JP5601222B2 - Electronic device rack mounting system, electronic device monitoring method, and rack mounting type electronic device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device rack mounting system, an electronic device monitoring method, and a rack mounting type electronic device, and more particularly, an electronic device capable of wirelessly monitoring a failure and performing stop processing and lot information management at the time of abnormality. The present invention relates to a rack mounting system for equipment, a method for monitoring rack mounting electronic equipment, and electronic equipment.

A rack mount system is known as a device that pulls out electronic devices such as computer devices and freely stores them in parallel.
Conventionally, in this rack mount system, in order to monitor the status of each unit constituting the rack, an abnormality monitoring means and a reporting means via a LAN network are generally employed.
In general, electronic devices are equipped with active devices that form a large number of semiconductor integrated circuits, etc. on a circuit board, and passive elements such as resistors and capacitors. In addition to these, power supplies that supply power to these electronic circuits It also has a unit.

For this reason, when constructing a rack mount electronic device system, not only an electronic circuit unit that performs various signal processing but also a power supply unit that supplies operating power to these electronic circuit units is monitored for occurrence of an abnormality. It is desirable to provide a means and a means for reporting the occurrence of an abnormality.
In recent years, as means for reporting the occurrence of an abnormality in an electronic device, short-range wireless communication means for reading out ID information of the electronic device from an RF tag provided in the electronic device, that is, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), “individual identification by radio waves” Wireless means using "abbreviation") have also been developed.

  As a known technique related to this field, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for automating the specification of the position of a wireless sensor node and the association with a monitoring target to be monitored in a sensor network. . Specifically, the wireless sensor node identifies a sensor communication unit that receives sensor information from a sensor that monitors a monitoring target and outputs sensor information, a wireless communication unit that outputs various information wirelessly, and a position of the sensor Self-position specifying means for outputting position information to be transmitted, and transmitting sensor information and position information to the monitoring server. The monitoring server receives sensor information and position information from the wireless sensor node, stores a sensor data as monitoring data to be monitored, and a map indicating the relative position of the sensor node based on the sensor position information And a sensor node map creating unit for creating a sensor network.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a target vehicle stop system using an IC tag that stops a target vehicle by a wireless stop signal generated by a stop instruction moving body. Specifically, the target vehicle stop system is configured to stop the target vehicle by a wireless stop signal issued by the stop instruction moving body. This target vehicle stop system is installed in the target vehicle, and when it is determined that the speed or acceleration of the target vehicle has exceeded a predetermined threshold, wirelessly transmits its own identification information to the stop instruction mobile body and stops from the stop instruction mobile body. An RFID tag is provided that instructs the stopping means of the target vehicle to stop the target vehicle when the signal is wirelessly received.

  Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a fan, an electronic device, a fan stop detection method, a program, and a recording medium that realize a fan monitoring function using a fan with a built-in RFID tag. Specifically, it is a fan that cools an electronic component, and includes an RFID tag, an activation unit that activates the RFID tag by using a stop signal of the fan as a switch, and that the fan has stopped from the activated RFID tag. Wireless communication means for performing wireless communication.

JP-A-2005-328230 JP 2008-296684 A JP 2009-194060 A

However, in the conventional electronic device rack mounting system and electronic device monitoring method described in the background art, as described above, the failure of each module is mainly monitored via the LAN network. For modules (for example, power taps) that do not have a LAN port for use and do not have a failure monitoring interface such as FW, there is a problem that it is difficult to monitor failures and stop processing when an abnormality occurs.
In addition, when a large number of LAN cable wirings are provided in the rack, there are problems such as an increase in wiring man-hours during rack construction, deterioration in maintainability during maintenance and replacement, and an increased risk of cable misconnection.
Furthermore, as for the serial / lot information management means of each device, for devices that cannot collect information via LAN, it is necessary to visually check the label as necessary, and when a lot defect is detected, etc. Also had the problem that a great deal of man-hours were required to replace the parts.

Note that the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not use an RFID tag.
Moreover, although the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 uses an RFID tag, the monitoring target is a vehicle and has a different purpose from the management of the electronic device of the present invention.
Further, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 implements a fan monitoring function using a fan with an RFID tag built therein, but the communication means using the RFID tag is one-way communication (only notification of abnormality). is there.

  In contrast, the present invention transmits the unit ID number from the second RFID active tag installed in the unit mounted on the computer rack to the monitoring server via the RFID reader / writer, and the in-unit sensor is abnormal. , Means for transmitting the unit ID number and abnormality notification to the monitoring server from the first RFID active tag installed in the unit via the RFID reader / writer, and the monitoring server installed in the unit By providing a stop signal to the RFID passive tag via the RFID reader / writer to stop the abnormal unit, the abnormality monitoring and stop processing can be performed even when there is no management LAN port or wiring. The point is that.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and it is possible to perform wireless failure monitoring means and stop processing means, serial information / lot information of a unit that does not have a management LAN port. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device rack mounting system, an electronic device monitoring method, and a rack mounting type electronic device capable of implementing management means.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic device rack mount system according to the present invention includes an electronic device unit to be monitored, an RFID reader / writer connected to the electronic device unit so as to be capable of wireless communication, and the electronic device unit. And a monitoring server device that monitors the electronic device unit by collecting information on the electronic device unit via the RFID reader / writer, and the electronic device unit has an abnormal environment and circuit state that occurs inside the electronic device unit. Sensor means for detecting the abnormality, an abnormality notification means for notifying the occurrence of the abnormal state to the RFID reader / writer via the first RFID active tag, and the RFID reader / writer. Receiving a stop signal via the RFID passive tag and Stop means for stopping the circuit function in the sensor, and model number / lot information transmission means for transmitting the model number and lot information specific to the electronic device unit to the RFID reader / writer via the second RFID active tag; , Provided.

  The electronic device monitoring method according to the present invention includes a sensing step of sensing an abnormal state of an environment and a circuit generated in the electronic device unit monitored by the monitoring server device monitored by the monitoring server device, and the abnormality An abnormality notification step of notifying an abnormality notification notifying the occurrence of a state to the RFID reader / writer connected to the monitoring server via the first RFID active tag, and a stop signal transmitted from the RFID reader / writer A stop step of stopping the circuit function in the unit based on the stop signal, and a model number and lot information specific to the electronic device unit via the second RFID active tag. And a model number / lot information transmission step for transmitting to the RFID reader / writer. And butterflies.

  Furthermore, the rack-mount type electronic device according to the present invention provides a sensor means for sensing an abnormal state of the environment and circuit generated inside the electronic device unit, and an abnormal notification for notifying the occurrence of the abnormal state as a first RFID. An abnormality notification means for notifying an external RFID reader / writer via an active tag, and a stop signal transmitted from the RFID reader / writer are received via the RFID passive tag, and in the unit based on the stop signal Stop means for stopping the circuit function, and model number / lot information transmission means for transmitting a model number and lot information specific to the electronic device unit to the RFID reader / writer via a second RFID active tag. It is characterized by that.

  As described above, according to the rack mounting system for an electronic device of the present invention, an RF tag is provided inside the electronic device unit, and information on the electronic device unit is collected and monitored via the RFID reader / writer. By monitoring with the server device, modules such as an electronic device unit console unit and a power supply unit (that is, modules that do not have a FW function for fault monitoring or a LAN port for management) can be monitored wirelessly. There is an effect that it is possible to perform stop processing at the time of abnormality.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a rack mount system for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an electronic device rack mounting system, an electronic device monitoring method, and a rack mounting type electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a rack mount system for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The rack mounting system for an electronic device according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a rack power supply unit 1 (rack mount electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention) to be monitored, a monitoring server 201, and an RFID that reads and writes RFID. A reader / writer 202, a lot information database 301 that provides information on lots, and a defective lot information database 302 that provides information on defective lots are provided.

In the present embodiment, the rack power supply unit 1 is the rack mount type electronic device to be monitored. However, in the present invention, in general, the rack mount electronic device can be any electronic device.
The rack power supply unit 1 is a power supply unit mounted in a rack (not shown) as a rack-mounted electronic device, and includes a normal power supply circuit, and is an RFID active tag 101 that is a characteristic component of the present invention. An RFID passing tag 102, an RFID active tag 103, a voltage sensor / temperature sensor 104, and a power supply IC 105.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 106 denotes an interrupt signal, reference numeral 107 denotes a power-off signal, and reference numeral 108 denotes an electromotive force.

Hereinafter, the function of the rack mounting system of the electronic device of this embodiment will be described.
In the rack mounting system for electronic devices according to the present embodiment, RFID active tags 101 and 103 and RFID passive tags 102 are included in a unit of an electronic device to be monitored (here, rack power supply unit 1 as shown in FIG. 1). Shall be installed.
Here, the RFID active tags 101 and 103 each have a built-in power source such as a battery, and the tag itself transmits ID information at regular time intervals. In the present invention, power is supplied from within the unit. RFID tag.
The RFID passing tag 102 is a type of RFID tag that supplies power to itself using electromagnetic induction or microwaves from the RFID reader / writer 202 and reads and writes information such as ID.

First, when a sensor (here, voltage sensor / temperature sensor 104) in the unit senses an abnormality, the sensor asserts an interrupt signal 106 to notify the abnormality.
When the interrupt signal 106 is asserted, the power supply to the RFID active tag 101 is turned on, and the unit ID number and abnormality notification are transmitted from the RFID active tag 101.
The transmitted information is received by the monitoring server 201 via the RFID reader / writer 202.
When the monitoring server 201 receives the information including the abnormality notification, the monitoring server 201 transmits a radio wave of a stop signal 402 to the unit via the RFID reader / writer 202 as necessary.

When the radio wave of the stop signal 402 is received by the antenna (coil) of the RFID passing tag 102, an electromotive force is generated in the coil. Using this electromotive force as a trigger, a stop signal is sent to the control IC 105 of the unit to stop the function of the unit.
The RFID active tag 103 stores the model number / lot information of the unit. Thus, when the unit is mounted on the rack as a new unit, the module model number information and lot information are automatically collected on the monitoring server 201 side.
The lot information of each device collected on the monitoring server 201 side is transmitted from the monitoring server 201 to the lot information database 301 and collated.
Further, when the occurrence of defective lots is found, the lot information is queried in the defective lot information database 302 to identify which rack of which customer has the defective lot unit.

The operation of the rack mounting system for electronic equipment according to the present invention will be described below.
As described above, the rack power supply unit 1 includes the voltage sensor / temperature sensor 104. When an abnormally high temperature occurs in the environment in the unit or a voltage failure occurs in the circuit system in the unit, an interrupt signal is generated. 106 is asserted to notify the abnormality.
When the interrupt signal 106 is asserted, power supply to the RFID active tag 101 is turned on, and the RFID active tag 101 transmits an abnormality notification 401 that is a radio wave signal for notifying the ID number of the power supply unit and the abnormal temperature / abnormal voltage. To do.

The monitoring server 201 is connected to the RFID reader / writer 202 via the USB port, and the ID information of the unit transmitted from the RFID active tag 101 of the failure unit (the rack power supply unit 1 in this case) and the failure occurrence date and time. Information etc. are recorded in the event log and reported (warning) to the outside if necessary.
In the case of an abnormality in which it is determined that the unit needs to be stopped (for example, when an abnormally high temperature occurs), the monitoring server 201 sends an RFID reader / writer 202 to the faulty unit (here, the rack power supply unit 1). The stop signal 402 is transmitted through the radio.
For example, when it is desired to execute the power-off processing of the faulty unit (here, the rack power supply unit 1), the RFID reader / writer 202 transmits a stop signal 402 that is a radio wave signal to the RFID passive tag 102.

When the antenna (coil) of the RFID passive tag 102 receives this radio wave signal, an electromotive force 108 is generated in the coil. Using this electromotive force 108 as a trigger, a power-off signal 107 is transmitted to the control IC 105 of the faulty unit (here, the rack power supply unit 1).
Similarly, it is also possible to send a FAN boost signal to other rack units such as FAN units when the environmental temperature is abnormal.
It is assumed that a unit model number and lot information are written in advance in the RFID active tag 103 for traceability of lot information.

As a result, when a unit needs to be added or replaced and a new unit is mounted on the rack, the model number information and lot information (here, lot information 403) of the module is automatically collected on the server 201 side. be able to. As a result, the server 201 can write the ID information of the rack in which the tag is mounted to the RFID active tag 103.
The lot information 403 of each device collected on the server 201 side is transmitted from the server 201 to the lot information database 301 as the model number / lot information 405 of each device mounted in the rack. As a result, when the occurrence of a defective lot is found, the lot information database 301 is referred to the lot information to identify which customer's rack and which rack's unit is mounted. it can.

According to this embodiment, even for modules such as a console unit and a power supply unit (that is, modules that do not have a fault monitoring FW function or a management LAN port), wireless fault monitoring and stop processing in the event of abnormality There is an effect that can be performed.
Moreover, it is possible to reduce the wiring in the rack, and there is an effect that it is possible to improve the wiring man-hours at the time of rack construction and the maintainability at the time of maintenance replacement.
In addition, management of serial lot information of units that cannot collect information via the LAN port mounted on the rack can be managed in the database via RFID tags, and lot defects etc. are detected This has the effect of reducing the man-hours required for investigating the replacement target device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rack power supply unit 101 RFID active tag 102 RFID passive tag 103 RFID active tag 104 Voltage sensor / temperature sensor 105 Control IC
106 Interrupt signal 107 Power-off signal 108 Electromotive force 201 Monitoring server 202 RFID reader / writer 301 Lot information database 302 Defective lot information database 401 Abnormality notification 402 Stop signal 403 Model number / lot information 404 Mounted rack ID
405 Model number / lot information of each rack-mounted device 406 Lot information query

Claims (6)

An electronic device unit to be monitored;
An RFID reader / writer connected to the electronic device unit so as to be capable of wireless communication;
A monitoring server device that monitors the electronic device unit by collecting information on the electronic device unit via the RFID reader / writer, and
In the electronic device unit,
Sensor means for sensing an abnormal state of the environment and circuit generated inside the electronic device unit;
An abnormality notification means for notifying the RFID reader / writer of an abnormality notification for notifying the occurrence of the abnormal state via a first RFID active tag;
Stop means for receiving a stop signal transmitted from the RFID reader / writer via the RFID passive tag and stopping a circuit function in the unit based on the stop signal;
A model number / lot information transmission means for transmitting a model number and lot information unique to the electronic device unit to the RFID reader / writer via a second RFID active tag;
A rack mounting system for electronic equipment, characterized by comprising:   A lot information database storing lot information; and a defective lot information database storing defective lot information; and the monitoring server device collects the model number and lot collected via the RFID reader / writer The information is collated with the lot information stored in the lot information database, and when the abnormality notification is made by the abnormality notification means, the model number and the lot information are stored in the defective lot stored in the defective lot information database. 2. The rack mounting system for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the system is collated with information.   2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second RFID active tags are RFID tags of a type that is supplied with power from within the electronic device unit and transmits ID information at regular time intervals. Equipment rack mount system.   The RFID passive tag is a type of RFID tag that is supplied with power by electromagnetic induction or microwave from the RFID reader / writer and reads / writes ID information from the RFID reader / writer. Item 9. A rack mounting system for electronic equipment according to Item 1. To the monitored electronic device unit monitored by the monitoring server device,
A sensing step for sensing an abnormal state of an environment and a circuit generated inside the electronic device unit;
An abnormality notification step of notifying an abnormality notification for notifying the occurrence of the abnormal state to an RFID reader / writer connected to the monitoring server via a first RFID active tag;
A stop step of receiving a stop signal transmitted from the RFID reader / writer via the RFID passive tag and stopping a circuit function in the unit based on the stop signal;
A model number / lot information transmission step of transmitting a model number and lot information specific to the electronic device unit to the RFID reader / writer via a second RFID active tag;
A method for monitoring an electronic device, comprising: Sensor means for sensing an abnormal state of the environment and circuit generated inside the electronic device unit;
An abnormality notification means for notifying an external RFID reader / writer of an abnormality notification for notifying the occurrence of the abnormal state via the first RFID active tag;
Stop means for receiving a stop signal transmitted from the RFID reader / writer via the RFID passive tag and stopping a circuit function in the unit based on the stop signal;
A model number / lot information transmission means for transmitting a model number and lot information unique to the electronic device unit to the RFID reader / writer via a second RFID active tag;
A rack-mount type electronic device characterized by comprising:

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