JP2009070359A - Wide area communication network start system for improving start efficiency of hard disk-less type computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wide area communication network start system for improving the start efficiency of a hard disk-less type computer. <P>SOLUTION: The hard disk-less type computer 10 transmits a write-in/read-out command and a magnetic storage device command including the identification code of an operation system magnetic storage device 21 to the operation system magnetic storage device 21, and when the magnetic storage device command is received by a start server 20 equipped with the operation system magnetic storage device 21 and a memory unit 23, and if the requested data are stored in the memory unit 23, the data are directly read-out, and when the requested data are not stored, the requested data are read from the operation system magnetic storage device 21, and stored in the memory unit. Thus, it is possible for the start server to quickly provide desired data in the case of starting the hard disk-less type computer by utilizing the characteristics of the memory whose access speed is more faster. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wide area communication network activation system capable of improving the activation efficiency of a hard diskless type computer, and in particular, a wide area communication network which improves the activation efficiency of a hard diskless type computer by speeding up data access of a wide area network activation server. Regarding the activation system.

  In a conventional desktop personal computer, notebook personal computer or server computer, an operating system, application program and user data are stored in a built-in magnetic storage device. Operation systems and application programs that you are familiar with and data belonging to individual users cannot be used elsewhere. On the other hand, although the notebook personal computer has the advantage that it can be carried, it is inconvenient to carry the notebook personal computer every time it goes out.

  Therefore, as the Internet technology environment is fully developed and matured, the technology accompanying the development of the Internet is also gradually changing the habits and concepts of people's work, life and consumption. Network magnetic storage is a new data storage technology that utilizes mature Internet communications and a centralized data storage center. Since the user data is stored in the magnetic storage device of the network server, the user data is not stored in the magnetic storage device of the local computer, but the user can always connect to the network via the network simply by connecting the computer to the Internet. Access to personal data in magnetic storage. However, network magnetic storage devices are limited in application, for example, the operating systems installed in different computers are not always the same, and the application programs installed in the computers are not all the same. There is. In this case, there is a problem in reading user data. For example, by designing a room plan with 3D image creation software and storing the room plan in the network magnetic storage device, the user can connect to the network magnetic storage device via the Internet using his computer, You can access the room plan stored in it. However, if the user connects to the network magnetic storage device with a shared computer and the 3D image creation program is not installed in the shared computer, the indoor design drawing cannot be opened. Therefore, although the network magnetic storage device can certainly access the data in the network magnetic storage device via the Internet at any time, the file cannot be edited, and the previous efforts may be wasted.

  In many companies, related data such as office work, finance, sales, research and development is distributed and stored in dedicated computers of related employees, so these important data are centrally managed. Often become a blind spot or hole in data security. Furthermore, when a company distributes a dedicated computer to each employee, an employee of the IT (Information Technology) department must install an operation system and an application program on the dedicated computer before distributing the computer. There are many things that must be done, and when the procedure is time consuming, a large amount of company costs and labor are wasted.

  For this reason, a wide area communication network PC activation service (WAN Boot PC Service, WBPC service) has appeared on the market. The WBPC service is mainly a client / server (Client / Server) service structure, which is a wide area network start server (WAN boot server, WB server) and a wide area network start type personal computer (WAN boot PC, WBPC). ) And. The hardware of the WBPC is almost the same as that of a general personal computer, but the WBPC is different in that it is not necessary to mount a magnetic storage device. Magnetic storage devices used for WBPC are, for example, SCSI external magnetic storage array, Fiber Channel Storage Area Network (Fibre Channel SAN) magnetic storage device, or Internet. -It is connected to a magnetic storage device in the WB server by a communication protocol of iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) such as a protocol storage area network (IP SAN) magnetic storage device, etc. Alternatively, it is connected to a magnetic storage device outside the WB server. Also, the feature of the iSCSI communication protocol is not a conventional file transmission unit, but a magnetic storage device transmission technology in units of blocks, so that the WB server accesses the magnetic storage device. Does not require a file system, and also eliminates the need to open a file. For this reason, the data access method based on iSCSI has high access efficiency. Since all of the WBPC operation system, application programs, and user data are stored in the magnetic storage device of the WB server, it is not necessary to mount a local magnetic storage device in the WBPC.

  In addition, in order for the WBPC to be able to connect to the WB server by the iSCSI communication protocol, software or hardware for executing the iSCSI communication protocol must be included, and these software or hardware must be connected to the iSCSI device. being called. The iSCSI device mainly processes magnetic storage device access commands issued by the operation system to the magnetic storage device, converts the commands into general IP network packets according to the iSCSI communication protocol, and transmits these packets via the network. To transmit to the WB server. After receiving the packet, the WB server converts the packet into a magnetic storage device access command, and then accesses the magnetic storage device in the WB server based on the command. After the access to the data is completed, the result of the data access is again packaged into an iSCSI packet by the WB server, converted into an IP packet, returned to the iSCSI device of the WBPC via the network, and sent by the iSCSI device. The result of the data access is fed back to the operation system. Accordingly, the WBPC accesses the corresponding operation system, application program and user data in the WB server via the network. In other words, the WBPC service allows users to use their personal data by downloading the operation system, application programs, and user data stored in the WB server onto the local WBPC, as long as the network is in place. In addition to being able to do so, the operating system environment becomes familiar to the user. Therefore, in the WBPC service, the problem of carrying and the danger of data storage are fundamentally solved, the convenience is further improved, and it is not necessary to carry the computer by moving the work place.

  In addition, when the IT department employees in the company manage computer facilities and distribute computers, it is possible to save the troublesome work of installing the operation system and application program for each computer. By operating only one WBPC and connecting to a WB server, an operation system and a desired application program can be installed in the WBPC. The installed operation system and application program are stored in a magnetic storage device on the WB server. A dedicated magnetic storage device for storing the operation system and application programs is called an operation system magnetic storage device. As described above, the same operation system and application program can be acquired and used by sharing the operation system magnetic storage device in all WBPCs or WB servers. This makes it possible to use the WBPC service to greatly save the labor and time spent by IT department employees when installing operating systems and application programs.

  In addition, data can be saved by the user in a magnetic storage device on the WB server. When a user first connects to the WB server using WBPC, a virtual personal data magnetic storage device is placed on the magnetic storage device of the WB server so that the corresponding user stores the user data. Created. This differs from the operation system magnetic storage device in that the personal data magnetic storage device is not shared but is completely for personal use, and all user data is stored centrally in the WB server. Therefore, the safety and stability of data can be improved.

  Certainly, the WBPC service has the features of convenience and safety described above, but when starting each WBPC, it is connected to the operation system magnetic storage device on the WB server, and from the operation system magnetic storage device. The WBPC must be able to read large amounts of data related to the operating system. However, since the magnetic storage device has a mechanical structure, when multiple WBPCs request to read data from the operation system magnetic storage device, the access head in the operation system magnetic storage device must frequently read / write. As a result, a large burden is placed on the operation system magnetic storage device, and the data access efficiency decreases. In particular, as the amount of data increases or the number of people sharing increases, the data access efficiency also decreases, and when the access efficiency of the operation system magnetic storage device decreases, the startup time of the WBPC becomes longer.

  Therefore, how to improve the startup efficiency of the WBPC service is a big issue that is expected to be solved.

  Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to start up a hard diskless computer, which is a wide area network startup system that improves the startup efficiency of a hard diskless computer by speeding up data access of a wide area network startup server. A wide area communication network activation system capable of improving efficiency is provided.

The main technical means employed to achieve the above purpose is the wide area communication network activation system,
A network connection interface for connecting the hard diskless computer to the Internet and a network connection interface of the hard diskless computer and sending a write / read command (I / O command) to the operation system magnetic storage device A hard diskless computer internally provided with a central processing unit for transmitting from the network connection interface a magnetic storage device command including an identification code indicating the write / read command and the operation system magnetic storage device;
An operation system magnetic storage device to which a write / read command of the central processing unit of the hard diskless computer is sent, a memory unit, and a network connection interface for connecting a boot server to the hard diskless computer via the Internet; A central processing unit that is connected to the operation system magnetic storage device, a memory unit, and a network connection interface and that stores a cache read program is provided inside the cache read program. When the storage device command is received and the magnetic storage device command acquires data from the operation system magnetic storage device, the magnetic storage device is stored in the memory unit. The command checks whether the data requesting acquisition is stored. If the data is stored, the magnetic storage device command directly reads out the data requesting acquisition from the memory unit, and the hard diskless type If not sent to the computer and stored in the opposite direction, the magnetic storage device command reads out the data to be acquired from the operation system magnetic storage device, stores it in the memory unit, and And an activation server for sending to a hard diskless computer.

  Using the technical means described above, the WBPC activation data is stored in the cache having a higher access speed from the operation system magnetic storage device, thereby increasing the WBPC activation efficiency due to the faster access speed of the cache. Furthermore, this makes it possible to reduce troublesome reading work to the operation system magnetic storage device and extend the life of the magnetic storage device.

  Please refer to FIG. 1 for the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first preferred embodiment includes a hard diskless computer (10) and a boot server (20).

The hard diskless computer (10) is provided with a network connection interface (11) and a central processing unit (12) inside.
The network connection interface (11) connects the hard diskless computer (10) to the Internet (30).
The central processing unit (12) is connected to the network connection interface (11). In this embodiment, the central processing unit (12) stores an iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) initialization service and a magnetic storage device command conversion program. Of these, the iSCSI initialization service is used for conversion / inverse conversion of iSCSI packets. When the central processing unit (12) sends a write / read command (I / O command) to the operation system magnetic storage unit (21), the central processing unit (12) writes / reads the magnetic storage unit command conversion program. Command and operation system The identification code indicating the magnetic storage device (21) is collectively converted into a magnetic storage device command, and the magnetic storage device command is converted into an iSCSI packet by the iSCSI initialization service, and then the network connection interface (11). To send out.

  The activation server (20) includes an operation system magnetic storage device (21) to which a write / read command is sent to the central processing unit (12) of the hard diskless computer (10) and at least one data magnetic storage device. (22), a memory unit (23), a network connection interface (24), and a central processing unit (25) are provided.

  An operation system magnetic storage device (21) and at least one data magnetic storage device (22) are an IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) interface magnetic disk drive, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) magnetic disk drive, and a SATA (Serial Advanced Channel). It may be an Attachment magnetic disk drive, an external magnetic storage array, or a storage area network (SAN) magnetic storage. In this embodiment, the operation system magnetic storage device (21) and the at least one data magnetic storage device (22) are both external magnetic storage device arrays. The operation system magnetic storage device (21) stores data related to the operation system such as an operation system file or an application program file, while at least one data magnetic storage device (22) stores user data of each user. Is stored.

  The memory unit (23) is a main memory (not shown) originally provided in the boot server (20), for example, SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Access Memory) or DDR RAM (Double Data Rate Random Access Memory), etc. A mounted flash memory can be used. In this embodiment, the memory unit (23) is a flash memory.

The network connection interface (24) connects the activation server (20) to the hard diskless computer (10) via the Internet (30).
The central processing unit (25) stores an iSCSI service and a cache read program. The service for iSCSI is used for conversion / reverse conversion of the iSCSI packet, and for the cache read program, the start server (20) receives the iSCSI packet and is converted into a magnetic storage device command by the service for iSCSI. Analyzing the command, if the magnetic storage device command is obtained from the operating system magnetic storage device (21), is the memory unit (23) stored with data that the magnetic storage device command requests to obtain? Inspect. If it is stored, the data requested by the magnetic storage device command is read directly from the memory unit (23), and the data is converted into an iSCSI packet by the service for iSCSI to the hard diskless computer (10). Send it out. On the other hand, if the data is not stored, the data requested by the magnetic storage device command to be acquired is read from the operation system magnetic storage device (21) and then stored in the memory unit (23), and the service for iSCSI Then, the data is converted into an iSCSI packet and sent to the hard diskless computer (10).

Refer to FIG. 2 for the detailed flow of the magnetic storage device command conversion program. The program is
Obtaining a write / read command (100);
Determining whether to send a write / read command to the operating system magnetic storage device (101);
If not sent, the step (102) is terminated.
On the other hand, when sending, the step (103) of collectively converting the identification code indicating the write / read command and the operation system magnetic storage device into the magnetic storage device command;
a step (104) of converting a magnetic storage device command into an iSCSI packet by an iSCSI initialization service;
sending the iSCSI packet to the network connection interface, and sending the iSCSI packet from the network connection interface (11) to the activation server (20) via the Internet (30).

Refer to FIG. 3 for the detailed flow of the cache read program. The program is
Receiving an iSCSI packet from a network connection interface (200);
a step (201) of converting an iSCSI packet into a magnetic storage device command by a service for iSCSI;
Converting a magnetic storage device command into a write / read command and an identification code (202);
Determining whether the identification code indicates an operating system magnetic storage device (203);
If not, accessing (204) at least one data magnetic storage device based on a write / read command;
In the opposite case, the step (205) of determining whether the write / read command is a read command;
If not a read command, writing to the operating system magnetic storage device based on the write command (206), and in the opposite situation,
A step (207) of searching whether or not data for which a read command requests acquisition is stored in the memory unit;
If the memory unit stores data for which a read command requests acquisition, the step of reading data from the memory unit (208);
A step (209) of converting data into an iSCSI packet by a service for iSCSI;
Then, sending an iSCSI packet to the network connection interface and sending it to the hard diskless computer (10) (210);
If the data to be acquired by the read command is not stored even after searching the memory unit, the step (211) of reading data from the operation system magnetic storage device is continuously executed, and
Storing the read data in the memory unit (212);
Converting the read data into an iSCSI packet by a service for iSCSI (209);
Thereafter, the step (210) of sending the iSCSI packet to the network connection interface and sending it to the hard diskless computer (10) is continued.

  Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. This is substantially the same as in the first embodiment, but the hard diskless computer (10) is provided with a network connection interface (11), and stores an iSCSI initialization service and a magnetic storage device command conversion program. A host bus adapter (HBA) (101) is provided, and the HBA (101) executes a magnetic storage device command conversion program. Is different.

  As can be understood from the above, in the present invention, the data stored in the operation system magnetic storage device is mainly stored in the memory unit by utilizing the characteristics of the memory whose write / read speed is significantly faster than that of the magnetic storage device. By storing the data, it is possible to obtain desired data from the memory unit at a high speed when starting up the hard diskless computer. Therefore, in addition to providing a higher data reading speed in the present invention, the life of the magnetic storage device can be shortened by reducing the number of reads of the magnetic storage device by greatly reducing the frequent movement of the access head of the magnetic storage device. By extending this and thereby reducing the startup time of a hard diskless computer, the user can be provided with the same comfort as starting a computer with a built-in hard disk.

  Although the present invention has already been disclosed in the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the contents mentioned in the above embodiments, and modifications made without departing from the technical idea and scope of the present invention. Both the addition and the addition are included in the protection scope of the present invention.

To summarize the above, the present invention brings about a significant increase in effect and satisfies the requirements of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention. It is a flowchart of the magnetic memory device command conversion program in the first preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 3 is a flowchart of a cache read program in the first preferred embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Hard diskless type computer 11 Network connection interface 12 Central processing unit 20 Startup server 21 Operation system Magnetic storage unit 22 Data magnetic storage unit 23 Memory unit 24 Network connection interface 25 Central processing unit 30 Internet

Claims (10)

A wide area communication network activation system capable of improving the activation efficiency of a hard diskless computer,
A network connection interface for connecting a hard diskless computer to the Internet and a network connection interface of the hard diskless computer and writing / reading when sending a write / read command to the operation system magnetic storage device A central processing unit that sends out a command from the network connection interface and a magnetic storage device command including a command and an identification code indicating the operation system magnetic storage device;
An operation system magnetic storage device to which a write / read command of the central processing unit of the hard diskless computer is sent, a memory unit, and a network connection interface for connecting a boot server to the hard diskless computer via the Internet; A central processing unit that is connected to the operation system magnetic storage device, a memory unit, and a network connection interface and that stores a cache read program is provided inside the cache read program. When the storage device command is received and the magnetic storage device command acquires data from the operation system magnetic storage device, the magnetic storage device is stored in the memory unit. The command checks whether the data requesting acquisition is stored. If the data is stored, the magnetic storage device command directly reads out the data requesting acquisition from the memory unit, and the hard diskless type If not sent to the computer and stored in the opposite direction, the magnetic storage device command reads out the data to be acquired from the operation system magnetic storage device, stores it in the memory unit, and A wide area network activation system capable of improving the activation efficiency of a hard diskless computer, comprising: an activation server for sending to a hard diskless computer.   The central processing unit of the hard diskless computer stores therein an iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) initialization service and a magnetic storage device command conversion program. Among these, the iSCSI initialization service converts and reverses iSCSI packets. When the central processing unit sends a write / read command to the operating system magnetic storage device, the central processing unit sends the write / read command and the operating system magnetic The identification code indicating the storage device is collectively converted into a magnetic storage device command, and the iSCSI initialization service further converts the magnetic code. After converting the 憶 device command to the iSCSI packets, capable of improving a wide area network boot system startup efficiency of the hard disk-less computer according to claim 1, wherein the sending via the network connection interface.   A host bus adapter (Host Bus) in which the hard diskless computer is provided with the network connection interface and further provided with a processing unit in which an iSCSI initialization service and a magnetic storage device command conversion program are stored. Adapter (HBA) is provided, the iSCSI initialization service is used for conversion / inverse conversion of iSCSI packets, and the magnetic storage device command conversion program sends a write / read command to the operation system magnetic storage device by the central processing unit. When processing, the processing unit collects the write / read command and the identification code indicating the operation system magnetic storage device together. 2. The hard diskless computer start-up according to claim 1, wherein the hard diskless computer is sent to the network connection interface after converting the command into a command and further converting the magnetic storage device command into an iSCSI packet by the iSCSI initialization service. Wide area communication network activation system that can improve efficiency. The magnetic storage device command conversion program is
Obtaining a write / read command;
Determining whether to send the write / read command to the operating system magnetic storage;
If not sent, the process ends; if sent in reverse, the write / read command and the operation system magnetic storage device identification code are collectively converted into a magnetic storage device command;
Converting the magnetic storage device command into an iSCSI packet in the iSCSI initialization service;
The hard diskless computer according to claim 2, further comprising: sending an iSCSI packet to a network connection interface, and sending the iSCSI packet from the network connection interface to the activation server via the Internet. Wide area communication network activation system that can improve activation efficiency.   The central processing unit internally converts the iSCSI packet when the hard diskless computer receives the iSCSI packet into a magnetic storage device command, and sends the data in advance to the hard diskless computer when the start server sends it to the hard diskless computer. 4. The wide area network activation system capable of improving the activation efficiency of a hard diskless computer according to claim 2, further comprising a service for iSCSI to be converted into a packet.   The central processing unit internally converts the iSCSI packet when the hard diskless computer receives the iSCSI packet into a magnetic storage device command, and sends the data in advance to the hard diskless computer when the start server sends it to the hard diskless computer. 5. The wide area communication network activation system capable of improving the activation efficiency of a hard diskless computer according to claim 4, further comprising a service for iSCSI to be converted into a packet. The activation server further includes at least one data magnetic storage device for storing user data of each user, and the cache read program includes:
Receiving an iSCSI packet from a network connection interface;
converting an iSCSI packet into a magnetic storage device command by a service for iSCSI;
Converting a magnetic storage device command into a write / read command and an identification code;
Determine whether the identification code indicates the operating system magnetic storage device, and if not, access the at least one data magnetic storage device based on the write / read command and vice versa If so, determining whether the write / read command is a read command;
If not a read command, writing to the operating system magnetic storage device based on the write command, and in the opposite situation,
Searching for whether or not the data requested by the read command is stored in the memory unit;
If there is data stored in the memory unit that is requested to be acquired by the read command, the data is read from the memory unit and converted into an iSCSI packet by the iSCSI service. Sending packets to a network connection interface and sending them to the hard diskless computer;
If the data to be acquired by the read command is not stored even after searching in the memory unit, the step of reading the data from the operation system magnetic storage device is continuously executed, and
Storing the read data in the memory unit;
6. The step of transmitting the iSCSI packet to a network connection interface after sending the read data into an iSCSI packet by the iSCSI service and sending the packet to the hard diskless computer is subsequently executed. Wide area network startup system that can improve the startup efficiency of hard diskless computers. The activation server further includes at least one data magnetic storage device for storing user data of each user, and the cache read program includes:
Receiving an iSCSI packet from a network connection interface;
converting an iSCSI packet into a magnetic storage device command by a service for iSCSI;
Converting a magnetic storage device command into a write / read command and an identification code;
Determine whether the identification code indicates the operating system magnetic storage device, and if not, access the at least one data magnetic storage device based on the write / read command and vice versa If so, determining whether the write / read command is a read command;
If not a read command, writing to the operating system magnetic storage device based on the write command, and in the opposite situation,
Searching for whether or not the data requested by the read command is stored in the memory unit;
If there is data stored in the memory unit that is requested to be acquired by the read command, the data is read from the memory unit and converted into an iSCSI packet by the iSCSI service. Sending packets to a network connection interface and sending them to the hard diskless computer;
If the data to be acquired by the read command is not stored even after searching in the memory unit, the step of reading the data from the operation system magnetic storage device is continuously executed, and
Storing the read data in the memory unit;
7. The step of converting the read data into an iSCSI packet by the iSCSI service, and then sending the iSCSI packet to a network connection interface and sending it to the hard diskless computer is continued to be executed. Wide area network startup system that can improve the startup efficiency of hard diskless computers.   2. The wide area network activation capable of improving the activation efficiency of the hard diskless computer according to claim 1, wherein the memory unit is a main memory originally provided in the activation server or a flash memory separately mounted. system.   The operation system magnetic storage device is an IDE interface magnetic disk drive, a SCSI magnetic disk drive, a SATA magnetic disk drive, an external magnetic storage array, or a storage area network magnetic storage device. 2. A wide area network activation system capable of improving the activation efficiency of a hard diskless computer according to claim 1.

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