JP2762453B2 - Input / output configuration change method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an input / output configuration changing method, and more particularly, to a computer system during non-stop operation and during operation of an input / output device.
The present invention relates to a method for changing the input / output configuration.

[Conventional technology]

The demand for 24-hour nonstop operation of the computer system is
In recent years it has been particularly growing. On the other hand, in the computer system, it is considered that the opportunity to change the configuration of the input / output device group, such as addition of a disk device, will increase with the expansion of the business to be handled. Therefore, measures for this are important.

In a conventional computer system, especially in a computer system in which selection of an input / output path and queuing control of an input / output request are transferred from an operating system (OS) to hardware, an input / output configuration is required before starting operation of the system. It is necessary to represent the information that defines the information in a format that can be interpreted by the hardware of the system, and set the information in the system. This setting is performed at the time of initial setting of the system together with the loading of the microprogram (for example, see "HITAC Program Product Manual (809
1-3-081) VOS3 / ES1 Extended Channel System User's Guide ”). That is, in the manual, the console file of the service processor is provided with a plurality of system configuration data sets and an area for storing information for controlling them. The system configuration data set stores the device configuration information of the computer center, and is automatically transferred to a real storage area dedicated to hardware when a micro program of the CPU is loaded or the power is turned on.
Used as input / output control information.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, in the above-described related art, when a part of the input / output configuration is changed, it is necessary to perform the change at the time of the initial setting of the system, so that the operation stop of the system cannot be avoided.

In recent years, there have been many demands for 24-hour nonstop operation of the system. In such a case, there is a demand to change the input / output configuration while the system is operating.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and to add, replace or remove an input / output device or an input / output control device, and further change the physical connection relationship thereof, during operation of the system, and An object of the present invention is to provide an input / output configuration change method that can be performed during the operation of an input / output device.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the input / output configuration changing method of the present invention uses an input / output processor based on information defining an input / output configuration of a computer system stored in a main memory.
Are input / output devices 100 to 10n and 300 having at least two input / output paths (channels CH1 to CH7, etc.) by hardware.
An input / output configuration change method for a computer system that performs input / output control including selection of input / output paths (channels CH1 to CH7, etc.) and input / output request queuing control for to 30n, 500 to 50n, and 510 to 51n, Specified input / output path (channels CH1 to C
H7, etc., are selectively stopped and restarted, and the channels (CH1
~ CH7), I / O control devices 60-67 and I / O devices 10-1
0n, 300 to 30n, 500 to 50n, 510 to 51n, and a plurality of operator commands (fifth
I / O devices 100 to 10n, 300 to 30n, 500
During the operations of .about.50n and 510.about.51n, the operating system sequentially issues operator commands to the input / output processor 5, so that the input / output processor 5 updates information defining the output configuration on the main memory 2 by hardware. The input / output devices 100 to 10n, 300 to 30n, 500 to 50n, and 510 to 51n are changed in input / output paths (channels CH1 to CH7, etc.).

[Action]

In the present invention, the input / output configuration is changed even during the system operation, for example, the input / output device and the input / output control device are added / removed.
Replacement / removal, change of physical connection relationship between channel and I / O device and channel and I / O control device, change of control mode between channel and I / O device and channel and I / O control device, It is possible to change physical device numbers (addresses) such as channels, input / output devices, and input / output control devices. Since it is possible to stop input / output to a desired input / output device or execution of an input / output instruction using a desired input / output path in advance, the input / output apparatus or the input / output path whose configuration is being changed is stopped. There is no fear that an inadvertent input / output command is executed and a failure such as a malfunction occurs, and a desired input / output configuration can be changed without unexpectedly adversely affecting the operation of the system during operation.

As an example, in an input / output device having two input / output paths, when one input / output path is to be changed to another input / output path, execution of an input / output instruction using the input / output path to be changed is selectively performed. By stopping, the execution of the I / O command for the I / O path can be continued using the remaining I / O path. Therefore, the running system cannot execute the I / O command for the I / O device. A desired input / output path change operation can be performed without interruption.

When the desired I / O configuration is changed, the I / O configuration information held by the computer system must be updated to contents appropriate for the changed I / O configuration in preparation for resuming execution of I / O instructions. Become. When the system is operating because the execution of I / O instructions that require the I / O configuration information has been stopped for the part related to the change of the I / O configuration in the I / O configuration information held by the system However, it can be updated, and can be updated according to a predetermined format.

When the change of the I / O configuration and the update of the I / O configuration information are completed, the new I / O configuration is ready to resume execution of I / O instructions. By resuming the execution of the input / output, the system can start operating with the new input / output configuration.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a computer system showing one embodiment of the present invention.

The computer system of the present invention includes an instruction processor 1 for issuing instructions such as input / output instructions, a main storage device 2 for storing programs and processing data, a service processor 4 for setting system configuration information and the like, and executing input / output instructions. Processor 5, a system controller 3 for connecting these processors 1, 3, 5 and the main storage 2,
The input / output control devices 60 to 60 connected to the channels CH1 to CH7 in the processor 5 and controlling the input / output devices, respectively.
67, and input / output devices 100 to 10n, 300 to 30n, 500 to 50n, 510 to 51n, and a file device 10 respectively connected to the input / output control device. The input / output control devices 66 and 67 and the input / output devices 510 to 51n indicated by broken lines are to be added while the computer system is operating. 002,00A, 0 connected to channel CH0 of the input / output processor 5
Reference numerals 0B and 6 denote a printer, a monitor display device, and a monitoring control device added to the system.

Each input / output device is connected to the channel CH in the IO processor 5.
And connected to the system via the input / output controller 60-69,
A path from the system to the input / output device via the channel CH and the input / output control devices 60 to 69 is called an input / output path.

In the computer system of the present embodiment, hardware mainly including the IO processor 5 executes the selection of the input / output path and the queue control of the input / output request issued from the operating system (OS).

For this purpose, the hardware needs information (hereinafter simply referred to as input / output configuration information) defining an input / output configuration such as a physical connection relationship between the channel CH and the input / output device. The file is created on the file device 10 provided in the service processor 4 prior to the operation of. Then, when the computer system is turned on or when the system is initialized (loading a microprogram, etc.)
It is stored in a specific area of the main storage device 2. The input / output configuration information stored on the main storage device 2 is read and used by the IO processor 5 and the instruction processor 1. The I / O configuration information created on the file device 10 includes not only the I / O devices that are physically connected, but also the I / O devices that are to be connected (for example, the devices indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1). Can also be defined. When an I / O request is issued from the OS to an I / O device that is defined in the I / O configuration information but is not physically connected, the IO processor 5 sends the I / O controller to the I / O controller. Upon receiving the report, the input / output device detects that it is not physically connected, and responds to the OS that it is inoperable. I / O devices that are physically connected to the system but are not defined in the I / O configuration information
Since the system does not recognize its existence, it is not accessed.

Since the hardware refers to the I / O configuration information and also performs I / O path selection and I / O request queue control, etc.
The OS does not need to perform these controls, and does not need to know the physical I / O configuration such as how the I / O paths are. Can be accessed. If the OS issues an I / O request by designating the magnetic disk device having the logical I / O device number 100, the IO processor 5 refers to the I / O configuration information, and in FIG. The I / O device 100 uses either the I / O path via the channel of the I / O controller 60 or the I / O path via the channel of the CH number 2 and the I / O controller 61.
Since it is known that the input / output request can be executed for the input / output request, an appropriate one is selected according to the use status of the input / output path to execute the input / output.

FIG. 2 is a connection diagram of the input / output device as viewed from the OS in FIG.

When the input / output configuration of FIG. 1 is viewed from the OS, as shown in FIG. 2, the logical input / output device numbers (002, 100 to 10n)
It seems that a plurality of I / O device groups assigned are directly connected to the system, so how the I / O devices corresponding to each logical I / O device number are physically connected Is completely irrelevant. In other words, these changes in the physical I / O configuration do not directly affect the OS or application programs that execute I / O requests via the OS, and the physical I / O configuration changes during physical operation of the system. That is, it satisfies a part of the condition for enabling a dynamic input / output configuration change.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of definition information of an input / output configuration stored in the file device of FIG.

Hereinafter, the input / output configuration information required for the hardware to perform the input / output control described above and how the hardware uses the information will be described in detail.

When an input / output request is issued by logically specifying an input / output device from the OS, the hardware needs to know physical input / output configuration information in order to execute the request. That is,
The I / O device specified by the OS physically corresponds to the I / O device, the I / O path connected to the system by the physical I / O device, and the control mode It is necessary for the hardware to know whether or not the operation should be performed by the hardware. The definition information of the input / output configuration relating to these is given in the format shown in FIG. 4 taking the configuration of FIG. 1 as an example.

In FIG. 4, row numbers 1 and 2 define the operating modes of the individual channels, according to which the channel number 0 is in byte multiplex mode, the channels number 1 to 7 are in block multiplex mode, It specifies that each works.

Line numbers 3 to 10 and 15, 17 define an input / output control unit (CU). According to the content, a unique number (CUNO) in the system assigned to each input / output control unit,
The number of the channel to which the I / O controller is connected (CHNO), the address of the I / O device connected to the I / O controller (ADDR), and the mode of control with the channel (TYPE, PROTCL) Is specified. Here, TYPE = S specifies that a plurality of input / output requests must not be issued simultaneously to the input / output control device specified with this type. This indicates that I / O requests can be issued simultaneously. Also, PROTCL
= S specifies that the data transfer between the channel and the input / output control device is performed in a high-speed data transfer mode called streaming. If this specification is not provided, it indicates that the normal data transfer mode is set. I have.

Line numbers 11 to 14, 16, and 18 define the I / O devices, and are logical numbers (DEVNO) assigned to the respective I / O devices. Indicates that n numbers are assigned to each I / O device), the number of the control device to which these I / O devices are connected (CUNO), and the channel when connected to these control devices. Address (ADDR) is specified.

These pieces of input / output configuration information are converted into a format (shown in FIG. 6) that can be easily decoded by hardware, and are loaded into a specific area on the main storage device 2.

By referring to these pieces of information, for example, when an I / O request is issued to the logical I / O device number 100, the I / O devices are identified by the numbers 60 and 61 based on the definition information in line number 11. The input / output configuration such as that the input / output control device is connected to the input / output control device at address 00 and that the input / output control device is connected to channel numbers 1 and 2 based on the definition information in line numbers 3 and 4, etc. You can know.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a table of input / output configuration information developed in the main storage device of FIG. 1. The input / output configuration information in FIG. 4 is converted into a format that can be easily decoded by hardware. The data loaded in a specific area of the main storage device 2 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 6, the input / output configuration information on the main memory is 3
Each table is composed of a channel control word (CHCW), a logical input / output control device control word (LCUW), and an input / output device control word (UCW). There are other tables, but only those relevant to the present invention are shown.

The channel control word (CHCW) is provided corresponding to each channel, and indicates the operation mode (byte multiplex mode BYMPX, block multiplex mode BLMPX) of each channel and a flag indicating whether or not the information of the channel is valid. Has information V. When V = 1, it indicates that the information of the entry is valid, and when V = 0, it indicates that the information is invalid.

The logical input / output control unit control word (LCUW) is used for convenient selection of input / output paths and queuing of input / output requests.
One or more I / O controllers that control a certain physical I / O device, and the same I / O device that is controlled by those I / O controllers is similarly controlled by another path. The input / output control device of the above is grasped as one aggregate and one logical input / output control device, and the input / output configuration information on the logical input / output control device (LCU) is defined. It is converted and generated from the input / output configuration information shown in FIG. That is, in FIG.
61, 62 and 63, 64 and 65, and 66 and 67 respectively constitute the same logical input / output control unit (LCU). The logical input / output control unit (LCUW) contains the logical input / output control unit (LCU).
Flag information V indicating whether or not the information is valid, a unique number (LCUNO) in the system assigned to the logical input / output control unit (LCU), and a channel for connecting the logical input / output control unit (LCU). Number (CHNO), a channel registration mask (CI
M), and an operation mode between the physical input / output control unit (CU) forming the logical input / output control unit and the channel CH (TYPE and PROTCL—this has the same meaning as described in FIG. 4) Etc. are stored. Since a plurality of input / output control units (CUs) may be treated as one logical input / output control unit (LCU), the operation mode is common to the channels of all input / output control units constituting the same LCU. ,
Only the input / output control devices of the same operation mode can constitute the same logical input / output control device (LCU).

Next, the input / output device control word (UCW) is provided for each individual input / output device, and flag information (V) indicating whether the information of the input / output device is valid or not, Flag information (E) indicating whether or not the input / output device has a unique input / output device number (DEV.N
O) The number of the logical I / O controller to which the I / O device is connected (LCUNO), and the channel that can access the I / O device among the channels that connect the logical I / O controller that controls the I / O device , A channel registration mask (CIM) that specifies the bit correspondence, a channel availability mask (CAM) that specifies whether the channel specified by the channel registration mask is usable or not, and input / output using the actual channel A channel operable mask that indicates whether an I / O device could be accessed through the channel when the device was accessed (COM—this initializes and resets the system and initializes the I / O device control word (UCW) Is set to '1' by the execution of the setting instruction), and the physical I / O device when the I / O device is accessed via the channel and the I / O controller Address (DEVADR)
Etc. are respectively stored.

Next, how the input / output configuration information loaded on the main storage device 2 is used will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an input / output request execution operation and an operation of changing input / output configuration information during the operation according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows an input / output configuration relating to input / output device numbers 500 and 510. FIG. 7 is a diagram in which only information is extracted from FIG. 6 and corresponds to the configuration in FIG.

In FIG. 3, steps 102 to 109 are steps for executing an input / output request, and steps 201 to 206 are steps for changing input / output configuration information during operation.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the input / output configuration information is loaded from the file device 10 to the main storage device 2 when the power is turned on (step 101), the IO processor 5 constantly monitors whether an input / output request is issued from the OS. (Step 102). When an input / output request is issued to the input / output device 500, the IO processor 5 determines a corresponding input / output device control word (UCW) and determines whether or not the corresponding UCW is valid and whether or not the UCW is usable. , Applicable U
Judgment is made based on the V and E flags in CW (step 10
3). If either one is '0', it notifies the OS that it is inoperable (step 104), and if both are '1', the channel that connects the input / output device to the system is A logical input / output control unit (LCU) is found (step 105). The channels that can access the input / output device are all channel-related masks in the UCW, that is, the channel registration mask (CIM), the channel usable mask (CAM), and the channel operable mask (COM). 1 'thing. Here, CIM, CA in the UCW of FIG. 7 correspond to channels CH0 to CH7 of FIG.
Since M and COM are represented by bits 0 and 1, those having all 1 are candidates. LC that connects the input / output device
U can be obtained from the LCU number registered in the UCW (here, LCUNO = 3). The corresponding LCUW (NO.3) contains the number of the channel connected to this LCU (CHNO =
5,6, X, X) are registered, the channels corresponding to bits 0 and 1 in which all channel-related masks in the UCW are 1 and the channel registration mask in the LCUW is 1, that is, channels 5 and It can be seen that channel 6 is a channel that can access the input / output device 500. The device address 00 registered in the UCW may be used as the address for accessing the input / output device via the channel.
The IO processor 5 selects a vacant channel from the channel numbers 5 and 6, activates the input / output device 500, and accesses it (step 106).

Next, when an I / O request is issued to the I / O device number 510, LCUNO = 6 is selected from UCW (NO = 510) shown in the lower part of FIG. 7, and LCUW (NO.6) is selected from LCUW (NO.6). Channel numbers 5 and 6 will be selected. I / O device number 500
The difference from the case is that, as is clear from FIG. 1, the input / output control devices 66 and 67 and the input / output devices 510 to 51n connected thereto are defined in the input / output configuration information. It is not physically connected to the system. In this case, the activation of the input / output device 510 fails from any of the input / output paths of the channels 5 and 6 (step 107).

In such a case, the hardware processes as follows. That is, when it is detected that the designated input / output device 510 is not physically connected, the corresponding bit of the channel operation mask (COM) of the UCW is set to 0 (step 108). If it is detected that the activation of the input / output has failed in all of the selectable input / output paths, the OS is notified that the input / output device is inoperable (step 10).
9). When an input / output request is issued to the input / output device 510 again, there is no channel that satisfies the condition that all the channel-related masks in the UCW are “1”. The OS is notified that the device is inoperable. If the input / output activation of one channel fails, the subsequent input / output activation
Since a channel for which input / output has failed is not selected, useless operation can be suppressed.

Next, a case where the input / output configuration is changed will be described. Now, the input / output control devices 66 and 67 and the input / output devices 510 to 51n are added to the system as shown by broken lines,
Consider a case where the input / output configuration is changed such that the channel connected to is changed from number 6 to number 7.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operator command for instructing the system to stop / resume the input / output operation and change the input / output configuration.

First, in order to stop the execution on the input / output path to be changed, an appropriate one of the operator commands shown in FIG. 5 is selected and used (step 201).
These operator commands are used by the operator to instruct the system to stop / resume the input / output operation, change the input / output configuration, and the like, and perform predetermined control on the hardware by being decoded by the OS. Is performed. The operator command in FIG. 5 specifies that the channel specified by x is disconnected from the system (offline), that is, the execution of input / output on the channel is stopped. To change from channel number 6 to 7, the command that specified channel number 6
Is issued to the hardware via
2). As a result, the IO processor 5 or the instruction processor 1 sets the channel usable mask (CAM) bit corresponding to the channel number 6 in all UCWs to “0” by checking the LCUW and UCW on the main storage device 2. (Step 203). If the channel operable mask (COM) becomes “0”, this channel will not be selected when executing an input / output request as described above. Further, when this command is instructed to the hardware, the IO processor 5
Performs the disconnection at the logic circuit level in order to reliably disconnect the designated channel (step 203).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a connection portion between the IO processor and a channel according to the present invention.

The IO processor 50 is connected to the interface with the desired channel 52 and the channel by setting a predetermined bit in the channel configuration control register 51 provided inside the processor to '1' or '0'. I / O devices can be connected or disconnected. That is, by setting '0' to the register 51, the AND circuits 501, 5
The input of 03 is set to '0' to close the AND circuit, the connection from the processor 50 side to the channel 52 is suppressed, and the inputs of the AND circuits 521 and 522 in the channel 52 are also set to '0' to close the AND circuit and the channel side is closed. Can also be suppressed from being connected to the processor 50.

In this manner, by separating the channel, the input / output operation is started from the input / output device side, and the use of this channel can be suppressed. Since the channel 6 has been disconnected as described above, the change of the channel connected to the input / output control device 65 from 6 to 7 is reflected in the input / output configuration information by issuing an operator command (step 204). ). Next, the designated channel is connected to the system by issuing the command shown in FIG. 5 (step 205). That is, the operator command is a command that instructs to connect the specified channel to the system, contrary to the command, and when this command is issued, the operator command corresponds to the specified channel in all UCWs. Channel usable mask (CA
The bit of M) is set to '1', and the IO processor 5 connects the specified channel and the input / output device connected to the channel. Channels that have become available on the UCW are subject to channel selection from the time a new I / O request is issued.

As a result, the connection change of the channels 5 and 6 has been completed, so the flow returns to step 102 again to wait for an input / output request from the OS.

Note that the operator command in FIG. 5 is a command for designating disconnection of the specified input / output device from the system. When this command is issued,
The E bit of the corresponding UCW is set to '0', and execution of input / output is suppressed. Also, the operator command of
Command is the reverse of the command, and the specified UCW E
Set bit to '1'. The operator command is for changing the input / output configuration information relating to the channel, and changes the operation mode of the specified channel. When this command is issued, the operation mode of the channel in the CHCW is changed. The operator command is used to change input / output configuration information relating to a specified input / output control device (CU), and the old (y) of the channel number (CHNO) to which the input / output control device is connected is used. To the new (z), the address of the input / output device to which the input / output control device is connected, and the change content of the operation mode can be designated. When this command is issued, the channel number and operation mode in the LCUW corresponding to the specified input / output control device are changed to the specified contents. Also,
The operator command changes the number of the input / output control device to which the specified input / output device is connected from the old (y) to the new (z) and changes the address. When this command is issued, , LCUNO, C in UCW corresponding to the input device
Change IM and DEVADR. The LCUNO is changed when the corresponding LCU is changed due to a change in the number of the input / output control device. At this time, the corresponding CIM is also changed.

Hereinafter, the input / output control device 65 and the channel 6 in FIG.
The operation of switching the connection of the channel 7 to the channel 7 and newly connecting the input / output control device 67 to the channel 6 and the operation of newly connecting the input / output control device 66 to the channel 5 will be described.

First, the channel number of the input / output control device 65 in FIG.
In order to change from channel 7 to channel 7, disconnection of channel 6 is performed using the operator command shown in FIG. 5, thereby suppressing use of channel 6 (step 202).
Even if the channel 6 is disconnected, the input / output requests to the input / output devices 500 to 50n can continue to operate using the remaining input / output path, that is, the channel 5, as described above. In this state, by connecting the input / output control device 65 to the channel 7 and issuing an operator command, the fact that the channel connected to the input / output control device 65 has been changed from 6 to 7 is added to the input / output configuration information. It is reflected (step 204). Next, if the channel 7 is connected to the system by the operator command (step 205), the input / output devices 500 to 50
n means that input / output is performed using channels 5 and 7.

Next, when the input / output control device 67 is connected to the channel 6, since the channel 6 has already been disconnected from the system, the connection can be made without any influence on the system operation. That is, the input / output control device 67
(Physical connection), and the channel 6 is connected to the system by the operator command of, so that it can be used.

Next, when the input / output control device 66 is connected to the channel 5, the channel 5 needs to be disconnected. Also at this time, the input / output devices 500 to 50n can continue the input / output operation using the remaining channel 7. After the connection of the input / output control device 66 to the channel 5 (physical connection), if the channel 5 is connected to the system by an operator command, the input / output request to the input / output control devices 64 and 66 can be executed. Become.

A detailed description of the change of the control mode between the channel and the input / output control device and the change of the physical device number (address) of the input / output control device and the input / output device is also omitted, but FIG. The tables CHCW, LCUW, and UCW are provided, and the OS can issue the operator commands shown in FIG. 5 to make changes during the operation of the system.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, even during the operation of the system, the operator can issue an operator command from the OS to change the input / output configuration information developed on the main memory, thereby making the input / output configuration arbitrary. Therefore, the input / output configuration can be changed while the non-stop operation is continued.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a computer system embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an input / output device group viewed from an OS in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the input / output configuration definition information stored in the file device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an input flowchart issued by the OS to the system. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing operator commands for output stop / restart and change of input / output configuration, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a table of input / output configuration information developed in the main storage device of FIG. 1,
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a specific input / output device in the input / output configuration information of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a channel connection portion in the IO processor of FIG. 1: Instruction processor, 2: Main memory, 3: System controller, 4: Service processor, 5: IO processor, 6,60 ~
67: I / O control device, 100 ~ 10n, 300 ~ 30n, 500 ~ 50n, 510
51n: input / output device, 00A, 00B: display device, 002: printer, 10: file device, 50: IO processor, 52: channel.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An input / output processor for input / output to an input / output device having at least two input / output paths by hardware based on information defining an input / output configuration of a computer system stored on a main memory. An I / O configuration change method for a computer system that performs I / O control including route selection and I / O request queuing control, which selectively stops execution of I / O requests using the specified I / O path. Restart, and set a plurality of operator commands for changing the channels constituting the input / output path, the operation modes of the input / output control device and the input / output device, and the device numbers. The system sequentially issues the operator commands to the input / output processor, so that the input / output processor is executed by hardware. Updating the information defining the output configuration on the main memory to change the input / output path of the input / output device.