JPH05197449A - Multiple computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure normal operation at the time of pulling out one part of function units for exchange. CONSTITUTION:In a multiple computer system in which plural function units constituting a computer are multiplexed, each function unit is equipped with a pulling-out request switch and a pulling-out request permission display means. When the pulling-out request switch is turned on (105), the normality of the function unit multiplexed with the function unit whose pulling-out request switch is turned on is judged (106), and only when the normality is recognized, a pulling-out permission is displayed at the pulling-out request permission display means (107). The normality of the function unit multiplexed with the function unit remaining after pulling out the function unit, can be confirmed before pulling-out the function unit, so that an abnormal operation can be prevented from being generated after pulling-out the function unit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-system computer system, and more particularly to a technique for replacing a functional unit in a maintenance replacement unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique for inserting and removing a functional unit in a control device, a technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-246597 is known.

According to this technique, a replacement request switch for requesting replacement of a unit and an indicator for displaying permission of replacement are provided corresponding to each functional unit, and when a replacement request is input from the switch. Is for saving the data of the corresponding unit and prohibiting access to the unit.
A replacement countermeasure process for isolating the unit requested to be replaced from the system is performed, and after the process is completed, the indicator corresponding to the unit is turned on.

[0004]

According to the above-mentioned conventional technique, the display is turned on after the replacement countermeasure process is performed to isolate the replacement target unit from the system. Therefore, even if the operator removes the unit after checking the indicator, it does not affect the remaining system.

However, in order to improve the reliability of the system, in a multi-system computer system in which the functional units that make up the system are multiplexed, even if the units are normally operated in a multiplexed state, when the units are removed. The normal operation of is not guaranteed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-system computer system which can guarantee a normal operation when a functional unit is removed.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object,
The present invention is a multi-system computer system in which a plurality of functional units forming a computer are multiplexed, and a plurality of removal request switches provided corresponding to each of the functional units and each of the functional units. And a plurality of removal request permission display means provided corresponding to the above, and when the removal request switch is turned on, the normality of the functional unit multiplexed with the functional unit corresponding to the removal request switch is determined. , Only when it is judged to be normal,
There is provided a multi-system computer system characterized in that the removal request permission display means corresponding to the functional unit corresponding to the removal request switch that has been turned on has removal control means for displaying that removal is permitted.

[0008]

According to one embodiment of the multiple computer system according to the present invention, when replacing a functional unit, a maintenance staff first turns on the removal request permission switch on the replacement target functional unit as shown in FIG. 101).

On the other hand, the system judges whether the removal request permission switch is on or off (105), and when the switch is on, the normality of the functional unit to which the removal request switch belongs and the function units multiplexed are checked. By judging, the rationality of the removal request is judged (106).

If the removal is not normal, the removal is not permitted, the removal request is ignored, and the process is continued (108). On the other hand, if the removal is normal, the removal request permission display means indicates that removal is possible (107).

The maintenance staff confirms the display of the removal request permission display means (102), replaces the functional unit (103), or reconfirms the work (104).

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a multi-system computer system according to the present invention will be described below.

First, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a multiple computer system according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the multi-example computer system includes a single or a plurality of central processing units 1a, 1b, ... 1i.
A system bus (A) 2a and a system bus (B) 2b are connected to each (hereinafter referred to as BPU).

The system bus (A) 2a has a bus controller (hereinafter, referred to as "BC") 4a for controlling the system bus (A) 2a, a main storage device (hereinafter, referred to as MSU). (A) 5a is connected, and BC (B) 4b and MSU (B) 5b are connected to the system bus (B) 2b.

Further, an input / output control unit (hereinafter referred to as "IOU") for controlling the input / output unit (hereinafter referred to as "I / O") 7a.
(A) 6a is connected to the system bus (A) 2a and the system bus (B) 2b, and the IOU (B) 6b that controls the I / O 7b is also the system bus (A) 2a and the system bus (B). 2b is connected.

In this way, the BPU, system bus, B
The C, MSU, and IOU are duplexed, and even if one of the systems fails and becomes inoperable, the other system continues processing to realize a fault tolerant system.

Now, each of these parts is formed on a printed wiring board.

FIG. 3 shows how the printed wiring board is mounted.

As shown, each printed wiring board 15
Are mounted on the CPU unit 11 of the housing 10. Further, each printed wiring board has a pull-out request permission switch 14 and a pull-out request permission lamp 13 on a side surface which is a front surface in terms of mounting.

Next, FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the exchange control circuit provided in each printed wiring board.

In the figure, 13 is a removal permission lamp, 14 is a removal request permission switch, 22, 23, 25 are inverting gates, 2
0 is a printed circuit board status register (hereinafter referred to as “PIST register”), 21 is a control register (hereinafter referred to as “flg”).
"Ctl register"), 40 is a functional unit that performs the original function of the printed wiring board.

In the flgctl register 21, the BP is stored.
Of U, an online flag is set by an operating system (hereinafter, referred to as “OS”) operating on the BPU having the execution right. The online flag controls whether the functional unit 40 is in the online mode or the offline mode. The online mode is a mode in which the OS can use the functional unit, and the offline mode is a mode in which the OS cannot be used. The online flag is reset to the offline mode when a failure occurs in the functional unit.

The PIST register 20 is a register indicating the state inside the printed wiring board, and whether the online mode is selected or whether the removal request permission switch 14 is turned on.
The removal permission lamp stores a flag indicating whether or not it is lit. The contents of the PIST register 20 can be read by the OS in order to know the state of the printed wiring board.

The state of the removal request switch 14 is transmitted to the PIST register 20 and the AND gate 24 via the inverting gate 22 and the signal line 31.

The state of the online flag in the flgctl register 21 is transmitted to the PIST register via the signal line 30. Further, it is transmitted to the AND gate 24 via the inversion gate 23.

Further, the output from the AND gate 24 is connected to the removal request permission lamp 13 via the inverting gate 25.

In this embodiment, the online flag is "1".
Since it represents an online mode, the output of the logical product 24 becomes "1" and the removal permission lamp 13 is turned on only when the offline mode and the removal request switch 14 are on.

Next, a specific procedure for replacing the printed wiring board will be described with 22 examples.

The first example is a procedure for exchanging duplicated MSUs so that the contents of the A system and the B system are always the same, and the second example is either the A system or the B system. Is a working system, and the other is a standby system for replacing the duplicated IOU.

First, the first example will be described.

In the first example, as shown in FIG. 5, of the duplicated MSUs (A) 5a and (B) 5b, the MSU
(A) The case where 5a fails.

As shown in the figure, the MSUs are duplicated, and the stored contents of the MSUs of both systems are always the same during normal operation. Then, when the one-sided MSU (A) 5a fails, the remaining one-sided MSU (B) 5b continues processing.

FIG. 6 shows a procedure for removing a printed wiring board (referred to as MSU (A)) which constitutes the MCU (A) 5a.

In this case, as shown in the figure, first. The maintenance person turns on the removal request permission switch 14 on the MSU (A) (711).

On the other hand, the OS side PI7
The register 20 is read (715), it is determined whether the removal request permission switch is on or off (716), and if the switch is on, the rationality of the removal request is determined (71).
7). The determination is made as to whether or not the remaining MSU (B) is normal and the processing can be continued. In the present embodiment, this determination is made by reading the PIST register 20 of the remaining MSU (B), and if the remaining MSU (B) is in the online mode, it is determined that the processing can be continued normally. ..

If the processing cannot be continued due to the failure of the remaining MSU (B), the OS judges that the main removal request is impossible, ignores the removal request, and continues the processing (719).

When the remaining MSU (B) is normal and the processing can be continued, the OS judges that the main removal request is possible, clears the online flag of the flgctl register 21, and lights the removal request permission lamp 13 (718). ..

The maintenance staff confirms that the lamp is lit (71
2) Remove the printed board (714). If it does not light up, the situation is reconfirmed (713).

Next, the second example will be described.

In the second example, as shown in FIG. 7, one of the duplicated IOUs (A) and (B) is a single-system IOU (A) 6
This is for removing a.

In FIG. 7, unlike the MSU, the IOU is configured such that one of the A system and the B system is the active system and the other system is the standby system. The standby system is waiting. When exchanging the IOU of the active system, it is preferable to switch from the active system to the standby system in advance before the replacement in order to shorten the time required for the process takeover.

Now, assuming that the IOU (A) 6a is an active system, the procedure for replacing the IOU (A) is shown in FIG.
Shown in.

As shown in the figure, the procedure for replacing the IOU is basically the same as the procedure for replacing the MSU.

That is, first, the maintenance person turns on the removal request permission switch 14 of the IOU (A) (821), and the OS checks the rationality when the switch is turned on (825,
26, 27). Reasonable check is the remaining IOU
If (B) is in the online mode, it is determined that the processing is normal and can be continued.

If the standby system IOU (B) cannot be continued due to a failure or the like, the removal request is ignored and the process is continued (830). If the IOU (B) of the standby system is normal,
The processing of the active system (IOU (A)) is performed by the standby system (IOU).
After switching to (B)) (828) and changing the standby system to the active system, the removal request lamp 13 is turned on (829). on the other hand,
The processing is continued by using the IOU (B) which is the active system.
In this way, by switching from the operating system to the standby system in advance before replacing the operating system printed wiring board,
The processing switching time can be shortened.

On the other hand, the maintenance worker is allowed to take the removal request permission lamp 13
After confirming the lighting of (822), the printed wiring board is replaced (824).

If the IOU to be replaced is the standby system, the process is switched from the active system to the standby system (82
Do not perform 9).

As described above, according to this embodiment, before the removal of the printed wiring board to be replaced, after confirming the normality of the board multiplexed with the board to be replaced, the removal permission lamp is turned on. Since the light is turned on, normal operation of the system after the board is pulled out is guaranteed after the removal permission lamp is turned on.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multi-system computer system which can guarantee a normal operation when the functional units constituting the system are removed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a functional unit exchange processing procedure of a multi-system computer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multi-computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounting situation in a multi-computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an exchange control circuit on each printed wiring board which constitutes a multiple computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a failure of one main storage device in the multi-computer system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a procedure of a replacement process of a main memory device in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where one input / output control device is replaced in the multiple computer system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a replacement process of the input / output control device in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a BPU 2a System bus (A) 2b System bus (B) 4a BC (A) 4b BC (B) 5a MSU (A) 5b MSU (B) 6a IOU (A) 6b IOU (B) 7a I / O (A) 7b I / O (B) 10 Housing 11 CPU unit 13 Replacement request permission lamp 14 Replacement request permission switch 15 Printed wiring board 20 PIST register 21 flgctl register 22, 23, 25 Inversion gate 24 AND gate 30, 31, 32 signal lines

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Miyazaki 5-2-1 Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi Ltd. Omika Factory (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Takahashi 2-chome, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture No. 1 Incorporated company Hitachi Ltd. Omika factory (72) Inventor Masayuki Tanji 52-1 Omika-cho, Hitachi city, Ibaraki prefecture Incorporated company Hitachi Ltd. Omika factory (72) Inventor Mana Araoka Omika Oita, Ibaraki prefecture 5-2-1 machi, Hitachi Ltd. Omika factory (72) Inventor Tomoaki Nakamura 5-2-1 Omika-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Ltd. Omika factory (72) Inventor Ken Miyao Ibaraki 5-2-1 Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Hitachi, Ltd. Inside the Omika Plant, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Matsuda Omi, Ibaraki Prefecture Kacho 5-2-1 Hitate Process Computer Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multi-system computer system in which a plurality of functional units constituting a computer are multiplexed, wherein a plurality of removal request switches provided corresponding to each of the functional units, and a plurality of the functional units. A plurality of removal request permission display means provided corresponding to each, and when the removal request switch is turned on, the normality of the functional unit multiplexed with the functional unit corresponding to the removal request switch is determined. However, only when it is determined that the removal request is normal, the removal request permission display means corresponding to the functional unit corresponding to the removal request switch that is turned on has removal control means for displaying that removal is permitted. Characteristic multi-system computer system. 2. Any one of the multiplexed functional units
2. The multi-system computer system according to claim 1, wherein one is operated as an active system and the other is operated as a standby system, wherein the removal control means turns on the removal request switch corresponding to a functional unit operating as an active system. In this case, the normality of the functional unit multiplexed with the functional unit corresponding to the removal request switch is determined, and when it is determined to be normal, the functional unit corresponding to the turned on removal request switch. Instead, after operating the functional unit determined to be normal as an operating system, the removal request permission display means corresponding to the functional unit corresponding to the removal request switch that has been turned on indicates that removal is permitted. A multi-system computer system characterized by displaying.