JP3512627B2 - Load Volume I / O Control and Management Method by Alternative Path and Duplication in IPL - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an IPL (Initial Program Load) in an information processing system including a duplicated load volume and a plurality of paths to the load volume.
Load volume I / O control management method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional information processing system including a duplicated load volume and a plurality of paths to the duplicated load volume, a load in an IPL (initial program load) at OS (operating system) startup I / O to volume (input / output)
Executes I / O only for the specified startup path. At this time, if the I / O to the specified boot path fails, the OS boot processing is interrupted, the boot path is switched to another usable path or disk device, and the operation is restarted. From the beginning, OS startup processing (startup processing) is performed.

When a write I / O is performed to a designated startup path, the OS after the startup is executed.
After the control is transferred to, processing for matching the contents of the duplicated disk devices is performed.

Load volume I in conventional IPL
As an I / O control management method, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-11596
Reference is made to the description of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 0, JP-A-61-267155 and the like. Further, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-115558, a communication control that enables the stand-by system to perform an IPL promptly even if the working system falls into a failure while rewriting the main memory of the stand-by system, is made possible. A device has been proposed.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional information processing system has the following problems.

The first problem is that if the I / O to the specified boot path fails, the OS boot process is interrupted even if there is another available path, and the boot process is started. This means that it is necessary to restart the OS from the beginning after switching the boot path.

The reason is that in the conventional system,
I / O is executed only for the specified startup path, and the path is switched to another available path, and the I / O is executed again.
This is because it is not possible to continue the OS startup processing by executing.

The second problem is that if the I / O to the disk device of the specified startup path fails, the disk device of the specified startup path is duplicated and can be used for other purposes. Even if there is such a disk device, it is necessary to interrupt the OS startup process, switch the disk device, and then perform the OS startup process again from the beginning.

The reason is that the I / O is executed only for the disk device of the designated startup path, the other redundant disk device is switched, and the I / O is executed again.
This is because the OS startup processing cannot be continued by executing O.

A third problem is that in the information processing system in which the load volume is duplicated, during IPL processing,
When write I / O is performed to the disk device of the specified startup path, the contents of the disk device that has been duplicated temporarily become inconsistent, and after the control is transferred to the OS, the duplicated disk This means that a process for matching the contents of the devices is required.

The reason is that the I / O is executed only to the disk device of the designated startup path and the I / O is not executed to the other disk device of the duplicated one. .

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to specify an information processing system including a duplicated load volume and a plurality of paths to the load volume. When a failure is detected in I / O for the specified startup path, if another normal path exists, the startup path is automatically switched to the normal path and I / O is re-established. It is to provide a system that can be executed and continue the IPL OS startup processing.

Further, according to the present invention, in the system in which the load volume is duplicated, when the disk device of the designated startup path fails, the load volume is automatically switched to the other normal disk device. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system capable of continuing the OS startup processing of IPL.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system which makes it possible to always match the contents of both disk devices even when write I / O is performed on a duplicated load volume. To provide.

[0015]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a central processing unit, a main storage unit, an input / output unit, a duplexed load volume, and each of the duplexed load volumes. in the information processing system of and a plurality of paths, the OS (operating system) start-up process before, for each of the duplexed loaded volume, duplication determination, device identification name, device state, all paths channel number , And path status
Performing the acquisition, the I / O control information for each of the duplexed loaded volume, device status information, and all path status information, the load volume I / O register in the load volume I / O control management table Control management table registration means, load volume I / O control means for performing I / O (input / output) to the load volume based on the information registered in the load volume I / O control management table, and I / O If an error is detected in O,
Load volume control management table re-registration means for re-registering the path status or device status of the path in which the error is detected in the load volume I / O control management table, and the next startup path for performing I / O again, or An alternative path / alternative device selecting means for selecting a device candidate from paths or devices registered in the load volume I / O control management table.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of a load volume I / O control management system in an IPL according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a central processing unit 101, a main storage device 102, an input / output device 103, a redundant load volume 111,
In an information processing system including 112 and a plurality of paths 121 to the load volumes 111 and 112,
Before the S startup processing, for the load volume, duplexing determination, device identification name, device status, all path channel numbers,
Also, the path status is acquired, and the I / O control information, the device status information, and the all path status information are loaded into the load volume I / O.
Load volume I registered in the control management table 141
I / O control management table registration means 131, and I / O to the load volume based on the registration information of this table 141.
Load volume I / O control means 1 for performing O (input / output)
32, and when an error is detected in I / O (input / output) to the startup path, the path status or device status of the path in which the error is detected is re-registered in the load volume I / O control management table 141. The load volume control management table re-registration unit 133 and the next startup path or device candidate for performing I / O again is selected from the paths or devices registered in the load volume I / O control management table 141, and the alternative path is selected. -Alternative device selection means 134.

In the embodiment of the present invention, information on both disk devices of the duplicated load volume and all paths to the respective disk devices is collectively managed, so that a specified startup path or When a failure is detected in I / O to one disk device of the duplicated load volume, if another normal path or disk device exists, it will be automatically switched to the normal path or disk device. By re-executing the I / O, the IPL OS startup processing can be continued.

Further, even when write I / O is performed to the duplicated load volume, the contents of both disk devices can be made to always match.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the load volume I / O control management table 141. Referring to FIG. 2, the load volume I / O control management table 1
Reference numeral 41 is configured to include load volume duplication information 201 and load volume information areas 202 and 203.

Primary system 2 of this load volume information area
02 and the sub system 203 respectively include load volume device status information 211 and load volume I / O control information 2
12 and a load volume path entry 213.

The load volume path entry 213 is
A load volume path 221 and load volume path status information 222 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the respective load volume paths for the plurality of load volume paths (path 1 to path n).

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. First, using the load volume I / O control management table 141, I / O to the load volume
Details of operations for controlling O execution and I / O re-execution when I / O fails due to a path or disk failure, etc.
Will be described with reference to.

IPL (Initial Program Loader) 1
At 51, the load volume I / 0 control table registration means 131 determines the duplication of the load volumes 111 and 121, acquires the device identification name, acquires the device status, and acquires all the path channel numbers before the OS startup processing. And the path status are acquired, and the I / O control information, device status information, and all-path status information are registered in the load volume I / O control management table 141.

Based on the information registered in the load volume I / O control management table 141, the I / O processing for the load volume is controlled and managed.

Read I / O to load volume
In this case, the load volume I / O control means 132 executes I / O to the load volume of the designated startup path.

When an error is detected in this I / O processing, the load volume I / O control table re-registration means 133 closes the path, and the load volume I / O control management table 141 displays an error. The path state of the path in which the path is detected is re-registered, and the alternative path / alternative device selection means 134 selects the next startup path candidate from the paths registered in the table, and the load volume I / O control means. I / O is performed again by using the selected path as an alternative path by 132, and the OS startup processing is continued.

When there is no alternative path in the load volume of the designated startup path, the alternative path / alternative device selecting means 134 selects the path of the other load volume, and the load volume I / O control means 132. As a substitute path, I / O is performed again to continue the OS startup processing.

Write I / O to load volume
In this case, not only the startup volume but also the other load volume, load volume I / O
The control means 132 issues I / O.

When an error is detected in this I / O processing, the load volume I / O control table reregistration means 133 closes the path, and the load volume I / O control management table 141 displays an error. The path state of the path in which the path is detected is re-registered, and the alternative path / alternative device selection means 134 selects the next startup path candidate from the paths registered in the load volume I / O control management table 141. , Load volume I /
The O control unit 132 performs I / O again with the selected path as an alternative path, and continues the OS startup processing.

When there is no alternative path, the load volume I / O control table re-registration means 133 and the alternative path / alternative device selection means 134 close the load volume, and the load volume I / O control management table. The device state of the relevant disk device of 141 is re-registered, and the OS startup process is continued in the state where one is blocked.

[0032]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in order to explain the above-described embodiments of the present invention in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the present invention includes a central processing unit 301, a main storage unit 302, and an input / output unit 3.
03, and redundant load volumes (disk devices) 311 and 312, and load volumes 311 and 3
It is configured with a plurality of paths 321, 322, 323, 324 to Twelve. Of these, paths 321 and 322 are paths from the input / output device 303 to the load volumes 311 and 312 via the first disk controller, and paths 323 and 324 are loads from the input / output device 303 via the second disk controller. Volume 31
It is the path to 1, 312. On the main storage device 302,
A load volume I / O control management table 341 is provided. The configuration of the load volume I / O control management table 341 has the same configuration as that shown in FIG.

Further, in the IPL (Initial Program Loader) 351 of the main memory 302, the load volume I / O control management table registration means 331, the load volume I / O control means 332, and the load volume I / O control management table re-registration. Programs for realizing the functions of the means 333 and the alternative path / device selecting means 334 are stored and executed by the central processing unit 301 to realize the functions and processing described below.

Next, regarding the operation of one embodiment of the present invention,
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In the IPL 351, by the load volume I / 0 control table registration means 331, determination of duplication for the load volumes 311, 312, acquisition of a device identification name, acquisition of a device state, before OS startup processing,
The I / O control information, the device status information, and the all-path status information are acquired by acquiring all the path channel numbers and the path status, and the load volume I / O control management table
Register to 1. Based on the information registered in the load volume I / O control management table 341, the I / O processing to the load volume is controlled and managed.

Read I / O to load volume
In this case, the load volume I / O control means 332 executes I / O to the load volume 311 of the designated startup path 321.

Write I / O to load volume
In the case of, the load volume I / O control means 332 issues I / O not only to the startup volume 311 but also to the other load volume 312.

Next, the operation of the load volume I / O control management system when a failure occurs in the startup path 321 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

When an error is detected in the I / O to the load volume 311 of the designated startup path 321, the load volume I / O control management table reregistration means 333 closes the path 321 and loads it. The path status of the path 321 in which the error is detected is re-registered in the volume I / O control management table 341.

The alternative path / alternative device selection means 334 determines the next startup path candidate as the load volume I / O.
It is selected from the paths registered on the control management table 341.

The load volume I / O control means 3
In 32, the path 323 selected is used as the alternative path and I /
O is performed to continue the OS startup processing.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the operation of the load volume I / O control management method when a failure occurs in the startup load volume 311 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When an error is detected in the I / O for the load volume 311 of the specified startup path 323, the path 323 is blocked by the load volume I / O control management table reregistration means 333, and the load is performed. The path status of the path 323 in which the error is detected is re-registered on the volume I / O control management table 341.

The alternative path / alternative device selection means 334 determines the next startup path candidate as the load volume I / O.
It is selected from the paths registered on the control management table 341.

At this time, if the path 321 is already closed and there is no other alternative path, the load volume I
The / O control management table re-registration unit 333 closes the load volume 311 and re-registers the device status of the load volume on the load volume I / O control management table.

By the alternate path / alternative device selecting means 334, the other load volume 312 is switched to,
The path 322 is selected as an alternative path.

The load volume I / O control means 332 performs I / O again, and with one side blocked,
S Start-up processing is continued.

[0049]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

The first effect of the present invention is to automatically switch the startup path even when a failure occurs in the specified startup path, if another normal path exists. That is, the startup processing can be continued, and the operability and work efficiency of the OS startup processing when the startup path fails can be improved.

The reason for this is that in the present invention, the startup paths are automatically switched and the I / O is re-executed by collectively managing the information of all paths of the disk device of the specified startup path. This is because the OS startup processing is continued.

The second effect of the present invention is that even when a failure occurs in the disk device of the designated startup path,
If the load volume is duplicated and another normal disk device exists, the OS startup process can be continued by automatically switching the disk device, and the OS startup process operation at the startup path failure can be performed. That is, it is possible to improve productivity and work efficiency.

The reason for this is that in the present invention, the load volumes are automatically switched and the I / O is re-executed by collectively managing the information of all paths of both disk devices of the duplicated load volume. This is because the OS startup processing is configured to continue.

The third effect of the present invention is that, in a duplicated load volume, the contents of both load volumes are always matched so that the reliability of duplicated load volumes can be improved.

The reason for this is that, in the present invention, by collectively managing the information of all paths of both disk devices of the duplicated load volume, both of them can be written at the time of write I / O to the load volume during IPL processing. This is because it is configured to execute the write I / O to the load volume.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a load volume I / O control management table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Central Processing Unit 102 Main Storage Device 103 I / O Device 111 Disk Device (Primary Load Volume) 112 Disk Device (Secondary Load Volume) 121 Path (Multiple Paths) 131 Load Volume I / O Control Management Table Registration Means 132 Load Volume I / O control means 133 Load volume I / O control management table re-registration means 134 Alternate path / alternate device selection means 141 Load volume I / O control management table 151 IPL 201 Load volume duplication information 202 Primary load volume information area 203 Secondary load volume information area 211 Load volume device status information 212 Load volume I / O control information 213 Load volume path entry 221 Load volume path 222 Load volume path status Information 301 Central processing unit 302 Main storage device 303 Input / output device 311 Disk device (primary load volume) 312 Disk device (secondary load volume) 321 path 322 path 323 path 324 path 331 load volume I / O control management table registration means 332 Load volume I / O control means 333 Load volume I / O control management table re-registration means 334 Alternate path / alternate device selection means 341 Load volume I / O control management table 351 IPL

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-2-115960 (JP, A) JP-A-4-151749 (JP, A) JP-A-1-307856 (JP, A) JP-A-7- 222218 (JP, A) JP-A-7-253933 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 13/00 G06F 9/06

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information processing system comprising a central processing unit, a main storage device, an input / output device, a duplicated load volume, and a plurality of paths to each of the duplicated load volumes. Operating system) before the startup process
The duplication determination, the device identification name, the device status, the total path channel number, and the path status are obtained for each of the duplicated load volumes, and the I / O for each of the duplicated load volumes is obtained. Load volume I / O control management table registration means for registering control information, device status information, and all-path status information in the load volume I / O control management table; and in the load volume I / O control management table. I / O to the load volume based on the information
Load volume I / O control means for (input / output), and when an error is detected in the I / O, the path status or device status of the path in which the error is detected in the load volume I / O control management table Of the load volume control management table re-registration means for re-registering the data, and the next startup path or device candidate for performing I / O again in the path or device registered in the load volume I / O control management table. Alternate path / alternate device selecting means to be selected more, and I / O is performed again in the alternate path,
And a means for continuing the system start-up process.
O control management method. 2. An information processing system comprising a duplicated load volume and a plurality of paths to each of the duplicated load volumes, wherein each of the duplicated load volumes is before the operating system startup processing. On the other hand, positive
The duplication information of the secondary system, the disk device identification name, the device status, all the path channel numbers, and the path status are acquired, and the I of each of the redundant load volumes is acquired.
Means for registering I / O control information, device status information, and all path status information in the management table, and in the case of read I / O to the load volume in the IPL processing, loading of the specified startup path In the case of performing read I / O to the volume and writing I / O to the load volume, not only the startup load volume of the duplicated load volume but also the other load volume Means for controlling to issue write I / O, and I for the load volume of the specified startup path
When an error is detected in / O, the path is blocked, the path status of the path in which the error is detected is re-registered in the management table, and the next startup path candidate is registered in the management table. An information processing system comprising: a means for selecting from the existing paths, using the selected path as an alternative path, performing I / O again, and continuing the startup processing of the operating system. 3. When an error is detected in the I / O to the load volume of the designated startup path, the path in which the error is detected is blocked, and the management table stores
The path status of the path in which the error is detected is re-registered, and the next startup path candidate is selected from among the paths registered in the management table. At that time, in the path registered in the management table, If there is no alternative path, the load volume is blocked, the device status of the load volume is re-registered in the management table, the load volume of another system is switched, and the path of the load volume of another system is set. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the operating system boot process is continued in a state where one of the systems is blocked by selecting it as an alternative path and performing I / O again. 4. In an IPL of an information processing system comprising a duplicated load volume and a plurality of paths to each of the duplicated load volumes, each of the duplicated load volumes is provided before starting an operating system. With respect to each of the redundant load volumes, the I / O control information, the device status information, and the device status information of each of the redundant load volumes are acquired. , all path status information, first means for registering the load volume I / O control management table, the based on the load volume I / O control management table, the second for controlling the I / O to the load volume hand
Stage, when an error is detected in I / O, the load volume I / O control management table, a third hand to re-register the path state or device state, the path that the error is detected
Stage , and the next startup path or device candidate for performing I / O again,
Fourth means for selecting from the paths or devices registered in the load volume I / O control management table, and the path selected by the fourth means is the alternative path.
Perform I / O again to start the operating system.
As a fifth means for continuing the lifting process, an information processing system
A recording medium on which a program for operating the central processing unit of the system is recorded.