JPH0364898B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a system control method for a data processing system, and in particular, to a system management function in one communication control processor constituting the system, without installing a dedicated management processor. Regarding the system control method provided.

[Prior art]

In recent years, large-scale data processing systems are beginning to adopt system architectures in which multiple processors are connected in a loop. Such systems typically include a management processor that automatically controls the power supply of each system, performs initial program load (IPL), and also controls switching in the event of a failure.

Conventionally, processors that operate and monitor systems have been installed exclusively. This is because even if the dedicated processor goes down, it does not affect the service of the entire system and is highly reliable, the processing of the system control program does not affect the processing capacity of the service, and it runs independently of the general-purpose processor for service. This makes it easier to create system control programs. However, in terms of cost, the installation of a dedicated processor increases the cost, and in relatively small-scale systems, the percentage of cost accounted for by the dedicated processor cannot be ignored. In addition, in systems with sufficient processing capacity, it is advantageous to provide one processor within the system with the management capacity, rather than providing a dedicated processor.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a system management function to any communication control processor that constitutes the system, without installing a dedicated management processor.
The objective is to construct a system with high reliability equivalent to or more than that achieved by installing a processor dedicated to system management.

[Structure of the invention]

The present invention includes a control loop for transmitting commands to each processor, a communication control processor (FEP) for controlling the control loop, a current management function that runs on the communication control processor to operate and monitor the system, and a communication control A backup management function that runs on the processor and monitors the current management function, a line switching control device, a general-purpose processor (HOST) that processes data, a data loop for transferring data between HOST and FEP, and management of the communication control processor. Consists of system control information files referenced by functions. The management function of the communication control processor performs power supply control, configuration control, and IPL for processors other than the self-propelled processor through the control loop, starts up the system, and starts up various software through the data loop.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, general-purpose processors (HOST) 2-1 to 2-m that perform data processing and communication control processors (FEP) 3-1 to 3-n that perform communication control are a control loop 1 that transmits control information, respectively. They are connected by a data loop 7 through which the data is transmitted. Furthermore, each FEP 3-1 to 3-n is coupled to a line group via a line switching control device (LUT) 4. The control loop 1 is connected to two special addresses (A, B) of the LUT 4, and these addresses are accommodated in different line groups. 5 is a current management function (for example, a program) that operates and monitors the system on the FEP, and 6 is a backup management function (for example, a program) that monitors the current management function that is also on the FEP. Although the management function can run on any FEP, when the system is initially started up, the active management function 5 and the backup management function 6 are started up on the FEP 3-1 and FEP 3-n, respectively. 8 is a system control information file referred to by the management function, and the same file is installed in each FEP 3-1 to 3-n. System control information file 8
consists of an index section IDX consisting of node numbers and pointers of the processors that make up the system, and an individual section INF that stores information specific to each processor. Furthermore, the individual part INF contains power-on information,
Hardware control information HINF, such as configuration control information and line connection information, and software information SINF are stored.

FIG. 2 shows details of the management function 5, backup management function 6, and system control information file 8 running on the FEP.

To explain the operation, FEP3-1 is powered on manually or by the built-in timer, and then the basic program (OS) is turned on using the automatic IPL function.
is initialized. The OS (operating system) generates the management function 5 according to the contents set in advance in the system control information file 8.
The management function 5 reads each node control information HINF from the system control information file 8, and instructs processors other than itself to power on, control the configuration, and perform IPL via the control loop (A). At the same time LUT
4 to connect each FEP and line. Note that at the time of system startup, the correspondence between FEP 3-1 and line group 1 is fixed.

After the initial hard configuration of the system, the next step is to
The management function 5 of the FEP 3-1 refers to the software control information SINF in the system control information file 8 and instructs each processor via the data loop 7 to start up the necessary software. Also, FEP3-n
Instructs to launch preliminary management function 6,
The preliminary management function 6 is the active management function 5 and FEP3-
1 is monitored by health checks from the data loop 7 and the control loop 1, respectively.

When a health check error is detected in the active management function 5 or FEP 3-1, the backup management function 6 becomes the active management function and sends the FEP 3-n and line group 1 to the LUT 4 via the control loop (B).
Instructs switching connection between FEP3-1 and line group n.
After the connection is completed, the current management function runs on the FEP3-n and continues operation. At the same time, the line connection information in the system control information and the information on the management function running FEP are updated to the state after switching, and the data loop 7
It is reflected in the system control information that all other FEPs have via .

In addition, if FEP 3-2 other than the management function running FEP becomes a failure, the active management function 5 sends FEP 3-n to LUT 4 via control loop 4 (A).
and instructs switching connection between line group 2, FEP, -2, and line group n. After the connection is completed, the active management function 5 updates the system control information file, notifies the other FEPs of the updated information, and instructs the FEP 3-2 to start up the backup management function via the data loop 7.
The FEP3-n is instructed to close its backup management function. The backup management function on the FEP 3-2 takes over the running status monitoring of the active management function 5.

To stop the system, when a stop instruction is given manually or when a pre-specified time is reached, the stop processing is started by the schedule processing of the current management function 5, and first the system is sent to each processor via the data loop. Stop running the program. Next, it instructs each processor to turn off the power via the processing loop (A), and after confirming that all processors other than the own processor have been turned off, the management functions and basic programs are blocked.
The automatic power function turns off the power to FEP3-1.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, in a system in which a plurality of general-purpose processors and communication control processors are connected by a control loop and a data loop, a management entity that operates and monitors the system can move any communication control processor. Since there is no need to install a dedicated processor for control, cost savings can be achieved, and reliability can be achieved equal to or higher than when a system control processor is installed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2
The figure is a detailed diagram of the current management function, standby management function, and system control information file in FIG. 1. 1... Control loop, 2-1 to 2-m... General-purpose processor, 3-1 to 3-n... Communication control processor, 4
...Line switching control device, 5.. Current management function, 6.. Backup management function, 7.. Data loop, 8.. System control information file.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of general-purpose processors that perform data processing and a plurality of communication control processors that perform communication control,
In a data processing system that is connected to a control loop and a data loop, control information is transmitted between each processor through the control loop, and data is transmitted through the data loop. ,
A system that allows any communication control processor (hereinafter referred to as a management function running processor) to have a system management function for starting programs, etc., and also stores the node numbers of the processors that make up the system and unique information of each processor. A system using a communication control processor, wherein a control information file is installed, and the management function running processor refers to the system control information file and automatically starts and stops the entire system through the control loop and data loop. control method. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein when the management function driving processor becomes a failure, the system management function is transferred to any other communication control processor to continue operation of the system. System control method using a control processor.