JP2004272652A - Remote maintenance method and system for distributed computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote maintenance method applicable to an always operating distributed computer. <P>SOLUTION: A repair file is continuously distributed to a server 5 from a maintenance terminal 1. The server 5 has a file transmission control function, and executes distribution to subordinate client computers 9 by broadcast. When the client computer 9 downloads a repair program, the client computer 9 copies an old version of an operation aspect file to a standby aspect. When version downgrading of the repair file is generated, the client computer 9 returns the file to the old version by only use aspect changeover operation in time of a restart. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a software maintenance method for a distributed computer system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As described in Patent Document 1, maintenance of a conventional distributed computer system involves transmitting a required file from a maintenance computer to a server computer and transmitting the required file from the server computer to a client computer. ing. In this method, since the distribution to the client computer is performed individually, the repair is largely affected by the line environment and the work time is not constant. In addition, a large amount of time is required in proportion to the number of server computers and client computers.
[0003]
In order to solve this problem, the method described in Patent Document 2 employs a method in which the version of the maintenance server is automatically monitored from the client terminal that has been turned on, and a download is performed when a difference occurs. In this case, since the version monitoring cannot be performed on the continuously operating terminals, it is necessary to stop the terminals once to execute the download.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-123690 (paragraph 0023-0025, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-231058 (paragraphs 0007-0010, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the prior art described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to turn on the power of the client terminal for version monitoring, and there is a problem in adaptation to a terminal that is constantly operating. Also, by integrating the version management in the host server, if a problem occurs in the client terminal after the repair, it is necessary to update the program ID on the server again to return to the old version. In this case, there is a problem that an ID that is downgraded remains in management, and a program version that is originally unnecessary occurs.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide a remote maintenance method that can overcome the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology and can be applied to a distributed computer that is always operating.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The remote maintenance method for a distributed computer system according to the present invention is a remote maintenance method for transmitting repair software via a network from an external maintenance terminal to a distributed computer system including a server and a plurality of terminal devices under the server. Receiving the modified software, broadcasting the modified software to the plurality of terminal devices, monitoring the success or failure of the transfer at the terminal device, and transmitting the information on the success or failure of the transfer to the maintenance terminal. .
[0008]
Further, when the download request of the repair software is generated, the terminal device copies the software of the operation surface file to the standby surface file and then starts the download of the repair software.
[0009]
In this way, the maintenance terminal performs continuous distribution of the repaired file from the maintenance terminal to the server, and provides the server computer with a file transmission control function to the subordinate client computers. As a result, the repair file can be transmitted to the operating device.
[0010]
In addition, by backing up the old file on the client computer side, when the version of the repaired file is downgraded, it can function as the old version only by switching the used surface at the time of restart. As a result, inconsistencies in version management can be eliminated, and the time during which use of the device is limited can be minimized.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described using a train operation management system as an example. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a remote maintenance system of a distributed computer system according to an embodiment, and is particularly applied to a train operation management system.
[0012]
The operation management system includes a PRC (Programmed Route Control) 4 for receiving and managing the operation status of the train in real time, a control console 3 for opening / closing a route and controlling a train, and an operation state of system components in the center. A monitoring console 2 for management is installed. Further, a maintenance terminal 1 used for maintenance of the operation status display system 10 and the station control device 12 is installed.
[0013]
The maintenance terminal 1 is connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) 11 to an operation status display system 10 installed in each station and a station control device 12. The operation status display system 10 includes information CS (Control Server) 5, router 6, modems 7 and 8, and station TID (Traffic Information Display) 9. The information CS5 is a server computer, the station TID9 is a client computer, and is a server terminal device. The station control device 12 performs equipment control such as signal switching and point switching of tracks.
[0014]
The information CS5 receives and holds train operation status and operation result information from the PRC 4, and transmits the information to a plurality of station TID devices 9 connected by modems 7 and 8 via a router 6. Further, it edits and transmits train delay information and train approach order information required from the station TID9. The station TID 9 has a function of displaying train operation information in the form of a track diagram, printing an operation form sent from the central command room, displaying the order of approaching trains to the station, and the results of arrival at the station.
[0015]
Next, a repair process of the operation status display system in the train operation management system will be described. FIG. 2 shows a processing flow of the maintenance terminal. When the software is modified, such as upgrading the software of the information CS5 and the station TID9, the modified file is installed in the maintenance terminal 1 (step 14). Next, the address of the repair file transmission destination is set (step 15), and the repair file is transmitted to the information CS5 as the transmission destination (step 16). At this time, a serial number is given to each of the divided files at the time of transmission, and the destination is used to manage the omission of file reception.
[0016]
Next, the success / failure state of the file transmission sent from the subordinate information CS5 is determined (step 17), and if abnormal, the number of retries n is counted (step 18), and the process returns to step 16. When the number n of retries reaches the set number A, the process proceeds to step S19.
[0017]
If the file transmission is normally completed in step 17, the information CS5 of successful transmission is recorded, and the information CS5 of failed file transmission due to the number of retries being equal to or more than A is recorded (step 19). This is completed (step 20).
[0018]
Next, the arrival of a file recording the file transmission success / failure state to the station TID9 sent from the information CS5 is monitored (step 21). Then, the status monitoring is completed by the arrival of the monitoring file recording the file transmission / reception status from the information CS5 (step 22). Thus, the remote maintenance is completed (step 23).
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows a processing flow from the reception of the information CS file to the end. This processing shows the automatic transmission control function of the repair file in the server computer for a plurality of client computers under the server computer.
[0020]
When the information CS5 starts upon receiving the repair software from the maintenance terminal 1 (step 25), it determines whether to end the reception based on the serial number of the repair file (step 26). When a missing serial number occurs, a repair file retransmission request is transmitted (step 27), and the process returns to step 25.
[0021]
Next, it is determined whether or not the received repair file includes a repair file for the station TID (step 28). If there is, the process proceeds to step 29; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 33. If there is a repair file for the station TID, the file is transmitted to the station TID9 connected to the information CS5 by broadcasting (step 29). Thereby, regardless of the number of stations TID9 managed by the information CS5, it is possible to complete the transmission of all repair files in a fixed time.
[0022]
Thereafter, the file retransmission request from the transmitted station TID9 is monitored (step 30). When a retransmission request is issued, the number of transmission retries is counted (step 31). If the number n of retries does not exceed the set number A, the process returns to step 29 to resend the file. The result is transmitted to (step 32). If a retransmission request has not been issued in step 30, the file transmission success is recorded (step 32), and the result is transmitted to the maintenance terminal 1. By performing the file transmission management to the station TID9 by the processing of steps 30 to 32, it is possible to eliminate a repair mistake due to omission of file transmission.
[0023]
Next, the modified file of the information CS5 is expanded into a target directory (step 33). Thereafter, loading is performed (step 34), and the information CS5 is restarted (step 35), whereby the information CS5 is started as a new version in which the modified file is reflected.
[0024]
FIG. 4 shows a processing flow from the reception of the station TID file to the end. Upon receiving a request to start downloading the repaired file from the information CS5 (step 38), the operation side file is copied to the standby side file (step 39).
[0025]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the backup function of the client computer. The station TID 9 has two applications (operational and standby surfaces) required for execution and an execution area for actually starting the application (a). When a download start request occurs, the operation side file is copied to the standby side file (b). When the download is performed by booting, the repair file is downloaded to the operation side (c). After the download is completed, when restarting is performed, the operation side is specified, the repair file is copied to the execution area, and the operation starts (2).
[0026]
As a result, the latest version of the application exists on the operation side, and the old version of the application exists on the standby side.
[0027]
With this backup function, if there is an abnormality in the repaired file, the standby side file is switched to the operation side again, restored to the version before the repair, and can be immediately restarted, thereby shortening the period of use suspension.
[0028]
After the copy is completed, the download of the repair file is started (step 40). The end of file reception is managed by the serial number of the received file (step 41), and if abnormal, the number of reception retries is counted (step 42). If the number n of retries does not exceed the set number A, a file retransmission request is transmitted (step 43). If n = A, the failure of file reception is recorded and the result is transmitted to the information CS5 (step 44).
[0029]
If the modification file reception is completed normally in step 41, the reception success is recorded (step 44), and the result is transmitted to the information CS5. By monitoring the reception status of the repaired file transmitted by the broadcast through the processing of steps 40 to 44, abnormal reception of the repaired file can be prevented.
[0030]
After recording and transmitting the success or failure of the repaired file reception at step 44, a restart is performed (step 45), and the operation side is designated (step 46). Then, the new version after the reflection is started (step 47). It is also possible to start up with the version before the repair (step 48). When the activation is completed, the repair work ends (step 49).
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the server computer is provided with the function of controlling the transmission of the repair file, so that repair error can be reduced. Further, since the repair file is transmitted by broadcasting, the repair work can be completed in a fixed time regardless of the number of subordinate client computers. In addition, since each client computer copies the operation side file in advance to the standby side and backs up when the repair occurs, the client computer can immediately return to the previous version when the repaired file is abnormal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a train operation management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart of a maintenance terminal according to one embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of an information CS (server) according to one embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of a station TID (client) according to one embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a backup function of a station TID (client).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Maintenance terminal, 2 ... Monitoring console, 3 ... Control console, 4 ... PRC, 5 ... Information CS, 6 ... Router, 7,8 ... Modem, 9 ... Station TID, 10 ... Operation status display system, 11 ... LAN, 12 Station control device.

Claims (4)

In a remote maintenance method of transmitting repair software via a network from an external maintenance terminal to a distributed computer system including a server and a plurality of terminal devices under the server,
The server receives the repair software, broadcasts the modified software to the plurality of terminal devices, monitors the success or failure of the transfer from the terminal device, and transmits the information of the success or failure of the transfer to the maintenance terminal. Remote maintenance method for a portable computer system. In claim 1,
The remote terminal of a distributed computer system according to claim 1, wherein, when a download request for the repair software is issued, the terminal device starts downloading the repair software after copying software of an operation surface file to a standby surface file. Maintenance method. In a remote maintenance system that sends refurbishment software via a network from an external maintenance terminal to a distributed computer system consisting of a server and a plurality of terminal devices under the server,
The server has a distribution control function of receiving the modified software and distributing it to the plurality of terminal devices, monitoring the success or failure of transfer from the terminal device, and transmitting the information of the success or failure of the transfer to the maintenance terminal. A remote maintenance system for a distributed computer system. In claim 3,
A remote maintenance system for a distributed computer system, characterized in that the terminal device has a backup function of copying software of an operation plane file to a standby plane file or vice versa.

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