claim 6).

In other words, according to the present invention, the central processing unit is connected to the system bus via the system bus control unit,
This is an information processing system in which a control storage device, a storage device storing module setting processing data, each module and an external storage device are connected to a system bus. Further, the present invention relates to system firmware that boots software when the information processing system is started. That is, a setting process data transfer unit that downloads setting process data for initializing the module when executing the module initializing unit performed at system startup to a storage device and an external storage device that stores the setting process data are used. External storage device initializing means for initializing the external storage device, setting processing executing means for executing module setting processing, and setting for confirming whether or not module setting processing data is stored in the recording device. Processing data confirmation means, setting processing data storage means for storing the setting processing data of the module in the storage device, setting processing data obtaining means for reading the setting processing data of the module stored in the storage device in advance, Setting processing based on the setting processing data of the module stored in the device to the setting processing execution means An error information storing means for storing error information if the system there is a problem at the time of execution has stopped on the way, when setting process by setting processing execution means,
A setting that stores initial setting processing data to be used when error information is stored in the error information storage unit or when the setting processing data confirmation unit determines that the setting processing data of the module is not stored in the storage device. It has processing initial data storage means and error determination means for determining whether or not error information is stored in the error information storage means at the time of setting processing by the setting processing execution means.

For example, in the present invention, in the module setting process after the system firmware is started, the storage location of the module setting process data is confirmed, and if the setting process data is stored, the stored setting process data is stored. And means for executing a setting process based on initial setting process data of a module existing in the system firmware in advance if the setting process is not stored. Further, according to the present invention, error information is detected when a failure occurs in the setting processing data transfer unit for some reason or when an abnormality is detected when executing the setting processing data stored in the storage location of the setting processing data of the module. It has means for storing.

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to directly rewrite the firmware when the module setting process is changed due to the module upgrade, so that the rewriting time is shortened. But the system can start up normally. Further, since the setting processing data of the module is separated from the firmware, the setting processing data of the module can be created without knowledge of the firmware design.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention. Less than,
Description will be made based on this drawing. Since the information processing system according to the present invention uses the setting processing method according to the module upgrade according to the present invention, an embodiment of the setting processing method according to the module upgrade according to the present invention will be described at the same time.

In the information processing system of the present embodiment, a central processing unit 1 is connected to a system bus control unit 2. On the other hand, a data storage unit having an error information storage unit and a setting process initial data storage unit, a control storage device (ROM) 3 for storing system firmware executed when the information processing system is started, and a module 6
Storage device (MROM) 4 for storing the setting processing data of
An external storage device 5 for downloading setting processing data of the module 6 to the MROM 4 and a module 6 to be initialized are connected to the system bus control device 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the information processing system of the present embodiment in detail. Hereinafter, description will be given based on FIG. 1 and FIG.

The MROM 4 includes setting processing data storage means 40 for storing setting processing data of the module. The external storage device 5 includes module setting processing data 50. The ROM 3 stores system firmware (F) that boots up to software when the information processing system is started.
W) 31 and data storage means 30 used when executing the firmware. The FW 31 is a setting processing data checking means 314 for checking whether or not the setting processing data of the module is stored in the MROM 4. If the setting processing data of the module is stored in the MROM 4, the MR 31
A setting processing data obtaining unit 313 for obtaining the setting processing data from the OM 4; an error information is displayed when the setting processing data of the module obtained from the MROM 4 has a problem in the setting processing at the time of execution and the system is stopped halfway; The error determination means 316 to be stored, the initialization means 311 of the external storage device 5 storing the module setting processing data 50, and the module setting processing data 50
Setting processing data transfer means 3 to be downloaded to ROM 4
12 etc. The data storage unit 30 includes an error information storage unit 301 that stores error information by the error determination unit 316, and a case where module setting processing data is not stored in the MROM 4 or an error has occurred in the module setting processing. And a setting processing initial data storage means 302 used for

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing system according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, FIGS. 1 to 3
It will be described based on.

When the power of the information processing system is turned on (step 31), the external storage device 5 is initialized by the external storage device initializing means 311 in the FW 31 (step 32). The setting processing data 50 of the module in the storage device 5 is transferred to the setting processing data storage means 40 in the MROM 4 (step 33). Thereafter, the setting processing data confirmation means 314 determines whether or not the setting processing data of the module is stored in the MROM 4 (step 3).
5).

If it is determined that the setting processing data of the module is stored in the MROM 4, the setting processing data confirmation means 314 determines whether or not an error has occurred in the previous startup through the error information storage means 301. A judgment is made (step 36). If it is determined that no error has occurred, the setting processing data is obtained from the setting processing data storage means 40 in the MROM 4 by using the setting processing data obtaining means 313 (step 37).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 35 that the module setting processing data is not stored in the MROM 4, or if it is determined in step 36 that an error has occurred in the previous startup, the setting processing initial data The setting processing initial data corresponding to the module default is obtained from the storage unit 302 (step 3).
8).

Thereafter, the error information in the error information storage means 301 is cleared (step 39), and the setting processing executing means 315 is used by using the setting processing data of the module obtained in step 37 or step 38 or the setting processing initial data.
To set the module (step 3A). If an error occurs during the module setting process or after the module setting process, the error determining means 316 operates (step 3B). If it is determined that the error is not an error, the software is booted thereafter (step 3D). As a matter of course, even when no error occurs during the module setting process or after the module setting process, the software is booted (step 3D).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 3B that an error has occurred, the error information is stored in the error information storage means 301 (step 3C), and the module setting process is started again (step 34). By these processes, even if there is a problem with the setting process data of the module stored in the MROM 4, the setting process obtained from the setting process initial data storage unit 302 is performed, so that the software can be normally booted. Becomes

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the information processing system according to the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, M in the first embodiment
An external storage device 5 is used instead of the ROM 4. That is, the setting processing data storage unit 4 in the first embodiment
By replacing 0 with the setting processing data 50, the object of the present invention has been achieved. In the present embodiment, the setting processing data transfer unit 312 is not required. Further, in the case of the present embodiment, since the setting processing data of the module can be changed without providing the MROM 4, the cost is also excellent.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments. For example, a central processing unit, a system bus control unit, or the like may be set and processed as a module.

[0030]

According to the present invention, in the module setting process associated with a module upgrade, even if an error occurs due to the inability to access the storage device, for example, the setting process initial data is stored in the control storage device together with the system firmware. Since the information is stored, the information processing system can be activated using the stored information. Therefore, even if an error occurs in the module setting process accompanying the module upgrade, it is possible to avoid a situation where the ROM or the board is replaced.

Further, in the setting process of the module accompanying the upgrade of the module, since new setting process data is stored in the storage device, it is not necessary to update the system firmware. Therefore, the module setting process can be changed without updating the system firmware.

In other words, according to the present invention, when the module setting process is changed in accordance with the module upgrade, if an error occurs, the setting process previously stored in the firmware can be executed. It is possible to avoid a problem that the system cannot start due to a failure in updating the system firmware. Further, since only the setting processing data of the module can be changed, it is not necessary to modify the system firmware, so that even a person without knowledge of the firmware can easily create the setting processing data of the module.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the information processing system of FIG. 1 in more detail;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the information processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the information processing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Central processing unit 2 System bus control unit 3 Control storage unit (ROM) 4 Storage unit (MROM) 5 External storage unit 6 Module 30 Data storage unit 301 Error information storage unit 302 Setting processing initial data storage unit 31 System firmware (FW) 311 External storage device initializing means 312 Setting processing data transferring means 313 Setting processing data obtaining means 314 Setting processing data confirming means 315 Setting processing executing means 316 Error judging means 40 Setting processing data storing means 50 Setting processing data

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A system firmware, which is stored in a control storage device comprising a semiconductor memory and controls the activation of an information processing system, performs setting processing of the module accompanying the upgrade of a module constituting the information processing system. In a setting processing method associated with a module upgrade executed based on data, the setting processing initial data is stored in advance in the control storage device, and the setting processing data is stored in a storage device different from the control storage device. In addition, the system firmware downloads the setting processing data from the storage device at the time of starting the information processing system, performs setting processing of the module based on the setting processing data, and performs setting based on the setting processing data. If an error occurs during processing The set process the module on the basis of the setting processing initial data, setting processing method associated with the module upgrade. 2. The setting according to the module upgrade according to claim 1, wherein the system firmware sets the module based on the setting processing initial data when the setting processing data cannot be downloaded for some reason. Processing method. 3. The setting processing method according to claim 1, wherein the system firmware stores error information when an error occurs in setting processing based on the setting processing data. 4. A module that configures the information processing system, a system firmware that controls activation of the information processing system, and executes a setting process of the module according to the upgrade of the module based on the setting process data; A control storage device comprising a semiconductor memory storing the system firmware and setting process initial data; and a storage device storing the setting process data and being separate from the control storage device. When the system is started, the setting processing data is downloaded from the storage device, the module is set based on the setting processing data, and if an error occurs in the setting processing based on the setting processing data, the setting processing is performed. Based on initial data An information processing system configured to set the module. 5. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the system firmware sets the module based on the setting process initial data when the setting process data cannot be downloaded for some reason. 6. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein, when an error occurs in a setting process based on the setting process data, the system firmware stores the error information.