JPH05233100A - External storage device initializing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten time for initializing an external storage device as much as possible concerning the external storage device initializing system for an information processing system provided with the external storage device. CONSTITUTION:This system is provided with the information processing system equipped with an external storage device 200, for which it is necessary to initialize stored contents when starting the system connected through a bus 300 to a main controller 100. The external storage device is provided with an initial data holding means 201 to fixedly hold initial data to be written at the time of initialization or to hold those data corresponding to setting from the outside, and initializing means 202 to initialize the stored contents by writing the initial data held in the initial data holding means in all the storage areas of the external storage device when an initialization starting command is received from the main controller.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external storage device initialization method in an information processing system having an external storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional external storage device, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional initialization process. It is a figure which shows an example.

The information processing system shown in FIG. 7 includes a central control unit (CC) 1, a main storage unit (MM) 2, a channel control unit (CHC) 3 which are duplicated, and an input / output bus 5 respectively. Each channel controller (CHC)
3 has a dual external storage device (FM) 4 connected thereto, one of which is operating as an active system and the other of which is on standby as a standby system. When the active system stops operation, a standby system is used. In order for the system to immediately start operating as the active system, the external storage device (FM) 4 of the standby system also holds the same storage contents as the external storage device (FM) 4 of the active system.

When the external storage device (FM) 4 is formed by using a semiconductor memory, it is necessary to initialize the storage contents when starting the information processing system, but it is formed by the semiconductor memory. External storage device (F
Since M) 4 is not provided with a reset terminal, there is nothing but to execute initialization by externally writing initialization data in the entire storage area.

External storage device (FM) 4 shown in FIG.
Is an external storage unit (FM) including a semiconductor memory and having a predetermined storage capacity (for example, 64 kilowords, one word including 16 bits of data and 7 bits of error correction code).
U) 401, buffer memory (BM) for temporarily storing data to be written or read in the external storage unit (FMU) 401
402, writing to the external storage unit (FMU) 401 or generating an error correction code added to the data and writing to the external storage unit (FMU) 401, or external storage unit (FM)
U) Error correction unit (ECC) 40 that performs error detection and correction using the data read from 401 and the error correction code
3. Direct memory access control unit (D) for controlling data transfer between the external storage device (FM) 4 and the main storage device (MM) 2 based on a command from the central control device (CC) 1.
MC) 406, an input / output device address holding unit (IOA) 4 that fixedly holds the input / output address assigned to itself.
11. The address transferred via the address bus (AB) in the input / output bus 5 is collated with the input / output address held in the input / output device address holding unit (IOA) 411, and Program mode controller (PMC) 4
13, a collation unit (MCH) 412 for activating 13, a decoder (DCR) 414 for activating each unit in the external storage device (FM) 4 designated by the address transmitted via the address bus (AB), a direct memory The access control unit (DMC) 406 stores a command register (CMR), a file address register (FAR), a memory address register (MAR), and a word count register (WC) for accumulating various data necessary for controlling data transfer.
R), a register group (REG) 415 having a device status register (DSR), etc., an external storage device (FM)
4, a processor (MPU) 421, an internal bus 422, a decoder (DCR) 423, a read only memory (ROM) 424, a write / read memory (RAM) 42.
5, interrupt controller (IRC) 426, clock generator (C
KG) 431 and external storage unit (FMU) 401 are D-RA
A refresh unit (REF) 441 and various gates 404 and 405, which are required when configured by M,
407, 416, 417, 418, 442, 443 and 444.

7 to 9, an external storage device (F
M) 4 Central control unit (CC) 1 trying to initialize
Is based on a known direct memory access (hereinafter abbreviated as DMA) transfer method, a predetermined amount (for example, 2 kilobytes) of initialization data (for example, all bits are logical "" in a predetermined storage area in the main memory (MM) 2. Data composed of 0 ″), and then the external storage device (FM) 4 to be initialized as well as the external device via the channel control device (CHC) 3 to the address bus (AB) of the input / output bus 5. Addresses indicating a file address register (FAR), a memory address register (MAR), a word count register (WCR), etc. provided in a register group (REG) 415 in the storage device (FM) 4 are sequentially transmitted, and The file address register (FA) is connected to the data bus (DB) in the input / output bus 5 via the channel controller (CHC) 3.
R), the memory address register (MAR), the word count register (WCR), and the like, by sequentially sending out various data to be accumulated, the register group (REG) 415
Initialized data (2 kilobytes) accumulated in the main memory (MM) 2 such as accumulating predetermined data in the external memory (FM) 4 is transferred to the first memory in the external memory unit (FMU) 401. After executing all the pre-processing required for the DMA transfer to be stored in the storage area (2 kilobytes), the command register in the external storage device (FM) 4 via the channel controller (CHC) 3 and the input / output bus 5. (CMR)
A command code for instructing reading and a start bit indicating start are set.

In the external storage device (FM) 4, the processor (MPU) 421 has a register group (REG) 41.
When it is detected that the activation bit accumulated in the command register (CMR) in 5 is set to the activated state, and further that the instruction code for instructing reading is accumulated, the direct memory access control unit ( DMC) 40
Start 6.

The activated direct memory access control unit (DMC) 406, via the input / output bus 5 and the channel control unit (CHC) 3, based on various data stored in the register group (REG) 415. The initial memory of the first word (16 bits) is requested to the main memory device (MM) 2, and the one word of initialization data is sent from the main memory device (MM) 2 to the channel controller (CHC) 3 and the input / output. When transferred via the data bus (DB) (16-bit width) in the bus 5, the data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory (BM) 402, and the error correction unit (ECC) 403 makes an error correction code of 7 bits. After generating, the external storage (FM
U) The data is stored in the storage area designated by the file address register (FAR) in the register group (REG) 415 in the 401.

When the writing process of the initialization data of one word is completed, the direct memory access control unit (DMC) 40
6 advances each address accumulated in the file address register (FAR) and the memory address register (MAR) in the register group (REG) 415,
Further, after subtracting one word from the number of words accumulated in the word count register (WCR), the main memory device (MM) 2 is passed through the input / output bus 5 and the channel control device (CHC) 3.
The initialization data of the next word (16 bits) is requested, and the initialization data of one word is sent from the main memory (MM) 2 to the channel controller (CHC) 3 and the data bus (DB) in the input / output bus 5. Buffer memory (B
M) 402 is temporarily stored in the error correction unit (ECC) 40
After generating an error correction code consisting of 7 bits by 3,
Register group (RE) in the external storage unit (FMU) 401
G) Store in the storage area designated by the file address register (FAR) in 415.

Similarly, the direct memory access control unit (DMC) 406 passes through the input / output bus 5 and the channel control unit (CHC) 3 to the main memory unit (MM).
Initialization data is read out from the address 2 and addressed to the external storage unit (F
MU) 401 storage areas are sequentially written to the main storage device (M
M) When all the initialization data (2 kilobytes) stored in 2 are read and written to the first storage area (1 kiloword) in the external storage unit (FMU) 401, the input / output bus 5 and channel The read completion report is transferred to the central controller (CC) 1 via the controller (CHC) 3.

When the central control unit (CC) 1 receives the read end report transferred from the external storage unit (FM) 4,
In the same process as described above, the initialization data (2 kilobytes) stored in the main storage device (MM) 2 is stored in the register group (REG) 415 in the external storage device (FM) 4 by the external storage device (FM) 4. To the channel controller (C) after performing any pre-processing necessary for the DMA transfer in which the data is transferred to the external storage unit (FMU) 401 and stored in the next storage area (1 kiloword) in the external storage unit (FMU) 401.
HC) 3 and the input / output bus 5 to the command register (CMR) in the external storage device (FM) 4 to set a command code for reading and a start bit indicating start, The initialization data (2 kilobytes) stored in the main memory (MM) 2 is read into the FM) 4 in the same manner as described above, and the external storage unit (FMU) 4 is read.
Writing is executed in the next storage area (one kiloword) in 01.

In the same manner, the initialization data accumulated in the main memory unit (MM) 2 is read and transferred, and the entire memory area (64 km) of the external memory unit (FMU) 401 in the external memory unit (FM) 4 is read. When the writing is finished, the central controller (CC) 1 determines that the initialization of the external storage device (FM) 4 is completed.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above description, in the conventional information processing system, in order to initialize the external storage device (FM) 4, the main storage device (M
M) 2 reads the initialization data accumulated in 2 words, transfers it to the external storage device (FM) 4 via the channel control device (CHC) 3 and the input / output bus 5, and transfers it to the external storage unit (F
Since it is necessary to repeat the process of storing in a predetermined storage area in the MU) 401 for all storage areas of the external storage unit (FMU) 401, there is a problem that a great amount of time is spent.

It is an object of the present invention to shorten the time required to initialize an external storage device as much as possible.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 is a main control device that is the center of control of the information processing system, 200 is an external storage device that is the subject of the present invention, and 300 is a bus that connects the external storage device 200 to the main control device 100.

The external storage device 200 is required to initialize the storage contents when the system is started up. 201 is initialization data holding means provided in the external storage device 200 according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 202 denotes an external storage device 20 according to the present invention.
It is an initialization means provided in 0.

[0018]

The initialization data holding means 201 holds the initialization data to be written at the time of initialization.

When the initialization means 202 receives an initialization start command from the main controller 100, the initialization means 202 writes the initialization data held in the initialization data holding means 201 into the entire storage area of the external storage device 200. By doing so, the stored contents are initialized.

It should be noted that the initialization data holding means 201 is considered to hold the predetermined initialization data fixedly, or to hold the initialization data set from the outside.

Therefore, the external storage device can be initialized only by writing the initialization data set in the initialization data holding means in advance in the storage area when the main control device instructs the initialization. Since the process is completed, it is not necessary to transfer the initialization data from the outside via the bus, and the time required for the initialization of the external storage device is greatly reduced.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 2 is a diagram showing an external storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention (claim 2), FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the initialization process in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an initialization command according to the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the present invention (claim 3).
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an external storage device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an initialization process in FIG. In addition,
The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings. The target information processing system is as shown in FIG.

2 to 7, a central controller (CC) 1 is shown as the main controller 100 in FIG. 1, and an external storage device (FM) 4 is shown as the external storage device 200 in FIG. Also, the bus 30 in FIG.
The input / output bus 5 is shown as 0, and the fixed data storage unit (CPM) 451 in FIG. 2 is the external storage device (F
M) 4, and in FIG. 5, an initialization data holding unit (CPR) 453 is provided in the external storage device (FM) 4, and further as the initialization means 202 in FIG.
In FIG. 2, an initialization unit (CLR) 461 is provided in the processor (MPU) 421 in the external storage device (FM) 4, and in FIG. 5, the initialization unit (CLR) 462 is provided in the external storage device (FM) 4. Processor (MPU) 421 in
It is provided in.

2 to 6, the external storage unit (FMU) 401 in the external storage device (FM) 4 is composed of a semiconductor memory, and also the external storage unit (FMU).
The storage capacity of 401 is 64 kilowords (one word is composed of 16 bits of data and 7 bits of error correction code), and the data bus (DB) in the input / output bus 5 has a 16-bit width. ..

First, an embodiment of the present invention (claim 2) will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7. In the fixed data storage unit (CPM) 451 shown in FIG. 2, 16-bit fixed data (D) in which each bit is set to logic “0” is set as predetermined initialization data (D _I ). _F ) is fixedly held.

The selector (SEL) 452 is set so as to select the buffer memory (BM) 402 and connect it to the data terminal D of the external storage unit (FMU) 401 in the normal state.

2 to 4 and 7, the central controller (CC) 1 which is going to initialize the external storage device (FM) 4 is in the input / output bus 5 via the channel controller (CHC) 3. Of the external storage device (FM) 4 and the file address register (FAR) provided in the register group (REG) 415 in the external storage device (FM) 4 on the address bus (AB) of Addresses indicating the word count register (WCR) are sequentially sent out, and the external storage unit (F) is connected to the data bus (DB) in the input / output bus 5 via the channel controller (CHC) 3.
MU) 401, which specifies the top storage area,
By sequentially sending the number of words (64 kilowords) designating the entire storage area in the external storage unit (FMU) 401, the external storage unit (FM) is sent to the file address register (FAR).
U) The address for designating the top storage area of the 401 is accumulated, and the word count register (WCR) designates the total storage area in the external storage unit (FMU) 401.
External storage unit (FMU) 401, such as storing 4 kilowords)
After performing all the pre-processing required to initialize all the storage areas in the internal storage area, the address bus (AB) in the input / output bus 5 through the channel controller (CHC) 3 is treated as an initialization target. The external storage device (FM) 4 and the command register (CMR) provided in the register group (REG) 415 in the external storage device (FM) 4, and the channel control device (CHC). By sending the initialization command as shown in FIG. 4 to the data bus (DB) in the input / output bus 5 via 3, the initialization command is stored in the command register (CMR).

The initialization command comprises 16 bits b _{0 to} b ₁₅ as shown in FIG. 4, and bits b _{8 to} b ₁₄
Command code for instructing the initialization (CMC) (composed of "0000010" in FIG. 4) is set in the bit b ₁₅ is activated state starts bit set (logic "1") (S) is It is set.

In the external storage device (FM) 4, the processor (MPU) 421 has a register group (REG) 41.
Detecting that the start bit (S) of the initialization command accumulated in the command register (CMR) in 5 is set to the startup state, and further recognizes that the command code (CMC) indicates the initialization command. Then, the initialization unit (CLR) 461 is activated.

The activated initialization unit (CLR) 461 is
The selector (SEL) 452 is controlled via the internal bus 422, and the fixed data storage unit (CPM) 451 side is selected and switched to be connected to the data terminal D of the external storage unit (FMU) 401. Group (REG) 415
File address register (FAR) in the gate G4
After being connected to the address terminal A of the external storage unit (FMU) 401 via 42, the internal bus 422 and the gate 44
The external storage unit (FMU) 401 is written and activated via 4.

In this state, the error correction unit (ECC) 40
3 is an external storage unit (FMU) 401 from a fixed data storage unit (CPM) 451 via a selector (SEL) 452.
Error correction code ( _CF ) corresponding to fixed data ( _DF ) input to the data terminal D of the external storage unit (FM).
U) Input to the error correction code terminal C of 401.

As a result, the fixed data storage unit (CPM) 451 is stored in the head storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401.
From the external storage unit (F) via the selector (SEL) 452.
The fixed data ( _DF ) input to the data terminal D of the MU) 401 is written with the error correction code ( _CF ) generated by the error correction unit (ECC) 403 added thereto.

First storage area of external storage unit (FMU) 401
Fixed data (D_F) And error correction code (C
_F) Is completed, the initialization unit (CLR) 461
Direct memory access controller (DMC) 406
Control and add in file address register (FAR)
Take the word one step further and add a word count register
After subtracting one word from the number of words in (WCR), externally again
When the memory unit (FMU) 401 is written and activated, external storage
In the second storage area of the storage unit (FMU) 401, the same as above
From the fixed data storage unit (CPM) 451 to the selector
External storage unit (FMU) 401 via (SEL) 452
Fixed data (D _F)
Error correction code (C
_F) Is added and written.

Thereafter, in the initialization unit (CLR) 461, the address in the file address register (FAR) indicates the final storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401, and the number of words in the word count register (WCR) becomes zero. Up to this point, by executing the same processing as described above, the external storage unit (FM
U) The fixed data storage unit (CP
M) 451 holds the fixed data (D _F ) and the error correction code (C C) generated by the error correction unit (ECC) 403.
_F ) and write.

The initialization unit (CLR) 461 writes fixed data (D _F ) and error correction code (C _F ) in the entire storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401, and thereby the external storage unit (FM). 4 is completed, the device status register (D) in the register group (REG) 415 is
The initialization completion report is stored in SR).

The initialization completion report stored in the device status register (DSR) is transferred to the central controller (CC) 1 via the input / output bus 5 and the channel controller (CHC) 3 in a known procedure. It

The central controller (CC) 1 receives the initialization completion report transferred from the external storage device (FM) 4, and thereby the external storage device (FM) 4 based on the initialization command.
Recognize that initialization of is completed.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the central control unit (CC) 1 which is going to initialize the external storage device (FM) 4 executes the command in the external storage device (FM) 4. When the initialization command is stored in the register (CMR), the initialization unit (CLR) 4 in the external storage device (FM) 4
61 does not transfer the initialization data from the main storage device (MM) 2 via the channel control device (CHC) 3 and the input / output bus 5 to one word, and the fixed data storage unit (C
PM) 451 fixed data (D
_F ) and the error correction unit (ECC) 403 uses fixed data (D
_The error correction code ( _CF ) generated corresponding to _F ) is sequentially written in all the storage areas of the external storage unit (FMU) 401 to execute the initialization process, so that the external storage unit (FMU)
The time required to transfer the initialization data of the number of words (64 kilo words) corresponding to the entire storage area in 401 from the main storage device (MM) 2 via the channel control device (CHC) 3 and the input / output bus 5. It can be shortened.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention (claim 3) will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. Also in FIG. 5, the selector (SEL) 452 selects the buffer memory (BM) 402 in the normal state and selects the external storage unit (FMU) 401.
It is set so as to be connected to the data terminal D of.

4 to 7, the external storage device (F
M) 4 Central control unit (CC) 1 trying to initialize
Is an external storage device (FM) 4 to be initialized, and a register group in the external storage device (FM) 4 to the address bus (AB) in the input / output bus 5 via the channel control device (CHC) 3. An address indicating a write pattern register (WPR) provided in the (REG) 415 is transmitted, and an external storage unit is provided to the data bus (DB) in the input / output bus 5 via the channel controller (CHC) 3. (FM
U) Write by sending initialization data (D _I ) defined for initializing the storage area of 401 (for example, 16-bit data in which each bit is set to logic “0”) Initialization data (D _I ) is stored in the pattern register (WPR), and subsequently, in the same manner as described above, the initialization target is stored in the address bus (AB) in the input / output bus 5 via the channel controller (CHC) 3. And an address indicating a file address register (FAR) and a word count register (WCR) provided in a register group (REG) 415 in the external storage device (FM) 4 in order. The head storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401 is sent to the data bus (DB) in the input / output bus 5 via the channel controller (CHC) 3. And dress, an external storage unit (FMU)
By sequentially transmitting the number of words (64 kilowords) designating all storage areas in 401, the address designating the top storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401 is accumulated in the file address register (FAR), Further, the word count register (WCR) stores the number of words (64 kilowords) designating the entire storage area in the external storage unit (FMU) 401, and initializes the entire storage area in the external storage unit (FMU) 401. After performing any pre-processing required for, the channel controller (CHC) 3 and the address bus (AB) in the input / output bus 5 are then connected to the external storage device (FM) 4 to be initialized, and externally. The address indicating the command register (CMR) provided in the register group (REG) 415 in the memory device (FM) 4 is transmitted, and the channel controller (CHC) is also sent. A data bus (DB) of the input and output bus 5 via, by sending an initialization command such as shown in FIG. 4, for storing an initialization command to the command register (CMR).

In the external storage device (FM) 4, the processor (MPU) 421 has the register group (REG) 41.
Detecting that the start bit (S) of the initialization command accumulated in the command register (CMR) in 5 is set to the startup state, and further recognizes that the command code (CMC) indicates the initialization command. Then, the initialization unit (CL
R) 462 is activated.

The activated initialization unit (CLR) 462 is
After the initialization data (D _I ) stored in the write pattern register (WPR) in the register group (REG) 415 is extracted and stored in the initialization data holding unit (CPR) 453 via the internal bus 422. Similarly to the above, the selector (SEL) 452 is controlled via the internal bus 422, the initialization data holding unit (CPR) 453 side is selected and connected to the data terminal D of the external storage unit (FMU) 401. The file address register (FAR) in the register group (REG) 415 is set to the gate G44.
2 is connected to the address terminal A of the external storage unit (FMU) 401 via the internal bus 422 and the gate 444.
The external storage unit (FMU) 401 is written and activated via.

In this state, the error correction unit (ECC) 40
3 is an external storage unit (FMU) 40 from an initialization data holding unit (CPR) 453 through a selector (SEL) 452.
The error correction code (C _I ) corresponding to the initialization data (D _I ) input to the first data terminal D is generated and input to the error correction code terminal C of the external storage unit (FMU) 401.

As a result, the initialization data holding unit (CPR) 45 is stored in the head storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401.
3 to the initialization data (D _I ) input to the data terminal D of the external storage unit (FMU) 401 via the selector (SEL) 452, the error correction code (C _I ) generated by the error correction unit (ECC) 403. ) Is added and written.

When the writing of the initialization data (D _I ) and the error correction code (C _I ) to the head storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401 is completed, the initialization unit (CLR) 4
62 is a direct memory access control unit (DMC) 40
6 to advance the address in the file address register (FAR) by one step, subtract one word from the number of words in the word count register (WCR), and then write and activate the external storage unit (FMU) 401 again. Then, in the second storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401, as described above, the external storage unit (FMU) 401 is transferred from the fixed data storage unit (CPM) 451 via the selector (SEL) 452.
The initialization data (D _I ) input to the data terminal D of
The error correction code (C _I ) generated by the error correction unit (ECC) 403 is added and written.

Thereafter, in the initialization unit (CLR) 462, the address in the file address register (FAR) indicates the final storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401, and the number of words in the word count register (WCR) becomes zero. Up to this point, by executing the same processing as described above, the external storage unit (FM
U) Initialized data holding unit (CP
R) initialization data (D _I ) stored in 453,
The error correction code (C _I ) generated by the error correction unit (ECC) 403 is written.

The initialization unit (CLR) 462 stores initialization data (D _I ) in the entire storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401.
After the initialization of the external storage device (FM) 4 is completed by writing the error correction code (C _I ) and the device status register (D) in the register group (REG) 415.
The initialization completion report is stored in SR).

The initialization completion report stored in the device status register (DSR) is transferred to the central controller (CC) 1 via the input / output bus 5 and the channel controller (CHC) 3 by a known procedure. It

The central control unit (CC) 1 receives the initialization completion report transferred from the external storage unit (FM) 4, and thereby the external storage unit (FM) 4 based on the initialization command.
Recognize that initialization of is completed.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the central control unit (CC) 1 which is going to initialize the external storage device (FM) 4 writes in the external storage device (FM) 4. After storing the initialization data (D _I ) in the pattern register (WPR) and then storing the initialization command in the command register (CMR) in the external storage device (FM) 4,
Initialization unit (CLR) 462 in the external storage device (FM) 4
From the main memory (MM) 2 to the channel controller (CH
C) Initialization data holding unit (CP) without transferring the initialization data to one word via 3 and the input / output bus 5.
R) 453 holds the initialization data (D _I ),
The error correction code (C _I ) generated by the error correction unit (ECC) 403 corresponding to the initialization data (D _I ) is sequentially written in the entire storage area of the external storage unit (FMU) 401, thereby Storage unit (FMU) 4 for executing the process
The initialization data of the number of words (64 kilo words) corresponding to the entire storage area in 01 is transferred from the main storage device (MM) 2 via the channel control device (CHC) 3 and the input / output bus 5. It can be shortened. Central control unit (CC)
1 can store the required initialization data (D _I ) in the initialization data holding unit (CPR) 453, so that it is limited to the fixed data (D _F ) in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In comparison, the degree of freedom of the initialization data (D _I ) increases.

2 to 7 are merely examples of the present invention until now. For example, fixed data ( _DF ) and initialization data (D _I ) are set to the illustrated all-bit logic "0". The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned ones, and various modifications may be considered, but in any case, the effect of the present invention does not change. Further, the initialization data (D _I ) stored in the initialization data holding unit (CPR) 453 is the central control unit (CC) 1
However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned input, and various modifications such as input from the outside can be considered, but the effect of the present invention does not change in any case. The external storage unit of the fixed data (D _F) or initialization data (D _I) (F
The write address to the MU) 401 is not limited to the one supplied from the file address register (FAR), and many other modifications such as the one supplied from the refresh unit (REF) 441 are considered. In this case, the effect of the present invention does not change. Further, the configuration of the external storage device (200) which is the subject of the present invention is not limited to that shown in the figure, and many other modifications can be considered, but in any case, the effect of the present invention is different. Absent. Further, it goes without saying that the information processing system to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the one shown in the figure.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the information processing system, the external storage device is initialized in advance in the initialization data holding means when the initialization is instructed by the main controller. The initialization process is completed just by writing the data in the storage area, so there is no need to transfer the initialization data from outside via the bus, and the time required to initialize the external storage device is greatly reduced. ..

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention (claim 2).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an initialization process in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an initialization command according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an external storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention (claim 3).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an initialization process in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional external storage device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional initialization process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Central Control Unit (CC) 2 Main Storage Unit (MM) 3 Channel Control Unit (CHC) 4, 200 External Storage Unit (FM) 5 I / O Bus 100 Main Control Unit 201 Initialization Data Holding Unit 202 Initialization Unit 300 Bus 401 External Storage Unit (FMU) 402 Buffer Memory (BM) 403 Error Correction Unit (ECC) 404, 405, 407, 416, 417, 418, 4
42, 443, 444 gates 406 direct memory access control unit (DMC) 411 input / output device address holding unit (IOA) 412 collation unit (MCH) 413 program mode control unit (PMC) 414, 423 decoder (DCR) 415 register group ( REG) 421 Processor (MPU) 422 Internal bus 424 Read only memory (ROM) 425 Write / read memory (RAM) 426 Interrupt control unit (IRC) 431 Clock generation unit (CKG) 441 Refresh unit (REF) 451 Fixed data storage Unit (CPM) 452 Selector (SEL) 453 Initialization data holding unit (CPR) 461, 462 Initialization unit (CLR)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A main controller (100) and a bus (300).
In an information processing system including an external storage device (200), which is connected via a storage device and is required to initialize storage contents at system startup, the external storage device (200) is written at the time of the initialization. Initialization data holding means (201) for holding initialization data to be inserted; and the initialization data holding means (201) holding the initialization start command from the main controller (100). The initialization data is stored in the external storage device (20
0) An external storage device initialization method, comprising: an initialization means (202) for initializing the storage contents by writing in all storage areas. 2. The initialization data holding means (201)
The external storage device initialization method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined initialization data is fixedly held. 3. The initialization data holding means (201)
The external storage device initialization method according to claim 1, wherein the initialization data set from the outside is held.