JP3552465B2 - Magnetic disk drive and disk system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an FC-AL system and a magnetic disk device as a constituent unit of the system, and more particularly to a technique for saving power consumption of the FC-AL system and the magnetic disk device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the speeding up of the system interface of a magnetic disk drive, a technique called FC-AL (Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop) has come to be used. The FC-AL technology is a technology that enables high-speed data transfer by transferring data that has been conventionally transferred in parallel, serially, and eliminating skew between data.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the FC-AL system. The FC-AL system shown in FIG. 7 includes a host 1 having two ports (ports A / B) and disk devices 2-1 to n, and further connects the ports (ports A / B) independently. By doing so, a double loop (loop A / B) is configured.
As shown in FIG. 7, in this FC-AL connection method, a host and a disk device are connected in a loop. The disk device is connected from the transmitting unit of each port to the receiving unit of the port of the subsequent disk device, thus forming a loop. Each port is connected to a loop through a driver / receiver circuit.
In the FC-AL system, it is general to adopt a double loop configuration of ports A and B in consideration of occurrence of a failure or the like.
Known examples of patents related to Fiber Channel include “Switch and Connection Method for Fiber Channel Standard System” (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-265335) and “Method and Apparatus for Configuring Fabric in Fiber Channel System”. (JP-A-8-249263). This known example relates to a connection method of a switch, and does not directly mention low power consumption.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to cope with the two loops of A / B, the disk device prepares two ports composed of a driver / receiver circuit and the like, and usually activates two ports even if one of the loops is unused. I have to.
The driver / receiver circuit constituting the above port handles very high-speed data of about 1 Gbit / s and thus consumes a large amount of power. Since the power consumption of the driver / receiver circuit and the port control unit is large, it is a problem in terms of power consumption to keep the two circuits active.
In addition, there is also a problem that the cost and the mounting area of the package increase accordingly.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and to reduce the power consumption of a disk device compatible with FC-AL.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
FC-AL compatible magnetic disk drive having at least two driver / receiver circuits, at least two port control circuits, and a fiber channel control circuit including at least one frame control circuit for connecting to at least two loops A loop connection detecting means for monitoring an input signal from the receiver circuit to detect a use state of a loop, and a detection result by the loop connection detecting means, wherein when the loop is not used, at least one Sleep control means for stopping the circuit operation of the two driver / receiver circuits.
[0005]
Also, in order to connect to at least two loops, an FC-AL compatible magnetic having at least two driver / receiver circuits, at least two port control circuits, and a fiber channel control circuit including at least one frame control circuit. In a disk device,
Loop connection detection means for monitoring an input signal from the receiver circuit to detect a use state of a loop,
Main control means for the magnetic disk drive, comprising a microcomputer or the like for inputting a detection result by the loop connection detection means;
Sleep control means for stopping the circuit operation of at least one driver / receiver circuit in response to an instruction from the main control means when the input detection result indicates that the loop is not used.
[0006]
Further, the sleep control means is constituted by reference clock supply control means for stopping supply of a reference clock to at least one of the driver / receiver circuits.
Further, the sleep control means is constituted by a bias current supply control means for stopping a bias current to at least one of the driver / receiver circuits.
[0007]
An FC-AL-compatible FC having at least two driver / receiver circuits, at least two port control circuits, and a fiber channel control circuit including at least one frame control circuit for connecting to at least two loops. -In the FC-AL system composed of AL devices,
The system includes: a loop connection detecting unit for monitoring an input signal from the receiver circuit to detect a use state of a loop; and when the detection result by the loop connection detecting unit indicates that the loop is not used, the system includes the loop connection detection unit. An FC-AL device having sleep control signal generating means for generating a sleep control signal for stopping a circuit operation of at least one of the driver / receiver circuits other than the above,
All FC-AL devices of the system are provided with sleep control means for stopping the circuit operation of at least one of the driver / receiver circuits when receiving the sleep control signal.
[0008]
An FC-AL-compatible FC having at least two driver / receiver circuits, at least two port control circuits, and a fiber channel control circuit including at least one frame control circuit for connecting to at least two loops. -In the FC-AL system composed of AL devices,
The system includes: a loop connection detecting unit for monitoring an input signal from the receiver circuit to detect a use state of a loop; and a detection result of the loop connection detecting unit, and inputting a detection result by the loop connection detecting unit. An FC-AL device having a main control means including a microcomputer for generating a sleep control signal for stopping a circuit operation of at least one of the driver / receiver circuits when the detection result indicates that the loop is not used. With
All FC-AL devices of the system are provided with sleep control means for stopping the circuit operation of at least one of the driver / receiver circuits when receiving the sleep control signal.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a magnetic disk drive according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to the disk drives 2-1 to n in FIG.
The configuration of the disk device 2 in FIG. 1 is the same as that of the conventional disk device except that the disk device 2 includes the FC-I / F control unit 22 in order to adopt the FC-AL as the host I / F.
The FC-I / F control unit 22 includes two ports (ports A / B) 3/4 and a frame control unit 16. The port 3/4 includes a transceiver unit (Tx) 10, a receiver (Rx) 11, a port control unit 14, a sleep control unit 12, and a loop connection detection unit 22.
[0010]
In the present embodiment, the loop connection detection section (port use state) is detected by the loop connection detection section 23 of each port 3/4 of the disk device 2, and the control information output by the loop connection detection section 22 according to the detection. The sleep control unit 12 implements sleep control for the transceiver unit 10 and the receiver unit 11 at an arbitrary port.
For example, in the FC-AL system shown in FIG. 7, when a failure occurs in one loop, a port connected to the failed loop is not used until the loop failure is recovered.
In the meantime, by implementing sleep control for the port connected to the failed loop, the port connected to the failed loop is changed to the sleep mode, thereby reducing the power consumption of the port.
[0011]
The outline of the sleep control process for the port A3 will be described below by taking a case where a failure occurs in the loop A as an example.
First, the detection of the loop connection status will be described.
The transceiver unit 10 and the receiver unit 11 are a connection unit with a loop in the disk device, transmit a signal to the loop, and receive a signal on the loop, and convert serial data into parallel data. , A parallel-serial converter for converting parallel data into serial data, a clock generator, and the like.
The port control unit controls the synchronization between the loop and the internal logic, and performs LPSM (loop port state machine) control by receiving Ordered Sets. The port control unit includes a decode unit, an encode unit, a register unit, and a port state control unit. Be composed.
The loop connection detection unit 23 monitors an input signal through the receiver unit, detects a signal failure, detects a transition to the OLD_PORT state in the port control unit, and detects a loop failure or the like. It confirms that it is not used, and generates and outputs control information to the sleep control unit 12 according to the use status of the port.
The sleep control unit 12 implements sleep control of the transceiver / receiver units 10 and 11 based on the information.
[0012]
Next, sleep control will be described.
FIG. 2 is an example of the sleep control unit 12, and the sleep control unit is configured by the reference clock supply control unit 7.
The reference clock supply control unit 7 controls the supply of the reference clock signal to the transceiver unit and the receiver unit based on the output signal of the loop connection detection unit 23.
The loop connection detection unit 23 detects that the port is not used, and the detection result is received by the reference clock supply control unit 7, and the control signal for putting the port into the sleep mode, that is, the supply of the reference clock signal is stopped. When the instruction signal is generated and output, the supply of the reference clock signal to the transceiver unit, the receiver unit, and the like to which the signal is input is stopped.
By reducing power consumption by unused ports, power consumption of the disk device can be reduced (sleep mode).
[0013]
FIG. 3 is an actual example of another sleep control unit, which is configured by replacing the reference clock supply control unit in FIG. 2 with a bias signal supply control unit.
The loop connection detection unit 23 detects that the port is not used, and receives the detection result by the bias signal supply control unit 8 to set the port to the sleep mode, that is, instruct the supply stop of the bias signal. In this case, the supply of the bias current to the transceiver unit, the receiver unit, and the like to which the signal is input is stopped.
[0014]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is an example showing a magnetic disk drive according to this embodiment. In the magnetic disk device 2 according to the first embodiment, the control signal is directly input from the loop connection detection unit 23 to the sleep control unit. However, in the present embodiment, the control signal from the loop connection detection unit 23 is temporarily The main control unit 21 outputs a control signal to the sleep control unit as part of the main control.
[0015]
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the FC-AL system configuration according to the present invention. In the FC-AL system shown in FIG. 7, a control signal 24 for implementing sleep control based on control information from an external device is provided. Added.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a magnetic disk drive according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
The port units 3 and 4 in FIG. 6 are configured to input an external sleep control signal 24 to the sleep control unit and implement sleep control of the port based on external sleep control information.
For example, the host 1 detects the loop connection status, generates a sleep control signal 24 based on the detected loop connection status, and controls the sleep control unit 12 of the host 1 and the other disk devices 2-1 to n to control the disk device. By enabling the sleep control of the transceiver unit 10 and the receiver unit 11 of an arbitrary port, unnecessary power (power consumption by unused ports) is reduced.
[0016]
Hereinafter, an outline of the processing of the port sleep control for the port A3 will be described, taking an example in which a failure occurs in the loop A.
First, the detection of the loop connection status will be described.
The loop connection detection unit of the host 1 generates a sleep control signal 24 based on the port connection status, and generates and outputs control information to the host 1 and the sleep control units 12 of the other disk devices 2-1 to n.
Next, to realize sleep control, each magnetic disk device that has received the sleep control signal performs sleep control by the sleep control unit. The subsequent operation is the same as in the first embodiment. The sleep control unit can be constituted by the reference clock supply control unit or the bias current supply control unit. Power consumption can be reduced by stopping the supply of the reference clock to the transceiver unit and the receiver unit of the disk device or by stopping the supply of the bias current.
[0017]
In the above case, the loop connection detection unit is provided in the host 1, and the control information for the sleep control unit 12 is supplied from the host 1 to the host 1 and other disk devices. The sleep control signal 24 may be provided in the device and generated by the loop connection detection unit based on the connection status of the port, and the sleep control signal 24 may be supplied to the own disk device, the host 1, and other disk devices.
[0018]
The following processing can be considered in order for each magnetic disk that has entered the sleep mode in response to the sleep control signal to exit the sleep mode and enter the operating state again.
A processing example according to the third embodiment will be described.
The host 1 detects a loop connection status with a loop connection detection unit. Upon detecting that the loop is in the connected state, the sleep control signal 24 generates and outputs control information for releasing sleep to the host and the sleep control unit 12 of the other disk devices 2-1 to n. .
Next, in order to realize the control for canceling the sleep, the host and each of the magnetic disk devices that have received the sleep control signal perform the control for canceling the sleep by the sleep control unit. When the supply of the reference clock to the transceiver unit / receiver unit of the disk device is stopped or the supply of the bias current is canceled, the operation state is restored.
Further, as seen in the second embodiment, in order to detect the loop connection state through the main control unit 21 and supply control information for canceling sleep to the sleep control unit 12 of the loop in the sleep state, It is also conceivable to generate and output sleep control information for canceling sleep.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the power consumption of the driver receiver circuit and the port control unit connected to the unused loop can be reduced, and the power consumption of the entire magnetic disk device can be reduced.
As a result, the package cost of the related semiconductor integrated circuit can be suppressed, the power supply circuit can be downsized, and the cost of the entire magnetic disk device can be suppressed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a disk device according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sleep control unit.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration of the sleep control unit.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a disk device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a disk device according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional fiber channel system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Host 2-1 to 2-n Magnetic disk device 3 Port A
4 Port B
5 Loop A
6 Loop B
7 Reference clock supply control unit 8 Bias current supply control unit 10 Transceiver unit 11 Receiver unit 12 Sleep control unit 14 Port control unit 16 Frame control unit 17 Buffer control unit 18 Read control unit 19 Disk 20 Buffer (cache)
21 Main control unit 22 Fiber channel control unit 23 Loop connection detection unit 24 Sleep control signal

Claims (6)

At least two ports connected to a host controller (host) by at least two independent loops and having a driver / receiver circuit and a port control circuit, and at least one frame control for connection to the at least two independent loops A fiber channel control circuit having a circuit and
The port includes a loop connection detection means for detecting an unused state of the ports by detecting and monitoring an input signal fault loop which is connected to the port from the receiver circuit, the loop connection detection section Sleep control means for stopping the circuit operation of at least the driver / receiver circuit of the port when the port is not used ,
An FC-AL compatible magnetic disk device that receives data transmitted from the higher-level control device via the loop or via the loop and another magnetic disk device. At least two ports connected to a host controller (host) by at least two independent loops and having a driver / receiver circuit and a port control circuit, and at least one frame control for connection to the at least two independent loops A fiber channel control circuit having a circuit and
The port monitors an input signal from the receiver circuit , detects a failure in a loop connected to the port, detects an unused state of the port, and outputs a detection result to the microcomputer of the magnetic disk device. Loop connection detection means for outputting to the main control means having: a sleep control means for receiving an instruction indicating an unused state of the port from the main control means and stopping at least the circuit operation of the driver / receiver circuit of the port ; Has,
An FC-AL compatible magnetic disk device that receives data transmitted from the higher-level control device via the loop or via the loop and another magnetic disk device. The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1 or 2,
2. The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein said sleep control means comprises reference clock supply control means for stopping supply of a reference clock to at least one of said driver / receiver circuits. The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1 or 2,
2. The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein said sleep control means comprises bias current supply control means for stopping a bias current to at least one of said driver / receiver circuits. At least two ports connected to a host controller (host) by at least two independent loops and having a driver / receiver circuit and a port control circuit, and at least one frame control for connection to the at least two independent loops A fiber channel control circuit having a circuit ;
A loop connection detection means for detecting a disturbance in the loop to monitor the input signal from the receiver circuit, when the detection result of the loop connection detection means indicates a failure of the loop, the fault loop other than itself and its own An FC-AL device having sleep control signal generation means for generating a sleep control signal for stopping a circuit operation of at least the connected driver / receiver circuit,
All FC-AL devices, when receiving the sleep control signal, include sleep control means for stopping circuit operation of at least the driver / receiver circuit connected to the fault loop thereof,
A disk system including an FC-AL device compatible with FC-AL, which receives data transmitted from the higher-level control device via the loop or via the loop and another magnetic disk device . At least two ports connected to a host controller (host) by at least two independent loops and having a driver / receiver circuit and a port control circuit, and at least one frame control for connection to the at least two independent loops type fiber channel control circuit having a circuit, a loop connection detection means for detecting a disturbance in the loop to monitor the input signal from the receiver circuit, the detection result in the loop connection detection means, the loop A microcomputer for generating a sleep control signal for stopping a circuit operation of at least the driver / receiver circuit connected to the own and other fault loops when a detection result of the connection detecting means indicates a loop fault ; An FC-AL device having main control means,
All FC-AL devices, when receiving the sleep control signal, include sleep control means for stopping circuit operation of at least the driver / receiver circuit connected to the fault loop thereof,
A disk system including an FC-AL device compatible with FC-AL, which receives data transmitted from the higher-level control device via the loop or via the loop and another magnetic disk device .

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