JP2009110183A - Computer startup method and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable computer startup at higher speed even in such a case that startup disks for a plurality of computers in a data center, etc., are frequently modified. <P>SOLUTION: In a plurality of memory media 131a-131c respectively owned by computers 130a-130c, by preserving the same contents as the startup disks preserved in a magnetic memory device 140 on a SAN environment, and by initiating each computer from the startup disk owned by the own computer, the computer can be initiated at higher speed as compared to the case of initiating the computer from the startup disk in the magnetic memory device on the SAN environment having a conflict concerning the magnetic memory device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer activation method and a computer system, and more particularly to a computer activation method and a computer system for activating each of a plurality of computers constructed in a SAN environment such as a data center.

  In general, a computer system in a data center or the like is often constructed as a system in which computer resources are fixedly assigned to each user's business system. However, in recent years, a data center or the like allocates computer resources for each user's business system. We are trying to use computer resources more effectively by providing hourly units.

  In order to provide a service for providing the computer resources as described above for each user business system, it is necessary to allocate necessary computer resources for each user business system and to frequently start and stop the computer. is there.

  In order to start the computer, a startup disk storing files necessary for starting up the OS is required. The startup disk can be stored in a built-in storage device provided in the computer. However, since a startup disk is required for each business system of a plurality of users, when handling a large number of business systems with a single computer, it is necessary to store a startup disk for every business system in the built-in storage device. Capacity is limited. For this reason, the startup disk in a computer system in a data center or the like is held in a magnetic storage device capable of creating a large-capacity RAID configuration, and the magnetic storage device is connected to a plurality of computers. It becomes a SAN environment. In addition, the computer can also use resources more effectively by virtualization, a plurality of systems can operate on one server, and a magnetic storage device holds more system startup disks. The concentration of connections to magnetic disk units is increasing.

As a conventional technique related to the present invention, a technique of loading a boot image into a plurality of computers in a data center or the like is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 or the like.
JP 2006-39888 A

  As described above, a computer system having a plurality of computers constructed in a SAN environment that can automatically start and stop an arbitrary computer in response to a user request is a logical system constructed in a magnetic storage device in the SAN environment. When a startup disk is stored in a unit (hereinafter referred to as LU) and multiple computers are started up using the startup disk, the startup time of the computer is increased by concentrating connections on the magnetic storage device in the SAN environment. However, there arises a problem that the time until the user uses the computer increases.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in a computer system having a plurality of computers constructed in a SAN environment, and to provide a plurality of computer systems having a plurality of computers constructed in a SAN environment such as a data center. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer starting method and a computer system capable of starting each computer at high speed.

  According to the present invention, the object is to start a computer for starting each of the plurality of computers in a computer system comprising a plurality of computers, a management server, and a magnetic storage device for storing a computer startup disk. In the method, the magnetic storage device holds the startup disk for each of a plurality of business systems, and each of the plurality of computers includes a plurality of built-in storage media, and the built-in storage media has been started last time. Saving the business system startup disk, the management server collects and prioritizes usage requirements from the user terminal used by the user, selects the computer to use, selects the startup disk of the computer, Manages the start and stop of the selected computer, and uses the boot disk in the internal storage medium when starting the selected computer Whether to start, it is achieved by selecting whether to start the computer using the boot disk in the magnetic storage device.

  According to the present invention, a computer can be started at a higher speed even when the startup disks of a plurality of computers are frequently changed.

  Embodiments of a computer startup method and a computer system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated computer system includes a management server 110, a plurality of computers 130a to 130c, and a magnetic storage device 140 shared by the computers. A plurality of user terminals 100 a to 100 d which are computers used by the users A to D are connected to the management server 110 and the plurality of computers 130 a to 130 c via the service network 150. The management server 110 is connected to the computers 130a to 130c and the magnetic storage device 140 via the management network 151. Furthermore, the computers 130a to 130c and the magnetic storage device 140 are connected to a storage area network ( Are connected to each other via (SAN) 152.

  As described above, each of the plurality of user terminals 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> D has the usage requirement 101, and this usage requirement 101 is sent to the management server 110 via the service network 150.

  The management server 110 is a computer that includes a main memory 111, an HDD (hard disk) 112, NICs (network interfaces) 113 and 114, and a CPU (not shown). In the main memory 111 of the management server 110, a computer and a startup disk selection unit 115, a computer startup unit 116 for automatically starting the computer, and a computer are allocated in order to allocate a computer and a startup disk that satisfy user usage requirements. The computer end processing unit 117 for performing the end processing, the magnetic storage device management program 118 for managing the magnetic storage device, and the computer monitoring program 119 for monitoring the state of the computer are read.

  The computer and startup disk selection unit 115, the computer startup unit 116, and the computer end processing unit 117 read into the main memory 111 are configured by programs, and these programs and the magnetic storage device management program 118 are included. The computer monitoring program 119 implements various functions according to the present invention by being executed by a CPU (not shown) provided in the management server 110.

  The HDD 112 of the management server 110 includes a usage requirement list 120 storing user usage requirements and their statuses, a plan table 121 storing computer and boot disk allocation information and statuses for the usage requirements, and each computer. The computer management table 122 that stores specification information of the number of CPUs 130a to 130c and the amount of memory mounted, the magnetic storage device LU management table 123 that stores business information for each LU of the magnetic storage device 140, and the usage status of each computer And a computer status table 124 storing the disk information of the activated disk and the storage medium.

  Each of the computers 130a to 130c includes a plurality of storage media 131a to 130c, an HBA (host channel adapter) 132, NICs (network interfaces) 133 and 134, and external storage devices such as a CPU, main memory, and HDD (not shown). It is a computer provided with. The storage media 131a to 130c store a copy of the previously started OS disk (startup disk).

  The magnetic storage device 140 is a magnetic storage device that stores a boot disk of a computer. The magnetic storage device 140 includes a controller 141 that handles a plurality of HDDs as one volume and controls input / output, a NIC (network interface) 142, and a storage. And a plurality of HDDs 143a to 143h. Each of the HDDs 143a to 143h of the magnetic storage device 140 may be managed as an LU in the receiver storage device 140, and stores a startup disk for business for each user. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the HDDs 143a to 143h is managed as an LU having LU numbers 1 to 8.

  In the above description, the boot disk stored in the storage media 131a to 130c included in each of the computers 130a to 130c and stored in the magnetic storage device 140 is necessary for each business corresponding to the business. In the embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that the boot disk is configured including applications necessary for the business. In addition, data used by applications may be included in the startup disk, but if the data is not included in the startup disk, the address of the HDD etc. that holds the data can be included in the startup disk. That's fine.

  The service network 150 is used when information is exchanged between the user terminals 100a to 100d and the management server 110, and between the user terminals 100a to 100d and the computers 130a to 130c. This information exchange is performed via the NIC 113 in the management server 110 and via the NIC 133 in the computers 130a to 130c.

  The management network 151 is used when information is exchanged between the management server 110 and the computers 130a to 130c, and between the management server 110 and the magnetic storage device 140. This information exchange is performed via the NIC 114 in the management server 110, via the NIC 134 in the computers 130 a to 130 c, and via the NIC 142 in the magnetic storage device 140.

  The storage area network 152 is used when information is exchanged between the computer 130 and the magnetic storage device 140. Access between the computer 130 and the magnetic storage device 140 is performed via the HBA 132 and the controller 141.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the usage requirement 101. The usage requirement 101 is information sent to the server 110 so that the user can use one of the computers 130a to 130c. The usage requirement 101 includes the date and time when the computer is used, the time, the computer specifications (the number of CPUs and the memory capacity), It is information and is managed in a table that stores such information as one record. The usage requirement 101 includes a user name 201, a date 202, a start time 203, a usage time 204, a CPU count 205, a memory capacity 206, and a task 207.

  The record 211 shown in FIG. 2 means that the user name 201 is “A”. The date 202 is “0501”, the start time 203 is “0900”, and the usage time 204 is “4”, meaning that it will be used for 4 hours from 9:00 on May 1st. Further, the CPU number 205 is “4” and the memory capacity 206 is “4” means that a computer having four or more CPUs and a memory capacity of 4 GB or more is used. Further, “AAA” for the business 207 means that a computer is used for the business AAA.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the usage requirement list 120. The usage requirement list 120 is a table in which usage requirements sent by a plurality of users to the management server 110 are sorted according to date and start time, and the user name 301, date 302, start time 303, It is a table storing a plurality of records each including a usage time 304, a CPU number 305, a memory capacity 306, a business 307, a reception number 308, and a requirement status 309.

  The example of the record 311 illustrated in FIG. 3 means a user whose user name 301 is “A”. The date 302 is “0501”, the start time 303 is “0900”, and the usage time 304 is “4”, meaning that it will be used for 4 hours from 9:00 on May 1. The CPU number 305 is “4” and the memory capacity 306 is “4” means that a computer having four or more CPUs and a memory capacity of 4 GB or more is used. Further, “AAA” for the business 307 means that the computer is used for the business AAA. Also, “200705010900001” of the reception number 308 is a number assigned in the order sorted by the date 302 and the start time 303. Further, “Now executing” in the requirement status 309 indicates the usage requirement status when a computer is assigned.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the plan table 121. This table plan table 121 is a table storing a plurality of records with information indicating the computer and the boot disk assigned to the usage requirements as one record. One record includes a reception number 401, a computer 402 and a startup disk 403. The startup disk 403 field stores the LU number of the magnetic storage device 140 as the startup disk, the LU number, and the storage medium name of one of the storage media 131a to 131c of the computer. The

  In the example of the record 411 in FIG. 4, the computer 402 is “Computer 03”, the startup disk 403 is “1”, and the LU number 1 of the magnetic storage device is “1” for the usage requirement of the reception number 401 “200705010900001”. Indicates that it is assigned.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the computer management table 122. The computer management table 122 is a table for managing computer specifications (the number of CPUs and the memory capacity). The computer 501, the number of CPUs 502, and the memory capacity 503 are stored as one record, and a plurality of records are stored. It is a table.

  In the example of the record 511 shown in FIG. 5, the specification of the computer having the “computer 01” as the computer 501 is “4” as indicated by the CPU number 502 and the installed memory capacity is indicated as “memory capacity 503”. 4 "indicates GB.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the magnetic storage device LU management table 123. This magnetic storage device LU management table 123 is a table that stores a plurality of records indicating correspondence between LU (logical unit) numbers of magnetic storage devices and business, and is composed of an LU number 601 and a startup disk 602. Is done.

  The example of the record 611 illustrated in FIG. 6 indicates that the boot disk 602 in the LU with the LU number 601 of “1” is the boot disk for the business “AAA”.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the computer usage status table 124. The computer usage status table 124 is a table showing the usage status of a computer and which business is copied to the storage medium of the computer. The computer 701, the usage status 702, the storage medium 703, the storage medium 704, and the like. This is a table storing a plurality of records composed of the storage medium 705.

  In the example of the record 711 shown in FIG. 7, “Computer 01” in the column of the computer 701 is “activated”, the storage medium 1 has a business “AAB”, the storage medium 2 has a business “BAB”, The storage medium 3 indicates that the business “CAB” is stored. Although not shown in the figure, the usage status includes “stop” in addition to “start”.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the computer and the startup disk selection unit 115. Next, the computer selection process and the startup disk selection process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(1) First, the management server 110 acquires and acquires the date and time when the user wants to use the computer, the start time, the usage time, the computer specifications, and the business (use requirement 101) from one of the user terminals 100a to 100d. The usage requirement 101 and the date 302 and the start time 303 of the usage requirement list 120 are sorted, prioritized, a reception number 308 is added, and the result is stored in the HDD 112 as the usage requirement list 120. At this point, the status 309 field is blank (step 801).

(2) Next, the usage requirement list 120 is read from the HDD 112, the reception number 308 is acquired, written into the plan table 122, and stored in the HDD 112. At this time, it is assumed that the column of the computer 402 and the column of the startup disk 403 of the plan table 121 that are added in step 801 are blank. The storage of the value in the column of the computer 402 is performed by the processing of step 807 described later, and the storage of the value in the column of the startup disk 403 is performed by the processing of step 810 or step 821 described later (step 802).

(3) Next, the management server 110 reads the computer usage status table 124 from the HDD 112 and stores it in the main memory 111, and the computer whose usage status 702 in the computer status table 124 is “stopped” is entered in the computer 701 column. Search whether there is. For a computer whose usage status 702 column is “stopped”, the startup disk 703 column is blank. The storage of the value in the field of the startup disk 703 is performed by the processing of Step 810 or Step 821 (Steps 803 and 804).

(4) If there is a computer that is “stopped” in the column of the computer usage status 702 in the search in step 804, the management server 110 acquires the computer management table 122 from the HDD 112, and the computer management table 122. Is stored in the main memory 111 (step 805).

(5) Also, in the search in step 804, if there is no computer that is “stopped” in the computer usage status 702 column, that is, the usage status 702 column in all the computer 701 columns is “stopped”. If it is not (in the case of activation), there is no computer that can be assigned, so write “impossible” in the status 309 column of the usage requirement list 120 and send an unassignable message to the corresponding user terminal. The process in (5) is terminated (steps 830 and 831).

(6) After the processing in step 805, the management server 110 sets the specifications of the computer whose column of the computer usage status 702 is “stopped” in the column of the number of CPUs 502 and the column of the memory capacity 503 in the computer management table 122. To determine whether there is a computer that satisfies the requirements for the number of CPUs 305 and the memory capacity 306 in the usage requirement list, and if there are multiple computers that meet the requirements, select one of them (Step 806).

(7) If it is determined in step 806 that there is a computer whose column of the computer usage status 702 is “stopped” and one computer whose specifications satisfy the requirements is selected, The computer name is added to the column of the computer 402 and stored in the HDD 112 (step 807).

(8) If there is no computer whose specification satisfies the requirement in the computer usage status 702 column in the determination of step 806, there is no computer that can be assigned. In the status 309 column of the usage requirement list 120, “impossible” is written, an unassignable message is sent to the corresponding user terminal, and the processing here ends (steps 830 and 831).

(9) After the processing in step 807, the management server 110 acquires the magnetic storage device LU management table 123 from the HDD 112, stores it in the main memory 111, and uses the column of the usage task 307 in the usage requirement list 120. It is determined whether or not the columns of the storage media 704, 705, and 706 in the computer status table 125 of the computer in which the column of the computer usage status 702 is “stopped” (steps 808 and 809).

(10) If it is determined in step 809 that the usage tasks match, the storage medium name is written in the column of the startup disk 403 of the plan table 121, stored in the HDD 112, and the processing here ends. (Step 810).

(11) If it is determined in step 809 that the used jobs do not match, the LU number 601 of the job that matches the usage requirements is acquired from the magnetic storage device LU management table 123, and the column of the startup disk 403 in the plan table 121 The LU number 601 of the magnetic storage device is written into the HDD 112, which is stored in the HDD 112, and the processing here ends (steps 820 and 821).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation in the computer activation unit 116. Next, the computer activation process will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

(1) First, the computer name in the column of the computer 402 of the plan table 121 is read from the HDD 112, and the startup disk name in the column of the corresponding startup disk 403 is read from the HDD 112 (steps 901 and 902).

(2) Next, it is determined whether the startup disk name in the column of startup disk 403 is the LU number of the magnetic storage device. If the startup disk name in the column of startup disk 403 is the LU number of the magnetic storage device, The magnetic storage device management program 118 is activated, and the LU number read in step 902 is assigned to the computer read in step 901 (steps 903 and 904).

(3) Next, the computer read in step 901 is turned on, and the boot loader of the computer read in step 901 is switched to the LU number of the magnetic storage device read in step 902 (step 905, 906).

(4) Next, “execution” is written in the status 309 column of the usage requirement list 120 and is saved in the HDD 112, and the computer monitoring program 119 is started and executed to use the computer status table 124. “Activation” is written in the field of the status 702, it is stored in the HDD 112, and the processing here ends (steps 907 and 908).

(5) If it is determined in step 903 that the startup disk name in the column of the startup disk 403 is not the LU number of the magnetic storage device but the storage medium name, the power of the computer read in the process of step 901 is turned on. The boot loader of the computer read in 901 is switched to the boot disk read in step 902 (steps 910 and 911).

(6) After that, “running” is written in the status 309 column of the usage requirement list 120, it is stored in the HDD 112, and the computer monitoring program 119 is started and executed to execute the computer status table 124. "Activation" is written in the column of the usage status 702, and it is stored in the HDD 112, and the processing here ends (steps 912 and 913).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation in the computer end processing unit 117. Next, the processing operation after the user finishes using the computer will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

(1) First, the management server 110 notifies the corresponding user terminal 100 that the service has ended, and ends the service of the corresponding computer 130 (steps 1011 and 1002).

(2) Next, the activation disk in the column of the activation disk 403 corresponding to the column of the computer 402 in the plan table 121 is read into the main memory 111, and it is determined whether or not the activation disk of the corresponding computer 130 is a storage medium ( Steps 1003 and 1004).

(3) If it is determined in step 1004 that the startup disk of the corresponding computer 130 is a storage medium, the contents of the startup disk have been changed by use of the computer, so the changed startup disk is stored in the storage media 131a to 131c. And the contents of the same boot disk stored in the storage medium are copied to the corresponding LU of the HDDs 143a to 143h of the magnetic storage device (step 1005).

(4) Next, the corresponding computer 130 is turned off, and the computer monitoring program 119 is started and executed. In the usage status 702 column of the computer status table 124, “stopped” is written and stored in the HDD 112. At the same time, “end” is written in the status 309 column of the usage requirement list 120 to end the processing here (steps 1006 to 1008).

(5) If it is determined in step 1004 that the startup disk of the corresponding computer 130 is not a storage medium but a magnetic storage device, the contents of the startup disk have been changed by the use of the computer. Is stored in the corresponding one of the HDDs 143a to 403h as the LU of the magnetic storage device, and the contents of the same boot disk are copied to one of the storage media 131a to 131c of the corresponding computer 130 (step 1010).

(6) Next, the power of the corresponding computer 130 is turned off, and the computer monitoring program 119 is started and executed, “Stop” is written in the column of the usage status 702 of the computer status table 124, and it is stored in the HDD 112. At the same time, “end” is written in the field 309 of the usage requirement list 120 to end the processing here (steps 1011 to 1013).

  By performing the termination process as described above, the used startup disk is stored in the storage medium of the computer once used, so that the next computer can be started up more quickly. Can do. Further, when a startup disk stored in the storage medium of the own computer is used for setting up the computer, the startup disk can be stored and managed in the LU of the magnetic disk device.

  Each process in the above-described embodiment of the present invention is configured by a program and can be executed by a CPU included in the present invention. These programs are stored in a recording medium such as an FD, CDROM, or DVD. It can be provided and can be provided by digital information via a network.

  According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, in a system environment in which the startup disk is frequently changed, when the startup disk is stored in a plurality of storage media possessed by the computer, the startup stored in the storage medium The computer can be booted from the disk and the computer can be booted without using the boot disk stored in the magnetic storage device in the SAN environment. It is possible to start the computer faster than starting the computer from the startup disk of the magnetic storage device.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when a startup disk is stored in a plurality of storage media possessed by the computer, the computer is started from the startup disk stored in the storage medium. When the computer is started using the startup disk of the magnetic storage device, the concentration of connections to the magnetic storage device can be eased.

  The present invention can be used to quickly start a plurality of computers constructed in a SAN environment such as a data center.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the computer system by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of a usage requirement. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of a usage requirement list. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of a plan table. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of a computer management table | surface. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the magnetic storage unit LU management table. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of a computer utilization condition table | surface. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation in a computer and a starting disk selection part. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation in a computer starting part. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation in a computer completion process part.

Explanation of symbols

100a to 100d User terminal 110 Management server 111 Main memory 112 HDD
113, 114, 132-134, 142 NIC
115 Computer and Startup Disk Selection Unit 116 Computer Startup Unit 117 Computer End Processing Unit 120 Usage Requirement Table 121 Plan Table 122 Computer Management Table 123 Magnetic Disk Unit LU Management Table 124 Computer Status Table 130a-130c Computer 131a-131c Storage Medium 140 Magnetic Storage devices 143a to 143h HDD as LU
150 Service Network 151 Management Network 152 Storage Area Network

Claims (6)

In a computer startup method for starting up each of the plurality of computers of a computer system comprising a plurality of computers, a management server, and a magnetic storage device for storing a computer startup disk,
The magnetic storage device holds the boot disk for each of a plurality of business systems,
Each of the plurality of computers includes a plurality of internal storage media, and the built-in storage medium stores a startup disk of a business system that was started last time,
The management server summarizes the usage requirements from the user terminals used by the user, prioritizes them, selects the computers to be used, selects the computer startup disk, and manages the startup and stop of the selected computer. When starting up the selected computer, it is selected whether to start up the computer using a startup disk in the internal storage medium or to start up the computer using a startup disk in the magnetic storage device. How to start up the calculator.   Selection of a startup disk at the time of startup of the computer selects a startup disk in the internal storage medium of the computer when there is a startup disk corresponding to the job to be performed in the internal storage medium of the selected computer. The computer startup method according to claim 1, wherein the computer startup method is performed as follows.   If the business system startup disk used at the startup of the computer is stored in a magnetic storage device, the used startup disk is stored in the internal storage medium of the computer at the end of use of the computer. 2. The startup disk used when starting a computer is stored in an internal storage medium, and the used startup disk is stored in a magnetic storage device when the use of the computer ends. How to start the calculator. In a computer system configured to include a plurality of computers, a management server, and a magnetic storage device that stores a computer startup disk,
The magnetic storage device holds the boot disk for each of a plurality of business systems,
Each of the plurality of computers includes a plurality of internal storage media, and the built-in storage medium stores a startup disk of a business system that was started last time,
The management server manages the usage requirements from the user terminals used by the user, assigns priorities, selects a computer to be used, selects a computer boot disk, and manages the start and stop of the selected computer And means for selecting whether to start the computer using the startup disk in the internal storage medium or to start the computer using the startup disk in the magnetic storage device when starting the selected computer And a computer system.   The means for selecting a startup disk when starting up the computer selects a startup disk in the internal storage medium of the computer if the internal storage medium of the selected computer has a startup disk corresponding to the job to be performed. 5. The computer system according to claim 4, wherein the computer system is performed as follows.   The means for managing the start and stop of the computer, when the start disk of the business system used at the start of the computer is stored in a magnetic storage device, the used start disk at the end of use of the computer When the business system startup disk stored in the computer's internal storage medium and used when starting the computer is stored in the internal storage medium, the used startup disk is stored in the magnetic storage device when the use of the computer ends. 5. The computer system according to claim 4, wherein the computer system is stored in a storage system.

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