JPH01108627A - Magnetic memory controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily perform self-diagnosis, to reduce an error, and to facilitate maintenance by providing an ECC controller which detects a data error generated in a magnetic memory and instructs the correction of the error in a magnetic memory controller. CONSTITUTION:The title device is constituted in such a way that the ECC controller 2 which detects the data error generated in the magnetic memories 4a-4f and instructs the correction of the error is provided in the magnetic memory controller 1. Data and ECC signals read out from the magnetic memo ries 4a-4f are fetched in the magnetic memory controller 1 by both string controllers 3a and 3b, and the detection of the data error is performed by the ECC controller 2. Also, only one ECC controller 2 is prepared. In such a way, it is possible to simplify a device and to reduce the error and to facilitate the maintenance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a magnetic storage control device interposed between an electronic computer that processes data and a magnetic disk device that stores data.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 5 is an example of a conventionally commonly used magnetic disk control system. 5 is a magnetic disk control device, for example, two string control devices 6a or 6b.
(sometimes called a drive controller). Further, the string control devices 6a and 6b respectively control a plurality of magnetic disk devices 4g to 41 and 4j to 4.
1, respectively. 7a and 7b are ECC control devices provided in each string control device 6a and 6b, respectively.

The magnetic disk control device 5 is connected to a host computer, and each ECC control device 7a, 7b adds an error detection code and detects a read code, and has substantially the same configuration.

Data processed by electronic computer is transferred to magnetic disk device 4G~
4β and read the data as needed, but the magnetic disk device may approach its service life limit or errors may occur in the data for other reasons. The occurrence of this error is detected and corrected by the ECC control devices 7a and 7b.

Next, the operation will be explained.

The magnetic disk control device 5 includes a string control device 6a.
&6b. When writing data to the magnetic disk device 4h, the data is sent to the magnetic disk control device 5 from the computer on the host side. The magnetic disk controller 5 retransfers the data to the string controller 6a. In the string control device 6a, the ECC control device 7a generates an ECC signal based on the sent data, adds this code signal to the data as shown in FIG. 6, and transfers it to the magnetic disk device 4h. Data and EC
The C signal is written to the magnetic disk of the medium.

Also, when reading data from the magnetic disk device 4h,
Data and ECC read from magnetic disk device 4h
The signal is transferred to string controller 6a. In the string control device 6a, the transferred data and ECC
The ECC control device 7a compares the sampled data and the ECC signal to detect data errors. Only the data is transferred to the magnetic disk control device 5 and further sent to the upper level. When a data error is detected by the ECC control device 7a in the string control device 6a, an operation is issued from the magnetic disk control device 5 to the ECC control device 7a according to a certain procedure, and a computation for correction is performed. Based on this, the magnetic disk control device 5 determines whether the error in the transferred data can be corrected, and if it is correctable, generates information necessary for data correction and sends it to the upper side.

The ECC control device 7b in the other string control device 6b also operates in the same manner.

In this way, after the original data, a code called an ECC signal calculated from the data based on a certain mathematical formula is added and written to the medium, and when the data continues, each ECC control device 7a, 7b uses a mathematical formula corresponding to the above mathematical formula. The data and ECC signals are evaluated based on the data and data errors are detected. In this way, data storage errors in each of the magnetic disk devices 4g to 41 are detected and corrected.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Since the conventional magnetic disk control system is configured as described above, it requires the same number of ECC control devices as string control devices, and in principle, only one ECC control device is required for the entire system, but multiple ECC control devices are required. There was a drawback.

For this reason, there was a problem in that the configuration became complicated and the causes of failures increased.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a magnetic storage control device that requires only one ECC control device in the entire control system, has a simple configuration, and is easy to maintain. It is an object.

[Means for solving problems]

In this invention, a plurality of magnetic storage devices 4a to 4f that store data are connected to each other.
String control devices 3a, 3b that control data transfer to 4f, and a plurality of string control devices 3a, 3b
In a magnetic storage control device comprising a magnetic storage control device 1 to which string control devices 3a, 3b are connected and control data transferred between these string control devices 3a, 3b and a data processing device,
The magnetic storage control device 1 is provided with an ECC control device 2 that detects data errors occurring in the magnetic storage devices 4a to 4f and instructs correction thereof.

[Effect]

The data and ECC signals read from the magnetic storage devices 4a to 4f by both string control devices 3a and 3b are taken into the magnetic storage control device 1, and the ECC control device 2 detects errors in the data. Since there is only one ECC control device 2, the device is simple, has fewer failures, and is easy to maintain.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
In the figure, ``■'' is a magnetic disk control device as a magnetic storage control device, which has an ECC control device 2 inside. 3a and 3b are string control devices, which include a magnetic disk control device 1 and magnetic disk devices 4a to 4C as magnetic storage devices.
and 4d to 4f, respectively. The magnetic disk control device 1 is connected to an electronic computer or the like of a data processing device on the upper side, and transfers data from the data processing device to the magnetic disk device.

FIG. 2 shows the magnetic disk control device 1 in detail.

8.9 is a data buffer storage device, 10 is a storage device, 1
1.12 is a selection device, and 13 is a data flow control device.

The data buffer storage device 8 has a function of timing adjustment in the connection between the upper side and the inside, and the data buffer storage device 9 is the string control device 3a.

There is a function of timing adjustment in the connection between 3b and the inside. The storage device 10 is connected to the upper side and the string control device 3a.
, 3b, there is a function to adjust the timing when there is a large timing difference when connecting with the 3b, and to store data temporally. The selection device 11 selects the output of the data buffer 8 or 9 according to instructions from the data flow control device 13 and performs EC.
Send data to the C control device 2 or the other selection device 12.

The selection device 12 selects the output of the ECC control device 2 or one of the selection devices 11 according to instructions from the data flow control device 13 and sends the selected output to the storage device 10 .

The data flow control device N13 detects errors in transferred data based on the calculation results of the ECC control device 2, and generates correction information.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed embodiment of the ECC ECC control device 2. As shown in FIG. 17 is an arithmetic unit, and 18 to 21 are registers. The arithmetic unit 17 has functions of multiplying and dividing inputs and registers 18 to 21, and shifting registers 18 to 21, and realizes ECC signal calculation and data error detection.

FIG. 4 shows the string control devices 3a, 3b in detail. 1
4 is a data buffer storage device for timing adjustment; 15
16 is a converter for converting byte-width data and bit-by-bit data; 16 is a code converter for converting data into a code suitable for a storage medium, and conversely converting a medium code into data.

Next, the operation will be explained. When writing data to the magnetic disk devices 4a to 4f and when writing data to the magnetic disk device 4
The case of reading from a to 4f will be roughly classified and explained.

First, when writing data to the magnetic disk devices 4a to 4f, the data sent from the upper side is temporarily stored in the buffer storage device 8 of the magnetic disk control device 1, and then the selection devices 11 and 12 are sent by adjusting the timing. The data is sent to the storage device 10 via the computer. At the same time, part of the data is also sent to the ECC control device 2, where calculations are performed on the ECC signal. On the other hand, data input to the storage device 10 is sent to the buffer storage device 9 and further sent to, for example, the string control device 3a, as required by the string control devices 3a, 3b on the lower side.

In the string control device 3a, the sent data is temporarily stored in the buffer storage device 14, the timing is adjusted, the data width converter 15 converts it into serial data, and the data is sent via the code converter 16 to magnetic data. The data is sent to the disk device 4a. In the magnetic disk control device 1 shown in FIG. 2, when the unit block data transfer from the upper side is completed, the data flow control device 13
8 = The selection device 12 switches and the ECC calculation device 2
The signal calculation results are sent to the storage device 1o, and written to, for example, the magnetic disk device 4a in the same procedure as data.

Next, when data is read from any of the magnetic disk drives 4a to 4f, for example, the data read from the magnetic disk drive 4a is read from the string control device 3a or 3b in FIG.
In this case, contrary to the above-mentioned write procedure, the data is converted into a form at a timing convenient for processing on the upper side (electronic computer) and sent to the magnetic disk control device 1 shown in FIG. 2. In the magnetic disk control device 1, data is stored in a buffer storage device 9.
゜Storage devices 1o and E via selection devices 11 to 12, etc.
It is sent to the CC control device 2. The data sent to the storage device 1o is sent to a higher-level device via the buffer storage device 8. The data sent to the ECC control device 2 is subjected to calculations for error detection.

After the unit block data transfer is completed, the ECC signal written to the magnetic disk device 4a during the writing is also read from the magnetic disk device 4a. The data is then sent to the ECC control device 2 via the same route as the monitor, and is subjected to calculations for error detection in the same way as data. When the calculations for detecting both errors are completed, the data flow control device 13 determines whether there is an error in the data based on the results, and if there is an error, ECC control is performed according to the instructions from the data flow control device 13. The device 2 performs data correction calculations, determines whether or not correction is possible, and generates information necessary for the correction, and sends it to the upper side.

The same operation as described above also occurs in data transfer between the string control device 3b of another system and the magnetic disk devices 4d to 4f connected thereto. Magnetic disk control device 1
Components are becoming faster and more capable, allowing simultaneous access from multiple string controllers
The CC controller 2 responds immediately and accurately.

Note that the magnetic storage device is not limited to a magnetic disk device but may be a magnetic drum device, and the magnetic storage control device is not limited to a magnetic disk control device but may be a magnetic drum control device.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a magnetic storage control device detects data errors occurring in a magnetic storage device,
Since an ECC control device is provided to instruct the correction, the device becomes simple and a low-cost product can be provided.

Further, detailed self-diagnosis of the ECC control device by the magnetic storage control device becomes possible, resulting in fewer failures and easier maintenance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a magnetic storage control device according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 4 are partial detailed views of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a magnetic disk control device, and FIG. 3 is an ECC A block diagram of the control device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a string control device, FIG. 5 is an overall block diagram of a conventional magnetic disk control system, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the timing of data signals and FCC signals. . ■...Magnetic disk control device, 2...ECC control device, 3a, 3b...String control device, 4a to 4f
...Magnetic disk device. Agent Masu Oiwa tIj! (2 idiots) Procedural amendment (voluntary)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A string control device to which a plurality of magnetic storage devices that store data are connected and which controls data transfer to these magnetic storage devices; and a string control device to which a plurality of said string control devices are connected and between the string control device and the data processing device. In the magnetic storage control device, the magnetic storage control device includes an ECC control device that detects data errors occurring in the magnetic storage device and instructs correction thereof. What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic storage control device comprising: