JP2007207089A - External storage device controller and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent hang-up while connecting a large-capacity external storage device to a PC (Personal Computer) in power supply. <P>SOLUTION: This external equipment controller 100 has: a flag storage means 102 storing a flag showing that a predetermined specific instruction is supplied from the computer device; an error message output means 103 outputting an error message to the computer device when a capacity request instruction requesting supply of a value showing storage capacity is supplied from the computer device when the flag is stored in the flag storage means 102; a detection means 104 detecting that a reset instruction instructing a reset of a bus is supplied from the computer device; and a flag erasure means 105 erasing the flag stored in the flag storage means 102 when it is detected that the reset instruction is supplied by the detection means 104. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to firmware for a so-called external storage device.

  Non-removable storage devices such as HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) are widely used as so-called external storage devices of PCs (Personal Computers). With the development of information communication technology such as broadband, the amount of data transmitted and received has increased dramatically. For this reason, the storage capacity required for the external storage device is increasing day by day. In order to increase the storage capacity, an HDD controller capable of connecting a plurality of HDDs has been developed. When this HDD controller is used, a plurality of HDDs are recognized as one drive by the PC. For example, when four 250 GB HDDs are connected to the HDD controller, the PC recognizes these HDDs as one external drive having a capacity of 1 TB.

  A USB (Universal Serial Bus) is widely used as an interface for connecting the HDD controller and the PC. However, in some PCs, when the power is turned on while the USB device (HDD controller) is connected, the operation stops during recognition by the BIOS (Basic Input / Output System). This is due to the following reason. Some PCs can recognize USB devices by BIOS. In some PCs, if the connected USB device is a removable storage device such as FDD (Floppy (registered trademark) Disk Drive), the system can be started from the removable storage device. In order to boot the system from a removable storage device, the BIOS is programmed to acquire its storage capacity when it detects a USB device. Here, if the detected USB device is a large-capacity HDD controller, the BIOS cannot recognize the storage capacity and stops the operation. That is, the PC hangs up.

  However, even if the PC cannot recognize the large-capacity HDD controller by the BIOS, it can recognize it by the OS (Operating System). The PC can use a large-capacity HDD controller as a data drive after the OS is started.

  In order to use a large-capacity external storage device formed by an HDD controller and a plurality of HDDs as a data drive, the user needs to connect the USB connector to the PC after confirming that the OS has started. However, the user must insert and remove the USB connector each time the PC is turned on. This is very inconvenient for the user. Here, “large capacity” refers to a storage capacity that exceeds the BIOS recognition limit.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. In an external storage device controller connected to a plurality of storage devices, processing of the computer device can be performed even when the computer device remains connected to the computer device when the power is turned on (initialization). Provide technology that does not stop.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a storage device connection means connected to a plurality of storage devices, a computer device connection means connected to a computer device, and a computer connected via the computer device connection means. When a predetermined specific instruction is supplied from the apparatus, a flag storage means for storing a flag indicating that the specific instruction is supplied; and when the flag is stored in the flag storage means, the computer apparatus An error message output means for outputting an error message that does not stop the processing of the computer device to the computer device when a capacity request command for requesting supply of a value indicating the storage capacity is supplied; and a flag for the flag storage device Is not stored, the capacity request command is supplied from the computer device. In this case, a capacity output means for outputting a total value of the storage capacities of the plurality of storage devices to the computer device, and a reset command for instructing initialization of the storage device controller are supplied from the computer device. And an external storage device controller that deletes a flag stored in the flag storage means when the detection means detects that a reset command has been supplied. .
The external storage device controller outputs an error message in response to the capacity request command, assuming that the BIOS is operating after the specific command is supplied. On the other hand, when a capacity request command is supplied without a specific command being supplied after reset, this external storage device controller outputs the total storage capacity of the storage device. Therefore, the external storage device controller does not stop the processing of the computer device during the operation of the BIOS.

  The present invention also provides a program for causing an external storage device controller to realize the above functions.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a computer system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The PC 200 is a general-purpose computer device. The PC 200 has a function of executing a BIOS, an OS, and application software. The BIOS is a group of programs that control peripheral devices such as a disk drive, keyboard, and video card connected to the computer. The BIOS provides basic input / output means for peripheral devices to the OS and application software. The BIOS is recorded in a non-volatile memory (not shown) such as a flash memory mounted on the motherboard of the PC 200. The OS provides basic functions commonly used by many application software, such as input / output functions such as keyboard input and screen output, and disk and memory management. The OS is software that manages the entire computer system. The OS and application software are stored in an internal HDD (not shown) of the PC 200.

  Four hard disk drives HDDs 301 to 304 are connected to the PC 200 via the HDD controller 100. The HDD controller 100 is an external device controller that controls the four hard disk drives of the HDDs 301 to 304. Each of the HDDs 301 to 304 is an external storage device having a certain storage capacity. In the present embodiment, the storage capacities of the HDDs 301 to 304 are all 250 GB (gigabytes). Note that the storage capacities of the HDDs 301 to 304 may be different from one another. The HDD controller 100 has a function of causing the PC 200 to recognize that the four hard disk drive groups of the HDDs 301 to 304 are one hard disk drive having a storage capacity of 250 GB × 4 = 1 TB (terabyte). With this function, the user of the PC 200 can handle a group of four hard disk drives as if one large-capacity hard disk drive is connected. In addition, although illustration was abbreviate | omitted in order to avoid drawing becoming complicated, other external apparatuses other than HDD controller 100 may be connected to PC200.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the HDD controller 100. The computer apparatus connection unit 101 has a function of transmitting / receiving control commands and data to / from the PC 200. The flag storage unit 102 stores a flag indicating that a specific command has been supplied from the PC 200. Specific instructions will be described later. The error message output unit 103 outputs an error message to the PC 200 when a capacity request command for requesting supply of a storage capacity value is supplied from the PC 200 when the flag is stored in the flag storage unit 102. The detection unit 104 detects that a bus reset command is supplied from the PC 200. When the detection unit 104 detects that a reset command has been supplied, the flag deletion unit 105 deletes the flag stored in the flag storage unit 102. The storage device connection unit 107 has a function of transmitting / receiving control commands and data to / from a plurality of external storage devices (HDDs 301 to 304). When a capacity request command is supplied from the PC 200 when no flag is stored in the flag storage unit 102, the capacity output unit 106 displays the total storage capacity of the HDDs 301 to 304 as the storage capacity (response to the capacity request command). ) To the PC 200.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the HDD controller 100. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110 is a control device that controls each component of the HDD controller 100. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 130 is a memory that stores a program (firmware) that defines the operation of the HDD controller 100, data necessary for starting the HDD controller 100, and the like. The ROM 130 may include a rewritable memory such as an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory). A RAM (Random Access Memory) 120 is a memory that functions as a work area when the CPU 110 executes a program. The USB-IF 140 is a USB interface. The HDD controller 100 inputs / outputs control commands and data to / from the PC 200 via the USB-IF 140. The IDE-IF 150 is an IDE interface. The HDD controller 100 inputs and outputs control commands and data to and from the HDDs 301 to 304 via the IDE-IF 150. The above components are connected via a bus 190. In the present embodiment, when the CPU 110 executes the firmware stored in the ROM 130, the HDD controller 100 has the functional configuration shown in FIG.

  Before describing the operation of the HDD controller 100, an outline of the operation of the PC 200 will be described first. In the PC 200, when the power (not shown) is turned on, the BIOS is first executed. The BIOS (that is, the PC 200 executing the BIOS) searches for an external storage device connected by USB. When the external storage device connected by USB is detected, the BIOS outputs a capacity supply command to the external storage device. In this way, the BIOS makes an inquiry about the storage capacity to the USB-connected external storage device. Here, when the HDD controller according to the prior art is connected to the PC 200, the HDD controller according to the prior art sets the total value “1TB” of the storage capacities of the four hard disk drives as the response to the capacity supply command. Output to. There is an upper limit to the storage capacity of the hard disk drive that can be recognized by the BIOS. Since the storage capacity value of 1 TB is a large capacity exceeding this upper limit value, the BIOS cannot recognize the HDD controller according to the prior art and hangs up. In order to avoid a hang-up, the user of the PC 200 needs to disconnect the USB cable connecting the PC 200 and the HDD controller according to the prior art before turning on the power of the PC 200.

  When the processing such as recognition of peripheral devices by the BIOS is completed, the PC 200 executes the OS. Thus, the processing subject of the PC 200 shifts from the BIOS to the OS. The OS searches for an external storage device connected via USB. When the external storage device connected by USB is detected, the OS outputs a capacity supply command to the external storage device. In this way, the BIOS makes an inquiry about the storage capacity to the USB-connected external storage device. Here, when the HDD controller is connected to the PC 200 via USB, as described above, the HDD controller outputs the total storage capacity “1 TB” of the four hard disk drives to the PC 200 as a response to the capacity supply command. . Unlike the BIOS, the OS can recognize the storage capacity value. Therefore, according to the prior art, if the user connects the USB cable to the PC 200 after the OS is started, the group of four hard disk drives connected to the HDD controller is replaced with one hard disk drive having a storage capacity of 1 TB. Could be used as. However, it is troublesome for the user to connect and disconnect the USB cable each time the PC 200 is started in this way.

  The HDD controller 100 according to the present embodiment provides a solution to such a problem. When the inventor of the present application investigated the behavior of the BIOS, before the capacity acquisition of the external storage device is performed, the BIOS must supply the specific page information “Page5” with the specific command (command) “ModeSense”. I found that I requested. The page information “Page 5” is information necessary for a removable storage device such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive, but is not necessary for a fixed storage device (non-removable storage device) such as a hard disk drive. Furthermore, when the inventor of the present application investigated the behavior of the OS, it was found that the OS does not request such information from the hard disk drive. In addition, when the BIOS is activated (when the PC 200 is activated) and when the OS is activated, the PC 200 requests initialization of the HDD controller. Therefore, the bus is reset in the HDD controller. From the above, when the information “Page5” is requested by the command “ModeSense”, it can be determined that the OS is not activated in the PC 200 and the BIOS is executing the activation process of the PC 200. .

  The HDD controller 100 according to the present embodiment generally performs the following operation based on the circumstances described above. When specific information “Page5” is requested by a specific command “ModeSense”, the HDD controller 100 sets a flag. This flag indicates that the BIOS is in the process of starting the PC 200. If a capacity supply command is supplied while the flag is set, the HDD controller 100 returns an error message in response to this capacity supply command. This is because if the storage capacity value “1TB” is honestly returned, the BIOS hangs up. Error messages do not hang up the BIOS. When an initialization command (bus reset command) of the USB controller is supplied in this state, the HDD controller 100 lowers the flag. When the capacity supply command is supplied while the flag is not set, the HDD controller 100 returns the storage capacity value “1TB”. This is because the subject of processing of the PC 200 has shifted from the BIOS to the OS at this time. Hereinafter, the operation of the HDD controller 100 will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the HDD controller 100. In step S <b> 100, the CPU 110 determines whether a reset command for the bus 190 is supplied from the PC 200. When it is determined that a reset command for the bus 190 is supplied from the PC 200 (step S100: YES), the CPU 110 erases the flag stored in the RAM 120 in step S110. Note that “erasing the flag” includes storing in the RAM 120 a flag indicating that the specific command is not supplied after the reset.

  Next, in step S <b> 120, the CPU 110 determines whether a specific command (a command “ModeSense” requesting information “Page5”) is supplied from the PC 200. When the specific command is supplied (step S120: YES), in step S130, the CPU 110 displays a flag indicating that the specific command is supplied, that is, a flag indicating that the BIOS is starting up the PC 200 in the RAM 120. To remember. Alternatively, when a flag indicating that the specific command is not supplied after the reset is stored in the RAM 120, the CPU 110 rewrites the content of the stored flag to indicate that the specific command is supplied.

  Next, in step S140, the CPU 110 determines whether a capacity supply command is supplied from the PC 200. The capacity supply command is a command for requesting output of the storage capacity value of the hard disk drive connected to the HDD controller 100.

  If it is determined that a capacity supply command is supplied from the PC 200 (step S140: YES), the CPU 110 determines whether a flag is stored in the RAM 120 in step S150. If it is determined that the flag is stored (step S150: YES), in step S160, the CPU 110 outputs an error message for the capacity supply command to the PC 200. When it is determined that the flag is not stored (step S150: NO), in step S170, the CPU 110 outputs the total storage capacity “1TB” of the HDDs 301 to 304 as an answer to the capacity supply command.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the HDD controller 100. The horizontal axis represents the time axis. What is written on the upper side of the time axis is the processing of the PC 200, and what is written on the lower side of the time axis is the processing of the HDD controller 100. When the PC 200 is turned on, a reset command is output to the HDD controller 100. When the reset command is supplied, the HDD controller 100 deletes the flag (lowers the flag). When a specific command is output from the PC 200 to the HDD controller 100, the HDD controller 100 stores a flag (sets a flag). If a capacity supply command is output from the PC 200 while the flag is stored, the HDD controller 100 outputs an error message to the PC 200. Hereinafter, the PC 200 continues the startup process under the control of the BIOS. When the startup process of the PC 200 is completed and the subject of the process shifts to the OS, the PC 200 outputs a reset command. When the reset command is supplied, the HDD controller 100 deletes the flag (lowers the flag). The PC 200 does not output a specific command under the control of the OS. Therefore, the flag is not raised while the PC 200 is under the control of the OS. In this state, when a capacity supply command is output from the PC 200, the HDD controller 100 outputs the total storage capacity of the HDDs 301 to 304 to the PC 200. Thus, the PC 200 can recognize the four hard disk drive groups of the HDDs 301 to 304 as one hard disk drive under the control of the OS.

  As described above, according to the HDD controller 100, the PC 200 can be activated without being hung up during the BIOS processing even when the connector is connected to the PC 200. Also, the HDD controller 100 allows the PC 200 to recognize the HDDs 301 to 304 as a single storage device while maintaining the conventional BIOS operation. Since the functions of the HDD controller 100 are realized by firmware, even a PC equipped with an old BIOS can recognize the HDDs 301 to 304 as one storage device without updating the BIOS.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the computer system 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an HDD controller 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an HDD controller 100. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the HDD controller 100. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the HDD controller 100.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Computer system, 100 ... HDD controller, 101 ... Computer apparatus connection part, 102 ... Flag memory | storage part, 103 ... Error message output part, 104 ... Detection part, 105 ... Flag deletion part, 106 ... Capacity output part, 107 ... Memory | storage Device connection unit, 110 ... CPU, 120 ... RAM, 130 ... ROM, 140 ... USB-IF, 150 ... IDE-IF, 190 ... bus, 200 ... PC, 301-304 ... HDD

Claims (2)

An external storage controller,
Storage device connection means connected to a plurality of storage devices;
Computer device connection means connected to the computer device;
Flag storage means for storing a flag indicating that the specific command is supplied when a predetermined specific command is supplied from the computer device connected via the computer device connection means;
When a flag is stored in the flag storage means, if a capacity request command for requesting a supply of a value indicating a storage capacity is supplied from the computer device, processing of the computer device is stopped to the computer device An error message output means for outputting an error message that is not allowed,
Capacity output means for outputting a total value of storage capacities of the plurality of storage devices to the computer device when the capacity request command is supplied from the computer device when no flag is stored in the flag storage device When,
Detecting means for detecting that a reset command for instructing initialization of the storage device controller is supplied from the computer device;
An external storage device controller comprising: a flag erasing unit for erasing a flag stored in the flag storage unit when the detection unit detects that a reset command is supplied. An external storage controller
Storage device connection means connected to a plurality of storage devices;
Computer device connection means connected to the computer device;
Flag storage means for storing a flag indicating that the specific command is supplied when a predetermined specific command is supplied from the computer device connected via the computer device connection means;
When a flag is stored in the flag storage means, if a capacity request command for requesting a supply of a value indicating a storage capacity is supplied from the computer device, processing of the computer device is stopped to the computer device An error message output means for outputting an error message that is not allowed,
Capacity output means for outputting a total value of storage capacities of the plurality of storage devices to the computer device when the capacity request command is supplied from the computer device when no flag is stored in the flag storage device When,
Detecting means for detecting that a reset command for instructing initialization of the storage device controller is supplied from the computer device;
A program that functions as a flag erasing unit that erases the flag stored in the flag storing unit when the detecting unit detects that a reset command is supplied.

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