JP6051798B2 - Firmware verification system, firmware verification method, and firmware verification program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a verification system, a verification method, and a verification program for verifying server firmware parameters. In particular, it relates to automatically verifying firmware parameters of a plurality of servers, such as when a server is introduced.

  In recent years, with the progress of virtualization and cloud computing, platform services provided by data center operators and the like are changing. For example, instead of renting out server devices as they are, services that provide users with as many resources as necessary when necessary and charge for the provided resources have increased.

  In addition, it is technically possible to operate a plurality of virtual OSs (Operating Systems) in a virtual environment placed in a physical server, and the virtual OS can be flexibly moved between physical servers. As a result, it is no longer necessary to provide services to users on the same physical server. For this reason, the operator aggregates the virtual OS operating on the physical server according to the resources required by the user for each time period, or stops the physical server that is no longer required to operate according to the usage situation. Therefore, it has become possible to carry out operations that realize power saving.

  However, for business operators, when trying to control resources such as server performance and power consumption according to the usage status, it is not always necessary to use the firmware parameters that are uniformly set during production. It will not be provided. In general, firmware parameters are uniformly set in a server at the time of factory shipment. Considering environmental factors such as the actual user's server room configuration, room temperature, power supply amount, and performance required for each time zone, the setting is not always optimal for operation.

  In order to set the optimum parameters according to the required resources, the operator builds a verification environment and manually sets each server device when evaluating power and performance with multiple server devices. I had to. That is, when a business operator evaluates a server device, a large amount of cost is required, and it is difficult to realize an optimum operation cost. For this reason, there has been a demand for a mechanism that can perform operation verification at a low cost with respect to changes in firmware parameters of a large number of server devices.

  For example, the software test automation system of Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for automatically executing a software program for a plurality of clients by a single server.

  A block diagram of a computer system for realizing the software test automation system of Patent Document 1 is shown in FIG. The computer system shown in FIG. 8 includes a server 100 and a plurality of clients 200 (200-1, 200-2,..., 200-n) connected via a network 400. The server 100 includes a storage device 120, an operation recording unit 106, a data editing unit 107, a reproduction instruction unit 108, an information transmission / reception unit 109, a result confirmation unit 110, a schedule reservation unit 111, an activation unit 112, Consists of The storage device 120 includes a test script file 101, a test project file 102, a client information file 103, a test result file 104, and a test reservation file 105. The client 200 includes an information transmission / reception unit 201, a test playback unit 202, a test script 203, and an information acquisition unit 204. Further, the client 200 has a test target program 300 that is software for operating the client to be tested.

  According to the software test automation system of Patent Document 1, a software test for a plurality of clients 200 can be automatically executed from the server 100 side. In addition, for each client 200, it is possible to automatically verify the client 200 composed of a large number of clients, such as enabling a software test in consideration of various circumstances such as the operating state of each client 200, ON / OFF, and availability of update. be able to.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-128940

  When the server is introduced, it is necessary for the user to verify the optimum setting value while changing the firmware parameter of the server one by one according to the operating environment of the server. Therefore, when a plurality of servers are prepared and the setting is changed, there is a problem that the user must collect the execution result of the verification tool from each server.

  According to the software test automation system of Patent Document 1, a dedicated management server and a network can be prepared and firmware parameters of a plurality of servers can be automatically changed. However, it is necessary to construct a dedicated management server and a network. It was.

  An object of the firmware verification system of the present invention is to efficiently perform firmware parameter verification of a plurality of servers without constructing a dedicated management server or network.

  A firmware verification system according to the present invention is configured such that a plurality of evaluation apparatuses including a system management unit having a master server function and a firmware verification unit including a verification program for verifying firmware parameters are communicably connected via a network. In the firmware verification system, the system management means enables the storage area for storing the registered verification information and the verification result verified by the verification program based on the verification information, and the access to the storage area through the network. Sharing means, and the firmware verification means includes connection means for connecting to storage areas of a plurality of evaluation apparatuses, and at least one of the plurality of evaluation apparatuses constituting the firmware verification system serves as a master. Once set on the device, it becomes the master. The evaluation device turns on one of the plurality of evaluation devices, and when the verification program operates as a boot program in any of the evaluation devices powered on by the master evaluation device, the evaluation device on which the boot program operates Access the storage area of the master evaluation device via the sharing means of the evaluation device as the master, and share the storage area of the evaluation device as the master via the connection means of the evaluation device that is powered on The verification information stored in is acquired, and its own firmware parameter is set based on the verification information.

  A firmware verification method according to the present invention is a communication method in which a plurality of evaluation apparatuses including a system management unit having a master server function and a firmware verification unit including a verification program for verifying firmware parameters are connected via a network. In the firmware verification system, the system management means enables the storage area for storing the registered verification information and the verification result verified by the verification program based on the verification information, and the access to the storage area through the network. Sharing means, and the firmware verification means includes connection means for connecting to storage areas of a plurality of evaluation apparatuses, and at least one of the plurality of evaluation apparatuses constituting the firmware verification system serves as a master. Becomes a master when set on a device A step of turning on the power of any of the plurality of evaluation devices by the evaluation device, a step of operating a verification program as a boot program in any of the evaluation devices turned on by the evaluation device as a master, and a boot program Sharing the evaluation device as a master via the connection means of the evaluation device that is turned on by accessing the storage area of the evaluation device as the master via the sharing means of the evaluation device as a master by the operated evaluation device Obtaining verification information stored in the stored storage area, and setting own firmware parameters based on the verification information.

  The firmware verification program of the present invention enables a plurality of evaluation apparatuses including a system management unit having a master server function and a firmware verification unit including a verification program for verifying firmware parameters to communicate via a network. In the connected firmware verification system, the system management means can access the storage area through the network, the storage area for storing the registered verification information and the verification result verified by the verification program based on the verification information. The firmware verification means includes connection means for connecting to the storage areas of the plurality of evaluation apparatuses, and at least one of the plurality of evaluation apparatuses constituting the firmware verification system is a master. When set as an evaluation device, A process for turning on one of the plurality of evaluation apparatuses by the evaluation apparatus, a process for operating the verification program as a boot program in any of the evaluation apparatuses turned on by the evaluation apparatus as a master, and a boot program Is shared by the evaluation device that is the master, and the storage area of the evaluation device that is the master is accessed by the evaluation device that has operated, and the evaluation device that is the master is shared via the connection device of the evaluation device that is turned on The computer causes the computer to execute processing for acquiring the verification information stored in the storage area and processing for setting its own firmware parameter based on the verification information.

  According to the firmware verification system of the present invention, firmware parameters of a plurality of servers can be efficiently verified from an arbitrary server without constructing a dedicated management server or network.

It is a block diagram of the firmware verification system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement flow of the master server in the firmware verification system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement flow of the boot program of the firmware verification system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an acquisition setting processing flow of the verification information in the boot program of the firmware verification system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a multiple unit verification flow in the boot program of the firmware verification system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the firmware verification system which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the firmware verification system which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. 1 is a block diagram of a software test automation system of Patent Document 1. FIG.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using drawing. However, the preferred embodiments described below are technically preferable for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the invention is not limited to the following.

(Embodiment)
The evaluation device 1 (evaluation devices 1-1, 1-2,..., 1-N) according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes a BMC 2 having a master server function for managing verification information, and a verification It has two components of the BIOS 3 having a verification program function executed on the target host side (BMC: Baseboard Management Controller, BIOS: Basic Input / Output System). Note that BMC 2 corresponds to system management means, and BIOS 3 corresponds to firmware verification means.

  The evaluation apparatus 1 is an example of the firmware verification apparatus of the present invention, and at least one is included in the firmware verification system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The server including the evaluation device 1 has a general server configuration / function. In addition, when describing several evaluation apparatus 1-1, 1-2, ..., 1-N without distinguishing, it has described with the evaluation apparatus 1. FIG.

  The BMC 2 is a system management controller, and can be configured by an LSI (LSI: Large Scale Integration). BIOS, which is one of the firmware, is a subroutine indicating a procedure for accessing the hardware, and is stored in a storage device such as an LSI such as a ROM or a flash memory (ROM: Read Only Memory).

  In addition, it is assumed that the server administrator including the evaluation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention allocates a server usage area to a user who has a server usage contract. The server user can use the server area assigned by the administrator in accordance with the user's usage mode.

  The BMC 2 includes a DHCP server 6 that automatically assigns setting information such as an IP address to a device connected to the network 10 by DHCP, and an IPMI 7 that is an interface for enabling monitoring of the server hardware. (IP: Internet Protocol, DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, IPMI: Intelligent Platform Management Interface). The DHCP server 6 corresponds to setting information management means, and the IPMI 7 corresponds to setting management mediation means.

  The BMC 2 has a storage area 8 for storing firmware parameter verification information and verification results. Of the storage area 8, the area for storing the verification information is distinguished from the verification information area, and the area for storing the verification result is distinguished from the verification result area. For the verification information area and the verification result area, for example, the storage area 8 may be allocated to a storage area of a storage device such as a main storage device or a register. Further, the storage area of the DHCP server 6 may be used as the storage area 8.

  Further, the BMC 2 includes a sharing unit 11 having a “storage area sharing function” that enables information on the storage area 8 to be shared on the network 10 with the DHCP server 6. The “storage area sharing function” is a function that allows other evaluation apparatuses 1 to refer to the storage area 8 of the evaluation apparatus 1 as a master. For example, an iSCSI target or an NFS server can be applied as the “storage area sharing function” (iSCSI: Internet Small Computer System Interface, NFS: Network File System).

  The BMC 2 includes an IPMI 7 that is an interface for enabling monitoring of server hardware and firmware. Normally, the power of the BMC 2 is always on even when the server is off. The BMC 2 receives the evaluation device 1 or the server including the evaluation device 1 through the IPMI 7 when the power of the server provided with the evaluation device 1 is turned on or when an activation instruction is received from another evaluation device 1. It is possible to manage the power supply by turning on the power supply. Further, when starting another server including the evaluation apparatus 1, the BMC 2 performs signal processing for power management, and turns on the power of the other server via the network 10 through the IPMI 7 of the other server apparatus. Can be executed.

  The BIOS 3 includes a boot program 9 that is a program for initializing a device and performing various settings at the time of booting, such as an operation system, and connection means 12 having a “connection function to a storage function”. The “connection function to the storage area” means that the other evaluation apparatus 1 (evaluation apparatus 1-2,..., 1-N) is added to the storage area 8 of the evaluation apparatus 1 (evaluation apparatus 1-1) as a master. ) Is a function for connecting and accessing the storage area 8. For example, an iSCSI initiator or an NFS client can be applied as the “connection function to the storage function”. The boot program 9 may be a single program, but is preferably composed of a plurality of related small programs.

  Note that the functions of the BMC 2 and the BIOS 3 incorporated in each evaluation device 1 are the same for each evaluation device 1. Moreover, in the evaluation apparatus 1 (evaluation apparatus 1-1) used as a master, the function of the DHCP server 6 and the sharing means 11 becomes effective. On the other hand, in the evaluation apparatus 1 (evaluation apparatus 1-2,..., 1-N) that is not the master, the functions of the DHCP server 6 and the sharing unit 11 are invalid.

  In an environment to which the evaluation apparatus 1 of the present invention is applied, there are an arbitrary number of servers including the BMC 2 to be verified, and all of the BMC_LAN 4 and the onboard LAN 5 included in the evaluation apparatus 1 included in each server are It is assumed that they are connected on the same network 10 (LAN: Local Area Network). In addition, when a certain server is divided into a plurality of server areas, one evaluation device 1 may be assigned to each server area, or a single evaluation device 1 may evaluate a plurality of server areas. Good.

  Here, the master server function and the verification program function according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Master server function)
First, the master server function of the BMC 2 will be described.

  A master server function is incorporated in the BMC 2 of all evaluation apparatuses 1. When the user selects an arbitrary evaluation device 1 (evaluation device 1-1) on the network 10 and sets information necessary for verification in the BMC 2, the master server function of the BMC 2 validate. In addition, in FIG. 1, although the evaluation apparatus 1-1 is made into the master, arbitrary evaluation apparatuses 1 can be set to a master.

  Further, as the master server function, it is assumed that a “storage area sharing function” capable of sharing the DHCP server 6 and the information in the storage area 8 of each evaluation apparatus 1 on the network 10 is effective. The “storage area sharing function” is realized by the sharing means 11.

  The storage area 8 of the evaluation device 1-1 serving as a master can store verification information and verification results. It is assumed that the verification information and the verification result are disclosed on the network 10 by using the “storage area sharing function” of the sharing unit 11 and can be used from the verification program function incorporated in the BIOS 3 side. It is assumed that the verification information and the verification result are stored in the verification information area and the verification result area allocated to the storage area 8, respectively.

  Further, the BMC 2 of the evaluation device 1-1 serving as a master and the BMC 2 of each evaluation target server can communicate with each other based on network information acquired from the DHCP server 6. Therefore, the evaluation device 1-1 serving as a master can manage the DC power supply of the server including each evaluation device 1 through the IPMI 7 (DC: Direct Current).

  Here, it is assumed that each BMC 2 can acquire IP address information from the DHCP server 6 of the evaluation device 1-1 serving as a master and perform initial setting. And by the master server function mounted in BMC2, BIOS3 of the evaluation apparatus 1-1 used as a master can also be utilized as verification object. Thus, firmware parameters can be verified and tuned with respect to all servers (including the master server) constituting the server system by one server set as the master server.

(Verification program function)
Next, the verification program function will be described.

  A verification program function for executing a verification program is incorporated in the BIOS 3 of each evaluation apparatus 1. This verification program is set in advance to start as the boot program 9, and operates after the DC power is turned on.

  When the verification program is activated, the DHCP server 6 is used to obtain the IP setting and the information in the storage area 8 that is disclosed in the evaluation apparatus 1-1 that becomes the master server.

  Each evaluation apparatus 1 acquires verification information by connecting to the storage area 8 of the master server using the “connection function to the storage area” of the connection means 12 from the acquired information, and acquires the verification information for each evaluation apparatus 1. Perform the verification yourself. Each evaluation device 1 stores the verification result in the storage area 8 of each evaluation device 1. The verification result stored in the storage area 8 of each evaluation apparatus 1 is stored in the verification result area of the storage area 8 included in the evaluation apparatus 1-1 serving as a master.

  In each evaluation apparatus 1 to be verified, the DC power management function via the IPMI 7 is effective as the function of the BMC 2, and the boot program 9 is effective in the BIOS 3. In each evaluation device 1 (1-2,..., 1-N) to be verified that is not the master, the “storage area sharing function” of the DHCP server 6 and the sharing unit 11 is invalid. Yes.

  Therefore, when the evaluation device 1 (1-2,..., 1-N) to be verified other than the master does not function as at least the master, the “storage area of the DHCP server 6 and the sharing unit 11” It does not have a “shared function”.

(Operation)
Next, an operation flow according to the embodiment of the present invention using the master server function and the verification program function will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Operation of the master server function)
First, the operation flow of the master server function will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 2, first, the firmware parameters to be verified, the tools necessary for the verification, the verification information such as device information necessary for verification, the number of devices, and the number of operating devices are stored in the evaluation device 1-1 that enables the master server function. Set to area 8 (step 201).

  Here, it is assumed that the verification information registered by the server user is set in the storage area 8 of the evaluation device 1-1 of the master server. In the present embodiment, the server having the evaluation device 1-1 is set as a master, but the evaluation device 1 having an arbitrary server can be set as a master.

  Since the verification information is registered in the storage area 8 of the evaluation apparatus 1-1, the “storage area sharing function” of the DHCP server 6 and the sharing unit 11 of the master server becomes effective. That is, the DHCP server 6 is activated (step 202).

  Next, the evaluation apparatus 1-1 turns on the necessary DC power supply of the evaluation apparatus 1 via the network 10 using the IPMI command based on the verification information (step 203).

  The power can be turned on / off through the IPMI 7 of each evaluation apparatus 1 according to a command from the master server.

  Here, when the DC power is turned on, a verification program incorporated in the BIOS 3 of each evaluation apparatus 1 to be verified operates.

  The evaluation device 1-1 of the master server waits for a certain period of time until the verification program of each evaluation device 1 ends (step 204).

  The fixed time here is a time during which the master evaluation device 1-1 waits for the end of the operation of the verification program of each evaluation device 1. The fixed time can be set with respect to the scheduled operation end time, using the time when the operation of the verification program of each evaluation apparatus 1 is completed as a guide.

  The evaluation apparatus 1-1 determines whether or not the verification program of the other evaluation apparatus 1 has ended after waiting for a predetermined time in Step 204 (Step 205).

  Here, if the operation of the verification program has not ended (No in step 205), if the operation number restriction verification flag is set, the operation number restriction verification flag is confirmed (step 206). Note that if the operating number limit verification flag is not set, the flow of steps 206 to 210 can be omitted.

  The operation number limit verification flag is set when it is desired to limit the number of evaluation devices 1 to be operated simultaneously when the evaluation device 1 is verified. For example, when it is desired to limit a plurality of servers in a rack in which servers are installed or a specific installation location to a certain level of power and performance, an operation number limit verification flag may be set. In such a case, the following processing is added to the synchronized verification of a plurality of evaluation apparatuses 1 (see FIG. 4 described later).

  If the number-of-operations limit verification flag is OFF (No in Step 206), the process returns to Step 204 and waits for a certain time (Step 204).

  If the number-of-operating-units verification flag is ON (Yes in Step 206), the process waits until DC power supplies other than necessary devices are turned off (Step 207).

  In this case, the BMC 2 on the master server side periodically checks the operating state of the other evaluation apparatuses 1 and sets the verification start time (step 208). That is, when the number of operation limit verification flag is ON because the number of operation is limited (Yes in step 206), the verification start time is not the device that last changed the verification information, but the BMC 2 on the master server side periodically The operation status of other devices is checked and set.

  Here, the evaluation apparatus 1-1 of the master server waits for the operation of the verification program of each evaluation apparatus 1 to end (step 209).

  When the operation of the verification program function of each evaluation device 1 is completed, the evaluation device 1-1 serving as a master stores the verification result of each evaluation device 1 in the storage area 8 (step 210).

  When the verification result of each evaluation device 1 is stored in the storage area 8 of the evaluation device 1-1 serving as a master, the master server notifies the BMC 2 of the other evaluation device 1 whose DC power has been turned off earlier, and The DC power of the evaluation apparatus 1 is turned on to restart the program (step 203), and the same processing is executed. In the case where the operation number limit verification flag is not set, steps 206 to 210 may not be included in the operation flow of FIG.

  At the stage where all the verifications have been completed (Yes in step 205), the master server evaluation apparatus 1-1 issues a notification indicating that the verification has been completed to the server administrator (step 211). The server administrator can confirm the contents notified by notifying means (not shown). Even if it is the evaluation apparatus 1-1 of the master server that determines that the verification has been completed, it is the evaluation apparatus 1 (evaluation apparatus) to be verified that notifies the server administrator of the completion of verification and the verification result. 1-2,..., 1-N).

  The above is the description of the operation of the master server according to the present embodiment. In addition, the above description is an example of this embodiment and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

(Operation of verification program function)
Operation | movement of the verification program function in BIOS3 of each evaluation apparatus 1 is demonstrated using FIGS.

  In FIG. 3, when the boot program 9 of each evaluation apparatus 1 is activated (step 301), the BIOS 3 of each evaluation apparatus 1 executes verification information acquisition setting processing (step 302).

  In the verification information acquisition setting process in step 302, the BIOS 3 acquires an IP address and verification information from the storage area 8 of the evaluation device 1-1. The verification information includes firmware parameters registered by the user, tools necessary for the verification, device information necessary for the verification, the number of devices and flag information. The flag information is information including a verification information set flag, a plurality of unit verification flag, an operating unit limit verification flag, an operating unit limit flag, and a verifiable device flag. When the verification information is acquired, the evaluation apparatus 1 executes firmware parameter setting and the like according to the status of the verification information set flag.

  The verification information acquisition setting process in step 302 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  After executing the verification information acquisition and setting process in step 302, the evaluation apparatus 1 determines whether or not the operating number restriction flag is ON / OFF (step 303).

  If the operating number restriction flag is ON (Yes in step 303), the upper limit of the operating number is exceeded, and the evaluation apparatus 1 started later at that stage turns off the power of its own apparatus (step 304). Note that the evaluation apparatus 1 whose power is turned off at this stage sets the status of the operation number limit verification flag by the evaluation apparatus 1-1 of the master server as shown in the flow from step 210 to step 203 in FIG. In response, the power is turned on.

  When the number-of-operating-device restriction flag is OFF (No in Step 303), in order to determine whether or not there are a plurality of evaluation apparatuses 1, a determination is made regarding the plurality of verification flags (Step 305).

  When the multiple unit flag is OFF (No in step 305), the evaluation apparatus 1 is configured by one unit. When the multiple unit flag is ON (Yes in step 305), the evaluation apparatus 1 is a plurality of units and executes multiple unit verification described later (step 306). The verification of a plurality of units in step 306 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Here, when the verification of a plurality of units in step 306 is completed, the evaluation apparatus 1 executes a verification program (step 307). After the verification, the evaluation device 1 mounts the verification result area of the evaluation device 1-1 serving as a master (step 308), and stores the verification result (step 309). Here, the mount means that the file system constructed on the storage area 8 of the evaluation device 1-1 as a master is in a state that can be recognized by another evaluation device 1 by an appropriate procedure. 1 is accessible.

  The above is the flow of the verification program shown in FIG. The above flow is an example and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

[Verification information acquisition setting process]
Here, the verification information acquisition setting process in step 302 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the evaluation apparatus 1 mounts the verification information area (step 401), and acquires the verification information from the verification information area (step 402).

  Each evaluation device 1 determines whether or not the verification information set flag is set (step 403). If the firmware parameter has already been set in the evaluation apparatus 1, the verification information set flag is turned ON.

  If the verification information set flag is ON (Yes in step 403), the verification information area is unmounted (step 405), and the process proceeds to step 303 in FIG. Note that the term “unmount” as used herein means that a file system that has been mounted and recognized is separated from the evaluation apparatus 1 by an appropriate procedure.

  When the verification information set flag is No (No in Step 403), the evaluation apparatus 1 changes the firmware parameter using a dedicated tool (Step 404), and changes the verification information set flag to ON (Step 406).

  Thereafter, the evaluation apparatus 1 unmounts the verification information area (step 407), and restarts the server to reflect the setting (step 408). When the server is restarted to reflect the setting (step 408), it is determined that the verification information set flag is ON in step 403 through steps 401 and 402 (Yes in step 403), and the verification information area is unmounted. (Step 405), the process proceeds to Step 303 in FIG.

  The above is the flow of the verification information acquisition setting process in the verification program shown in FIG. The above flow is an example and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

[Multiple unit verification]
Here, the verification of a plurality of units in step 306 in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The purpose of verifying a plurality of devices is to perform an evaluation that requires synchronization of the maximum power consumption, performance, etc., by verifying the plurality of evaluation devices 1 in synchronization.

  In FIG. 5, the evaluation apparatus 1 confirms the plurality of verification flags included in the verification information by the verification program function, and mounts the verification information area (step 501).

  When the verifiable device flag of the own device is OFF (No in Step 502), the evaluation device 1 sets the verifiable device flag (Step 503). Similarly, the other evaluation apparatuses 1 also start the boot program 9 and set a verifiable apparatus flag.

  When the verifiable device flag of the own device is ON (Yes in Step 502), it is determined whether or not the verification start time has already been set (Step 504).

  If the verification start time is not set (No in step 504), the verification information area is unmounted (step 506), and after waiting for a fixed time (step 507), the verification information area is mounted again (step 501). .

  Here, when all the verifiable device flags for the number of devices necessary for verification are validated (Yes in step 508), it is determined whether or not the operational number limit verification flag is set (step 509).

  If all the verifiable device flags are not valid, the verification information area is unmounted (step 512), and the verification information area is mounted again (step 501). This flow indicates that the evaluation apparatus 1 that has not yet performed verification mounts the verification information area periodically and updates the verification start time.

  In step 509, when the number-of-operating-devices verification flag is ON (Yes in step 509), the verification information area is unmounted (step 512), and the verification information area is mounted again (step 501).

  When the operating number restriction flag is OFF (No in Step 509), the boot program 9 of the last connected evaluation apparatus 1 sets the verification start time (Step 510), and unmounts the verification information area (Step 511). Thereafter, the process returns to step 307 in FIG.

  Another evaluation apparatus 1 that has already set the verifiable apparatus flag (Yes in Step 502) periodically mounts the verification information area (Step 501), and determines whether or not the verification start time is set. (Step 504), the verification start time is acquired (Step 505). The evaluation apparatus 1 in which the verification flag is set acquires the verification start time in step 505, and then unmounts the verification information area (step 511).

  After unmounting the verification area in step 511, the process proceeds to step 307 in FIG.

  The above is a flow for verifying a plurality of units in the verification program shown in FIG. The above flow is an example and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the master server function and the verification program function according to the embodiment of the present invention, as long as the master server is designated by the administrator and the firmware parameters are registered, the firmware parameter verification of a plurality of devices is performed. It can be done automatically. It is also possible to store the verification results of the individual evaluation apparatuses in a storage area of one server for centralized management.

  According to the evaluation apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to evaluate a plurality of servers in synchronization, and thus it is possible to evaluate the maximum power consumption, performance, and the like that require synchronization.

  In addition, according to the evaluation apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary to construct a dedicated server or network, and can be used immediately after the initial introduction of the server to perform firmware parameter verification that affects power and performance. This can be done for a plurality of devices in consideration of the situation.

  That is, the firmware parameter verification apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can efficiently perform firmware parameter verification of a plurality of servers from an arbitrary server without constructing a dedicated management server or network.

  Of course, a program that causes a computer to execute the firmware verification method described in the present embodiment and a server that includes the firmware verification apparatus of the present embodiment are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Example 1
In FIG. 6, the block diagram which shows the structure of the evaluation apparatus 61 of Example 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention was shown.

  The evaluation apparatus 61-1 serving as a master of the first embodiment includes the iSCSI target 68 as the “storage area sharing function” and the iSCSI initiator 64 as the “storage area connection function” (i.e., iSCSI: internet Computer System). Interface). The evaluation device 61 (61-2,..., 61-N) that is not the master is not provided with the iSCSI target 68, but when any of the evaluation devices 61 is set as the master, the sharing means 11 is activated and functions as an iSCSI target 68. In addition, the iSCSI initiator 64 is provided in the BIOS 63 of all the evaluation devices 61 (61-1, 61-2, ..., 61-N).

  Generally, according to iSCSI, a SCSI protocol can be realized on an IP network, and a storage device connected by the network can be recognized as a local disk from other terminals.

  Referring to the configuration diagram of the first embodiment in FIG. 6, in the evaluation device 61, a configuration other than the iSCSI target 68 included in the BMC 62 of the evaluation device 61-1 serving as the master and the iSCSI initiator 64 included in the BIOS 63 of all the evaluation devices 61. Is the same as that of the evaluation apparatus 1 of FIG. In addition, in the evaluation devices 61 other than the evaluation device 61-1 set as the master, the sharing unit 11 and the DHCP server 6 are invalid.

  The operation of the evaluation apparatus 61 of the first embodiment follows the operation flow shown in FIGS. That is, the “storage area sharing function” may be replaced with the iSCSI target 68, and the “storage area connection function” may be replaced with the iSCSI initiator 64.

  In the first embodiment, the mounting operation to the verification information area corresponds to the case where the iSCSI initiator 64 included in the BIOS 63 mounts the area of the iSCSI target 68 provided by the master server function.

  According to the first embodiment, the information distributed by the DHCP server 6 includes the iSCSI RootPath information, and the boot program 9 that is the verification program function performs the iSCSI connection based on the path information. A flow can be realized.

  Therefore, in the evaluation apparatus 61 according to the first embodiment, as in the firmware verification apparatus of the embodiment, the firmware parameter verification of a plurality of servers can be efficiently performed from an arbitrary server without constructing a dedicated management server or network. It can be done well.

(Example 2)
In FIG. 7, the block diagram which shows the structure of the evaluation apparatus 71 of Example 2 which concerns on embodiment of this invention was shown.

  The evaluation apparatus 71-1 serving as a master of the second embodiment includes an NFS server 78 as a “storage area sharing function” and an NFS client 74 as a “storage area connection function” (NFS: Network File System). ). The evaluation device 71 (71-2,..., 71-N) that is not the master does not include the NFS server 78, but when any of the evaluation devices 71 is set as the master, The sharing unit 11 of the evaluation device 71 functions as the NFS server 78. Further, the NFS 73 is provided in the BIOS 73 of all the evaluation apparatuses 71.

  NFS is a file sharing system used in UNIX (registered trademark), and is a standard distributed file system in a UNIX OS.

  Referring to the configuration diagram of Example 2 in FIG. 7, the NFS server 78 included in the BMC 72 of the evaluation device 71-1 and all the evaluation devices 71 (71-1, 71-2,..., 71 -N) Since the configuration of the BIOS 73 other than the NFS client 74 is the same as that of the evaluation apparatus 1 in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are used. In addition, in the evaluation devices 71 (71-2,..., 71-n) other than the evaluation device 71-1 serving as the master, the sharing unit 11 and the DHCP server 6 are invalid.

  The operation of the evaluation device 71 of the second embodiment follows the operation flow shown in FIGS. That is, the “storage area sharing function” may be replaced with the NFS server 78, and the “storage area connection function” may be replaced with the NFS client 74.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the NFS client 74 of each evaluation device 71 can authenticate the NFS server 78 of the evaluation device 71-1 serving as a master in the same manner as the local disk.

  Therefore, in the evaluation apparatus 71 according to the second embodiment, as in the firmware verification apparatus according to the embodiment, the firmware parameter verification of a plurality of servers can be efficiently performed from an arbitrary server without constructing a dedicated management server or network. It can be done well.

  As described above, according to the firmware verification system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can centrally manage the firmware parameter settings and tools that the user wants to verify with respect to each evaluation apparatus and the master server function that arbitrarily selects the content to be verified. It becomes possible to do.

  In addition, since the verification program function shares the storage area of the master server, the final verification result can be managed by one apparatus, and verification results for a plurality of servers can be easily collected and managed. It becomes possible.

  With these effects, if the user performs the minimum settings required for verification, it will be possible to automatically verify any multiple servers, change the settings for verification, execute the verification, The collection cost can be reduced.

  The verification program for the master server and each device can automatically construct a network by using communication using DHCP, and can also manage power supply through IPMI.

  In addition, since power management by BMC is used, it becomes possible to control the operating states of other apparatuses in the verification of a plurality of machines, which has not been considered in the conventional software verification mechanism.

  Since the verification can be performed using only the BMC and BIOS incorporated in the server, the evaluation can be started immediately even at the initial introduction when the OS is not installed.

  These effects eliminate the need for a method in which an existing user constructs a network with a management server to perform a verification in order to prepare a verification environment, thereby reducing the introduction cost for verification. .

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments and examples, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

1 Evaluation device 2 BMC
3 BIOS
4 BMC_LAN
5 Onboard LAN
6 DHCP server 7 IPMI
8 Storage Area 9 Boot Program 10 Network 11 Sharing Means 12 Connection Means 61 Evaluation Device 62 BMC
63 BIOS
64 iSCSI initiator 68 iSCSI target 71 Evaluation device 72 BMC
73 BIOS
74 NFS client 78 NFS server 100 server 101 test script file 102 test project file 103 client information file 104 test result file 105 test reservation file 106 operation recording unit 107 data editing unit 108 reproduction instruction unit 109 information transmission / reception unit 110 result confirmation unit 111 schedule Reservation part 112 Start-up part 200 Client 201 Information transmission / reception part 202 Test reproduction part 203 Test script 204 Information acquisition part 300 Test object program 400 Network

Claims (10)

In a firmware verification system in which a plurality of evaluation apparatuses including a system management unit having a master server function and a firmware verification unit including a verification program for verifying a firmware parameter are connected via a network,
The system management means includes a storage area for storing registered verification information and a verification result verified by the verification program based on the verification information, and a sharing means for enabling access to the storage area through a network; With
The firmware verification unit includes a connection unit for connecting to the storage area of the plurality of evaluation devices,
When at least one of the plurality of evaluation devices constituting the firmware verification system is set as a master evaluation device,
The master evaluation device turns on one of the plurality of evaluation devices,
When the verification program operates as a boot program in any of the evaluation devices that are powered on by the master evaluation device,
The evaluation device on which the boot program operates is:
Sharing the evaluation device as the master via the connection means of the evaluation device that has been powered on by accessing the storage area of the evaluation device as the master via the sharing device of the evaluation device as the master The firmware verification system, wherein the verification information stored in the storage area is acquired and the firmware parameter of the system is set based on the verification information. Furthermore, a setting information management unit that automatically assigns firmware parameter setting information, and a setting management mediation unit that serves as an intermediary unit when managing firmware settings,
The system management means is a BMC;
The firmware verification means is BIOS;
The setting information management means is a DHCP server;
The setting management mediating means is IPMI,
The firmware verification system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device serving as a master powers on the plurality of evaluation devices via the IPMI. At startup after the verification information is registered,
The master evaluation device is:
Storing the verification information in a verification information area included in the storage area of the master evaluation device;
Start the DHCP of the evaluation device as the master,
Turn on the plurality of evaluation devices via a network via the IPMI,
The verification result related to the firmware setting is stored in a verification result area included in the storage area of the master evaluation apparatus according to a setting state of the firmware in the BIOS. Firmware verification system. The BIOS of the evaluation apparatus that is turned on is
Start the boot program,
Obtaining the verification information from the verification information area of the evaluation device as the master,
4. The firmware verification system according to claim 3, wherein its own firmware parameter is set according to the setting state of the verification information. The BIOS of the evaluation device to be verified is
When the evaluation device to be verified is not verifiable,
If the evaluation device that last executed the boot program among the evaluation devices to be verified at the stage where all the evaluation devices to be verified are prepared, the verification start time is set,
When the evaluation device to be verified is verifiable,
If the verification start time is set, obtain the verification start time,
5. The firmware verification system according to claim 4, wherein if the verification start time is not set, the system waits until the verification start time is set. The plurality of evaluation devices include:
In a situation where the number of evaluation devices that can be verified at the same time is limited, power is turned on by the evaluation device that is the master, and the limited number of evaluation devices that are to be verified by connecting to the storage area of the evaluation device that is the master If the operation number limit flag indicating whether or not is exceeded, shut off its power supply,
6. The firmware verification system according to claim 5, wherein when the power is turned on again by the evaluation device serving as the master, the verification start time is set according to the setting of the number-of-operating-device restriction flag. The sharing means of the master evaluation device is an iSCSI target;
The firmware verification system according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is an iSCSI initiator. The sharing means of the master evaluation device is an NFS server;
7. The firmware verification system according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is an NFS client. In a firmware verification system in which a plurality of evaluation apparatuses including a system management unit having a master server function and a firmware verification unit including a verification program for verifying a firmware parameter are connected via a network,
The system management means includes a storage area for storing registered verification information and a verification result verified by the verification program based on the verification information, and a sharing means for enabling access to the storage area through a network; With
The firmware verification unit includes a connection unit for connecting to the storage area of the plurality of evaluation devices,
When at least one of the plurality of evaluation devices constituting the firmware verification system is set as a master evaluation device,
Turning on one of the plurality of evaluation devices by the evaluation device serving as the master; and
The step of operating the verification program as a boot program in any of the evaluation apparatuses that are powered on by the master evaluation apparatus;
The connection means of the evaluation apparatus that is turned on by accessing the storage area of the evaluation apparatus that is the master via the sharing means of the evaluation apparatus that is the master by the evaluation apparatus in which the boot program is operated Through which the verification information stored in the shared storage area of the evaluation device serving as the master is acquired, and the firmware parameter is set based on the verification information. A featured firmware verification method. In a firmware verification system in which a plurality of evaluation apparatuses including a system management unit having a master server function and a firmware verification unit including a verification program for verifying a firmware parameter are connected via a network,
The system management means includes a storage area for storing registered verification information and a verification result verified by the verification program based on the verification information, and a sharing means for enabling access to the storage area through a network; With
The firmware verification unit includes a connection unit for connecting to the storage area of the plurality of evaluation devices,
When at least one of the plurality of evaluation devices constituting the firmware verification system is set as a master evaluation device,
A process of turning on any one of the plurality of evaluation devices by the evaluation device serving as the master;
A process of operating the verification program as a boot program in any of the evaluation apparatuses that are powered on by the master evaluation apparatus;
The connection means of the evaluation apparatus that is turned on by accessing the storage area of the evaluation apparatus that is the master via the sharing means of the evaluation apparatus that is the master by the evaluation apparatus in which the boot program is operated Through which the computer acquires the verification information stored in the shared storage area of the evaluation device serving as the master, and sets the firmware parameter of the computer based on the verification information. A firmware verification program characterized in that

Images