JPH02287653A - Bus tracer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a contribution to an efficient clarification of a system fault by extracting the information flowing onto a bus through a bus connecting part and saving it in a prescribed information saved-area, and outputting the saved information by an information output means. CONSTITUTION:By connecting a connector 4 to a bus 1, and turning on a prescribed operating switch on a panel of a console 11, various information flowing onto the bus 1 is inputted to a bus tracer main body 5 through a bus driver 6. Subsequently, a trace control part 7 transfers the information extracted from on the bus 1 to a trace memory 9 and saves it. In this trace operation, when it is confirmed that a prescribed condition for ending the trace is formed, the control part 7 ends the trace after a prescribed time elapses. Next, when the trace is ended, all the information saved in the trace memory 9 is read out automatically or a prescribed operation on the panel of the console 11, and printed out by a printer 10. In such a way, the cause of a system fault can be clarified efficiently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a path tracer that is applied, for example, to a local area network system in which a plurality of computers are connected using a bus.

(Prior Art) In recent years, LAN (Local Area Network), which connects multiple computers using a bus, has been widely used as a means to realize advanced office automation within a limited area such as a building. ing.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in such a system, if a failure occurs such as a device timeout, incorrect data input/output, or illegal address notification, maintenance personnel will go to the site and clarify the location of the failure. This required a great deal of effort and time.

The present invention is intended to solve such problems, and aims to provide a path tracer that can contribute to efficiently clarifying the causes of system failures.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the path tracer of the present invention is a device used in a system in which a plurality of computers are connected using a bus, and includes: The apparatus is equipped with a tracing means for extracting information flowing on the bus via a bus connection section and storing it in a predetermined information storage area, and an information output means for outputting the information stored in the information storage area.

(Function) In the bus tracer of the present invention, information flowing on the bus is extracted via the bus connection section, and stored in a predetermined information storage area, and furthermore, the information stored in this information storage area is transmitted to the information output means. Since it is now possible to output the data using the following methods, it can be of great help in elucidating the causes of system failures, making it possible to elucidate the causes efficiently.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a path tracer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a bus for connecting a plurality of computers 2.3 to form a system such as a LAN, and 4 is a connector equipped with a bus driver 6 for connecting the bus tracer body 5 to the bus 1. .

Reference numeral 7 denotes a trace memory that centrally controls the path tracer 5.
Signal input/output between the bus driver 6 and the bus driver 6 is performed via a trace adapter 8. Furthermore, 9 is a trace memory for storing various information (data, control signals, etc.) taken in from the bus 1, 10 is a printer that prints out the contents stored in the trace memory 9, and 11 is a bus 1 node input by an operator. - It is a console for intervening in the operation of the server 5, monitoring it, etc.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of this path tracer 5.

As shown in the figure, the bust 1 nose 5 is constructed by housing each component in a trunk-shaped case 12. The case 12 consists of a lid body 12a and a component storage body 12b. Further, the open surface of the component storage body 12b is a console panel 13, in which various operation switches, failure indicator lamps, numeric keys, etc. are gathered. Although not shown in the figure, the above-mentioned printer 10 is also built into the component storage body 12b.

Next, the operation of this path tracer will be explained.

First, connect connector 4 to bus 1, then connect console panel 1
By turning on a predetermined operation switch on the path tracer 3, various information flowing on the bus 1 is taken into the path tracer 5 via the bus driver 6.

Here, the information taken into the path tracer 5 includes, for example, data, acknowledgement, address, command, data available, data request, status, request, attention, synchronous, system clear, parity available, parity・An example is a control signal such as an error.

Thereafter, the trace control unit 7 transfers the information extracted from the bus 1 to the trace memory 9 and stores it therein.

In this tracing operation, when the trace control unit 7 confirms that a predetermined condition for terminating the trace is satisfied, the trace controller 7 terminates the trace after a predetermined time has elapsed.

Note that the conditions for terminating this trace include, for example,
Equipment timeout, false sync, illegal
This may occur when an address, device initialization, or parity error occurs, when a match occurs between output data or input data at a specified address, or when an external input signal occurs. However, if an error other than the trace termination conditions set here occurs, the failure indicator lamp on the console panel 13 is blinked to notify the Operator I Noter of this fact.

When tracing is completed, all the information stored in the trace memory 9 is read out automatically or by a predetermined operation on the console panel 13, and printed out by the printer 11.

In this case, each piece of information may be edited in the trace control unit 7 and the results may be output.

A specific example in that case is shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the printed content in this case consists of an address printing section and an information content printing section.

In each printing section, TRP is a trap occurrence display,
The position where a trap occurs (when the trace end condition is met) is indicated with an asterisk. CNT is the control tg number display, command (CHD), status request (SRQ), data request (DRQ), data
It is indicated as available (DAV) or acknowledged (ACK). Further, DT is a data display. Further P
BT is a parity bit, which becomes "1" when the data is an even number, indicating that a parity error has occurred. Further IL
L is illegal address bit, AGR is data match bit, SCR is system clear bit, P, S
is the fallless number sync bit, 7.0 is the device timeout bit, LPE is the L bus parity bit, EXT is the external signal input bit, and PAY is the parity bit.
The available bit and ATN are attensisin φ bits, and their occurrence is indicated by "1".

For example, line A in the figure outputs a status request signal (SRQ) to the rlB device, and data 00 is input. ”, and line B shows the “attention bit (AT
N) became "1", and data IB was input by an acknowledge signal (ACK). ” is shown. Also, line 0 indicates that "external signal input/bit EXT has become "1" and a trap has been activated."

Thus, according to the path tracer of this embodiment, all the information flowing through path 1 can be stored in the trace memory 9 in the form of history and this information can be printed out, so that troubles occurring in the system can be easily detected. Efficiently identify the cause (
It becomes possible to elucidate this.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the path tracer of the present invention, information flowing on a path is extracted and stored in a predetermined information storage area, and the information stored in this information storage area is further output. As a result, it can be of great help in elucidating the causes of system failures, making it possible to elucidate the causes efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a path tracer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the path tracer of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the same path tracer. It is a figure which shows an example of an output. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Path, 2.3...Computer, 4...Connector, 5...Path tracer body, 6...Nox driver, 7...Trace control unit, 8...Trace Adapter, 9...Trace control unit, 10...Printer, 11...Console. Applicant: Toshiba Engineering Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney: Satoshi Suyama - (1 other person) 2nd Ward Address Printing Department Information Content Printing Department T PI^5FTLEPARC! tT
DT BLGC,, PXATP TLR
liSOETVNADRIB 0000000000 ADII IB 0000000000ADli
IB 0000000000ADRIB 000
0000000 AD! l IB 0000000000ADRIB
0000000000 ADHIB 00000000GO ADI? IB 000000000011C
NT DT PIASFTLEPA BLCC,, PXAT TLl? R30ETVN SRQ 00 DI? Q78 Dl? Q EO CMD A2 DAY 04 ACK 18 S Decoy 00 D Decoy 78 DI? Q EO O's A2 DAY 04 Book^CX 18...6 lines Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A device used in a system in which a plurality of computers are connected using a bus, which extracts information flowing on the bus via a bus connection section and stores it in a predetermined information storage area. A bus tracer comprising: a trace means for storing; and an information output means for outputting information stored in the information storage area.