JP2007265264A - Trace information processor, trace information recording method, and trace information recording program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a trace information processor capable of making a trace inspection in trouble by including a memory backed up by a battery and storing trace information in a computer device to the memory as a device connected to an input-output port of a computer device. <P>SOLUTION: The trace information processor recording trace information from the computer device in the memory through a USB (universal serial bus) receives transfer data on trace information delivered by instructions from an application in the computer device, through a USB control part, analyzes a header part of the transfer data to generate a corresponding command, and carries out writing/reading of trace information to/from the memory according to the command. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a trace information processing technique in which trace information (log information) recorded by an operating system (OS) in a computer device is held in an external memory via an input / output interface and is useful for tracking investigation when a failure occurs.

  Conventionally, when investigating a failure that occurs in debugging of an OS (operating system) or a test program used by a computer device such as a server or a personal computer, it is instructed to be recorded by trace information or logging information recorded by the system or an application. The cause of the failure is investigated by analyzing the information when the failure occurs.

  These trace information and logging information are generally recorded in a memory built in the system, a disk (external storage device), or a disk connected to the outside.

  However, if a failure occurs that causes the computer device to hang up or power off for some reason while operating the operating system or debugging a test program, the computer device is recorded during operation. It is difficult to refer to trace and logging information.

  Even if it is an external memory, if the information is still in the cache in the computer device and writing to the external memory has not been completed, the information remains even after the system is restarted. Therefore, there has been a problem that the immediately preceding information cannot be read.

In order to deal with the above problem, a system has been proposed in which a board with a built-in memory is connected to a computer device as a host, and fault data is sucked up when a fault occurs (see Patent Document 1). However, in order to download fault data in the computer device, it is necessary to provide information storage logic dedicated to trace information on the host side, which is fixed and lacks flexibility, and is individually provided for computer devices that use various applications. Therefore, the complexity is a problem.
JP 62-001040 A

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) backed up by a battery is incorporated as a device connected to the input / output port of the computer device. Provided is a trace information processing apparatus that enables a trace investigation at the time of failure by incorporating a read / write function for storing and reading the trace information therein as firmware.

  A first invention is a trace information processing apparatus for recording trace information from a computer device in a memory via a USB (Universal Serial Bus), the transfer relating to the trace information sent by an instruction from an application in the computer device Means for receiving data via a USB controller, means for generating a corresponding command by analyzing a header portion of the transfer data, and writing or reading the trace information to or from the memory according to the command And a trace information processing apparatus.

  That is, according to the first invention, when the trace information processing apparatus receives the transfer data of the trace information according to the instruction from the application used in the computer apparatus, the trace information processing apparatus analyzes the header part of the transfer data, and writes, reads, etc. By generating a corresponding command and recording the trace information in the memory built in itself according to the command, the trace information of the computer device is quickly stored in the external memory of the computer device via the USB, A simple backup mechanism at the time of failure is realized.

  A second invention relates to the trace information processing apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the memory is a memory including a dynamic RAM.

  That is, according to the second invention, the memory built in itself for recording trace information in the trace information processing apparatus is not a flash memory such as that used for a general USB memory, but is written by adopting a dynamic RAM. Thus, it is possible to prevent overrun of transfer data sent one after another at the time of writing.

  A third invention relates to the trace information processing apparatus according to the first or second invention, wherein the memory includes a battery power source.

  That is, according to the third aspect of the invention, the memory (for example, RAM, etc.) is provided with a battery power supply so that the recorded data can be retained without being lost, and it takes time to recover the failure of the computer device. However, it becomes possible to investigate and analyze trace information using other computer devices.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects are produced.

  When the trace information processing apparatus of the present invention receives the transfer data of the trace information according to the instruction from the application used in the computer device, it analyzes the header part of the transfer data and generates corresponding commands such as writing and reading. By configuring the system to record the trace information in its own memory according to the command, the trace information of the computer device can be quickly stored in the external memory of the computer device via the USB, and a simple backup mechanism at the time of failure Is realized.

  Further, the memory built in itself for recording trace information in the trace information processing apparatus is not a flash memory used for a general USB memory, but adopts a dynamic RAM to increase the writing speed and to improve the writing speed. It is possible to prevent overrun of the transfer data sent one after another.

  Furthermore, a memory (for example, a RAM) in which trace information is recorded can hold the recorded data without loss by providing a battery power supply, and even if it takes a long time to recover from a failure of the computer device. The trace information can be investigated and analyzed using other computer devices.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a trace system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A computer device 1 such as a server or a personal computer is connected to the trace information processing device 2 by a USB cable 3, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a memory 12, and various application programs 13 (or test) used in the computer device 1. Program) and a USB control unit 14 for controlling input / output of transfer data to / from the trace information processing apparatus 2.

  On the other hand, the trace information processing device 2 writes, reads, and initializes as a USB control unit 21 that controls input / output of transfer data to / from the computer device 1 and firmware 100 that controls the operation of the CPU 22 and the trace information processing device 2. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 23 incorporating a command group such as a memory and a memory 24 such as a RAM and a dynamic RAM which are backed up by a battery 25 and hold trace information 200.

  The battery 25 may function as a backup power source for the entire trace information processing apparatus 2 that is normally supplied from the computer apparatus 1 via USB. However, the battery 25 is a dedicated battery for the memory 24 in order to extend the capacity as much as possible. Is preferred.

The basic operation of this trace system will be described below.
(1) The application 13 of the computer device 1 such as a server or a personal computer calls the trace function TRACE (character string).
(2) A trace function message is sent as transfer data to the trace information processing apparatus 2 via the USB, and a character string is written to the memory 24 inside the trace information processing apparatus 2.
(3) The firmware 100 built in the ROM 23 of the trace information processing apparatus 2 writes the received transfer data via USB to the memory 24 including the dynamic RAM.

  The firmware 100 supports command groups such as writing, reading, and initialization of trace information.

  With the above configuration, the information from the computer apparatus 1 can be directly written to the memory 24 of the connected trace information processing apparatus 2 via the input / output port without using the large-capacity buffer memory, and the speed can be increased. It becomes.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the trace information processing apparatus in the trace system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the functional blocks of the trace information processing apparatus 2 in the trace system of FIG. The trace information processing apparatus 2 includes a data processing unit A and a data storage unit B.

  The data processing unit A includes a USB control unit 21, a CPU 22, a ROM 23, a RAM 23 ′, and a FIFO (First In First Out) control unit 27. The USB control unit 21 receives the transfer data of the trace information sent from the computer device 1, and the firmware 100 developed from the ROM 23 to the RAM 23 ′ is executed by the CPU 22 when the device is activated, and the header part of the transfer data is analyzed. A corresponding write / read command is generated, and trace information is written / read to / from the data storage unit B via the FIFO control unit 27 in accordance with the command.

  Further, the data storage unit B includes a memory control unit 28, a memory 24, and an address register 26. As a normal trace information transfer route, the memory control unit 28 receives the trace information from the FIFO control unit 27 of the data processing unit A, and the memory control unit 28 accesses the memory 24 to store the trace information. To do.

  A route indicated by a dotted line in the figure indicates a data transfer route when the data transfer from the computer apparatus 1 is interrupted for a certain time (for example, 2 to 3 seconds). In this case, first, the address register 26 is secured as the address register save area 300 of the memory 24, and after the pointer of the trace data storage area is saved, the trace data from the CPU 22 is stored. Even if there is irregularity at the time of transfer, by providing the address register save area 300 in the memory area as described above, the storage location of the trace data is secured. Even if an abnormality occurs during data transfer, reliable data storage is realized.

  As the memory 24 for storing trace information, it is preferable to use a dynamic RAM backed up by a battery 25. As a result, overrun during data transfer can be prevented, and high-speed writing is realized. In addition, the above-described recording of trace information has dealt with an application example by an instruction from an application of a computer device. However, the present invention is not limited to this and, of course, is similarly applied to an OS and a test program. Is done.

  As described above, according to the trace information device of the present invention, (1) high-speed writing of trace information (logging information), (2) reliable and high-speed internal information output independent of the OS environment of the computer device, (3) computer device hang Alternatively, it can have features such as recording of trace information when the power is turned off.

FIG. 3 shows an example of register definition in the trace information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, an example of registers configured in the trace information processing apparatus 2 is shown. These registers are accessed by the CPU 22 in the trace information processing apparatus 2. As an example, an address register, a byte count register, and a data register are shown below.
a. Of the address register: 32 bits, 0 to 19 bits are used for the actual data area, and 20 bits are used for detection, and the address to be written next is always stored.
b. Byte count register: Defines how many bytes are read from the above address (in the example, the upper 2 bytes).
c. Data register: Reads and writes actual data and consists of 8 bits.

FIG. 4 shows a communication command definition example in the trace system according to the embodiment of the present invention. This command group is issued in the computer apparatus 1 connected to the trace information processing apparatus 2. A typical command example is shown below.
Bulk EPaIN: (1) Sends only version data (34 bytes) for the first time immediately after power-on to the end point EPa of the USB interface transferred to the trace information processing apparatus 1, and (2) Information instructed by the EPaOUT command (Version number, control register) is sent out.
Bulk EPaOUT: (1) Read information and transfer instruction, and (2) Trace information read endpoint instruction to the end point EPa.
Bulk EPbOUT: Writes trace information having an arbitrary byte length to the end point EPb.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of transfer data definition between devices in the trace system according to the embodiment of the present invention. For the EPaOUT command in FIG. 4, the reading of the data portion and its reading end point are defined.

  For example, READ {nnn} in item 1 and EPd IN {nnnn} data in item 2 are contents for transferring the trace information from the end point EPd, and EPe IN {nnnn} data in item 3 end the trace information. Transfer from point EpeIN, VVLL data transfers version number information from EPe IN, 5 RESET data initializes hardware with no response, 6 RAMAxxx data writes “xxxx” to RAM address register The OVF {1 (N) or 0} data in item 7 has a content that defines a read endpoint for sending each data, such as instructing to write “1” or “0” to the overflow register. .

  Note that “nnnn” indicates that reading of the nnnnnKB is instructed from the position where the nnnnnKB address is reduced from the current (RAM address register contents).

  FIG. 6 shows a trace information write processing flow according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, in step S11, the trace information processing apparatus 2 is connected to the computer apparatus 1 by the USB cable 3, and the apparatus power is turned on. In step S12, a 5-byte character string “RESET” is written as read data to the end point (EPa). “RESET” in this step is executed when it has not been used for a long period of time or immediately after battery replacement. In step S13, trace data having an arbitrary data length is written to another reading end point (EPb), and the processing in this step is continued until the time when the OS of the computer apparatus 1 is hung up.

  If the computer apparatus 1 fails, the trace information processing apparatus 2 is connected to another computer apparatus via the USB cable 3 and the end point (EPa) read data (EPaOUT data) is, for example, Read the character string “READn” or “EPdIN”. “READn” means that the trace data write pointer held by the trace information processing apparatus 2 is instructed to read nKB data from the nKB address decrement position (latest nKB data).

  If n is omitted or 0, the maximum number of written bytes at that time is read. For example, the latest 4 KB (4 * 1024) is read for READ4, the latest 15 KB (15 * 1024) is read for EPdIN15, and the number of written bytes (1 MB = 1024 * 1024) for READ. (Fixed) will be read out.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are as shown in the following supplementary notes.
(Supplementary Note 1) A trace information processing apparatus for recording trace information from a computer device in a memory via a USB,
Means for receiving, via a USB control unit, transfer data related to trace information sent by an instruction from an application in the computer device;
Means for analyzing the header portion of the transfer data and generating a corresponding command;
Means for writing or reading the trace information to or from the memory according to the command;
A trace information processing apparatus comprising:
(Additional remark 2) The said memory is a memory containing dynamic RAM, The trace information processing apparatus of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
(Additional remark 3) The said memory is provided with a battery power supply, The trace information processing apparatus of Additional remark 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.
(Additional remark 4) When the said computer apparatus fails, it connects with another computer apparatus and reads the trace information already written from the said memory according to the instruction | command of the application of the said other computer apparatus, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The trace information processing apparatus according to appendices 1 to 3.
(Additional remark 5) When the transfer data regarding the trace information from the said computer apparatus produces the delay more than fixed time, an address register is saved to the said memory area, The pointer of the storage area of the said trace information is preserve | saved The trace information processing apparatus according to appendices 1 to 3.
(Supplementary Note 6) A trace information recording method for recording trace information from a computer device via USB in a memory of a trace information processing device,
Receiving transfer data related to trace information sent by an instruction from an application in the computer device via a USB control unit;
Analyzing a header portion of the transfer data to generate a corresponding command;
Performing writing or reading of the trace information to the memory according to the command;
A trace information recording method comprising:
(Additional remark 7) The trace information recording program which records the trace information from a computer apparatus via USB in the memory of a trace information processing apparatus,
In the computer that acts as the trace information processing device,
Receiving transfer data related to trace information sent by an instruction from an application in the computer device via a USB control unit;
Analyzing a header portion of the transfer data to generate a corresponding command;
Performing writing or reading of the trace information to the memory according to the command;
Trace information recording program to execute.

It is a figure which shows one basic composition of the trace system which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the trace information processing apparatus in the trace system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a register definition in the trace information processing apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a communication command definition in the trace system which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data definition example of the transfer command between apparatuses in the trace system which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the write-in processing flow of the trace information which becomes embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Computer Device 2 Trace Information Processing Device 3 USB Cable 11 CPU (Computer Device Side)
12 Memory (Computer device side)
13 Application program 14 USB control unit (computer side)
21 USB control unit (trace information processing device side)
22 CPU (Trace information processing device side)
23 ROM
23'RAM
24 memory (for storing trace information)
25 Battery 26 Address register 27 FIFO control unit 28 Memory control unit 100 Firmware 200 Trace information (memory storage)
300 Address register save area

Claims (5)

A trace information processing apparatus for recording trace information from a computer device in a memory via USB,
Means for receiving, via a USB control unit, transfer data related to trace information sent by an instruction from an application in the computer device;
Means for analyzing the header portion of the transfer data and generating a corresponding command;
Means for writing or reading the trace information to or from the memory according to the command;
A trace information processing apparatus comprising:   The trace information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a memory including a dynamic RAM.   The trace information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory includes a battery power source. A trace information recording method for recording trace information from a computer device via USB in a memory of a trace information processing device,
Receiving transfer data related to trace information sent by an instruction from an application in the computer device via a USB control unit;
Analyzing a header portion of the transfer data to generate a corresponding command;
Performing writing or reading of the trace information to the memory according to the command;
A trace information recording method comprising: A trace information recording program for recording trace information from a computer device via USB in a memory of a trace information processing device,
In the computer that acts as the trace information processing device,
Receiving transfer data related to trace information sent by an instruction from an application in the computer device via a USB control unit;
Analyzing a header portion of the transfer data to generate a corresponding command;
Performing writing or reading of the trace information to the memory according to the command;
Trace information recording program to execute.

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