JPH04369735A - Backup system for computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically detect the occurrence of a fault in any operation system computer and to automatically raise a standby system computer. CONSTITUTION:A common storage device 6 where backup data areas for respective operation system computers 1A, 1B and 1C are secured is provided. The operation system computers 1A, 1B and 1C successively rewrite data on the self-auxiliary storage devices 4A, 4B and 4C during an operation and successively rewrite self backup data in the common storage device 6. The standby system computer 3 supervises the occurrence of the fault of the respective operation system computers 1A, 1B and 1C. When the occurrence of the fault in any operation system computer is detected, backup data concerned in the common storage device 6 is called, is copied in a self auxiliary storage device 5 and the backup processing of the computer where the fault occurs is started.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a backup method for a computer system having a plurality of active computers and one standby computer.

0002

[Background Art] Conventionally, there has been a computer system in which a plurality of active computers and a standby computer that backs up these active computers are connected online, and each active computer and standby computer is provided with an auxiliary storage device. The system is known.

[0003] In this conventional system, if a failure occurs in one of the operating computers and it goes down, humans can
The system collects data when a downtime occurs, copies this data to the auxiliary storage device of the standby computer, and then manually starts up the standby computer.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to the above-mentioned conventional system, when a failure occurs in the active computer, the standby computer is manually started up by a human, which makes it difficult for the operator to easily start up the standby computer. It is difficult to completely prevent mistakes, and a simple mistake may cause the computer to not start up. Furthermore, even if the system starts up normally, it takes a long time and is extremely inefficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and its object is to provide a computer that can automatically detect the occurrence of a failure in any active computer and automatically start up a standby computer. Its purpose is to provide a system backup method.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects a plurality of active computers and a standby computer that backs up these active computers online, and connects each active computer and In a computer system in which each of the standby computers is provided with an auxiliary storage device, each of the active computers is provided with a shared storage device in which a backup data area is secured, and the active computer has its own auxiliary storage device during operation. While sequentially rewriting the data in the storage device and sequentially rewriting its own backup data in the shared storage device, the standby computer monitors the occurrence of a failure in each active computer, and if any of the active computers When the occurrence of a failure is detected, the corresponding backup data in the shared storage device is called up and copied to its own auxiliary storage device, and then backup processing for the computer in which the failure has occurred is started.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects a plurality of active computers and a standby computer that backs up these active computers online, and connects each active computer and standby computer to each other. In a computer system each having an auxiliary storage device, each auxiliary storage device is configured to be accessible from each active computer and standby computer, and the active computer stores data in its own auxiliary storage device during operation. While rewriting sequentially, the standby computer monitors the occurrence of a failure in each active computer, and if it detects a failure in any active computer, it updates the failure based on the data in the auxiliary storage device where the failure occurred. It is characterized by starting backup processing of the generating computer.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the above configuration, the operating system computer collects various data such as process data and system status data during operation, and sequentially writes them to its own auxiliary storage device.
At the same time, backup data is sequentially written to its own area in the shared storage device. The standby computer monitors the occurrence of a failure in each active computer, and if it detects a failure in any of the active computers, it calls the corresponding backup data from the shared storage device and stores it in its own auxiliary storage device. After copying to the computer, it will automatically start up and start backup processing for the failed computer.

[0009] According to another configuration, when the standby computer detects the occurrence of a failure in any of the active computers, the active computer collects data while the active computer is in operation and sequentially stores the information in its own auxiliary storage device. After reading various data such as written process data and system status data and copying them to its own auxiliary storage device, it automatically boots up and starts backup processing for the failed computer.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a computer system to which the method of the present invention is applied.

As shown in the figure, a plurality of operating computers 1
A, 1B, 1C, ... are connected to the standby computer 3 via the transmission line 2.
It is connected to the. Each operating system computer 1A, 1B, 1C,
... are each equipped with an auxiliary storage device 4A, 4B, 4C, . . . , and the standby computer 3 is also individually equipped with an auxiliary storage device 5. Each auxiliary storage device 4A, 4B of the active computer
, 4C, ... are used to update and save various data collected by their own computers, and the auxiliary storage device 5 of the standby computer collects backup data of the active computer in which a failure has occurred. At the same time, various data collected when functioning as an operating computer at the time of backup are updated and saved.

In this embodiment, in particular, each active computer 1A
, 1B, 1C, . . . and a standby computer 5 are provided with a shared auxiliary storage device 6 that can be commonly accessed. As shown in FIG. 2, this shared auxiliary storage device 6 is provided with an area for storing backup data for each active computer 1A, 1B, 1C, . . . .

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The active computers 1A, 1B, 1C, . . . collect various data such as process data and system status data during operation and store them in their own auxiliary storage devices 4A, 4B.
, 4C... at a predetermined cycle. In parallel, each active computer 1A, 1B, 1C, . . . writes all of the various data or data necessary for backup from among the various data to the corresponding area of the shared auxiliary storage device 6 at the predetermined period.

On the other hand, the operating computers 1A, 1B, 1C,...
While the standby computer 3 is in operation, the standby computer 3 is connected to one of the active computers 1.
Monitor whether a failure has occurred in A, 1B, 1C, etc. (
Step ST1).

[0016] Occurrence of failure is detected (step ST1Y
ES) and the backup data of the corresponding active computer are read from the corresponding area of the shared auxiliary storage device 6 and copied to its own auxiliary storage device 5 (steps ST2, ST
3). When the copying of the backup data is completed (step ST4 YES), the standby computer 3 automatically starts up and continues processing as an active computer in place of the failed computer (steps ST5, ST6).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the entire process from when a failure occurs in any of the active computers 1A, 1B, 1C, . . . until the standby computer 3 starts up is automatically performed without any human intervention. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation where the computer does not start up due to a simple mistake by the operator.

Note that the standby computer 3 performs the step S
Even while T6 processing continues, the status of the active computer is monitored,
When the failed computer is restored, the data in its own auxiliary storage device 5 is transferred to the auxiliary storage device and shared auxiliary storage device 6 of the working computer that has recovered from the failure, and the working computer that has recovered from the failure is started up. The process may be transferred again.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the shared auxiliary storage device 5 may not be provided, and the auxiliary storage devices of each computer may be connected so as to be commonly accessible from each computer. According to the configuration of this embodiment, when one of the active computers fails, the standby computer 3 reads out the data in the auxiliary storage device and copies it to its own auxiliary storage device 5, and then the data shown in FIG. As shown in the flowchart, automatic startup is performed and processing can be continued in place of the failed active computer. In the case of this embodiment, a computer that is not in operation may be positioned as a standby computer to monitor the occurrence of a failure in other computers that are in operation.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically detect the occurrence of a failure in any active computer and automatically start up a standby computer. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the computer does not start up due to a simple mistake by the operator, and it is possible to construct a computer system with high operability and reliability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment to which the system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a shared auxiliary storage device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment to which the method of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A, 1B, 1C Active computer 2 Transmission line 3 Standby computer 4A, 4B, 4C, 5 Auxiliary storage device 6 Shared auxiliary storage device

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1. A computer system in which a plurality of active computers and a standby computer that backs up these active computers are connected online, and each of the active computers and standby computers is provided with an auxiliary storage device,
A shared storage device is provided in which a backup data area is secured for each active computer, and the active computer sequentially rewrites data in its own auxiliary storage device during operation, and writes data in the shared storage device. While sequentially rewriting its own backup data, the standby computer monitors the occurrence of a failure in each active computer, and if it detects a failure in any active computer, it updates the corresponding shared storage device. A computer system backup method characterized in that after calling backup data and copying it to its own auxiliary storage device, backup processing for the computer in which a failure has occurred is started. 2. A computer system in which a plurality of active computers and a standby computer that backs up these active computers are connected online, and each active computer and standby computer is provided with an auxiliary storage device,
Each of the auxiliary storage devices is configured to be accessible from each active computer and a standby computer, and the active computer sequentially rewrites data in its own auxiliary storage device during operation, while the standby computer It is characterized by monitoring the occurrence of a failure in the system computers, and when detecting the occurrence of a failure in any of the operating computers, starting backup processing for the computer in which the failure has occurred based on the data in the auxiliary storage device where the failure has occurred. Backup method for computer systems.