JPH0683667A - Diagnostic system for information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform various types of diagnoses of an information processor in parallel with the operation of a normal system. CONSTITUTION:An operation control program 33 controls the operations of a general instruction diagnostic program 34 which diagnoses the general instructions for application, a privileged instruction diagnostic program 35 which diagnoses the privileged instructions for OS, and firmware instruction diagnostic program 36 which diagnoses the firmware instructions of an I/O processor 4 in addition to the user application programs 32-1-32-n. Then the program 33 periodically starts the programs 34-36, and these started programs diagnose themselves respectively to store the error information in a logging area 38 through a logging program 37 if the errors are detected. An output control program 39 reads the error information out of the area 38 and edits the information during the operation of a system to display the edited information on the screen of a CRT 5 or to print them out through a printer 7. Furthermore these information are reported to a monitor center through a communication channel L.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a diagnostic method for an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus capable of diagnosing the information processing apparatus in parallel during normal system operation in which a user application program is being executed. Regarding diagnostic method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information processing apparatus such as an office processor is diagnosed by loading a diagnostic OS on the information processing apparatus to be diagnosed and then executing various diagnostic programs.

[0003]

As described above, according to the conventional diagnostic method of the information processing apparatus, various diagnostic programs are executed on the diagnostic OS different from that of the user system, so that the user application program is executed. There is a drawback that diagnosis cannot be done in parallel with. Therefore, diagnosis is limited to the time when the system is installed or the regular maintenance in which the system can be stopped, and it is not possible to detect the hardware failure that is expected to occur during system operation, and it is possible to perform a failure before the system failure occurs. There was a problem that predictive exchange of hardware was not possible.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to diagnose an information processing apparatus in parallel during normal system operation in which a user application program is being executed. An object of the present invention is to provide a diagnostic method for an information processing device that can be used.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a diagnostic method for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention has a processor, a memory, an I / O device, and an I / O device for controlling the I / O device. In a diagnostic method of an information processing apparatus including an O processor, a general instruction diagnostic program for diagnosing an application general instruction, a privileged instruction diagnostic program for diagnosing an OS privileged instruction, and a firmware instruction for the I / O processor. A firmware instruction diagnosis program for performing a diagnosis is provided on the memory as a program that can be started as an application program, respectively, and the above-mentioned diagnosis programs are operated and managed together with the user application programs, and the operation management is performed to periodically start each of the diagnosis programs. Means and errors output from each of the diagnostic programs Diagnostic method of the information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a logging means for logging broadcast logging area.

An OS operating on the processor
Even when an error is detected in the execution of the general instruction diagnosis program, the general instruction diagnosis program in execution is not abnormally terminated, and an error is detected in the execution of the privileged instruction diagnosis program and the firmware instruction diagnosis program. Even at times, functions are added that are not considered system failures.

Further, there is provided output control means for reading the error information logged in the logging area during system operation, editing it, and outputting it to the monitoring center through the I / O device or the communication path.

[0008]

In the diagnostic method of the information processing apparatus of the present invention,
The operation management unit includes a general instruction diagnostic program for diagnosing general instructions for applications, a privileged instruction diagnostic program for diagnosing privileged instructions for OS, and a firmware instruction diagnostic program for diagnosing firmware instructions of the I / O processor. It is operated and managed together with the user application program, and each of these diagnostic programs is activated at regular intervals. The activated diagnostic programs each perform diagnostics, output error information when an error is detected, and the logging means logs the output error information in the logging area. Further, the output control means reads the error information logged in the logging area during system operation, edits it, outputs it from the CRT screen or printer, and notifies it to the monitoring center via the communication path. Furthermore, even if the general instruction diagnosis program intentionally generates an error for diagnosis,
Unlike the normal application program, S does not abnormally terminate the general instruction diagnostic program, and even if the privileged instruction diagnostic program or the firmware instruction diagnostic program intentionally causes a privilege error for diagnosis, it is not regarded as a system failure.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Two processors 1 and 2 which control the main control of the present information processing apparatus, a memory 3, and standard equipment or optional equipment. I / O processor 4 for controlling various peripheral devices and C as the peripheral device
Communication controller 8 for communicating with a monitoring center (not shown) through RT 5, keyboard 6, printer 7, communication path L
And a bus 9 connecting them.

The memory 3 has an OS 31 executed on the processor 1 or the processor 2 and a plurality of user application programs (A) running on the OS 31.
P) 32-1 to 32-n and operation management program 33
, General instruction diagnostic program 34, privileged instruction diagnostic program 35, and firmware instruction diagnostic program 36
, A logging program 37, a logging area 38,
An output control program 39 is stored.

The general instruction diagnosis program 34 is a program for diagnosing general instructions for applications operating in the processor 1 or the processor 2, can be started as a normal application program, and has the processor 1 or the processor 2 under the intervention of the OS 31. Work on. This general instruction diagnosis program 34 preferably performs instruction diagnosis of a pattern that covers all general instructions for application and all combinations of respective instructions. When an error is detected by the error detection circuit of the processor 1 or the processor 2 or a desired operation is not performed despite a normal command or a combination thereof, a command including a parameter error or the like is intentionally executed. If no error is detected by the error detection circuit despite the combination, error information indicating what kind of instruction, parameter, and what kind of fault was detected when the combination of instructions is displayed. Logging program 37
To the logging area 38 through.

The privileged instruction diagnostic program 35 is a program for diagnosing a privileged instruction for the OS 31 operating in the processor 1 or the processor 2, and operates as a part of the core program which is the core of the OS 31. The privileged instruction diagnosis program 35 preferably performs an instruction diagnosis of a pattern covering all privileged instructions for the OS 31 and all combinations of respective instructions. Then, if an error is detected by the error detection circuit of the processor 1 or the processor 2 or a desired operation is not performed despite a normal privileged instruction or a combination thereof, an instruction intentionally including a parameter error or the like. If the error detection circuit does not detect an error despite the fact that the error detection circuit is a combination of these and their combinations, an error that indicates what kind of fault was detected when combining privileged instructions, parameters, and instructions. Information is written in the logging area 38 through the logging program 37. The privileged instruction diagnostic program 35 can also be started as an application program. The privileged instruction diagnostic program 35 is composed of, for example, a routine that can be started as an application program and a privileged instruction diagnostic program routine in the OS 31 that interfaces with this routine.

Firmware command diagnostic program 36
Is a program for diagnosing the firmware instruction of the I / O processor 4, and operates as a form of the peripheral device control program of the OS 31. The firmware instruction diagnosis program 36 preferably performs instruction diagnosis of a pattern covering all firmware instructions and all combinations of respective instructions. When an error is detected by the error detection circuit of the I / O processor 4 or a desired operation is not performed despite the normal firmware instruction or a combination thereof, the firmware intentionally including the parameter error and the like. If no error is detected by the error detection circuit despite the fact that it is an instruction or a combination thereof, what kind of firmware instruction, parameter, and what kind of failure is detected when the combination of instructions is shown. Error information logging program 37
To the logging area 38 through. The firmware instruction diagnosis program 36 can also be started as an application program. The firmware command diagnosis program 36 is composed of, for example, a routine that can be started as an application program and a peripheral device control program routine in the OS 31 that is interfaced with this routine.

The operation management program 33 operates and manages the diagnostic programs 34, 35 and 36 together with the user application programs 32-1 to 32-n, and periodically performs operation management so as not to affect the operation form of each user as much as possible. By controlling the start and stop of the diagnostic programs 34, 35, 36, the 24-hour operation system can be constantly diagnosed.

The logging program 37 is a program for writing the error information output from the diagnostic programs 34 to 36 into the logging area 38.

The output control program 39 reads the error information stored in the logging area 38 during system operation, displays the edited result on the screen of the CRT 5, prints output from the printer 7, and monitors by the communication control device 8. Is a program for notifying the user, etc., and the command or the communication path L entered periodically or from the keyboard 6
It is started by the command sent from the monitoring center through.

Each diagnostic program 34, 35, 36
When diagnosing the error, an error may be intentionally generated.If such an error occurs, if the program being executed is abnormally terminated or the system goes down, the diagnosis cannot be continued. The operation of the system will be interrupted. Therefore, the OS3 in this embodiment is
1 shows that even when an error is detected in the execution of the general instruction diagnostic program 34, the running general instruction diagnostic program 34 is not abnormally terminated and the privileged instruction diagnostic program 35 and the firmware instruction diagnostic program 36 are not terminated.
When an error such as a privilege error that causes a system down is detected during execution of, the function is not considered as a system failure and the system is not down. When an error occurs during the execution of the user application programs 32-1 to 32-n other than the diagnostic programs 34 to 36, it is not conventional to consider the program as abnormal termination or a system failure to cause a system down. does not change.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

During the system operation, the operation management program 33
Depending on the user application program 32-1
When the 32-n is properly activated, the user application programs 32-1 to 32-2 of the processor 1 or the processor 2 are executed under the intervention of the OS 31.
n is executed and a predetermined task is performed.

In parallel with the execution of the user application programs 32-1 to 32-n, the operation management program 33 periodically activates the general instruction diagnosis program 34, the privileged instruction diagnosis program 35, and the firmware instruction diagnosis program 36. .

When the general instruction diagnostic program 34 is activated, it diagnoses the general instruction for application operating in the processor 1 or 2, and if it detects an error or a warning error that may lead to an error, it outputs error information. To the logging program 37, and the logging program 37 writes this error information in the logging area 38.

When the privileged instruction diagnostic program 35 is activated, it diagnoses the privileged instruction for the OS 31 operating in the processor 1 or the processor 2 and detects an error or a warning error which may lead to an error.
The error information is written in the logging area 38 through the logging program 37.

Further, the firmware command diagnostic program 3
6 diagnoses the firmware instruction of the I / O processor 4 and, when detecting an error or a warning error which may lead to an error, writes error information in the logging area 38 through the logging program 37.

In this way, various diagnoses are performed in parallel with the execution of the user application programs 32-1 to 32-n, and error information is accumulated in the logging area 38.

Now, in order to check what kind of error information is logged during system operation, the error information accumulated in the logging area 38 must be output. As this method, there are a method performed on site and a method performed from a monitoring center. Hereinafter, each case will be described.

[Method of outputting on site] In order to check what kind of error information is logged during operation of the system by the user or system administrator on site,
When the output control program 39 is activated by requesting screen output of error information from the keyboard 6, the output control program 39 reads the error information stored in the logging area 38, and the read error information is used to determine the degree of importance of the error. It is classified by and edited in a format suitable for displaying on the screen of CRT5, and the edited result is CR.
Display on T5 screen. Further, when the print output from the printer 7 is requested, the error information is edited into a format suitable for print output and is printed out from the printer 7 on a sheet. At the same time, the communication control device 8 and the communication path L are notified that error information has occurred.
You may make it report to a monitoring center through.

[Method of Outputting at Monitoring Center] When a monitoring staff at the monitoring center sends a request for transferring error information through the communication path L, the output control program 39 is activated upon this request, and the output control program 39 performs logging. Area 38
The error information stored in is edited and read, and the edited result is transmitted to the monitoring center through the communication control device 8 and the communication path L. On the monitoring center side, the edited result of the notified error information is displayed on the screen or printed out.

The output control program 39 is regularly activated in addition to the above. In this regular activation, the output control program 39 reads the error information stored in the logging area 38, classifies the read error information according to the degree of importance of the error, and detects an error of high importance. In that case, the fact is notified to the monitoring center through the communication control device 8 and the communication path L.

[0030]

According to the diagnosis method of the information processing apparatus of the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.

Since various diagnostic programs can be started as general application programs, diagnostics can be performed in parallel with the execution of user application programs.

Since various diagnostic programs are operated and managed together with the user application program and are started regularly, the information processing apparatus can be diagnosed automatically and periodically during system operation.

Even if each diagnostic program intentionally causes an error for diagnosis, the diagnostic program is abnormally terminated,
Since it is regarded as a system failure and the system does not go down,
It is possible to continue diagnosis and continue system operation.

The error information obtained by the diagnosis is logged in the logging area, and the contents can be displayed on the CRT screen and printed out during the operation of the system. Based on the contents, the predictive replacement of defective hardware can be performed before the system failure occurs. The system failure can be avoided in advance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 ... Processor 3 ... Memory 31 ... OS (Operating System) 32-1 to 32-n ... User application program (AP) 33 ... Operation management program 34 ... General instruction diagnostic program 35 ... Privileged instruction diagnostic program 36 ... Firmware Instruction diagnostic program 37 ... Logging program 38 ... Logging area 39 ... Output control program 4 ... I / O processor 5 ... CRT 6 ... Keyboard 7 ... Printer 8 ... Communication control device 9 ... Bus L ... Communication path

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A general instruction for diagnosing a general instruction for an application in a diagnostic method of an information processing apparatus including a processor, a memory, an I / O device, and an I / O processor for controlling the I / O device. A diagnostic program, a privileged instruction diagnostic program for diagnosing an OS privileged instruction, and a firmware instruction diagnostic program for diagnosing the firmware instruction of the I / O processor are provided on the memory as programs that can be activated as application programs. Along with the operation management means for managing each diagnostic program together with the user application program, and an operation management means for regularly starting each diagnostic program, and a logging means for logging error information output from each diagnostic program in a logging area. Information to be provided Diagnostic method for processing equipment. 2. The OS operating on the processor does not abnormally terminate the running general instruction diagnostic program even when an error is detected in the execution of the general instruction diagnostic program.
2. The diagnostic method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function that does not consider a system failure even when an error is detected during execution of the firmware command diagnostic program. 3. The error information logged in the logging area is read and edited during system operation,
The diagnostic system for an information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising output control means for outputting to the monitoring center through the O device or the communication path.