JP2003008599A - Fiber channel switch, and fiber channel switch verification method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fiber channel switch capable of outputting an operation trace log that can conduct a verification test under various system configurations even by a fiber channel switch single body. SOLUTION: A verification trace log when the fiber channels witch is in normal operation is prepared, the verification trace log is given to a fiber channel switch under a test, where the log is interpreted and executed, outputs a trace log at test and the operation of the fiber channel switch is verified by comparing the verification trace log with the test trace log.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fiber channel switch and a fiber channel switch verification method, which enables a fiber channel switch to perform operation verification without constructing an actual system environment. The present invention relates to a switch and a fiber channel switch verification method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a general-purpose machine connected to a network, a supercomputer, a workstation, the performance of which is improved, a database is huge, and a SAN (Storage Area Network) environment is spread as a dedicated network for that purpose, an ultra-high speed interface is provided. Fiber channel as is expected.

In this fiber channel interface, a device for connecting a computer and peripheral devices and performing switching is a fiber channel switch.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-103302 discloses a method for detecting a failure in a network using a fiber channel interface. In this technique, maintenance monitoring means 107 is provided on the network, and the maintenance monitoring table 104 provided in each fabric is compared with the previous state at predetermined time intervals to confirm the faulty fabric.

[0005]

In the above prior art, in order to detect a fault on the fiber channel network, all the devices to be tested had to be connected and tested.

Further, among the conventional fiber channel switches, there is an intelligent type switch which can output an operation trace log and perform operation verification.

However, even when the operation of the fiber channel switch is verified by the fiber channel switch, there is a problem that it is necessary to connect and verify the actual computer and peripheral devices. In particular, the fiber channel is often used when connecting different protocols at high speed, and the system tends to be large-scale. Therefore, verification of the operation of the fiber channel switch in an actual system often requires cost and effort.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to perform a verification test in various system configurations in a fiber channel switch capable of outputting an operation trace log. It is to provide a fiber channel switch verification method that can be performed by itself.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a trace log output from a fiber channel switch is used to automatically perform verification tests in various configurations on a single fiber channel switch.

That is, a verification trace log, assuming that the fiber channel switch is operating normally, is prepared by operating in an actual configuration.

Then, the verification trace log is input to the fiber channel switch to be tested. The trace log information is composed of “execution time”, “operation task”, and “frame information”. The input verification trace log is once stored in the RAM in the fiber channel switch.

This fiber channel switch is an intelligent type, and various functions can be provided by firmware.

Next, it is instructed to execute the execution command from the outside. The execution command refers to the "operation task" and "frame information" on the RAM, generates a pseudo task, and operates the fiber channel switch. Then, the trace log in this operation is output as the test-time trace log.

The execution command compares the input verification trace log with the output test trace log and outputs a list of the results. If there is a match, it can be judged that there is no problem, and if there is no match, the part that does not match can be identified by the items of "motion task" and "frame information", so there is a defect related to that task. Can be easily found.

In this way, the simulation test using the verification trace log allows the verification test to be performed on the single fiber channel switch in a pseudo manner without actually constructing the system and connecting the computer and peripheral devices. Is possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the fiber channel switch verification test is performed in various configurations, it is not necessary to reconfigure the system configuration by using the verification trace log, and the number of steps for that is reduced. can do. In addition, since the trace information can be saved in file units, it is possible to exchange the verification information performed in another place. By using the verification method of the present invention, it is possible to verify the fiber channel switch with higher reliability.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, a network system using the fiber channel switch of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a specific configuration diagram of a network system using the fiber channel switch of the present invention.

The fiber channel switch 1 is a host 2
A computer such as a computer, a PC (personal computer) / WS (workstation) 3, or a peripheral device such as a disk device 4 or a printer 5 can be connected. You can also connect to other Fiber Channel switches,
Of course it is possible.

This fiber channel switch 1 is an intelligent type, has a RAM 20 inside,
It is supposed to store data and programs. The programs are hierarchically structured, and as shown in FIG.
It has firmware on top of which commands are executed in the form of tasks.

In the fiber channel protocol, data flows in units called frames. The fiber channel switch stores in the RAM a trace log indicating how this frame flows on the fiber channel switch and what task is generated inside it.
It is output to 20. The present invention attempts to automate the connection verification by using this trace log.

Next, the outline of the fiber channel switch verification method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 2
3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a fiber channel switch verification method of the present invention.

First, an actual environment is constructed for the fiber channel switch 1 to be tested, and a verification trace log is output.

Next, the verification trace log is input and stored in the RAM 20 of FIG. In this phase, the Fiber Channel switch 1
Devices in a real environment such as T and disk devices do not need to be connected. Then, the execution command is executed from an external PC or the like, and the test-time trace log is output.

Then, the verification trace log is compared with the test trace log.

Next, a format example of the trace log will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format example of the trace log.

The trace log output by the fiber channel switch of the present invention has three entries of "execution time" T1, "execution task" T2, and "frame information" T3.

In the "execution time" T1, information on the time when the execution task is executed is recorded.

In the "execution task" T2, the type of task such as the frame receiving task, the frame transmitting task, the fabric control, and other task related information are recorded.

In the "frame information" T3, for example, information about a frame flowing on the fiber channel network such as a port number, a destination node number, a destination node number, a frame parameter is recorded.

In the fiber channel switch verification method of the present invention, the "execution time" T1 of the verification trace log and the data of the "execution time" T1 at the time of testing are expected to be different and compared. Although it is difficult to target it, the "execution task" T2 and the "frame information" T3
The basic idea is that will be the same.

Next, the procedure of the fiber channel switch verification method of the present invention and the operation of the fiber channel switch at that time will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of commands and data in the fiber channel switch verification method of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the execution command.

RA inside the fiber channel switch 1
The trace log 30 can be stored in M20. Further, as already described, the firmware 10 is also stored, and the command group 11 and the task group 12 can be executed.

The trace log 20 is output in the wraparound format by the tasks on the firmware in the RAM in the format shown in FIG. 3 (100).

The fiber channel switch 1 of the present invention comprises:
The following commands can be executed by the firmware 10 as commands for verification.

Verification trace log acquisition start command C1
Is a command for creating the verification trace log 31 from the trace log and storing the verification trace log 31 in the RAM 20.

Verification trace log acquisition stop command C2
Is a command for stopping the verification trace log 31 on the RAM 20.

The execution command C3 reads the verification trace log 31, executes each task, further compares the verification trace log 31 with the execution command output trace log 32 output at the time of the test, and outputs the result. It is a command to output.

The PC / WS save command C4 is a command for saving the verification trace log 31 in the PC / WS on the RAM.

The store command C5 sends the verification trace log 31 from the PC / WS to the R in the fiber channel switch.
This is a command for storing in the AM 20.

First, in order to acquire the verification trace log, the verification trace log acquisition start command C1 is executed. The verification trace log acquisition start command C1 uses the trace log output from the task group 11 in the RAM.
A verification trace log 31 is created in 20 (101,
102). In order to stop the acquisition of the verification trace log, the verification trace log acquisition stop command C2 is executed (103).

The PC / WS save command C4 is executed in order to save the verification trace log 31 thus created in the PC / WS (108, 109). Also,
In order to store the created verification trace log 31 from the PC / WS in the fiber channel switch, the storage command C5 is executed (110, 111).

In order to execute the created verification trace log 31, the execution command C3 is executed. The execution command C3 includes “execution task” T2 and “frame information” in the order of “execution time” T1 described in the verification trace log 31.
Referring to T3, create a task and execute it (1
05). Then, based on it, the trace log 32 is output. Then, the input verification trace log 31 and the input trace log 32 are compared (106, 107), and when a mismatch occurs, the result is output to the defect list 33.

Next, details of command processing that can be executed by the fiber channel switch according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the verification trace log acquisition start command C1 / acquisition stop command C2. FIG. 7 shows the execution command C.
It is a flowchart which shows the process of 3. Figure 8 shows PC /
It is a flow chart which shows processing of WS save command C4. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing of the storage command C5.

When the verification trace log acquisition start command C1 is executed as shown in FIG. 6, the output of the verification trace data 31 is started (S300). Then, the verification trace log 31 is continuously acquired until the verification trace log acquisition stop command C2 is executed (S301, S3).
02) Next, when the execution command C3 is executed as shown in FIG. 7, tasks are executed in the order of "execution time" T1 described in the verification trace log 31 based on the "operation task" T2 item. To generate. And "frame information"
The parameters described in the T3 item are passed to the task (S310).

As a result, since the trace log 32 of the execution command is output, the defect list 33 is output when there is a mismatch as compared with the verification trace log 31 (S312). If there is a mismatch or not found,
It can be determined to be normal (S313).

Next, when the PC / WS save command C4 is executed as shown in FIG. 8, the IP address of the PC / WS designated as the save destination is searched (S320). Then, if a machine having the specified IP address is found, then the storage destination directory is searched (S321),
If the save destination directory is found, the specified PC / W
The verification trace data 31 is saved in S (S32
2).

Next, the I specified as shown in FIG.
The PC / WS having the P address is searched for the verification trace log 31 to be executed (S330).

When the verification trace log 31 is found, R
The verification trace log 31 is stored in the AM 20 (S33).
1).

[0049]

According to the present invention, there is provided a fiber channel switch verification method capable of performing a verification test in various system configurations in a fiber channel switch capable of outputting an operation trace log even with a single fiber channel switch. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a specific configuration diagram of a network system using a fiber channel switch of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of a fiber channel switch verification method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format example of a trace log.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of commands and data in the fiber channel switch verification method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an execution command.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of a verification trace log acquisition start command C1 / acquisition stop command C2.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of an execution command C3.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of a PC / WS save command C4.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing of a storage command C5.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Fiber channel switch, 2 ... Host, 3 ... P
C, 4 ... Disk device, 5 ... Printer, C1 ... Verification trace log acquisition start command, C2 ... Verification trace log stop end command, C3 ... Execution command, C4 ... PC
/ WS save command C5 ... Store command, 20 ... RA
M.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A fiber channel switch verification method for a fiber channel switch capable of outputting an operation trace log, wherein a verification trace log when the fiber channel switch is operating normally is prepared, and the verification trace is provided. The test is performed by inputting the log into the fiber channel switch to be tested, interpreting and executing it, outputting the test trace log, and comparing the verification trace log with this test trace log. A fiber channel switch verification method characterized by verifying the operation of an existing fiber channel switch. 2. The fiber channel switch verification method according to claim 1, wherein the verification trace log is in a format that can be stored in a storage medium of another computer. 3. A fiber channel switch capable of outputting an operation trace log, a means for inputting a verification trace log when the fiber channel switch is operating normally, and the input verification trace log. A fiber channel switch having means for generating an execution task according to the described task information and frame information and outputting a trace log at the time of test. 4. The verification trace log is executed by executing a task according to a command relating to IO of files of the verification trace log and the test trace log and task information described in the verification trace log. 4. The fiber channel switch according to claim 3, further comprising means for comparing the test trace log with an execution command for outputting the result.