JP3265108B2 - Data processing 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 data processing system, and more particularly, to a data processing system for executing a program loaded from an external storage device at system startup.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a relatively large computer system, independent of a central processing unit (CPU),
A service processor that manages the maintenance and diagnosis of the entire computer system is provided. The service processor collects fault information of the system for maintenance / diagnosis, manages the collected fault information as a fault history, and performs system startup processing and the like.

[0003] The function of such a service processor is as follows.
This is realized by RAM firmware in order to facilitate revision up for enhancement of the function and the like. The RAM firmware is stored in a disk device or the like which is an external storage device of the data processing system, and the ROM firmware of the service processor loads the disk firmware from the disk device when the system is started.

[0004] However, if a failure occurs such that the RAM firmware cannot be loaded from the disk device, the function of the service processor does not operate. In this case, there is a problem that the system start-up process itself is not normally executed, and even if the system starts up, the maintenance / diagnosis function of the system does not work and the operation reliability of the system decreases.

[0005]

Conventionally, in a data processing system that operates by loading a program such as a RAM firmware from an external storage device, the function can be easily improved, but the program from the external storage device can be easily improved. If the load fails, normal operation cannot be performed, and the reliability of the operation is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a data processing system that operates by loading a program from an external storage device, the data processing system operates normally even if loading of the program from the external storage device fails. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data processing system which can perform the functions easily and can improve the functions.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides
Load programs from the external storage device of the data processing system .
To maintain and diagnose the data processing system and
In a data processing system including a service processor that performs a system startup process , the service processor includes a nonvolatile storage device that stores the loaded program and revision information indicating the version of the program, and loads a program at the time of system startup. means
A RAM for storing the program <br/> beam loaded from the external storage device by the said program loading means
When the program is successfully loaded into the RAM,
Based on the revision information of the serial non-volatile memory device, the front if a valid program in the nonvolatile memory device is determined not to be stored, loaded into the RAM
Writing the program into the nonvolatile storage device ;
Of revision information added to the written program
Update the revision information of the nonvolatile storage device to a value
And the first update means that, in the program load means
When the program is successfully loaded into the RAM,
Based on the revision information of the serial non-volatile memory device, wherein if a valid program in the nonvolatile storage device is determined to be stored, revision information included in the <br/> program loaded in the RAM comparing the the revision information of the program stored in the nonvolatile storage device, Levi of the program loaded in the RAM
When the version information is determined to be a newer revision than the program of the nonvolatile storage device, the RAM
Writing the program loaded in the non-volatile memory device, which is added to the written program
The value of the revision information is stored in the nonvolatile storage device.
And second update means for updating the version information, the program
When the program loading to the RAM fails due Murodo means, the revision of the non-volatile memory device
From the information, a program stored in the nonvolatile storage device is stored.
If it is determined that the program is valid,
And means for loading the serial RAM, is loaded into the RAM
And means for executing a program.

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

In this data processing system, the data
Load a program from the external storage device of the data processing system
A non-volatile storage device to a service processor
And a program stored in the nonvolatile storage device.
Program revision as well as in non-volatile storage
Also manages whether valid programs are stored in the
The program is loaded from the external storage device to the RAM.
When it succeeds, a valid program is stored in the nonvolatile storage device.
If no data is stored in the external storage device
Unconditionally stores the program loaded in RAM in nonvolatile
Program stored in the storage device and stored in the nonvolatile storage device.
If the RAM is stored, it is loaded into the RAM.
Program stored in the non-volatile storage device.
Provided that it is a newer version than the program
When a program is stored from RAM to nonvolatile storage
Control from the external storage device to the RAM.
If the download fails, the
Load the stored program into RAM and execute it
Program loading from an external storage device.
In the service processor every time
As a result, the system maintenance and diagnostic functions can be upgraded.
Efficiency and system operation reliability.
Can be done.

[0012]

[0013]

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 one embodiment of the present invention. This computer system includes a CPU 11, a main memory 12, a bus controller 13, a disk controller 14, a disk device 15, a system bus 16, and a service processor (SVP) 17.

The CPU 11 executes a program stored in the main memory 12 and performs various data processing and operation management of the entire system. The main memory 12 has a CPU
An operating system executed by the CPU 11, an application program to be executed, processing data, and the like are stored. The bus controller 13 manages the system bus 16 and performs memory access control and I / O access control. The disk controller 14 has a CPU
The access control of the disk device 15 is performed based on an instruction from the service processor 11 or the service processor 17.

The disk device 15 is an external storage device such as an HDD used as a secondary storage device of the computer system, and includes a RAM firmware including a program and data for controlling the service processor 17 and various types of data. Processing data is stored.

Revision information indicating the version is attached to the RAM firmware. In this case, the revision information is one or more numerical information, and a larger value indicates that the RAM firmware is a newer version.

A service processor (SVP) 17 is responsible for maintenance and diagnosis of the computer system, and for starting up the system when the power is turned on. As shown in the figure, a system bus interface 171, a processor 172, ROM 173, RAM 174, EEPROM
OM 175, which are local buses 176
It is connected to the.

The system bus interface 171 controls an interface with the system bus 16. The processor 172 is a CPU in the service processor (SVP) 17.
The functions of the service processor 17 are realized by executing programs in the ROM 173 and the RAM 174.

The ROM 173 stores the RO of the processor 172.
Stores M firmware and the like. The ROM firmware is a program that is first executed by the processor 172 in response to the power on of the system, and loads the RAM firmware from the disk device 15 and the like.

The RAM 173 stores the disk device 15 and the EE
The RAM stores the RAM firmware loaded from the PROM 175, and also stores parameters and the like necessary for the operation of the processor 172.

The EEPROM 175 is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory, and includes a RAM firmware storage area 175a for storing the loaded RAM firmware, and a RAM firmware storage area 175.
A revision management flag 175b for storing revision information indicating the version of the RAM firmware stored in a.

The revision management flag 175b is revision information added to the RAM firmware loaded from the disk device 15, and usually has a value of 1 or more, but is stored in the EEPROM 175.
Set to zero if firmware is disabled. E
Even when no RAM firmware is stored in the EPROM 175, the revision information is set to a value of zero indicating invalidity.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the service processor 17 when starting up the system will be described. When the power of the computer system is turned on, the processor 172 of the service processor 17 first starts executing the ROM firmware stored in the ROM 173, and loads the RAM firmware from the disk device 15 (step S11).

In this case, the processor 172 issues a RAM firmware load command to the system bus interface 171. As a result, the system bus interface 171 sends R to the disk controller 14.
A read request for the AM firmware is issued, and the RAM firmware read from the disk device 15 is loaded into the RAM 174 via the system bus interface 171.

Next, the processor 172 checks whether or not the RAM firmware load command has been normally executed based on a command response from the system bus interface 171 or the like, and thereby determines whether or not the loading has succeeded (step S1). S12).

If the loading of the RAM firmware is successful, the processor 172 checks the value of the revision management flag 175b of the EEPROM 175 (step S16), and checks the RA stored in the EEPROM 175.
It is checked whether the M firmware is valid (step S17).

If the value of the revision management flag 175b is zero, that is, the RAM stored in the EEPROM 175
If the firmware is invalid, the processor 1
72 writes the RAM firmware loaded into the RAM 174 from the disk device 15 into the EEPROM 175, and updates the values of the RAM firmware storage area 175a and the revision management flag 175b of the EEPROM 175 (steps S20 and S21).

In this case, the revision management flag 175b
Is changed to the value of the revision information added to the loaded RAM firmware. Thereafter, the processor 172 transfers control to the RAM firmware loaded in the RAM 174, and operates according to the RAM firmware.

On the other hand, when the value of the revision management flag 175b is other than zero, that is, when the RAM firmware stored in the EEPROM 175 is valid, the processor 172 determines the revision information added to the loaded RAM firmware and the EEPROM 175. The value of the revision management flag 175b is compared, and the RAM firmware loaded based on the comparison result is the EEP.
It is determined whether the firmware is newer than the RAM firmware stored in the ROM 175 (step S1).
8, S19).

This judgment is made based on the value of the revision management flag 175b in the EEPROM 175.
It can be determined whether the numerical value indicating the revision of the loaded RAM firmware is larger than 5 or not.

If the RAM firmware loaded from the disk device 15 is newer, the EEPROM 17
5, the processor 172 writes the RAM firmware loaded into the RAM 174 from the disk device 15 into the EEPROM 175, and stores the data in the EEPROM 175 in the same manner as when the RAM firmware stored in the RAM 5 is invalid.
The values of the RAM firmware storage area 175a and the revision management flag 175b of the 175 are updated (steps S20, S21). In this case, the value of the revision management flag 175b is changed to the value of the revision information added to the loaded RAM firmware.

After that, the processor 172
4. Transfer control to RAM firmware loaded in 4,
It operates according to the RAM firmware. Next, the operation when the loading of the RAM firmware from the disk device 15 has failed will be described.

If the loading of the RAM firmware fails, the processor 172 checks the value of the revision management flag 175b of the EEPROM 175 (step S).
13) Check whether the RAM firmware stored in the EEPROM 175 is valid (step S)
14).

If the value of the revision management flag 175b is zero, that is, the RAM stored in the EEPROM 175
If the firmware is invalid, the processor 1
Numeral 72 stops (HALT) the program execution operation. In this case, when the power of the system is turned on again or the system is reset, the processor 172 retries the processing from step S11.

The value of the revision management flag 175b is other than zero, that is, the RA stored in the EEPROM 175.
When the M firmware is valid, the processor 172 uses the RAM stored in the EEPROM 175
The firmware is loaded into the RAM 174 (step S15).

After that, the processor 172
4 operates according to the RAM firmware of the EEPROM 175 loaded in the EEPROM 175. As described above, in the computer system according to the present embodiment, the EEPROM 175 in which the program loaded from the disk device 15 is stored in advance is provided. The program of EEPROM175 is RA
M174 is loaded and executed.

Therefore, even if a failure occurs such that a program cannot be loaded from the disk device 15, the EEP
Using the program stored in the ROM 175 allows the system to function normally.

When a new version of the program is loaded from the disk device 15 by upgrading the program, the contents of the EEPROM 175 are automatically updated. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in which the upgraded program cannot be loaded, the system can function normally using the program stored in the EEPROM 175 with almost no functional deterioration.

Although the program loading method of this embodiment is particularly effective for a service processor, it is connected to a general data processing device which operates by loading a RAM firmware program from an external storage device, and furthermore, is connected via a network. Obviously, the present invention can also be applied to a data processing device that operates by loading RAM firmware from a remote host computer via a communication line such as a network.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, a nonvolatile storage device in which a program loaded from an external storage is stored in advance is provided. If the program loading from the device fails, the program in the nonvolatile storage device is loaded and executed. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in which a program cannot be loaded from the external storage device, the system can function normally using the program stored in the nonvolatile storage device.

When a new version of a program is loaded from an external storage device by upgrading the program, the contents of the nonvolatile storage device are automatically updated. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in which the upgraded program cannot be loaded, the system can function normally using the program stored in the nonvolatile storage device without deteriorating the function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining the operation of the service processor provided in the computer system shown in FIG. 1 when the system is started;

[Explanation of symbols]

11 CPU, 12 main memory, 13 bus controller, 14 disk controller, 15 disk device, 16 system bus, 17 service processor, 171 system bus interface, 172 processor, 173 ROM, 174 RAM, 175 ...
EEPROM, 175a ... RAM firmware storage area, 175b ... Revision management flag.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-265766 (JP, A) JP-A-5-1773764 (JP, A) JP-A-3-150651 (JP, A) JP-A-5-127834 (JP) JP-A-2-236730 (JP, A) JP-A-5-143295 (JP, A) JP-A-62-249232 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB (Name) G06F 9/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An external storage device of a data processing system.
Load the program, in a data processing system including a service processor that performs maintenance and diagnostics and system start-up processing of said data processing system, said service processor, the loaded programs and revision information indicating the version of the program be stored and nonvolatile memory device to be stored, the program loaded from the front <br/> Kigaibu storage device by a program loading means at the time of system start-up
And a program to be loaded into the RAM by the program loading means.
When the RAM load is successful, the
When it is determined that a valid program is not stored in the nonvolatile storage device based on the revision information
Writes the program loaded in the RAM in the nonvolatile storage device, written the program
The nonvolatile memory stores the value of the revision information added to the system.
First updating means for updating the revision information of the device, and a program stored in the RAM by the program loading means.
When the RAM load is successful, the
If serial based on the revision information, valid program in the nonvolatile storage device it is determined to be stored,
Comparing the revision information of pro <br/> grams stored revision information in the non-volatile memory device included in the program loaded in the RAM, low <br/> de been the program to the RAM Revision information is a newer revision than the program of the nonvolatile storage device.
When it is determined that the program is loaded, the program loaded into the RAM is written to the nonvolatile storage device, and the write
Before the revision information value added to the inserted program
Updating the revision information in the nonvolatile storage device
And second updating means, when the program loading to the RAM by the program load unit fails, before the nonvolatile memory device
From the revision information stored in the nonvolatile storage device.
If the program is determined to be valid,
Data processing system characterized by comprising: means for loading the program into the RAM, and means for executing a program loaded into the RAM.