JPH04125844A - Automatic restoration method for supply/discharge device for recording medium in library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically restore a fault and to improve reliability by permitting ARC receiving the notice of the generation of the fault of CAS to execute a retry processing for plural times for CAS and to execute the retry processing by means of different AMC if the fault cannot be restored. CONSTITUTION:When the fault occurs in CAS 6, a CAS control part 16 gives the notice of the fault to either AMC-All or AMC-B 13. AMC-All gives the notice of the fault to ARC-A10 and it transmits the initializing notice of CAS 6 to the CAS control part 16 through AMC-All. The control part 16 initializes a supply mechanism part 14 and a discharge mechanism part 15, returns them to an initial state and executes the retry processing. When the fault of CAS does not restore even if the retry processing is repeated for three times, the initializing notice is given from ARC-A10 to CAS through AMC-B13 and the retry processing is executed. Thus, the fault is automatically restored even if the fault occurs in the medium supply/discharge device.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a method of controlling a storage medium loading/unloading device in a library device, the present invention aims to improve reliability in CAS control, and includes a loading/unloading device for loading/unloading a storage medium, and a storage medium loading/unloading device. In a storage media library device consisting of a plurality of transport devices that transport media, there are a plurality of main control units that control the plurality of transport devices, a plurality of sub-control units under each main control unit, and a plurality of main control units. It is equipped with a unified management table for common management of the control parts and a charging/discharging control section for controlling the charging/discharging device.The charging/discharging control section is controlled by the main Wi control section through the sub-AM section, When a failure occurs in the device, the main control unit first causes the input/discharge control unit to perform a retry process to recover from the failure via the sub-control unit under the main control unit, and if the failure is not recovered in the retry process, In this case, the main main control section has a configuration in which another sub-control section causes the input/discharge device to perform retry processing a plurality of times.

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a method of controlling a storage medium loading/unloading device in a library device using a magnetic tape cartridge as a storage medium.

As the amount of information in computer systems increases, there is a need for fully automated library systems that do not require an operator to store storage media.

The storage medium stored in such a library device is 50
Due to the huge number of 00 or more volumes, the number of times the storage medium is inserted and removed is frequent, and the loading/unloading device has a complicated mechanism, making it prone to failures. Frequency is high.

Conventionally, when a failure occurs in the loading/unloading device, regardless of the degree of the failure, the loading/unloading device is prohibited from use, separated from the library device, and the operator performs recovery work.

However, most failures in the loading/unloading device can be easily recovered by a retry process such as a failure in setting the storage medium during loading or unloading.

The present invention improves the reliability of the input/discharge device by automatically repeating retry processing when a failure occurs in the input/discharge device, and automatically recovers from minor failures. did.

[Conventional technology]

The conventional technology will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a conventional library device.

In the figure, 60 is a host computer, 61 is a storage medium library device, 62 is a DIR control section that manages the entire library device, and 64 is a storage medium input by an operator or a storage medium transferred by a transport device. A charging and discharging device (CAS) for discharging; 65 a storage reproducing device for writing to or reading from a storage medium;
Reference numerals 66 and 67 refer to a transport device A and a transport device B, which transport the storage medium loaded into the loading/unloading device (64) to the loading/unloading device to transfer it to a storage reproducing device or the like or to discharge it to the outside. 68 is a hangar consisting of a column for storing storage media, and 70 is a main control unit A (ARC-A) that controls the transport device A (66).
, 71 is a sub-control unit (AMC-A) that controls the transportation execution of the transport device A (66) and is under the main control unit A (70), and 72 is a main control unit that controls the transport device B. B
(ARC-B), 73 is an auxiliary control section B (AMC-B) which controls the execution of transportation of the transportation device B (67) and is under the main control section B, and 74 is an input/discharge device (64).
), which controls the sub-control unit (71 or 73) under the main control unit (70 or 72).
75 is an input/discharge device (64)
76 is a loading mechanism section for receiving and passing a storage medium input by an operator from the outside to conveying device A (66) or conveying device B (67); Ejection mechanism section for receiving and ejecting the transferred storage medium to the outside, 77.78
is a rail for moving transport device A (66) and transport device B (67).

The operation of the library device shown in FIG. 6 is as follows.

When the operator inputs a storage medium into the loading/unloading device (64) (hereinafter referred to as CAS), the CA31111
The unit (74) issues an attention to the host device indicating that a storage medium has been inserted.

At that time, for example, there is a sub-control unit A (71) (hereinafter referred to as AMC-A) that controls the transport device A located near the CAS, and a main control unit A (70) (hereinafter referred to as ARC-A).
The attention is sent to the host device (DIR control unit) via
62) and notify the host computer (60)).

As a result, a command to control the transport device A is issued from the host device to the main control unit A (70) or (71).

The command to execute transport consists of the address of the storage medium to be transported and the address specifying the destination.
CA (70) and AMC-A (71) control transport device A according to the address and move it to CAS (64).

When the transport device A (66) moves to the CAS (64),
Grip the storage medium inserted into the tray of the input mechanism section (75), and according to the command address, insert the storage medium into the storage reproducing device (6).
5) Or transfer to the hangar (6B).

And AMC-A (71), ARC-A (70
) notifies the higher-level device of the completion of the transport operation.

Furthermore, when it becomes necessary to eject the storage medium to the outside, transport device A (66) or transport device B (67) is designated according to a command to execute transport issued by the host device.
If transport device A (66) is specified, transport device A
(66) grabs the storage medium at the specified address under the control of ARC-A and AMC-A, and according to the address
S (64) is transferred to the ejection mechanism section (76).

Then, the user releases the storage medium transferred by the ejection mechanism section (76) and places it on the ejection tray.

When the above operations are completed, AMC-A and ARC-A notify the higher-level device of the completion of the operations.

The transportation operation of transportation device A (66) and transportation device B (67) is carried out by CAS (64), storage reproducing device (65), and CAS.
(64) and the hangar (68), it also moves between the hangar (68) and the storage/reproducing device (65) according to the address of the transport execution command.

The flow of a control method when a failure occurs in the CAS in the conventional library apparatus described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

The explanation will be given according to the numbers shown. Refer to FIG. 6 as necessary.

■ A failure occurs in CAS (64).

(2) The occurrence of a failure is notified from the CAS@@ section (74) to the higher-level device via either the AMC-8 (71) or AMC-B (73) side.

For example, assume that the notification is sent from ARC-A to a higher-level device via AMC-A.

■ The host computer (60) prohibits the use of the CAS (64). Print a message on the console and notify the operator.

■ Operator inspects CAS.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In conventional library devices, whenever a failure occurs in the CAS, the host computer is notified of the failure, and the CAS is separated from the library device for maintenance by an operator. was.

However, the majority of failures that occur in CAS occur when the loaded storage medium is tilted on the tray and the operator presses the start button but it does not start, or after the transport device releases the storage medium at the ejection mechanism. The problem was a minor one, such as a sensor malfunctioning due to the impact when the storage medium fell onto the tray, and could be recovered by initializing the CAS and performing a retry process.

However, in the conventional library CAS control method, even in such a case, the host computer is notified as a failure, and the CAS is disconnected from the library device.
This was inefficient as it required recovery processing by the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a CAS control method in a library device with high reliability by automatically recovering from a fault that can be recovered by CAS retry processing.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides an ARC service that receives notification of failure occurrence in CAS.
(ARC-A or ARC-B) instructs the CAS to perform retry processing multiple times. As a result, if the failure cannot be recovered, another AMC (A
If retried via MC-A, AMC
-B and AMC-B, the retry process is further performed multiple times using AMCA).

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a host device (DIR), 2 is a library device, 3 is a transport device control unit A (hereinafter referred to as ACC control unit-A) that mainly controls the transport device 1A (not shown), and 4 is a transport device. The transport device control section B (hereinafter referred to as ACC1ilI control section B) mainly controls the device B (not shown), and 5 is the ACCI + control section A (3) and the ACCM control section B (4
) is a central management table that holds data for performing replacement processing in place of the failed one when one of them fails, and is stored in a memory common to Acclaim part A (3) and ACClil W part B (4). 6 is the charging/discharging device (CAS), 10 is the main control unit (ARG-A) in the ACCII control section A (3), 11 is the main control unit A (10)
A subordinate control unit (AMC-A) that is managed by the main control unit B (12) as necessary; 12 is AMC-A;
Main control unit (ARC-B) in CC@Obe B (4),
13 is a sub-control unit (AMC-B) under the main control unit B (12).
), which is managed by the main control unit A (10) as necessary; 14 is a storage medium loading mechanism in the loading/unloading device (6); 15 is a storage medium in the loading/unloading device (6) 16 is a charging and discharging control section (CAS control section) that controls the charging and discharging device (6).

In addition, in the figure, a transportation device, a hangar, a storage reproducing device,
The storage/reproduction device control section is omitted.

[Effect]

The operation of the principle diagram in FIG. 1 will be explained. Refer to FIG. 1 as necessary.

A case where a failure occurs in the loading/unloading operation in CAS (6) will be explained.

When a failure occurs in the input mechanism section (14) or the discharge mechanism section (15) in the CAS (6), the CAS control section (16) detects the failure in the AMC-A (11) or the AM
Notify either of C-B (13).

Now, as an example, consider the case where AMC-A (11) is notified.

AMC-A (11) notifies ARC-A (10) of the CAS failure.

ARC-A (10) received notification of failure of CAS (6)
In order to initialize CAS (6), AMC-
Issue a CAS initialization notification to A (11). C
AMC that received the initialization notification of AS (6)
-A (11) is CAS 11m part (16) is CAS
(6) Send the initialization notification.

The CAS control section (16) initializes the loading mechanism section (14) and the discharging mechanism section (15) to return them to their initial states and performs a retry process.

If the input storage medium is tilted and is treated as a failure, the operator can reset the storage medium correctly and press the start button to restart the CAS.
operates correctly, the tray carrying the storage medium is correctly set in the predetermined position, and the library apparatus starts operating correctly from then on.

In addition, if the sensor malfunctions due to the shock when the transport device releases the storage medium in the ejecting mechanism section (15), there is no problem in the first place, so similarly, the retry process will cause the CAS to starts working correctly.

ARCA confirmed that the CAS failure has been recovered (10
) sends a retry log indicating that retry processing for CAS failure recovery has been performed to the higher-level device, and ends normally.

By the way, even if retry processing is performed via AMC-A (11), AMC-A (11) and CAS control unit (16)
CA
There are cases where it is impossible to recover from a failure in S.

Considering such a case, in the present invention, ARCA (10
) to AMC-A (11) if the CAS failure is not recovered even after repeating the retry process three times,
An initialization notification is sent from ARC-A (10) to CAS via AMC-B (13), and retry processing is performed.

Therefore, when the CAS failure is recovered, the ARC-A (10) sends a retry log to the host device and ends normally, as in the case described above.

Further, the present invention provides ARC-A (10) and ARC-B (1
ARC-A (10), AMC-A
(11) In the event of a power outage, the DIR
(1) automatically converts the processing of ARC-A (10) to ARC
-B (12) Performs replacement ARC processing.

In that way, AR instead of ARC-A (10)
C-B (12) allows the retry process to be continued and CAS failure recovery to be performed.

In the above, we have explained the case where retry processing is performed mainly on ARC-A.
You may perform retry processing three times from ARC-B (12) to AMC-A (13) if the failure is not recovered.
1) Perform CAS retry processing three times.

Also, on the way, ARC-B (12), AMC-B
(13) In the event of a power outage, the ARC-A
ARC replacement processing is performed on the side of (10), and retry processing of CAS (6) is performed.

〔Example) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the library apparatus of the present invention.

In the figure, 20 is conveyance device A (ACC-A), 21
is transportation device B (ACC-B), 22 is ACCA (20
), ACCil 11 and 23 control the ACC-B (
21), 24 is a storage medium loading/unloading device (CAS), 25 is a storage medium loading mechanism in the CAs (24), and there is a storage medium loading hole in the front of the library; 26 is a storage medium ejection mechanism in the CAS (24), which has an ejection hole for taking out the storage medium on the front side of the library device; 27 is a storage/reproduction unit (MTU), which is equipped with a tray for receiving storage media carried by the device B (21); 28 is a DIR control unit; 29 is a storage medium storage and a library. Those on both the front side and the rear side of the device, 30. 31 is a maintenance hangar for storing storage media for maintenance, 32 is a rail for moving transport device A (20) and transport device B (21), 33 is written ff
1 playback device control unit (MTU control unit).

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the library apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the device configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

40. 41 is a host computer (not shown in FIG. 2), 42 is a library device, 43
is the DTR@@ section, 45 is the charge/discharge device (CAS), 4
6 is a control unit (MTUlilW unit) of the storage/reproduction device, 47
is a storage/reproduction unit (MTU), 4B is a storage medium storage,
49 is a transportation device A, 50 is a transportation device B, 52 is a central management table, and 53.55 is an ARC-A, ARC-B, which sends CAS retry logs, attention notifications from the CAS side, etc. to the host computer 40. 5456, which has an idling cycle in which it waits for multiple administrative or supervisory processes, such as reporting to .41;
is AMC-A AMCB, 57 is an input mechanism section, 58 is an ejection mechanism section, and 59 is a CAS@control section.

The operation of CAS retry processing in the configuration of FIG. 3 will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of retry processing according to the present invention.

In the figure, 60 is ARC-A or ARC-B, 6
1 is a CAS retry process, which is the process flow of ARC-A, ARC-B, AMC-A, and AMC-B in the ACC control unit; 62 is a CAS monitoring unit in the transportation management unit (60); , when a failure occurs in CAS (CASE RR, OR), the process is transferred to ARC (ARC-A or ARC-B) to perform CAS+J try process 61, and 63 to 65 are processes in the transportation management department. For example, when a storage medium is inserted into the CAS, a service that issues attention to the host computer, or an MOV command to operate a transport device is issued from the host computer, the system is activated through ARC-A or ARC-B. , AMC-A, AMC-BL:
A service that transfers the MOV command execution processing to CASlil1m, AMC, ARC when transportation device A or transportation device B executes the MOV command and finishes.
This is a process such as notification via . Transportation management department (60)
is idling, constantly waiting in a circular cycle to see if it is necessary to perform the processes (62) to (65). When the occurrence of a CAS failure is notified, the process of the CAS monitoring unit 62 during idling is shifted to step 61.

The flow will be explained according to the circled numbers shown in the figure.

As an example, consider a case where retry processing is performed by ARC-A.

■ The CAS monitoring unit (62) determines whether a failure has occurred in the CAS.

If a failure occurs in the CAS (CAS ERROR), the process shifts from idling to CAS retry processing (61).

If no failure occurs in the CAS, idling continues.

■ Set the CAS retry process execution flag to ARC-A.
Set to .

■ Initialize CAS command (CAS INIT CM) by AMC (AMC-A in this case)
D) and performs CAS retry processing.

■ Determine that the CAS failure has been recovered and the process has completed normally.

If the process ends normally, proceed to ■; if the CAS failure is not recovered, proceed to ■.

■ When the CAS failure is recovered, the CAS retry log (CAS
RETRY LOG) and returns to the transportation management section 60.

(2), (2) Same-Determining whether or not AMC CAS RETRY If the CAS failure is not recovered in (2), the number of retries is determined. And the number of retries is 3
If the number is less than or equal to the same AMC (AMC-A in this case), repeat the process of ① migration.

(2), (2), (2) Determination of whether or not it is the same AMC. If it is not the same AMC in (2), proceed to (2), perform CAS retry processing using the other system AMC (AMC-8 in this case), and repeat the processing after (2).

■、■、■ The number of retries exceeds 3 and the same -A
If it is an MC (AMC-A), it is a different AMC (AMC-B).
) performs CASIJ) lie processing, and repeats the processing from ① onwards.

■、■、@ If the retry does not result in recovery, and the retry process has exceeded 3 times, and it is not the same AMC (in this case, AMC-B), use of CAS is prohibited in [phase].

Then, the process is transferred to the transportation management section 60.

In the present invention, a table is provided for centrally managing both ARC-A and ARC-B using a common memory, and a failure such as when the power of ARC-A is cut off during CAS retry processing is prevented. If this occurs, ARC-B
It is now possible to continue retry processing by taking over.

FIG. 5 shows the flow of ARC replacement processing. The figure shows a flow when a failure occurs in ARC-A during retry processing by ARC-A.

■ Retry processing is in progress by ARC-A.

■ A failure occurs, such as the power to ARC-A being cut off.

■ The host device detects a failure in ARC-A.

■ The higher-level device instructs ARC-B to replace.

■ The switched ARC-B continues CASIJ) lie processing.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, even if a failure occurs in the medium loading/unloading device of the library device, it can be automatically restored, and one of the plurality of main control units (ARC) Even if a failure occurs in the library, the reliability of the library device is improved because the alternate processing is performed by another main control section.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the library device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of retry processing of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow of ARC replacement processing according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional library device. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the flow of a conventional control method when a failure occurs in the charging/discharging device. In FIG. 1, 1: host device 2 library device, 3: transport device control section A CACCm control section A), 4:
Conveying device control unit B (AC (J column B), knee source management table, : Charge and discharge device (CAS), : Main control unit A (ARC-A) : Sub-control unit A (AMC-A) : Main control Part B (ARC-B) : Sub-control part B (AMC-B) : Loading mechanism part, : Discharge mechanism part, : CAS control part.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1), loading/unloading device (6) for loading/unloading storage media;
and a plurality of transport devices for transporting storage media (2), a plurality of main control units (10, 12) that control the plurality of transport devices
), and a plurality of sub-control units (11, 1) under each main control unit
3), a unified management table (5) for commonly managing multiple main control units (10, 12), and an input/discharge device (6).
), the input and discharge control section (16) controls the main control section (10, 12).
is controlled via the sub-control unit (11, 13), and if a failure occurs in the input/discharge device (6), any one
The two main control units (10, 12) first perform a retry process on the input/discharge control unit (16) to recover from the failure via the subordinate control units (11, 13), and in the retry process, If the failure is not recovered, the arbitrary one of the main control units (10, 12) causes the other sub-control units (11, 13) to retry the input/discharge device (6) multiple times. An automatic recovery method for a storage medium loading/unloading device in a library device, characterized in that: (2) If any one main control unit (10, 12) fails and becomes inoperable during the retry process of any one main control unit (10, 12), the other main control unit (10, 12) Control unit (
10. The automatic recovery method of a storage medium loading/unloading device in a library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein retry processing is continuously performed according to steps 10 and 12).