JPH0689147A - Write suppressing method for disk type external storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an event for which write is inabled during use because alternate sectors and alternate tracks are used up during the use by an user. CONSTITUTION:In a device opening processing for preparing the use of a device first, the remaining number of the alternate sectors and the alternate tracks of the device are inquired of the device. Then, when the remaining number of the alternate sectors and the alternate tracks are large enough to endure the use of the user, a permission to use the device is supplied. Also, when it is discriminated that the remaining number, of the alternate sectors and the alternate tracks are not enough to endure the use of the users, the permission to use the device is not supplied and access to the device is inhibited.

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 control unit of a computer operating system, and more particularly to a write suppression method for a disk type external storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An access procedure for a conventional disk type external storage device will be described below with reference to FIG. Conventionally,
The procedure for accessing the external storage device is to first perform the device open process (process 21), then access the device when the device becomes available (process 22), and finally access the device when the access is completed. A device close process is performed (process 23). In the device open processing, preparation of the external storage device control unit for accessing the device (processing 24) and declaration of use of the external storage device are performed (processing 2).
5). Further, in the device closing process, post-processing of the external storage device control unit (process 26) and declaration of end of use of the external storage device (process 27) are performed.

[0003]

When there is a failure in the sector and track to be written in the disk type external storage device, the above-mentioned writing in the normal sector and track prepared separately in the disk type external storage device is performed. Write the scrambled data. Hereinafter, this separately prepared normal sector will be referred to as a replacement sector, and the separately prepared normal track will be referred to as a replacement track.

In the conventional method, when the user tries to write in the defective sector during access to the external storage device, the writing will fail if the prepared replacement sector and replacement track are already used up. in this case,
The user may lose the data they are trying to write.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of suppressing writing of a disk type external storage device in an operating system of a computer, in which a device open process for enabling the disk type external storage device is performed. The remaining number of the replacement sectors and the replacement tracks to the external storage device if the remaining number of the replacement sectors and the tracks is less than the predetermined number to be used, the use of the disk storage device is not permitted. It is characterized by

[0006]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a processing flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention. When the user accesses the magneto-optical disk device, the processing procedure shown in FIG.
When the user declares the start of use for the file representing the magneto-optical disk device, the magneto-optical disk device control unit inside the operating system performs a device open process (process 11). If there is a problem during the device open process, an error is returned and access to the magneto-optical disk device is not permitted (process 12). When the device open processing is successful, the user can access the magneto-optical disk device, and executes reading and writing to the magneto-optical disk device (process 13). When the reading and writing processes are completed, the magneto-optical disk device controller performs a device close process (process 14).

When the user requests reading from the magneto-optical disk device, the magneto-optical disk device control unit reads data from one or more designated sectors of the magneto-optical disk device and returns the requested data to the user. When the user makes a write request to the magneto-optical disk device, the magneto-optical disk device control unit writes the data requested by the user to one or more designated sectors of the magneto-optical disk device.

When writing data, there is a possibility that a sector to be written has a failure and cannot be written. In this case, the user fails to write data in the magneto-optical disk device. When the writing is unsuccessful, the magneto-optical disk device controller writes the unsuccessfully written data in the replacement sector and the replacement track which are separately prepared for the recovery of the failed sector. By doing so, the data consistency can be maintained without the user losing the data for which writing has failed.

However, since there are only a limited number of replacement sectors and replacement tracks, the replacement sectors and replacement tracks may be depleted when many defective sectors occur.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, the magneto-optical disk apparatus controller of the present invention inquires the remaining number of the replacement sectors and the replacement tracks to the magneto-optical disk apparatus during the device open processing (processing 15). , The replacement sector and the remaining number of replacement tracks are not sufficient for the user to access, the magneto-optical disk device control unit fails the device open process and does not allow the user to access the magneto-optical disk device ( Process 16).
By doing so, it becomes possible to avoid the possibility that the user will lose the data that he / she tried to write.

When the user declares the end of use for the file representing the magneto-optical disk device, the magneto-optical disk device control unit inside the operating system performs the device close process shown in FIG. 1C (process 14).

[0013]

According to the present invention, by inquiring the disk-type external storage device about the remaining number of replacement sectors and replacement tracks in the device open process, the replacement sectors and replacement tracks are lost during the access by the user. This is effective in preventing loss of write data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is an overall flow chart of an access procedure for a disk-type external storage device including the present invention, and FIG.
Is a flow chart of the device open process of the present invention,
(C) is a flowchart of a device close process of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an overall flow chart of an access procedure for a conventional disk-type external storage device, and FIG. 2B is a flow chart of conventional device open processing;
(C) is a flowchart of a conventional device close process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Processes 11 and 21 Device open process Process 12 External storage device non-use process Process 13 and 22 Read / write process Process 14 and 23 Device close process Process 15 Alternate sector inquiry process 16 External storage device non-use process 24 Preparation process 25 Declaration of use of external storage device Processing permission of use of external storage device 26 Post-processing process 27 Declaration of end of use of external storage device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method of suppressing writing to a disk-type external storage device in a computer operating system, comprising a replacement sector and a replacement for the disk-type external storage device in device open processing for enabling the disk-type external storage device. Inquiring about the remaining number of tracks. When the remaining number of the replacement sector and the track is less than the predetermined planned number of uses, the use of the disk type external storage device is prohibited. A method for suppressing writing in a storage device.