JP2008015726A - Auxiliary storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an auxiliary storage device, capable of performing autoloader or autochanger control by a host computer without being limited by the kind of OS regardless of the loading state of a medium. <P>SOLUTION: The auxiliary storage device 001 including a plurality of autoloaders 007-009 performing discharge and loading of a storage medium according to an instruction signal from a computer 021 through SATA I/F comprises an interface conversion circuit for converting the SATA I/F of the computer to SCSI I/F for communicating with the autoloaders; an address setting switch for setting SCSI I/F addresses of the plurality of autoloaders; an interface module 017 storing the SCSI I/F addresses set by the address setting switch to a response permission address list; and a microprocessor for storing the SCSI I/F addresses set to the address setting switch 017 according to instruction from the computer to the interface module. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an auxiliary storage device on which a large number of replaceable removable magnetic disk devices are mounted. In particular, the removable magnetic disk device can be easily connected and managed without depending on the OS of a computer system on the host side. The present invention relates to an auxiliary storage device.

  External storage devices in recent computer systems generally have a large number of built-in fixed magnetic disk devices. However, due to the improvement in the surface density and the earthquake resistance of the magnetic disk devices, in recent years, the so-called removable type of removable type has been developed. Auxiliary storage devices equipped with a large number of magnetic disk devices are desired instead of tape storage media in broadcasting stations, for example.

Such an auxiliary storage device is desired to autoload or unload a removable magnetic disk device by a host computer. As a document describing a technique related to a removable magnetic disk device according to the prior art, for example, the following patent document can be cited.
JP-A-10-199123

  The auxiliary storage device on which the above-described many removable magnetic disk devices (hereinafter referred to as recording media) are mounted employs, for example, an SATA interface (I / F), which is an extended specification of the IDE standard, and a large amount of data. When performing this read / write, an autoloader or autochanger function for a plurality of media that can be controlled by one or a plurality of computers is required. The recording medium described in the present invention refers to a recording medium that takes time from insertion into an autoloader or the like to startup (corresponding to a command) like a magnetic disk device, but is not limited to a magnetic disk device.

  This is because the SATA I / F is a point-to-point I / F. Therefore, as a general means for realizing the above apparatus, the SATA I / F is changed to SCSI or the like (hereinafter referred to as Fiber Channel I / F). This is because it is necessary to connect to a computer via an autoloader or an autochanger that can be converted to an I / F suitable for multi-device control (I / F is a generic term for I / F that can implement SCSI commands such as F).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the assumed computer system includes a plurality of host computers 021 and auxiliary storage devices 001 equipped with autoloaders 007 to 009 capable of individually loading a plurality of media 010 to 011. A conversion function for converting the SCSI I / F, which is the I / F from 021, into the SATA I / F, which is the I / F for the autoloader, is required.

  However, the auxiliary storage device 001 provided with a conversion function for each autoloader has a SATA I / O in each autoloader or autochanger according to the state of the medium (not mounted, starting, ejecting, or usable). Since it is necessary to implement a function to convert F to SCSI, etc., the device price is expensive, and if only I / F conversion is performed, Windows 2003 (registered trademark), Windows XP (registered trademark), etc. In some OSs, a SCSI command for identifying the medium such as Inquiry / Test Unit Ready is issued from the device driver immediately after the system is started. Since correct responses based on information cannot be made and each autoloader or autochanger becomes a separate SCSI device, Computer, it is necessary to control and issues a command to each, control there has been a problem that say to become complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-described problems caused by the prior art, and an auxiliary storage device capable of performing autoloader and autochanger control by a host computer without being limited to the type of OS regardless of the state of loading of the medium. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an auxiliary storage device including a plurality of autoloaders for discharging and loading a recording medium in response to a command signal from a computer via an arbitrary interface, and the arbitrary interface of the computer is connected to the autoloader. An interface conversion circuit for converting to another interface that communicates with, an address setting switch for setting other interface addresses of the plurality of autoloaders, and an interface module for storing the other interface address set by the address setting switch in a response permission address list And a microprocessor that stores, in the interface module, another interface address set in the address setting switch according to a command from the computer. That.

  In the present invention, the myloprocessor may store the other interface address set in the address setting switch in the interface module and then send the stored other interface address of the autoloader to the computer after an arbitrary time has elapsed. According to the second feature, when the microprocessor receives a recording medium discharge command from the computer, the microprocessor sends a command signal for discharging the recording medium loaded in the autoloader. A function for outputting an identification signal for identifying whether the recording medium is not loaded, an autoloader operation state, or a loading state, and when the myloprocessor receives a recording medium ejection command from the computer, the response permission address Other interface addresses stored in the list Referring to scan, the fourth feature of sending a command signal to a plurality of recording media loaded in the autoloader which has received the identification signal indicating the loading of state at the same time discharging of the recording medium.

  According to the auxiliary storage device of the present invention, the interface conversion circuit for converting the interface between the host computer and the autoloader, the address setting switch in which other interface addresses of the plurality of autoloaders are set in advance, and the address setting switch are set. An interface module that stores any other interface address in the response permission address list, and the microprocessor stores the other interface address set in the address setting switch in the interface module, thereby restricting by the address of the host computer. The auxiliary storage device can be controlled from a host device having no different interface and, for example, a plurality of recording media can be ejected simultaneously.

Hereinafter, an auxiliary storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system including an auxiliary storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the auxiliary storage device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a status signal line. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a medium discharge instruction by the medium discharge control, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transition example of the autoloader state signal, and FIG. 7 is a diagram of a variable permission address list. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structural example, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing state change monitoring of the autoloader and drive recognition processing by the host computer, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing initial setting processing of a response permission address list, and FIG. 10 is a batch control processing of the autoloader. FIG. 11 is a flow chart, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing parameters for medium discharge instruction.
<Description of configuration>

  The computer system according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of host computers 021 and an auxiliary storage device 001 connected to the computer 021 via a SCSI I / F. The auxiliary storage device 001 is a medium. 010 and 011 are each provided with an autoloader 007 to 009 for individually performing an autoloader or an autochanger, and a conversion function unit 002 for converting a SCSI I / F of a control signal from the computer 021 into a SATA I / F control signal. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the conversion function unit 002 of the auxiliary storage device 001 includes a fiber channel I / F module 017 connected to the external I / F 003 of the host computer 021, and SATA I / F 004 of a plurality of autoloaders 007 to 009. A SATA I / F4 module 017 for connection, an input port 014 for connecting a state signal line 005 for outputting a medium state such as loading / unloading / driving of the medium of the autoloaders 007 to 009, and the autoloaders 007 to 009 An output port 013 connected to a medium discharge signal line 006 for giving a medium discharge signal for instructing medium discharge to the memory, a memory 016 for storing a control program for controlling the apparatus, and the like. Microprocessor 015 for controlling the system and each autoloader 007 ˜009 and a chassis address setting switch 020 for setting a SCSI address for the host computer 021 of the microprocessor 015, and an internal bus 019 for connecting the respective parts. In particular, in this embodiment, it is important that the chassis address setting switch 020 is set so that not only the autoloader but also the microprocessor 015 can be recognized as a device for the host.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the status information which is a signal output from the autoloader sent to the status signal line 005 includes a truth value “00” indicating “medium not loaded”, “01” indicating “autoloader in operation”, “10 ”Indicates“ medium loading completed ”and“ 11 ”indicates“ abnormal state ”. As shown in FIG. 6, the transition of the status signal output is“ medium not loaded ”−“ autoloader in operation ”−“ medium loading completed ” Are shifted in the mutual direction, and are converted so as to shift to “abnormality occurrence” during the “autoloader operation”.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the control signal output from each module sent to the medium discharge signal line 006 indicates that the truth value “1” indicates “medium discharge request command” and “0” indicates “current status maintenance command”. Is.

The fiber channel I / F module 017 stores a response permission address list 018 as a table. This table sets the addresses of the autoloaders 007 to 009 and the microprocessor 015 by a base address register 701 as shown in FIG. In addition, “X _i ” (“X _i = 0” is concealed and “X _i = 1” is disclosed) for setting whether to hide or disclose the existence of each autoloader 007 to 009 from the host computer 021. It is a set table.

The photocomputer 012 stores a parameter list for instructing medium ejection for each loader in the auxiliary storage device 001. This list is composed of "0 to m-1" bits as shown in FIG. Each bit is associated with a specific loader, and the medium discharge is controlled by the value of “X”.
<Description of operation>

As shown in FIG. 9, in the auxiliary storage device 001 according to this embodiment configured as described above, the microprocessor 015 is set to each of the autoloaders 007 to 009 and the microprocessor 015 from the housing address setting switch 020 when the device is started. and step S902 to read the SCSI address, the step S903 of setting the base address register 701 of the read response permission address list within 018 an address by the step S902, the _{X 0} bit of response permission address list 018 of addresses the set " 1 ”(open) and the initialization of the external I / F 003 is executed by the fiber channel I / F module 017 to confirm that the SCSI address of the microprocessor 015 has been validated. It operates to sequentially execute the processing step S905 for notifying the computer 021. When the series of processing is completed, the host computer 021 can issue a command according to a procedure defined in the SCSI standard to the microprocessor 015 through the SCSI address set in the base address register.

  Further, the auxiliary storage device 001 according to the present embodiment executes a monitoring process for monitoring a change in the state of the autoloader during an operation to be described later, and this processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the microprocessor 015 according to the present embodiment reads the loader status information via the status signal line 005 of each of the autoloaders 007 to 009 via the input port 014, and the port that is the status information that has been read. It is determined whether or not the value is different from the previous value. When it is determined that the value is not different, step S803 returns to step S802, and when the value is determined to be different by step 803, that is, the state has changed. When it is determined that the port value is “10” (medium loading completed), step S804 is determined, and when it is determined that the port value is “10” (step 804 is determined that a new medium has been loaded). A standby state that waits for a predetermined rise time in a removable hard disk device as a medium. Step S 805, and then identifying the autoloader from the port number whose status has changed and validating the corresponding SCSI address in the response permitted address list 018, and the fiber channel I / F module 017 to the external I / F 003 Step S807 for executing initialization and notifying the host computer 012 of valid and invalid SCSI addresses, and acquiring attribute information (format, capacity, etc.) of the medium according to a command issued from the computer 012 after execution of loop initialization. Returning to step S802, whether or not the port value is “10 (loading) to 01 (operating) or 00 (not mounted)” when the port value is not determined to be “10” in step S804. The port value change When step S809 returns to step S802, and when it is determined in step 809 that the port value has changed, the loader is identified from the port number whose state has changed, and the corresponding SCSI address in the response permission address list 018 is invalidated. By sequentially executing step S806, the invalid / valid setting of the SCSI address for the host according to the loading state of the medium of the loader can be set in consideration of the startup time specific to the magnetic disk device. .

  Now, in the computer system to which the auxiliary storage device 001 according to the present embodiment is connected, as shown in FIG. 10, the computer 012 creates step S110 for creating the parameter list shown in FIG. 11, and the procedure defined by the SES standard. Step S111 for transmitting the parameter list to the address of the microprocessor 1015 by using the vendor unique page of the Send Diagnostic command (diagnostic command), and the microprocessor 015 responding to all loaders indicated by the parameter list In step S112, the bit of the offset bitmap 702 included in the list 018 is set to “0”, and the external I / F 003 is initialized by the fiber channel I / F 7017, and the microprocessor 015 is initialized. A step S113 for notifying the computer 021 that the response value has been invalidated, and a step of sending a medium ejection request signal (“1”) to all loaders indicated by the received parameter list via the output port 013. The autoloaders 007 to 009 having received the medium discharge request signal “1” in S114 discharge the medium if the medium is completely loaded, and signal the medium discharge via the status signal line 005 during the discharge operation. Step S116 that reports as “01” and step S118 that reports that the medium is not loaded as a signal “00” via the status signal line 005 after discharge are sequentially executed.

  Through this series of operations, the auxiliary storage device 001 according to the present embodiment can conceal the existence of the medium to be ejected in steps S112 and S113 from the upper host computer, so that the upper OS can identify the medium. The SCSI command is not issued, and the autoloader and autochanger control can be performed by the host computer without being limited to the type of OS regardless of the medium mounting state.

  As described above, the auxiliary storage device according to the present embodiment converts the SCSI I / F from the upper level into the SATA I / F suitable for the autoloader, and allows the upper level to recognize the microprocessor as a SCSI device virtually. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with the case where the medium is not loaded in all the loaders, and further, it is possible to switch the response content to the upper level in accordance with the medium status signal output from the autoloader.

  Further, in the auxiliary storage device according to the present embodiment, when a discharge command for all media is issued from the upper level, the microprocessor 015 can issue a discharge command simultaneously to all the autoloaders 007 to 009 via the output port 013. All media can be discharged at the same time. Furthermore, by detecting and controlling a monitor signal that reflects the state of the medium, the medium is reported to the host after the rise time peculiar to the magnetic disk device has elapsed, or the medium is Therefore, the removable removable recording medium can be easily controlled without being restricted by the upper OS.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system including an auxiliary storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the computer system containing the auxiliary storage device assumed. The figure for demonstrating the structure of the auxiliary storage device by this embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the autoloader status display by a status signal line. The figure for demonstrating the example of a medium discharge | emission instruction | indication by medium discharge | emission control. The figure which shows the transition example of an autoloader status signal. The figure which shows the structural example of a variable permission address list. The figure which shows the status change monitoring of an auto loader, and the drive recognition process by a host computer. The figure which shows the initial setting process of a response permission address list. The flowchart which shows the batch control processing of an autoloader. The figure which shows the parameter for medium discharge directions.

Explanation of symbols

001: auxiliary storage device, 002: conversion function unit, 005: status signal line, 006: medium ejection signal line, 007 to 009: autoloader, 010 to 011: medium, 012: photocomputer, 013: output port, 014: input Port, 015: Microprocessor, 016: Memory, 017: SATA I / F module, 018: Response permission address list, 019: Internal bus, 020: Chassis address setting switch, 021: Host computer, 701: Base address register, 702 : Offset bitmap.

Claims (4)

An auxiliary storage device having a plurality of autoloaders for discharging and loading a recording medium by a command signal from a computer via an arbitrary interface,
An interface conversion circuit that converts an arbitrary interface of the computer into another interface that communicates with the autoloader;
An address setting switch in which other interface addresses of the plurality of autoloaders are set in advance;
An interface module for storing the other interface address set by the address setting switch in a response permission address list;
A microprocessor that stores any other interface address set in the address setting switch in response to a command from the computer in the interface module and communicates with an autoloader of the other interface address stored in the interface module. Auxiliary storage device.   2. The myloprocessor, after storing another interface address set in the address setting switch in the interface module, sends out the stored other interface address of the autoloader to a computer after an arbitrary time has elapsed. The auxiliary storage device described.   3. The auxiliary storage device according to claim 1, wherein when the microprocessor receives a recording medium ejection command from the computer, the microprocessor sends a command signal for ejecting the recording medium loaded in the autoloader. The autoloader has a function of outputting an identification signal for identifying whether a recording medium is not loaded, an autoloader operating state, and a loading state, and when the myoprocessor receives a recording medium ejection command from the computer, The other interface address stored in the response permission address list is referred to, and a command signal for simultaneously ejecting a plurality of recording media loaded in the autoloader having received the identification signal indicating the loading status of the recording media is sent. The auxiliary storage device according to claim 3.

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