JP2013196124A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device which safely manages HDDs to operate them by comparing shared management information of the HDDs with mirroring information to appropriately determine whether the HDDs are normal or not.SOLUTION: Partial storage areas of HDDs 20 and 50 are defined respectively as shared management information areas 23 and 53 accessible by both a multifunction device controller 11 and a RAID controller 42. The RAID controller 42 controls mirroring between the HDDs 20 and 50 and stores mirroring information for identifying and managing the HDDs 20 and 50. The multifunction controller 11 stores time information extracted from a real time clock circuit 12 into the shared management information areas 23 and 53 of the HDDs 20 and 50, and the RAID controller 42 copies the time information stored in the shared management information areas 23 and 53, into mirroring information areas 22 and 52 of the HDDs 20 and 50.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that outputs an image, and can be applied to, for example, a multi-function peripheral having a plurality of image processing functions.

As an image processing apparatus, a multi-function machine having a plurality of image processing functions such as a copy function, a printer function, an image scanner function, and a fax function is known.
Many multifunction peripherals are equipped with a hard disk drive (HDD) for data storage. Along with the recent increase in capacity of HDDs, HDDs will also be used for use as a server to store image data when copying using the copy function of multifunction devices and files in the user's PC. Is increasing. Under such circumstances, by using a RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks) system, data loss can be prevented even when the HDD fails, so that the RAID system is mounted on the HDD of the MFP. It has become.

  In the RAID system, data in the HDD can be mirrored by installing a RAID controller having a mirroring function. Mirroring is to write the same data to multiple HDDs, so that there are always multiple HDDs with the same information, and even if one HDD fails, operation continues with the data of other HDDs. It is possible to do. Some image processing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals incorporate a function for executing mirroring in order to preserve important data.

  In order to configure RAID, a controller for RAID control (referred to as a RAID controller) records management information for identifying and managing HDDs in a partial area of each HDD, and controls based on this management information Like to do. The RAID controller mirrors this management information and records it in a plurality of HDDs. This management information is used as mirroring information.

As a conventional example, a dual disk system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. Duplexing here refers to mirroring, and the duplex disk system records management information, grasps the status of each HDD at the time of startup based on the contents, and performs a mirroring operation.
Also, a duplex disk control device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is known. This duplexing is mirroring, and the duplexed disk control device records management information including the update time, grasps the status of each HDD at the time of startup based on the contents, and performs a mirroring operation.

JP-A-3-259346 JP 2001-195818 A

However, in Patent Document 1, only information for building a RAID system is recorded in the mirroring information in which management information is recorded, and information such as when the HDD is used is included as history information. Not.
For this reason, for example, if an HDD with mirroring information is installed and operated alone in the multifunction peripheral and then returned to the original RAID system, the mirroring information has not been rewritten, so the RAID is constructed visually. Although it appears that a difference has occurred between the two HDD data due to operation alone, there is a possibility that the multifunction device malfunctions in some cases.

In Patent Document 2, time information is recorded as management information in the mirroring information, and the RAID controller can determine which HDD is old, but creates and records the determination and management information. Are all RAID controllers.
For this reason, for example, when an HDD with mirroring information is installed and operated in a multifunction device by itself without using a mirroring substrate, and then returned to the original RAID system, the HDD is installed and operated alone. Since no RAID controller is involved, the time information in the management information is not updated. Thereafter, when the system is returned to the original RAID system, the time information is not updated in the management information, but the user data area of each HDD has different contents. That is, it looks like a RAID has been constructed, but when operated alone, a difference occurs between the two HDD data, and in some cases, the MFP may malfunction.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and management information that can be shared between the RAID controller and the controller of the image processing apparatus is provided in the HDD, and time information on the host controller side is recorded in this area, By copying to the mirroring information of the HDD, it is appropriately determined whether the HDD is a normal HDD by comparing the share management information and the mirroring information, and the HDD is safely managed and operated. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, the first technical means of the present invention is an image processing apparatus controller for controlling the operation of the image processing apparatus main body, a real-time clock circuit for generating time data, and a plurality of HDDs constituting a RAID. And a RAID controller that controls the plurality of HDDs, a partial storage area of each HDD being a shared management information area that can be accessed by both the image processing apparatus controller and the RAID controller, and the RAID The controller controls mirroring among the plurality of HDDs, and stores mirroring information for identifying and managing each HDD in each HDD, and the image processing apparatus controller extracts from the real-time clock circuit The time information is stored in the shared management information area of each HDD. The RAID controller is for the time information stored in said shared management information area of each of the HDD, and wherein each be copied to the area for storing the mirroring information of each of the HDD.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the RAID controller stores time information stored in an area in which the mirroring information of each HDD is stored when the image processing apparatus is activated, All of the time information recorded in the shared management information area of the HDD is compared, and based on the comparison result, whether the HDD to be compared is a normal HDD in configuring the RAID. It is characterized by determining whether or not.

  A third technical means has a display panel for displaying information in the second technical means, and the RAID controller compares the comparison results if all the time information comparison results do not match each other. The image processing apparatus controller displays a warning on the display panel according to the determination of the RAID controller, and controls all HDDs determined to be abnormal as a control target. It is characterized by separation from

  According to a fourth technical means, in the second technical means, if the result of comparing all the time information does not match each other, the RAID controller selects the HDD subject to the comparison as a rebuild target. It is characterized in that it is judged that there is, and a forcible rebuild operation for copying data from one HDD to another HDD is executed.

  A fifth technical means includes a display panel for displaying information in the fourth technical means, and the image processing apparatus controller is performing a rebuild operation on the display panel when executing the forced rebuild operation. After the display is performed and the forced rebuild operation is completed, the time information of the shared management information area of each HDD is updated, and the RAID controller updates the shared management information area of each of the updated HDDs. The time information is copied to an area for storing the mirroring information of each HDD, and the image processing apparatus is normally started.

  According to a sixth technical means, in the second technical means, if the result of comparison of all the time information is the same as each other, the RAID controller indicates that the comparison target HDD is normal. The image processing apparatus controller determines that there is a copy, and copies the time information of the shared management information area of each HDD to the area where the mirroring information of each HDD is stored, and normally starts the image processing apparatus. It is characterized by being executed.

  According to the present invention, management information that can be shared between the RAID controller and the controller of the image processing apparatus is provided in the HDD, and the time information on the host controller side is recorded in this area and copied to the mirroring information of the HDD. By doing so, it is possible to appropriately determine whether the HDD is a normal HDD by comparing the sharing management information and the mirroring information, and to provide an image processing apparatus that can safely manage and operate the HDD.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a multifunction machine controller and an HDD when a RAID system is not provided. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a multi-function peripheral provided with a RAID system. It is a figure explaining the example when attaching a mirroring kit to a multifunction machine for the first time. FIG. 10 is another diagram illustrating an example when the mirroring kit is first mounted on the multifunction machine. FIG. 10 is still another view for explaining an example when the mirroring kit is first mounted on the multifunction machine. FIG. 10 is still another view for explaining an example when the mirroring kit is first mounted on the multifunction machine. FIG. 10 is still another view for explaining an example when the mirroring kit is first mounted on the multifunction machine. It is a figure explaining the replacement process of HDD when HDD fails after RAID system construction. FIG. 10 is another diagram for explaining an HDD replacement process when an HDD fails after the RAID system is constructed. FIG. 11 is still another diagram for explaining HDD replacement processing when an HDD fails after the RAID system is constructed. FIG. 11 is still another diagram for explaining HDD replacement processing when an HDD fails after the RAID system is constructed. FIG. 11 is still another diagram for explaining HDD replacement processing when an HDD fails after the RAID system is constructed. FIG. 11 is still another diagram for explaining HDD replacement processing when an HDD fails after the RAID system is constructed. It is a figure which shows the state which mounted | wore the multifunction machine with the mirroring kit with the use history in another model. FIG. 10 is another diagram showing a state in which a mirroring kit having a use history in another model is newly installed in the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 10 is still another view showing a state in which a mirroring kit having a use history in another model is newly installed in the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 10 is still another view showing a state in which a mirroring kit having a use history in another model is newly installed in the multifunction peripheral. It is a figure which shows the state when using HDD with a mounting history when HDD fails. It is another figure which shows a state when using HDD with a mounting history when HDD fails. It is a figure explaining the structure of the RAID system in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process example of the image processing apparatus by this invention. FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention and is a diagram following FIG. 21. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a display panel when forced rebuild setting is OFF and the time information of HDD does not correspond.

  The embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be implemented as a multifunction machine having a plurality of image processing functions such as a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. Hereinafter, a multi-function apparatus will be described as an example. However, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as an apparatus having a specific image processing function, such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine.

  The multifunction device includes a RAID controller that controls RAID, and the RAID controller has a function of controlling and mirroring two or more HDDs. A part of the recording area of the HDD is an area that can be accessed by both the controller that controls the MFP main body (referred to as the MFP controller) and the RAID controller that controls the RAID. The time information extracted from RTC (Real Time Clock) is stored. As a result, both the RAID controller and the MFP controller can share information. Using this shared management information, the HDD usage history is properly grasped, and the HDD is safely managed and operated.

[RAID concept]
First, the concept of RAID will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between a multifunction machine controller and an HDD when a RAID system is not provided. In FIG. 1, 10 is a controller board provided in the multifunction machine, 11 is a multifunction machine controller provided on the controller board 10, and 20 is an HDD installed in the main body of the multifunction machine.
The multifunction device controller 11 is a controller that controls the multifunction device main body. The multifunction device controller 11 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like formed on the controller board 10, and executes programs stored in the ROM to perform image processing of the multifunction device. It controls various operations. The multi-function peripheral has image processing means for executing image processing functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and an image transmission / reception function, and includes a display panel which is a display means for displaying various information. . The multifunction device controller 11 corresponds to the image processing device controller of the present invention that controls the operation of the image processing device main body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a multifunction device without a RAID system, the multifunction device controller 11 reads / writes data from / to one HDD 20. In other words, the HDD controller 11 directly accesses one HDD 20. In this case, if the HDD 20 breaks down, the HDD 20 cannot communicate with the multifunction device controller 11, the operation of the multifunction device whose operation is controlled by the multifunction device controller 11 is stopped, and in some cases, the user stored in the HDD 20 Data can be lost.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a multi-function peripheral equipped with a RAID system.
The RAID system includes a mirroring substrate 41 on which a RAID controller 42 is mounted, and an HDD 50. The configuration of the mirroring substrate 41 on which the RAID controller 42 is mounted and the HDD 50 is referred to as a mirroring kit 30. Hereinafter, the HDD 20 provided in the MFP main body is referred to as a main body side HDD, and the HDD 50 included in the mirroring kit 30 is referred to as a mirroring kit side HDD.

  By providing the mirroring kit 30, the multifunction device controller 11 can access the two HDDs 20 and 50 via the RAID controller 42 on the mirroring substrate 41. In addition, mirroring information for identifying and managing both HDDs is written in both HDDs 20 and 50. The mirroring information is simultaneously written in the respective HDDs 20 and 50. As a result, even if a failure occurs in one HDD, the information of the other HDD can be used, and no data loss occurs even if one HDD fails.

  Next, mirroring information will be described. The mirroring information is information that is written to both HDDs 20 and 50 in order to identify and manage HDDs when the mirroring kit 30 is newly installed in the multifunction machine and the power of the multifunction machine is turned on after the mirroring kit 30 is installed. Once this mirroring information has been written, the RAID controller 42 then performs RAID control based on this mirroring information. Since the mirroring information is very important information, it is desirable to store it in an area that cannot be directly accessed from the multifunction machine controller 11.

[Example of installation]
3 to 7 are diagrams for explaining an example when the mirroring kit is first mounted on the multifunction machine. This configuration describes a general operation when the shared management information area, which is a feature of the present invention, is not provided.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the state of the multifunction device before the mirroring kit is mounted. In the HDD 20 on the main body side of the multifunction device, a user data area 21 for storing user data and a mirroring information area 22 for storing mirroring information are shown. However, there is no mirroring information in the mirroring information area 22.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which a mirroring kit is newly installed in the multifunction machine. In the HDD 20 on the MFP main body side, there is no mirroring information in the mirroring information area 22 at this point as described above. Also, the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit side has a user data area 51 and a mirroring information area 52 in which user data is to be stored, but there is no mirroring information in the mirroring information area 52.

When the MFP is activated, the RAID controller 42 does not have mirroring information in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 of both HDDs 20 and 50 as shown in FIG. Write.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the RAID controller 42 copies all user data from the HDD 20 on the MFP main body side to the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit side, and stores it in the user data area 51 of the HDD 50. This is called rebuilding. When all user data is copied after a predetermined time has elapsed, as shown in FIG. 7, the user data in the two HDDs 20 and 50 have completely the same contents.

[Example of replacement]
Next, HDD replacement processing when an HDD fails after the RAID system as shown in FIG. 7 is constructed will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, when any of the HDDs 20 and 50 fails, the RAID controller 42 detects the failure and notifies the multifunction device controller 11 of the failure. Here, it is assumed that the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side has failed. Upon receiving the notification of the failure, the multifunction device controller 11 displays on the display panel of the multifunction device that one HDD 50 has failed, and prompts the user to replace the HDD 50 or the like.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the failed HDD 50 is removed from the multifunction machine. FIG. 10 shows a state in which a new HDD 50 ′ is installed in the mirroring kit.
The new HDD 50 ′ naturally has no mirroring information in its mirroring information area 52. Thereafter, when the power supply of the multifunction device is activated, the RAID controller 42 writes the mirroring information in the mirroring information area 52 of the new HDD 50 ′ installed in the mirroring kit 30 as shown in FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the RAID controller 42 starts rebuilding from the HDD 20 on the MFP main body side to the HDD 50 ′ on the mirroring kit 30 side. When all user data is copied from the HDD 20 on the main unit to the new HDD 50 ′ after a predetermined time has elapsed, the user data areas 21 and 51 of the two HDDs 20 and 50 ′ are completely the same as shown in FIG. In this state, the RAID system is completely recovered.

[Prohibited matter]
Next, two points to be prohibited when installing and replacing the HDD will be described.
As a first point, a used mirroring kit 30 that has a history of use in other models should not be attached to a multi-function machine to which the mirroring kit 30 is not attached. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, a general state when the shared management information area according to the present invention is not provided will be described as an example.

  FIG. 14 shows a state in which a used mirroring kit 30 having a history of use in another model is newly attached to a multifunction device not attached with a mirroring kit (for example, a multifunction device in the state shown in FIG. 3). . User data is written in the user data area 21 of the HDD 20 on the MFP main body side, but there is no mirroring information in the mirroring information area 22. In the newly installed used mirroring kit 30, mirroring information previously written by another type of multifunction device exists in the mirroring information area 52 of the HDD 50. In the user data area 51, there is no data, or there is data different from the user data on the MFP main body side.

  When the power supply of the multifunction device is started in this state, as shown in FIG. 15, the RAID controller 42 does not have mirroring information in the HDD 20 on the multifunction device main body side, and therefore mirrors in the mirroring information area 22 of the HDD 50 on the multifunction device main body side. Write information. As shown in FIG. 16, the RAID controller 42 starts a rebuild operation from the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side to the HDD 20 on the multifunction device main body side. This is because the RAID controller 42 operates using the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side where the mirroring information exists as a copy source. As a result, as shown in FIG. 17, the user data of the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side is overwritten on the HDD 20 on the multifunction machine main body side, and the user data originally written on the HDD 20 on the multifunction machine main body side is erased. .

  As a second prohibition item at the time of installation and replacement of the HDD, in a multifunction device in which the mirroring kit 30 is already installed, if the HDD fails, an HDD having a mounting history in the mirroring kit 30 should not be used. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, a general state when the shared management information area according to the present invention is not provided will be described as an example.

  If one of the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side mounted on the multifunction peripheral or the HDD 20 on the multifunction peripheral main body fails (for example, FIGS. 8 to 9), the failed HDD is removed and replaced with a new HDD. . Here, it is assumed that the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side has failed. As shown in FIG. 18, when replacing the failed HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side with a new HDD 50 ′, the replaced HDD 50 ′ is a used HDD having a history of use in other types of multifunction devices. Shall be.

  In this case, the used HDD 50 'already has mirroring information recorded by the previous model of the multifunction peripheral. On the other hand, mirroring information also exists in the HDD 20 on the MFP main body side. The mirroring information of these two HDDs does not match each other.

  In FIG. 19, when trying to start a multifunction machine that has been replaced with a used HDD 50 ′, the RAID controller 42 reads and identifies the mirroring information from the two HDDs 50 ′ and 20, but the mirroring information between the two is different. Therefore, it becomes difficult to identify and the MFP cannot be started. At this time, the user does not know why it cannot be started. Therefore, an HDD having a usage history should not be used with other types of multifunction devices.

[Configuration of the present invention]
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a RAID system according to the embodiment of this invention. As shown in FIG. 20A, the RAID system applied to the embodiment according to the present invention includes a mirroring substrate 41 on which a RAID controller 42 is mounted, and an HDD 50. A mirroring kit 30 is configured by the mirroring substrate 41 and the HDD 50 on which the RAID controller 42 is mounted.

  The multi-function device controller 11 is mounted on the controller board 10 and accesses the two HDDs 20 and 50 via the RAID controller 42 on the mirroring board 41. Also, mirroring information for identifying and managing the HDD is written in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 of both HDDs 20 and 50. Even if a failure occurs in one HDD due to the mirroring information, the information in the other HDD can be used, and no data loss occurs even if one HDD fails.

  The controller board 10 is equipped with a real time clock circuit (RTC: Real Time Clock) 12. The RTC 12 can always maintain the clock function with the backup power supply even when the main power supply of the multi-function peripheral is turned off. The multi-function device controller 11 can obtain time information by accessing the RTC 12.

In the embodiment according to the present invention, some storage areas of the HDDs 20 and 50 are shared management information areas 23 and 53 that can be accessed by both the MFP controller 11 and the RAID controller 42, and the shared management information areas 23 and 53. The time information acquired from the RTC 12 by the MFP controller 11 is stored.
Here, information other than the time information acquired from the RTC 12 may be recorded in the shared management information areas 23 and 53, but here, the description will be made focusing on the time information.

[When the time information matches]
When the MFP is activated, the RAID controller 42 compares the time information in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 of the HDDs 20 and 50 with the time information in the shared management information areas 23 and 53, and the contents match. Determine whether or not.
At this time, the time information recorded in the mirroring information area 52 of the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side, the time information stored in the shared management information area 53 of the HDD 50, and the mirroring information area 22 on the main body side are recorded. And the time information stored in the shared management information area 23 of the HDD 20 are compared.

  If all of the time information is consistent with each other, the multi-function device controller 11 updates the time information in the shared management information areas 23 and 53 using the time information acquired from the RTC 12. Then, the RAID controller 42 copies the time information stored in the shared management information areas 23 and 53 to the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 that store the mirroring information, respectively, and updates the time information in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52. Execute the MFP normally.

[When the time information does not match]
Similarly to the above, when the MFP is started up, the RAID controller 42 compares the time information in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 of the respective HDDs 20 and 50 with the time information in the shared management information areas 23 and 53, and Determine if the contents match. Here, when even one of the contents of the time information in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 of the HDDs 20 and 50 and the time information in the shared management information areas 23 and 53 do not match, it has been used in another model in the past, or a multifunction machine It is determined that there is an HDD having a history installed alone.

  Therefore, in such a case, a message that warns that the HDD is not normal and is not suitable for configuring the RAID is displayed on the display panel of the multi-function peripheral, and all HDDs for which the time information is compared are displayed. Disconnect from the control target. In this message, it is possible to request that the power of the multi-function device be turned off, and to request that the mirroring information of the HDD be erased or reformatted. As a result, it is possible to notify the user of the status of the HDD and request countermeasures, and to prevent a malfunction of the multifunction device.

Further, as another means when the contents of the time information in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 of the HDDs 20 and 50 and the time information in the shared management information areas 23 and 53 do not match, the rebuild is forcibly performed. be able to. By rebuilding, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the multifunction device cannot be used.
In this case, the multifunction device controller 11 copies the time information acquired from the RTC 12 to the shared management information areas 23 and 53 of the HDDs 20 and 50 after the rebuild is completed. Then, the RAID controller 42 copies the time information of the shared management information areas 23 and 53 to the mirroring information areas 22 and 52, respectively, and normally starts the multifunction peripheral.
Whether to perform rebuilding as described above or to disconnect an HDD whose time information does not match from the control target can be selected by setting the RAID controller 42.

[Handling of single HDD]
Here, an operation when the multifunction device controller 11 connects a single HDD without going through the RAID controller 42 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the single HDD includes an HDD that has been traced in the past (has mirroring information).
When the MFP is powered on, the MFP controller 11 determines whether or not the RAID controller 42 is connected. As a determination method at this time, a method using a connection assert signal from the mirroring substrate 41 on which the RAID controller 42 is mounted can be applied.

When it is determined that the RAID controller 42 is not connected, the multi-function device controller 11 forcibly overwrites the time information extracted from the RTC 12 in the shared management information area of the single HDD.
By this means, when an HDD with a trace of RAID in the past is connected to the multifunction peripheral as a single HDD, the time information in the shared management information area is forcibly rewritten. Even if the HDD is connected to the RAID system and started up, the time information is determined to be inconsistent there, so that the malfunction of the original RAID system can be prevented.

[Handling unused HDD]
When the mirroring kit 30 including the unused HDD is mounted, the mirroring information area 52 of the unused HDD 50 has no mirroring information. In this case, the shared management information area 53 also has no time information. For this reason, the multifunction device controller 11 copies the time information acquired from the RTC 12 to the shared management information area 53 after the rebuild is completed. Then, the RAID controller 42 copies the time information in the shared management information area 53 to the mirroring information area 52, and normally activates the multifunction peripheral.

  If there is no mirroring information in the mirroring information area 52 of the HDD 50, it indicates that the HDD 50 is new or used for the first time as a RAID system. In this case, the multifunction device can be normally activated without determining that the HDD is inappropriate. The same applies to the HDD 20 on the main body side.

  FIG. 20B shows the configuration of management information stored in the shared management information area of each HDD. The management information stored in the shared management information areas 23 and 53 of the HDDs 20 and 50 includes time information extracted from the RTC 12 by the multifunction device controller 11, a write completion flag from the multifunction device controller 11, a comparison completion flag from the RAID controller 42, And a comparison result of the RAID controller 42.

The time information is the time extracted from the RTC 12 by the multi-function device controller 11. For example, “year”, “month”, “day”, “hour”, “minute” such as yyyy year xx month xx day xx hour xx minute xx second, etc. ”And“ second ”data.
As the written flag from the multifunction device controller 11, for example, a flag of 0 is recorded before the time information is written by the multifunction device controller 11, and 1 is recorded after the writing.
As a comparison completion flag from the RAID controller 42, for example, a flag of 0 is recorded before the comparison by the RAID controller 42 is completed, and 1 is recorded after the comparison is completed.

  The RAID controller 42 compares the time information of the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 of the respective HDDs 20 and 50 with the time information of the respective shared management information areas 23 and 53, and the contents of the comparison result of the RAID controller 42. Is information indicating a result of determining whether or not all match. An example is shown below.

When the time information of the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 and the time information of the respective shared management information areas 23 and 53 all match, it is determined as normal.
On the other hand, when the time information in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 and the time information in the respective shared management information areas 23 and 53 do not match, and the forced rebuild setting is ON in the RAID controller 42 Is illegal_rebuild.
Alternatively, when the time information in the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 and the time information in the respective shared management information areas 23 and 53 are inconsistent and the forced rebuild setting is OFF in the RAID controller, It is illegal.
Further, if it is determined that a new HDD is connected, it is determined as a new one.

  FIG. 20C shows the configuration of mirroring information stored in the mirroring information area of each HDD. The mirroring information is composed of RAID identification information and time information. The RAID identification information is information for identifying and managing the HDD by RAID. The time information is obtained by copying the time information acquired by the MFP controller 11 from the RTC 12 and stored in the shared management information areas 23 and 53 of the HDDs 20 and 50 to the mirroring information areas 22 and 52. is there.

[flowchart]
21 to 22 are flowcharts for explaining a processing example of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and show a flow executed by the multi-function peripheral which is an embodiment of the image processing apparatus.
First, when the multifunction device is turned on by the multifunction device controller 11 (step S100), the multifunction device controller 11 first determines whether or not the RAID controller 42 is connected (step S101). As a determination method, a method using a connection assert signal from the mirroring substrate 41 on which the RAID controller 42 is mounted can be applied.

<< Case 1 >>
When the RAID controller 42 is not connected (No at Step S102), the multi-function device controller 11 copies the time information extracted from the RTC 12 to the shared management information area 23 of the HDD 20 (Step S116). Thereafter, the normal operation state is established (step S117), and the process is terminated.

  By installing the system as described above, after the HDD 20 that has been connected to the mirroring kit in the past and in which the mirroring information is recorded is connected to another multifunction machine and operated, the HDD 20 is removed. For example, when the original mirroring kit is remounted and started, the time information stored in the shared management information area 23 of the HDD 20 does not match the time information of the HDD already provided on the MFP main body side. Since it is determined to be fraudulent, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the multifunction device.

<< Case 2 >>
If it is determined in step S102 that the RAID controller 42 is connected, the RAID controller 42 checks the mirroring information in the mirroring information areas 23 and 53 of the connected HDDs 20 and 50 (step S103). If it is determined that both HDDs 20 and 50 have mirroring information (step S104-Yes), the RAID controller 42 determines the time information and mirroring information area 23 of the shared management information areas 22 and 52 of the HDDs 20 and 50, respectively. , 53 are compared (step S105).

  In this case, the RAID controller 42 includes time information recorded in the mirroring information area 52 of the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit 30 side, time information stored in the shared management information area 53 of the HDD 50, and the HDD 20 on the main body side. The four pieces of time information of the time information recorded in the mirroring information area 22 and the time information stored in the shared management information area 23 of the HDD 20 are compared. When all these four pieces of time information match, it is determined that the comparison results match.

  For example, as an example of the comparison process, (1) time information is compared in the mirroring information area 22 of the HDD 20 on the main body side and the shared management information area 23 of the HDD 20 on the main body side. (2) Next, time information is compared in the sharing management information area 53 of the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit side and the mirroring information area 52 of the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit side. (3) Time information can be compared between the mirroring information area 22 of the HDD 20 on the main body side and the mirroring information area 52 of the HDD 50 on the mirroring kit side. If the time information is the same in the above (1) to (3), it is determined that the comparison result is the same, and if any time information is different, the comparison result is determined to be inconsistent.

If the comparison result of the time information is determined to be coincident (step S106—Yes), the RAID controller 42 sets the comparison result recorded in the shared management information areas 23 and 53 to “normal” and the comparison is completed. The flag is set to 1 (step S107).
The multi-function device controller 11 confirms that the comparison completion flag is 1, confirms the comparison result recorded in the shared management information areas 23 and 53, and sets the comparison completion flag to 0 (step S108). Then, the multifunction device controller 11 copies the time information extracted from the RTC 12 to the shared management information areas 23 and 53, and sets the write completion flag to 1 (step S109).
Next, after confirming that the write completion flag is 1, the RAID controller 42 copies the time information of the shared management information areas 23 and 53 to the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 (step S110), and sets the write completion flag to 0. To. Thereafter, the normal operation state is established (step S111).

  By installing the system as described above, the time information in each of the shared management information areas 22 and 53 and the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 in each HDD is updated every time the system is started, and thereafter, an incorrect combination of HDDs is configured. In this case, since the time information does not match each other, it can be determined that the time information is illegal, and malfunction of the multifunction peripheral can be prevented.

<< Case 3 >>
If it is determined in step S104 that there is no mirroring information in any of the HDDs 20 and 50, the RAID controller 42 creates mirroring information and starts rebuilding (step S112).
The RAID controller 42 sets the comparison result of the shared management information areas 23 and 53 as “new” and sets the comparison completion flag to 1 (step S113). Then, the multifunction device controller 11 confirms that the comparison completion flag is 1, confirms the comparison result of the shared management information areas 23 and 53, and sets the comparison completion flag to 0 (step S114).

In rebuilding, mirroring information is written in an HDD that has been determined to have no mirroring information, all user data is copied from the other HDD to the HDD in which the mirroring information has been written, and stored in the user data area. Thereafter, when the rebuild is completely completed (step S115-Yes), the multi-function device controller 11 copies the time information extracted from the RTC 12 to the shared management information areas 23 and 53 of the HDDs 20 and 50, and sets the write completion flag to 1. (Step S109).
Next, after confirming that the write completion flag is 1, the RAID controller 42 copies the time information of the shared management information areas 23 and 53 to the mirroring information areas 22 and 52, respectively (step S110), and then operates normally. A state is entered (step S111).

  By installing the system as described above, a new HDD can be normally started up without being handled illegally. In addition, since the time information in the HDD is updated at this time, it can be determined that the combination of the unauthorized HDDs is unauthorized and the malfunction of the multifunction device can be prevented.

<< Case 4 >>
If it is determined in step S106 that the time information comparison result does not match, the RAID controller 42 checks whether the forced rebuild setting is ON (step S118).
Here, when the forced rebuild setting is ON, the RAID controller 42 starts the rebuild (step S119).
The RAID controller 42 sets the comparison result of the shared management information areas 23 and 53 as “illegal_rebuild” and sets the comparison completion flag to 1 (step S120). Then, the multifunction device controller 11 confirms that the comparison completion flag is 1, confirms the comparison result of the shared management information areas 23 and 53, and sets the comparison completion flag to 0 (step S121).

Here, forced rebuild is performed when the time information does not match. In the forced rebuild, one of the HDDs 20 and 50 is fixed in advance as the user data copy source. In this case, the RAID controller 42 cannot determine which of the HDDs 20 and 50 whose time information does not match is the master.
In this case, the necessary user data may be overwritten. However, in actual use scenes, backup is performed before replacing the HDD and restoration is performed after the rebuild is completed. Data restoration is possible. This forced rebuild is a means for avoiding a situation in which the multifunction device cannot operate and becomes unusable by determining that the time information does not match and is invalid.

  When the rebuild is completely completed, the multifunction device controller 11 copies the time information extracted from the RTC 12 to the shared management information areas 23 and 53, and sets the write completion flag to 1 (step S109). After confirming that the write completion flag is 1, the RAID controller 42 copies the time information of the shared management information areas 23 and 53 to the mirroring information areas 22 and 52 (step S110), and then enters a normal operation state. (Step S111).

  When an HDD with a usage history is installed in the mirroring kit, the time information in the shared management information in the installed HDD is different between the HDDs or different from the time information in the mirroring information. May cause problems. For this reason, by mounting the system as described above, by forcibly rebuilding, it becomes possible to normalize the unauthorized HDD and to operate the multifunction device without any trouble in the subsequent use of the multifunction device.

<< Case 5 >>
If the forced rebuild setting is OFF in step S118, the RAID controller 42 sets the comparison result of the shared management information areas 23 and 53 to “invalid” and sets the comparison completion flag to 1 (step S123). Then, the multifunction device controller 11 confirms that the comparison completion flag is 1, confirms the comparison result of the shared management information areas 23 and 53, and sets the comparison completion flag to 0 (step S124). Further, the multifunction device controller 11 displays on the display panel that the HDD being used may be illegal, prompts the user to confirm (step S125), and stops the multifunction device (step S126).

The stop here means that the MFP cannot be used, and the RAID controller 42 separates the HDD from the control target so that it cannot be used. In this case, since the RAID controller 42 cannot determine which HDD is an illegal HDD only by the mismatch of time information, it cannot be used by separating all the HDDs subjected to the comparison of time information from the control target. To.
As a result, when an inappropriate HDD is installed, it is possible to alert the user of formatting and the like, and to prevent machine troubles and the like.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the display panel when the forced rebuild setting is OFF and the HDD time information does not match. The multifunction device 100 includes a display panel 101. In this case, a warning display is displayed on the display panel 101. In the warning display, it is possible to request the user to turn off the power, notify that the connected HDD has been used in the past, and request to erase the mirroring information of the HDD or reformat the HDD. .

When an HDD with a usage history is installed by installing the system as described above, the time information in the shared management information in the installed HDD is different between the HDDs, or the time information in the mirroring information Since it is different, the user is prompted to connect another HDD. Then, the RAID controller 42 disconnects the HDD.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that appropriately determines whether or not the HDD is a normal HDD by comparing the share management information and the mirroring information, and manages and operates the HDD safely.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Controller board, 11 ... Multi-function device controller, 12 ... Real time clock circuit (RTC), 20, 50 ... HDD, 21 ... User data area, 22 ... Mirroring information area, 23 ... Shared management information area, 30 ... Mirroring kit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 41 ... Mirroring board | substrate, 42 ... RAID controller, 51 ... User data area, 52 ... Mirroring information area | region, 53 ... Shared management information area | region, 101 ... Display panel.

Claims (6)

An image processing device controller for controlling the operation of the image processing device main body, a real-time clock circuit for generating time data, a plurality of HDDs constituting a RAID, and a RAID controller for controlling the plurality of HDDs;
A partial storage area of each HDD is a shared management information area accessible by both the image processing device controller and the RAID controller,
The RAID controller controls mirroring among the plurality of HDDs, and stores mirroring information for identifying and managing each HDD in each HDD.
The image processing apparatus controller stores time information extracted from the real-time clock circuit in the shared management information area of each HDD,
The RAID controller copies time information stored in the shared management information area of each HDD to an area for storing the mirroring information of each HDD. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The RAID controller stores time information stored in an area for storing the mirroring information of each HDD and the time recorded in the shared management information area of each HDD when the image processing apparatus is activated. Compare all of the information,
An image processing apparatus that determines, based on the comparison result, whether or not the HDD to be compared is a normal HDD in configuring a RAID. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2.
It has a display panel that displays information,
The RAID controller determines that all HDDs subjected to the comparison are not normal if the result of comparing all the time information does not match each other,
The image processing apparatus controller displays a warning on the display panel according to the determination of the RAID controller, and disconnects all HDDs determined to be abnormal from the control target. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2.
The RAID controller determines that the comparison target HDD is a rebuild target if the comparison results of all the time information do not match each other, and data is transferred from one HDD to another HDD. An image processing apparatus characterized by executing a forced rebuilding operation to copy a file. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4.
It has a display panel that displays information,
When executing the forced rebuild operation, the image processing apparatus controller displays a display indicating that the rebuild operation is being performed on the display panel, and after the forced rebuild operation is completed, the sharing management information of each HDD Update the time information of the area,
The RAID controller copies the updated time information of the shared management information area of each HDD to the area for storing the mirroring information of each HDD, and normally starts the image processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2.
The RAID controller determines that the comparison target HDD is normal if the results of comparing all the time information are consistent with each other,
The image processing apparatus controller copies time information of the shared management information area of each HDD to an area for storing the mirroring information of each HDD, and normally starts the image processing apparatus. A featured image processing apparatus.

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