JP3021916B2 - I / O device check method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of checking an input / output device during maintenance work on the input / output device to prevent the user from forgetting to return the operation and to prevent the user from forgetting to return the operation.

When maintenance work is performed on a large number of various input / output devices (input / output devices, peripheral devices, file devices such as DASD / MT system, etc.) constituting a computer system, switches such as switches on a maintenance panel are used. When an operation is performed and a maintenance operation is performed, when the maintenance operation is completed, an abnormality may occur in the normal processing in the device due to forgetting to return the operation.

[0003] It is impossible to completely eliminate the "forgot to return operation", and since the occurrence of an abnormality due to the "forgot to return operation" cannot be tolerated from the user side, maintenance work is not allowed. At the time of termination or the like, there is a demand for an operation mechanism that can easily detect the "forgot to return operation" or that does not require the "return operation".

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional maintenance operation. First, specific examples of [switches] or [settings] that are assumed to be targets will be specified, and a functional outline thereof will be given. These are usually set by a maintenance person at the time of on-site adjustment at the time of installation of each device according to the operation mode of the system. It is not normally operated by the system operation operator.

[0005] At the time of device maintenance, a maintenance person (CE: Cust
The setting is temporarily changed by omers' engineers, but is returned to the original setting when the maintenance is completed.

<Example> (1) REMOTE / LOCAL switch (2 position, lock switch) << Refer to FIG. 6 (a) >>
(Operation mode instructed by the host system such as system power control (SPC)) or
CAL state] {Manual operation mode individually performed at each input / output device} is selected and performed.

Normally, it is set to the <REMOTE> side,
As described above, this is performed by a system power control (SPC) instruction from the host system. However, when parts of the input / output device are replaced as part of the maintenance work, it is necessary to individually turn off / on the power supply of the input / output device. For this reason, it is necessary to set to <LOCAL> side.

[0008] In this case, if the maintenance person turns on the power after replacing parts, confirms the normality, and forgets to return to the <REMOTE> side, when the system is started up the next day, only the input / output device is turned on. Cannot be used as a resource because it is not automatically performed.

[0009] In a system in which the power on / off of each device is selected individually and manually, usually, the power supply is less than <LOC.
AL> is set, but there is no problem at this time. In many input / output devices, this switch cannot be viewed from outside the input / output device with the rocker door closed. That is, it is hard to find even if there is "forgot to return".

(2) WRITE PROTECT (or FILE PROTECT) switch (2-position lock switch) (see FIG. 6B) The WRITE PROTECT (or FILE PROTECT) switch is, for example, a physical DE (Disk) of a magnetic disk device. Enclodure) This is a switch to prohibit unintentional writing. Disabled (writable) in normal system operation.

When data needs to be written to a specific physical DE at the time of maintenance, even if there is an operation error such as an incorrect specification of the specific physical DE, the data of another physical DE must not be destroyed. . Therefore, for each of the other physical DEs, enable the WRITE PROTECT switch,
Apply a guard.

The physical DE is a physical one handled by a maintenance person. However, when the maintenance person specifies a specific physical DE via the host CPU, it is a logical address.
The risk of erroneously specifying another physical DE due to a pokamis is not “0”.

After the maintenance is completed, the WRIT
If the user forgets to turn off the E PROTECT switch, the system cannot be operated normally because the corresponding DE cannot be written when the system is started.

In modern high performance devices, the switch is not visible from outside the device (with the rocker door closed). That is, it is hard to find even if you forget to return it. (3) Mode Set setting (2 position lock switch)
<< Refer to FIG. 6 (c) >> This switch is used to set an operation mode of the apparatus, for example, a maintenance mode, an online mode and the like. Normal,
In order to increase the efficiency of maintenance, many devices set a special operation mode (the above-mentioned maintenance mode) that is permitted only during maintenance.

In a certain device, it can be set by a switch on the CE panel. In some devices, a maintenance tool (or a personal computer) or the like is connected to the device and can be set and released via the maintenance tool.

Each device type has its own operation mode. Therefore, if the setting cancellation (operation return) is forgotten, a symptom related to the individual specification of each device occurs according to the content.

Some devices allow operation in a specific operation mode even under a normal system operation environment.

[0018]

As described above, the switches and settings to be operated by the maintenance person during the maintenance work are not always visible from the outside. In recent computer systems, the types and numbers of target input / output devices are also numerous. Further, these maintenance operations must be completed within a limited time.

However, in a computer system having a large system scale, hundreds to thousands of input / output devices (large,
Floor is filled with I / O devices).

In such a situation, conventionally, the maintenance person has performed a check for [forgetting to return the operation] for each of these input / output devices depending on the attention and work procedure of each maintenance person. .

However, there is a limit to human attention, and it is very difficult to eliminate [forgetting back operation]. Keeping maintenance personnel on these alerts at all times is
It is something that should be called <non-human belief>, <inhuman>, and <severe demands>.

On the other hand, from the customer's point of view, the existence of [forget operation return] is not at all acceptable. Due to the above-mentioned [forgetting operation return], it may be out of order that the system may not operate normally after the maintenance is completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and has as its object to provide a method of checking an input / output device for detecting a position where the user has forgotten to return the operation during maintenance work of the input / output device and preventing the operation from being forgotten. It is assumed that.

[0024]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams of the principle of the present invention. The above-mentioned problem is caused by checking the operation return position of the input / output device configured as described below during maintenance work and preventing the input / output device from being forgotten to return the maintenance operation.
This is solved by the check method .

[0025] (1) A check method for input and output devices connected to the host system, electrostatic the input device
In each of the following sources before cutting and restoring power to obtain information about the state of the input device, configured to compare the information obtained after the power is turned on again. (2) a host system connected to input and output devices,
Command issuing means for issuing a predetermined command to the input / output device before and after power-off of the input / output device; and responding to the command issued before the power-off of the input / output device. holding means for holding information about the state of the input-output device that is, the information held in the holding means, said answered output against issued the command after restoring power to the said input device Comparing means for comparing the information with the information on the state of the apparatus.

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

[0029]

That is, in the present invention, the following approach is used.
Detection / check
Check method.

[Approach-1] Detection of the position where operation return is forgotten
Provide a check-out method. That is, [Forget operation return]
To automatically and efficiently check

In other words, even if the [forget operation return] is performed, they are harmless on the input / output device side after a certain processing procedure (for example, turning off the entire system). To provide processing means . For example, [Detection method of forgetting to return the REMOTE / LOCAL switch ( 2-position , lock switch)] It is assumed that the switch is set to the [LOCAL] side. In this state, after turning off the input power to the system, the system power control (SP
Instruct the power-on by the control from C).

When the host system accesses (issues a command to) the device, if the switch is in the CU (control device) state, the status of the switch is "CU NOT".
INSTALLED "(CC = 3).

If the device is a DV (device device), "
DV NOT INSTALLED "(IRQ). Therefore, by comparing with the default value at the time of normal access, etc., the possibility of" forgot to return "the REMOTE / LOCAL switch of the input / output device is high. Can be notified. << Refer to Fig. 1 >> [Detection method of forgetting to return the WRITE PROTECT switch (2 position, lock switch)] As described above, when the above switch is set to [WRITE PROTECT]
It is assumed that In this state, the writing process is executed on the cylinder handled by the maintenance person of each DE. (There is no data destruction for user data.) Specifically, a write command is issued from the host system to each DE. At this time, if the switch is in the valid state (WRITE PROTECT state), the command ends abnormally (ends with a write protect error report).

If the switch is in the invalid state, the command ends normally. Therefore, by recognizing the abnormal end, it is possible to recognize that the WRITE PEOTECT switch has been forgotten to be returned to the corresponding DE.

[Method of Detecting Failure to Return Mode Set Switch (2-Position, Lock Switch)] Failure to return the Mode Set switch cannot be detected by general-purpose processing from the host system. Therefore, in the present invention, it is necessary for the input / output device to support a command function of notifying the host system of the setting information of the switch.

As the command, for example, a "sense switch / mode-set status" command is provided so that the setting state of the switch is transferred as bit information, whereby the suspected switch can be pointed out. Become like

[0037]

[0038]

[0039]

[0040]

[0041]

[0042]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory views of the principle of the present invention.
3 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a switch for preventing forgetting to return. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the state of the input / output device is returned to the default value by the power-off / re-start process or by a special switch.

According to the present invention, a predetermined access command is issued to the input / output device connected to the host system, the response is stored and stored as a default state, and when the maintenance operation is completed, the predetermined access command is issued. The response when the access command is issued is compared with the content of the stored storage medium, and based on the difference information,
Recognize devices that are likely to be "forgotten to return,"
A predetermined sense command is issued to transfer the status information of the corresponding switch, and a means for indicating the suspected switch, and for the “switch” 1 that needs to be operated during maintenance work, the operation is set to “non-lock operation”, and the maintenance is performed. At the time of work, it is necessary to perform a setting change operation, for example, “Operation mode:
The REMOTE / LOCAL switch 2 is equivalently enabled by a provisional setting operation by non-locking, and the setting by which the setting by the operation is continuously enabled, for example, "WRITE PROTECT
Regarding the setting of the switch 4, the means for turning off / on the power supply or providing a specific switch and setting the switch to a default state by operating the switch are the means necessary for carrying out the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same object throughout the drawings.

Hereinafter, FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 3 to 5 will be used to prevent the input / output device of the present invention from being forgotten to be returned during maintenance work.
And a check method will be described. [Approach 1] A method of detecting / checking forgotten operation is realized by the following two steps.

<Step 1> A method of recognizing a state of an input / output device that is affected by a switch [forgot to return operation]. <Step 2> On the basis of the above information, an input / output device having [forget operation return] is specified, and a [forget operation return] switch is presented.

[Step 1]: Recognition of a state related to the effect of the switch "forgot to return" on each input / output device. Conventionally, it is not possible to grasp the setting status of each switch that can be operated at the time of maintenance work in each input / output device by a program from the host system, and there is no device that supports it and supports logical specifications is the current situation. Therefore, the present invention is realized by the following means. [Implementation unit-A]: A method of detecting and checking [forget operation return] according to the conventional device specification. First, the setting status of the specific switch is analogized using a normal access command.

(1) For example, when the target device is accessed “CU NOT INSTALLED” {condition code (CC) = 3}
If this response is received, there is a possibility that the following switches may be "forgotten to return to operation" in the target control device. Where C
U: CONTROL UNIT, a control unit.

1) The REMOTE / LOCAL switch remains at the <LOCAL> position and forgets to return. 2) The ONLINE / OFFLINE switch remains at the <OFFLINE> position and forgets to return. 3) Between the relevant CH (CHANNEL) / CU (CONTROL UNIT) Channel route (CHANNEL ROUTE) ENABLE / DISABLE switch
<DISABLE> Retain the position and forget to return it. 4) Other (2) For example, when the target device is accessed, there is a response "DV NOT INSTALLED" or "DV NOT READY" (Detailed error information: sense information) For example, in the target device, there is a possibility that the following switches are forgotten to be returned. Here, DV: DEVICE UNIT is a device device.

1) The REMOTE / LOCAL switch remains at the <LOCAL> position and forgets to return. 2) The ONLINE / OFFLINE switch remains at the <OFFLINE> position and forgets to return. 3) The path between the CU (CONTROL UNIT / DV (DEVICE)) (PATH)
4) Others (3) For example, if the target disk device is accessed with a WRITE command, "WRITE PROTECT Error" (Detailed error information: sense information ), There is a possibility that the following switches may be "forgotten to return to operation" in the target DE.

1) The WRITE PROTECT switch remains in the <valid> position and forgets to return. 2) Others [Implementation means-B]: A method for detecting and checking the [forgetting to return operation] in addition to the functional specifications of the device. That is, in the case where the present invention is also applied to the input / output device side) That is, in each input / output device, a sense command for notifying the host system of “switch setting content” and “Mode Set setting content” of the device. New support for the function.

This sense command is referred to here as “SENSE
SWITCH / MODE-SET STATUS ”. The program running on the host system according to the present invention performs the following processing. FIG. 3 shows an example of a target system configuration.

In the following description, in the example of the system configuration shown in FIG. 3, the device number “001D” (channel number 00,01, device number: 1D) under the control unit (CU) (model name: 1753) (I / O device) (DV) (Model name: 6
473) will be described.

(1) A command is issued to each input / output device via an access path (ACCESS PATH) according to the following procedure, and its response and transferred data are stored. 1) Issue the "SENSE ID" command (CMD = E4) and check the model name of the target device. That is, “SENSE I
The notification content of the "D" command is transferred as data (DT).

2) Upon recognizing that the target input / output device supports the above-described functions of the present invention (for example, the host has a list table of input / output device models that support the above functions) , Via the same access path, the “SENSE SWITCH / MODE-SET STATUS” command
(CMD = F4) to transfer the setting state information of the switches and the like as data (DT).

For each input / output device, the meaning of the setting contents of the switch and Mode-set for the data (DT) are defined and registered in advance. If the above data (DT)
When a mismatch with the above-described defined / registered information is detected in the transfer, the suspected switch / Mode-set is indicated based on the defined / registered information. <Example of stored data contents> (When the access path is a 2-path device) DV No. CH-DV RESPONSE (Response contents) ────────────────── 001 001D 00-1D 1) CMD = E4 STS = 0C DT = 1753.6473 2) CMD = F4 STS = 0C DT = iijjkkllmmnnppqqrrsstt 01-1D 1) CMD = E4 STS = 0C DT = 1753.6473 2) CMD = F4 STS = 0C DT = iijjkkllmmnnppqqrrsstt 0778 07-78 1) CMD = E4 STS = 0C DT = 1753.6473 2) CMD = F4 STS = 0C DT = iijjkkllmmnnppqqrrsstt 17-78 1) CMD = E4 STS = 0C DT = 1753.6473 2) CMD = F4 STS = 0C DT = iijjkkllmmnnppqqrrsstt [Step 2]: Specify an I / O device with [Forget operation return] and present the [Forget operation return] switch. Even if the error information is obtained, it is not concluded that the operation has been forgotten. This is because, as an operation mode of the system, a certain device may be used in such a setting. In order to separate these, the following operation is performed in the present invention.

(1) Storage of data when the system is in a normal state In a state where the system is operating normally, for each access path (ACCESS PATH) of each input / output device, the above series of access commands is The response (normal termination, abnormal termination, or in case of abnormal termination, the details of the detailed error information) is saved in a storage medium such as a magnetic tape. ｝ Refer to “Response list in the normal state” in Fig. 1 (2) Confirmation / check to complete the maintenance work 1) Turn off the input power to the system and then turn it on again.
By this operation, the device in which the REMOTE / LOCAL switch is at the <LOCAL> position is in a state where the power is off.

2) Access / access of each input / output device
For each path (ACCESS PATH), the response to the above series of access commands and the response when the system is normal
Compare each.

A device having a mismatched status response, and
The difference of the response is output and displayed. FIG. 1 shows a display example. In practice, it would be easier for the maintenance person to recognize and output only the "X" (response mismatch) devices.

In the example of FIG. 1, for example, the device number (device N
o.) The response of the input / output device with "001D" and "011D" in the normal state and the response immediately before the end of the maintenance indicate mismatch, for example, when the "REMOTE / LOCAL" switch is <LOCAL>
Position indicates that the power-on switch is likely to remain in the power-off state.

Therefore, by issuing the above-described sense command "SENSE SWITCH / MODE SET STATUS" of the present invention and detecting the state of the corresponding switch, the suspected switch can be indicated.

According to the information in the response list, the maintenance person can
Quickly identify devices that are likely to [forget back]
And it can be easily realized. [Approach 2] Realization of a method that does not require “operation return” The above-mentioned “forget operation return” occurs because “operation return” is required.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the switches shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 which need to be operated at the time of maintenance on the input / output device side need not be individually returned to the operation.

That is, the switch operated by the maintenance person during maintenance is operated only in the [NON-LOCK] direction. Specifically, ● The switch operation / mode setting, which must be performed at the time of maintenance, is performed by the [TEMPORARY setting] independently of the [DEFAULT setting] set during the current tuning.
Make settings available.

The setting for maintaining the operation at the time of the maintenance operation, for example, the “WRITE PROTECT” setting is automatically set to [DEFAULT setting] by turning off / on the power of the apparatus or operating a specific switch. Make sure to return.

That is, normal maintenance work can be performed only by [TEMPORARY setting]. The maintenance person uses only the [TEMPORARY setting] during maintenance. When using [TEMPORARY setting], DEFAULT
Ignore the settings and enable the maintenance operation.

The examples of FIGS. 2A and 2B will be specifically described. (1) A "switch" for which the function is effective only at the moment of operation, for example, "REMOTE / LOCAL switch" ]: As shown in Fig. 2 (a), (b), and Fig. 4, the [DEFAULT setting] is invalidated and the [TEMPORARY setting] is activated only while the [TEMPORARY setting] is being operated. . That is, "POWER ON" or "POWER OFF" at the time of maintenance is enabled.

Incidentally, the example shown in FIG.
When the TE / LOCAL switch 2 and the TEMPORARY LOCAL switch are configured as a three-position switch “lock / non-lock”, the switch is set to “non-lock”.
When operated to the side, it operates as the same "TEMPORARY" switch as above, equivalently the same as when the "LOCAL" switch is operated, and the "POWER ON" switch, or
The "POWER OFF" switch is enabled.

In the specific example of FIG. 4, the non-lock switch c
Arrives at point b, flip-flop "TEMPORARY
"LOCAL" indicates "TEMPORARY""LOCAL" and operates at the OR gate to ignore the default value. That is, the operation is performed as if the "LOCAL" switch was operated.

(2) After the operation, a “switch” for which the function needs to be valid continuously, for example, “WRITE P
ROTECT switch ”4: With the circuit shown in Fig. 5 (a), 1) Enable [DEFAULT setting] (without WRITE PROTECT) by power-off / power-on operation (power ready) for the device.

Alternatively, 2) a specific switch is provided on the device, and by operating the specific switch, all [DEFAULT settings] (WRITE PROTEC
T etc.) is enabled. ｛However, in this case, the "WR
The "ITE PROTECT" switch 4 must be a "non-lock" switch. In the above example, the hardware circuit, that is, the power off / on operation of the device, or the operation of a specific switch, the [DEFAULT setting ] (Without WRITE PROTECT) has been described as an example. For example, as shown in FIG.
When controlling a certain input / output device, a signal from an external device such as a personal computer for turning on / off a control switch such as the above-mentioned “REMOTE / LOCAL” or “WRITE PROTECT” via an “RS 232C” interface. Input and temporarily set in the work memory of the input / output device,
(MPU) control, after setting in electrical rewrite memory (EEPROM), predetermined flip-flop (FF) (WP, MO, M1,
~) Is set, the "default" value of the input / output device is set. During maintenance, the value of the control switch is set only in the work memory, and the flip-flop (FF) (WP, MO , M1, ...) switches are temporarily changed, and the above-mentioned "default" set in the electrical rewrite memory (EEPROM) is triggered by a power-off / re-start operation.
By configuring the value to be reset in the flip-flop (FF), the control switch of the input / output device can be controlled by a program or a microprogram unit.

As described above, in the computer system,
By configuring to perform various switch operations and mode settings, the [DEFAULT setting] side is always enabled when maintenance is completed, and the maintenance operation does not affect the operation. It can be performed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the host system
The specified access command is
Command and memorize the response to restore the default state.
At the end of maintenance work.
After turning on the power again, the specified access command was issued.
Response to the contents of the storage media stored above
Based on the difference information
Device with high sensitivity and furthermore,
Issue and transfer the status information of the operation of the switch, etc.
And point out the suspect switch
There is.

[0073]

As described in detail above, the input / output device of the present invention can be prevented from being forgotten to be returned during maintenance work, and can be checked.
In the method , a predetermined access command is issued to an input / output device connected to the host system, the response is stored and stored as a default state, and when the maintenance work is completed, the power of the host system is turned on again. After that, the response at the time of issuing the predetermined access command is compared with the content of the stored storage medium, and based on the difference information, a device having a high possibility of “forgot to return” is recognized, Further, since a predetermined sense command is issued to transfer the operation status information of the corresponding switch and the like, the suspected switch and the like are pointed out, it is easy to "forget to return the operation" at the time of maintenance. Can be checked to prevent "forgetting to return the operation" during the maintenance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the present invention (part 1).

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention (part 2).

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention (part 1).

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention (part 2).

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention (part 3).

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a conventional maintenance operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Switch (POWER ON / OFF) 2 Switch (R
(EMOTE / LOCAL) 4 Setting (WRITE PROTECT) command or access command Sense command (SENSE SWITCH / MODE-SET STATUS) Temporary setting mechanism (TEMPORARY) Power-off / re-start processing Specific switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 11/22 G06F 11/00 G06F 1/00 G06F 13/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for checking an input / output device connected to a host system, comprising: obtaining information on the state of the input / output device before and after power-off of the input / output device;
A method for checking an input / output device, wherein the obtained information is compared after the power is turned on again . 2. A host system connected to input and output device, after power down before and power cycle of the input device, and the command issuing means for issuing a predetermined command to the output device, holding means for holding information about the state of the response to said input device to said commands issued before the power off of the output device, the information held in said holding means, said input device In response to the command issued after the power is turned on again.
And a comparing means for comparing the information with the information on the state of the input / output device .