JPH04273339A - Peripheral controller test system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the test of a peripheral controller without deteriorating the system throughput by securing the mutual communication between a CPU and a diagnosing device in the test state. CONSTITUTION:A diagnosing device 102 decides a test subject device out of a system resource table showing the types of connected devices in terms of the system constitution, stores the information on a peripheral controller 103 to be tested, and sends a command to a CPU 101 for the test of the controller 103. The CPU 101 receives the test start request command and starts a task for the peripheral controller test. Then the CPU 101 carries out the test of the controller 103 and sends the test result to the device 102 after decision of the end of the test. The device 102 receives a test end information command, retrieves the test subject device out of the system resource table, and updates the test subject device into another device except the tested ones.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral control device testing method, and more particularly to a peripheral control device testing method that prevents a decrease in system throughput.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a test method for this type of peripheral control device has been executed by a test program existing in each peripheral control device, and this test is only executed when the device is powered on or reset. This method is not executed during actual system operation.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, the conventional testing method for peripheral control devices is limited to when the device is powered on and when a reset is issued, so it is not tested at all during actual operation as a system. This may lead to a decrease in the reliability of the system.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The peripheral control device testing method of the present invention tests a peripheral control device that controls at least one peripheral device while performing mutual communication between a central processing unit and a diagnostic device. In the peripheral control device test method,
means for recognizing a peripheral control device existing in the system configuration when a test event occurs; means for storing one of the peripheral devices and sending a command requesting start of a test via the system bus; and a central processing unit. The diagnostic device has means for accepting a test completion notification sent from the device via the system bus and selecting a device to be tested next, and when receiving the test start request command, The central processing unit is configured to include means for executing a test and means for notifying the results of the test via a system bus.

[0005]

[Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a sequence configuration of an embodiment of the peripheral control device testing method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a system to which this embodiment is applied.

[0006] The central processing unit 101 has a system bus 105.
peripheral control device 103 or 1 to be tested via
04, the central processing unit 101 and the diagnostic device 10
2 also performs tests on peripheral control devices while communicating with each other via the system bus 105.

After the start of system operation, the diagnostic device determines the device to be tested from the system resource table showing what devices are connected in the system configuration, based on test events that occur periodically due to internal timer services, etc. (step 1). 1), stores information on the peripheral control device to be tested (step 2), and sends a command requesting testing of the peripheral control device to the central processing unit 101 (step 3).

When the central processing unit 101 receives a test start request command from the diagnostic device (step 4), it starts a task for testing the peripheral control device (step 5), and in the process of step 5, tests the peripheral control device. (Step 6), determines whether the test is complete (Step 7), and sends the test results to the diagnostic device 102 (Step 8).
). The diagnostic device 102 receives the completion notification command from the central processing unit 101 (step 9), searches for the target device existing in the system resource table mentioned above, and updates the test target device to a device other than the already tested device. Deeds (
In step 10), the peripheral control device test can be executed by repeating the same process as described above until it is executed for all devices existing in the system resource table.

[0009]

Effects of the Invention: The diagnostic device is equipped with a timer, and the test is executed on the central processing unit at regular intervals. Since the increase in hardware and performance degradation due to test execution can be kept to a minimum, the throughput of the system will not deteriorate.
This has the effect that testing of peripheral control devices can be executed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the configuration of an embodiment of a peripheral control device testing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system to which this embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-11 Steps 101 Central processing unit 102 Diagnostic equipment 103, 104 Peripheral control device 105 System bus

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: In a peripheral control device test method in which a peripheral control device that controls at least one peripheral device is tested while mutually communicating with a central processing unit and a diagnostic device, when a test event occurs, the system means for recognizing peripheral control devices present in the configuration; means for storing one of the peripheral devices and sending a command requesting start of a test via the system bus; the diagnostic device has a means for accepting a test completion notification notified by the user and selecting a device to be tested next, and means for executing a test on the recognized peripheral control device when receiving the test start request command; A peripheral control device testing method, characterized in that the central processing unit is provided with means for notifying the results of the test via a system bus.