JP3264966B2 - Startup control method for computer system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a start-up control system for a computer system, and more particularly to a start-up control system for realizing a high-speed diagnosis process at the start-up.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a general-purpose computer system, a service processor (SVP) is used.
A computer subsystem called cessor) is provided. The service processor provides various functions related to high reliability (RAS) and functions for system operation such as power-on, reset, and initial program loading by a built-in program.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a conventional computer system using the service processor. 1, the computer system includes a CPU 11 for executing and calculating various instructions, a service processor (SVP) 12 for monitoring and controlling the CPU 11, and diagnosing and faulting the entire system, and a magnetic disk as an external storage device. Device (HDD) 13 and main storage device (MEMORY) 1
And 4.

[0004] The CPU 11 is provided with a RAM 111 used as control storage. This RAM 11
A service processor (SVP) 12 loads a microprogram for self-diagnosis, a microprogram used for actual operation, and the like. FIG. 5 shows a state of the startup processing when the power of the computer system thus configured is turned on.

First, when power is turned on to the computer system shown in FIG.
Since the microprogram has not been loaded into the AM 111, a wait state is set (S001). The service processor (SVP) 12 has a ROM for control storage.
The self-diagnosis is started according to the contents of S121 (S00
2). At the same time, the magnetic disk drive (HDD) 13 also starts up (S003). Service processor (S
When the self-diagnosis is completed, the VP) 12 attempts to read the microprogram of the CPU 11 from the magnetic disk drive (HDD) 13.
Since the start-up process takes time due to the above mechanical factors, the process waits until the magnetic disk drive (HDD) 13 becomes readable (S004).

Then, a magnetic disk drive (HD)
When the D) 13 enters the readable state, the service processor (SVP) 12 sends the magnetic disk device (HDD) 1
The microprogram of the CPU 11 is read from the CPU 3 and written into the main storage device 14 (S005, S006). Next, the service processor (SVP) 12 copies the microprogram of the CPU 11 stored in the main storage device 14 to the CP.
Send to U11.

In this case, since the function of the CPU 11 has not been operated yet, data transfer via the system bus 15 cannot be performed, and the service processor (SVP) 12 uses the dedicated SVP.
The microprogram is transferred to the R of the CPU 11 through the bus 16.
The data is loaded into the AM 111 (S007, S008).

The CPU 11 starts a self-diagnosis according to a self-diagnosis routine included in a part of the micro program loaded in the RAM 111 (S009). After that, the service processor (SVP) 12 executes other processing necessary for starting up the system (S010). After the processing is completed, the control of the system is passed to the CPU 11 after waiting for the completion of the self-diagnosis of the CPU 11, and thereby, CPU11
Can execute software instructions.

As described above, the conventional startup processing is performed in a serial procedure such as self-diagnosis of the service processor (SVP) 12, loading of a microprogram from the magnetic disk device (HDD) 13 to the CPU 11, and self-diagnosis of the CPU 11. I was

The self-diagnosis of the CPU 11 requires about several tens of seconds just by testing the main memory due to the recent increase in main memory capacity. Also, it takes about ten and several seconds before the magnetic disk device 13 in which the microprogram of the CPU 11 is stored can be read out due to mechanical factors of the hard disk drive.

For this reason, if the self-diagnosis of the CPU 11 is executed after the magnetic disk drive 13 becomes readable as described above, the start-up of the entire system becomes extremely slow.

The microprogram loaded into the RAM 111 of the CPU 11 includes a self-diagnosis routine used only for the startup process of the CPU 11 and a routine at the time of actual operation. The routine at the time of the operation of the
M111 will be loaded. For this reason, RAM
111 has a problem that a relatively large storage capacity is required.

[0013]

Conventionally, the self-diagnosis function of the CPU is executed after the start-up of the magnetic disk drive, so that it takes a lot of time to start up the system and the storage size of the control storage is increased. There were drawbacks.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and realizes a high-speed system start-up process by enabling a CPU self-diagnosis and a start-up process of a magnetic disk drive to be executed in parallel. It is another object of the present invention to provide a start-up control system capable of reducing the size of control storage.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides
CP with RAM loaded with microprogram
U and services to monitor and control this CPU
A processor and a microprogram of the CPU, etc.
The magnetic disk device to be stored, the main storage device,
System bus to which the devices are connected, the CPU and the
Service processor that directly connects the service processor
In a computer system configured with a bus ,
A service processor provided in the service processor;
A ROM for storing service for microprograms, and a part of the self-diagnosis microprogram of the CPU, the
When the computer system is turned on, the service
The self-diagnosis memory stored in the ROM of the processor.
A part of the program is connected to the service processor bus.
Through the CPU to the RAM of the CPU.
Means for starting self-diagnosis;
When the service processor is ready to
Self-diagnostic microprogram loaded by the
The remaining microprograms except for the RAM
Read from the master device and the main
Means for loading into a buffer memory of a storage device;
Self by the said part microprogram in PU
At the end of the diagnosis, from the buffer memory of the main storage device
Read the remaining microprogram and
Means for loading the data into the CPU via a system bus;
The rest of the loaded microprogram is stored in front of the RAM.
Overwriting on some self-diagnosis microprograms
Means for executing a self-diagnosis .

[0016] In start-up control method of the computer system, during power up, the data processing system instrumentation
R a CPU self-diagnosis microprogram as location within the service processor rather than from the magnetic disk device
Loaded from the OM, the self-diagnosis operation of the CPU is started. Therefore, rise of the magnetic disk device
Self-diagnosis operation of the CPU without waiting for the rising is able to start, C in parallel with the start-up processing of the magnetic disk device
The self-diagnosis of the PU can be executed, and the time required for starting up the entire system can be reduced. Also, when the magnetic disk drive becomes ready to read.
Diagnostics loaded by the service processor
The remaining microprograms except the microprogram for
Is read from the magnetic disk drive and
To the main storage buffer memory, and C
Self by the said part microprogram in PU
At the end of the diagnosis, the remaining
Micro program is loaded into CPU and stored in RAM
Overwrite to reduce CPU RAM capacity
And CPU self-diagnosis processing and magnetic disk drive?
Parallel with the rest of the microprogram reading process
Processing can be realized.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This computer system includes a CPU 21, a service processor (S
VP) 22, a magnetic disk device (HDD) 23, and a main storage device 24.

The CPU 21 supervises the operation and control of the computer system, and various micro programs (CPU-FW; C) necessary for self-diagnosis and system operation via a service processor (SVP) 22.
PU firmware), and operates according to the microprogram.

The service processor (SVP) 22
It is responsible for start-up processing and maintenance functions of the entire computer system, including monitoring and control of the PU 21, and has a function of loading the CPU-FW into the CPU 21 and detecting a failure. This service processor (SV
The P) 22 is provided with a ROM 221 used as control storage of the service processor (SVP) 22.

The ROM 221 stores a microprogram (SVP-FW; SVP firmware) for controlling the operation of the service processor (SVP) 22, and has a free area of the above-mentioned CPU-FW. A part of a microprogram necessary for the CPU 21 to execute a self-diagnosis is stored.

The magnetic disk drive (HDD) 23 has a CP
The microprograms necessary for the operation of all data processing devices (not shown) provided in the system, including U21, are stored in the ROM 221. The rest of the part is stored. here,
Since a part of the self-diagnosis microprogram required for the CPU 21 to execute the self-diagnosis is stored in the ROM 221, the CPU-FW stored in the magnetic disk device (HDD) 23 This is a diagnostic microprogram and a microprogram for data processing (instruction execution) required during actual operation.

The main storage device 24 has an essential function of storing operation programs and data for various data processing to be executed by the CPU 21, as well as a micro-program written in a magnetic disk device (HDD) 23. A part of the storage space is used as a buffer memory 241 to serve as a primary storage when the program is loaded into each device such as the CPU 21. Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an operation at the time of system startup will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control operation at the time of system startup performed by the service processor (SVP) 22, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the CPU 21 and the service processor (SV) at system startup.
P) 22 and an operation sequence of the magnetic disk drive (HDD) 23.

First, when the power of the computer system shown in FIG. 1 is turned on, the CPU 21 is set to the wait state since the microprogram has not yet been loaded into the control storage RAM 211 at this time (S00).
1). The service processor (SVP) 22 starts self-diagnosis in step A11 according to the contents of the control storage ROM 221 (S002). The self-diagnosis of the service processor (SVP) 22 performed at this timing is mainly performed on functions related to data transfer with the CPU 21 via the SVP bus 26 which are executed thereafter. At the same time, a magnetic disk drive (HDD)
23 also enters the startup process (S007).

When the self-diagnosis (S002) is completed, the service processor (SVP) 22 determines in step A12 that the CP written in the free area of the ROM 221
The microprogram for self-diagnosis of U21 is
6 is loaded into the RAM 211 of the CPU 21 and the CP
U21 is started (S003, S004). CPU 21
Receives the self-diagnosis microprogram from the service processor (SVP) 22, and starts the self-diagnosis according to the contents (S005).

Thereafter, the service processor (SVP) 2
In step A13, the remaining self-diagnosis (for example,
The self-diagnosis of the system bus 25) and the startup processing of other devices are executed (S006).

The service processor (SVP) 2
2 confirms the end of the process in step A14,
An attempt is made to read the remaining microprogram of the CPU 21 from the magnetic disk device (HDD) 23. At this time, the start-up process of the magnetic disk device (HDD) 23 is also in progress, but if the start-up process of the magnetic disk device (HDD) 23 is not completed, the service processor (SVP) 22 proceeds to step A15. The process waits until the magnetic disk device (HDD) 23 becomes readable (S009). When the self-diagnosis is completed, the CPU 21 waits for the remaining microprogram to be loaded (S008).

Then, the magnetic disk device (HD
When the D) 23 becomes readable, the service processor (SVP) 22 reads the rest of the microprogram of the CPU 21 from the magnetic disk device (HDD) 23 in step A16, and reads the rest of the main storage device 24 via the system bus 25. The data is loaded into the buffer memory 241 (S010, S013). Next, when the service processor (SVP) 22 confirms that the CPU 21 has completed the self-diagnosis in step A17, the service processor (SVP) 22 reads the CPU from the buffer memory 241 of the main storage device 24 in step A18.
The remaining microprograms are read and loaded into the RAM 211 of the CPU 21 via the system bus 25 (S011, S012).

In this case, the remaining microprogram of the CPU 21 is overwritten on the RAM 211 so as to be overwritten on the self-diagnosis microprogram of the CPU 21. Thereafter, the CPU 21 performs the remaining self-diagnosis and startup processing (S014).

The service processor (SVP) 22 executes other processes necessary for starting up the system, if any, (S015).
After confirming that the self-diagnosis of the CPU 21 is completed, the control of the system is transferred to the CPU 21, thereby enabling the CPU 21 to execute the software instruction.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the power is turned on, the self-diagnosis microprogram of the CPU 21 is not transmitted from the magnetic disk drive (HDD) 23 but to the ROM 221 in the service processor (SVP) 22.
The self-diagnosis operation of the CPU 21 is started. For this reason, the magnetic disk drive (HD
D) The self-diagnosis operation of the CPU 21 can be started without waiting for the rise of the 23, and the magnetic disk device (HD
D) The self-diagnosis of the CPU 21 can be executed in parallel with the start-up processing time of 23, and the time required for starting up the entire system can be reduced.

Further, the remaining microprogram is transferred from the magnetic disk device (HDD) 23 to the RAM 21 of the CPU 21.
1 by overwriting the RAM 21
1 can be reduced in capacity.

Here, the CPU 21 and the SVP 22
However, if a plurality of SVPs 22 are monitored, a self-diagnosis of a plurality of devices of the microprogram control system functioning as a data processing system device can be performed by the magnetic disk device (HDD) 23 in the same sequence.
Can be performed during the startup processing time.

Further, in this embodiment, a part of the self-diagnosis microprogram of the CPU 21 is stored in the ROM 221 in the service processor (SVP) 22, but all the self-diagnosis microprograms may be stored. good. If the self-diagnosis of the system bus 25 is executed first, the service processor (SVP) is transmitted through the system bus 25 instead of the SVP bus 26.
It is also possible to load a microprogram for self-diagnosis from the CPU 22 into the CPU 21.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the CP
The self-diagnosis of U and the start-up processing of the magnetic disk device can be executed in parallel, so that the system start-up processing can be speeded up and the control storage can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the service processor in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining an operation at the time of system startup in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional system configuration.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining an operation at the time of starting a conventional system.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 ... CPU, 22 ... Service Processor, 23 ... External Storage Device, 24 ... Main Storage Device, 221 ... RAM, 222
... ROM.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-64-72249 (JP, A) JP-A-1-144133 (JP, A) JP-A-62-25353 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 247731 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 9/06 G06F 11/22

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An RA to which a microprogram is loaded
CPU with M and monitoring and control of this CPU
A service processor for performing
Magnetic disk device for storing programs
Devices and the system bus to which they are connected,
A service that directly connects the CPU and the service processor.
A service processor bus provided in the service processor.
A ROM for storing service for microprograms, and a part of the self-diagnosis microprogram of the CPU, at power up of the computer system, the services
For the self-diagnosis stored in the ROM of the microprocessor.
A part of the microprogram is
Loaded into the RAM of the CPU via the
Means for starting self-diagnosis of U, and when the magnetic disk drive is ready for reading
The loaded by the service processor
The remaining microcontrollers except the self-diagnosis microprogram
And reads the program from the magnetic disk drive.
To the buffer memory of the main storage device via the stem bus
Loading means, and the partial microprogram in the CPU.
At the end of the self-diagnosis,
Read the remaining microprogram from the
Means for loading the CPU via a system bus, and loading the remaining microprograms loaded into the RA
M on the part of the self-diagnosis microprogram
And a means for executing self-diagnosis by writing .