JPH07306793A - Method and device for shrinking of computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a fault investigation time by lowering a system-down rate due to a hardware fault in OS operation. CONSTITUTION:Before an OS operates, the hardware constituting the computer system is verified by an initial diagnostic program (1) and the verification result is passed as shrinking information (2) to the OS, which recognizes normal hardware on the basis of the received shrinking information (2) and indicates the execution of an application. The shrinking information (2) is handed over by using a nonvolatile memory provided in the computer system. When the shrinking is possible as a result of the verification of the hardware, the initial diagnostic program (1) continues to be executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system degeneration method and apparatus comprising a plurality of hardware mechanisms, for example, various control adapter boards such as an IPU board, a CPU board, an input / output control board and the like. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a degeneration method in a conventional computer system. In the conventional degeneration method in a computer system, for example, the hardware system is composed of multiple instruction control adapter boards (IPU) 1, memory boards (SS) 2, I / O control adapter boards (CPU) 3, etc. In a certain computer system, if a hardware error is detected by a certain control adapter board while the operating system (OS) of the computer system is operating, the detected error information is sent to the disk control adapter (VFC) 30. Logging is performed on the connected magnetic disk (hard disk) 3a, the adapter is disconnected from the computer system, and the operation is continued.

[0003]

However, if the detected fault interferes with the operation of the operating system (OS), for example, the instruction control adapter board (IPU).
If 1, memory board (SS) 2, I / O control adapter board 3, etc. fails, the system goes down. That is, in the above conventional computer system, an input / output control adapter board for controlling the hard disk 3a 3, a logical address-real address conversion function when the computer system adopts a virtual memory system, and the computer system is provided with a cache memory. If a hardware failure occurs with the minimum required hardware to operate the operating system (OS) such as the instruction control adapter board 1 and the memory board (SS) 2 that have a cache mechanism etc. There is a problem in that the operation is not guaranteed, and the degenerate operation in which the faulty control adapter board is separated from the computer system is not always effective.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention is a degeneration of a computer system capable of reducing the system down rate due to a hardware failure during operating system (OS) operation and shortening the failure investigation time when a failure occurs. It is intended to provide a method and an apparatus.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. The above problems can be solved by a computer system degeneration method and apparatus configured as follows.

(1) A method of reducing a computer system,
Before operating the operating system (OS), the initial diagnostic program corresponding to the hardware 1,2, -constituting the computer system verifies the hardware 1,2,-, and reduces the verification result. Information is passed to the operating system (OS), the operating system (OS) recognizes normal hardware based on the passed degeneration information, and degenerate operation is performed using the hardware recognized as normal. Is configured to do.

(2) The above degenerate information is delivered and received via the non-volatile memory 40 built in the computer system. (3) In the hardware verification by the above initial diagnosis program, if the operating system (OS) is in a degenerate state, it is configured to continue the hardware verification by the initial diagnosis program corresponding to the next hardware. .

(4) In a computer system composed of a plurality of hardware mechanisms 1, 2, ..., an initial diagnostic program for diagnosing the hardware mechanisms 1, 2, ... constituting the computer system is selected. When a failure can be degenerated by detecting the failure by executing the initial diagnosis program in a predetermined order by the initial diagnosis monitor means for instructing execution and the means for executing the initial diagnosis program, , A means for setting the failure result as degeneration information in the non-volatile memory 40 provided in the computer system, and after the completion of execution of all the initial diagnostic programs, the initial diagnostic monitor means for operating the computer system. The control is passed to the system (OS), and the operating system (OS) executes normal hardware based on the degeneration information set in the nonvolatile memory 40. Mechanism 1,2,
And a means for performing degenerate operation by recognizing.

[0009]

In other words, in the present invention, for example, when the power is turned on, the operating system (OS) of the computer system is
Before the initial program loading (IPL) is executed, an initial diagnostic program for diagnosing hardware constituting the computer system, for example, a plurality of control adapters 1, 2, ... is executed in a predetermined order. .

If a failure is detected in the execution of the initial diagnosis program, and if the detected failure is degenerate,
In addition, when the control adapters 1, 2, 3, ... have redundancy (that is, a plurality of identical devices) and degeneracy is possible, the non-volatile memory built in the computer system 40
Degeneration information, specifically, each control adapter 1,2,3,
Set the degeneration flag (fault information) corresponding to ~ and continue diagnosis of the functions and adapters of the following control adapters 1,2,3, ~.

When the diagnosis of all hardware by the initial diagnosis program is completed, the control is transferred to the operating system (OS) of the computer system. The operating system (OS) of the computer system is based on the degeneration information set in the non-volatile memory 40, the hardware used during operation, that is, the control adapters 1, 2, 3,
Determine ~ and start operation.

As described above, in the computer system degeneration method according to the present invention, the initial diagnostic program is executed prior to the operation of the computer system, and only the control adapters 1, 2, 3, ... By performing the degenerate operation, it is possible to gradually reduce the probability of occurrence of system down during business processing by the user.

The degeneration information is the interface area determined between the initial diagnosis program and the operating system (OS), that is, the non-volatile memory.
On top of 40, a degeneration flag consisting of several bits of flags (Fig. 1
Refer to (b)} for the mounting board. Each flag bit is a degeneration specification (normal,
Abnormal) For example, one board has multiple lines L
In the case of a line control adapter board (ACP) configured by SI, the meaning of each flag bit is as shown in Fig. 1 (b), for example, and each functional unit, that is, each LS for line control.
It is possible to specify degeneration (abnormality) in I units.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The above-mentioned FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a hardware configuration, FIG. 3 shows an example of a degenerate information area map, FIG. 4 shows an example of a degenerate flag bit,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the degeneration method according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, in a computer system composed of a plurality of hardware mechanisms 1, 2, 3, ..., The hardware mechanism constituting the computer system
The initial diagnostic programs are executed in a predetermined order by the initial diagnostic monitor means for instructing selective execution of the initial diagnostic programs for diagnosing 1, 2, 3, ..., and the initial diagnostic program executing means by the initial diagnostic monitor. A failure is detected, and if the detected failure can be degenerated, means for setting the failure result as degeneration information in the non-volatile memory 40 provided in the computer system, After the execution of the diagnostic program, the initial diagnostic monitor means transfers control to the operating system (OS) of the computer system,
(OS) recognizes the normal hardware mechanism 1, 2, 3, ... based on the degeneration information set in the non-volatile memory 40, and the means for performing the degeneration operation implements the present invention. Is the means necessary for. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the drawings.

2 to 5, the configuration and operation of the computer system degeneration method and apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. First, referring to FIG. 2, a configuration example of the computer system will be described. That is, an instruction control adapter (IPU) 1, a memory (SS) 2, and an input / output control adapter (CPU) 3 are connected to the system bus, and the input / output control adapter (CPU) 3 is Disk control adapter (V
FC) 30 and workstation control adapter (WSC) 31 are built in, and the disk control adapter (VFC) 30
Hard disk 3a is connected. Further, various control adapter boards such as a system / power control adapter (ISF) 4 and a line control adapter (ACP) 5 are connected to the input / output bus of the input / output control adapter (CPU) 3.

The input / output control adapter (CPU) 3
The control memory (CS) 32 has a degeneration information area for temporarily storing degeneration information, and FIG. 3 shows an example of a map of the degeneration information area. That is, in units of 1 word (2 bytes), a plurality (4 in this embodiment) of input / output control adapters (CPU0)
~ 3) Degeneration flag corresponding to 3 and instruction control adapter (IP
U0 to 3) Degeneration flag corresponding to 1 and the disk control adapter (VF) built in I / O control adapter (CPU) 3.
C) 30, Workstation control adapter (WSC) 31 Degeneration flag and system / power control adapter (ISF) 4, line control adapter (AC) connected to the I / O bus
The degeneration flag corresponding to each control adapter such as P) 5 is mapped to each slot of the input / output bus.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the above-mentioned degeneration flags is, for example, in units of 16 bits (2 bytes) / word, at each bit of a predetermined position, at each control adapter, or in the control adapter. , Such as IPU degeneration flag, instruction cache memory error, data cache memory error, line control adapter (ACP) 5,
An abnormality (see FIG. 1 (b)) of each line LSI (0,1, ...) Is set.

Below, based on the flow chart of FIG. 5, in the computer system of the present invention configured as described above,
A degeneration method according to the present invention will be described. First, when the computer system is powered on by the operator, the loader program {CPU firmware of the CPU adapter, for example, is loaded from the hard disk 3a on the control memory (CS) 32 of the input / output control adapter (CPU) 3. Part, which is stored in the read-only memory (ROM) or the hard disk 3a, and is hereinafter referred to as a loader} is the control memory (CS) 3
2, loaded and executed. {Refer to processing step 100 of FIG. 5} The loader uses a diagnostic monitor program (hereinafter referred to as a monitor) of an initial diagnostic program to the control memory (CS) 3
2. Load the monitor and run the loaded monitor. At this time, the loader recognizes that the corresponding control adapter (IPU, SS, ISF, ACP, ...) is connected by setting a predetermined address in the address bus of the system bus and the input / output bus. ,Remember. {Refer to processing step 101 in FIG. 5} The above monitor is a hardware configuration passed from the loader, that is, the type and number of each control adapter that the loader has acquired from the system bus and the input / output bus and recognized in advance. Referring to, the initial diagnostic program necessary for diagnosing the configured control adapter is loaded from the aforementioned hard disk 3a into the control memory (CS) 32 and executed. At this time, the initial diagnostic program to be executed is, for example, I / O control adapter (CPU) 3, memory (SS) 2, instruction control adapter (IPU) 1, other control adapters (VFC, WSC, ISF, ACP, ...) In order. {Refer to processing steps 102 and 103 in FIG. 5} When a hardware failure is detected by the diagnostic function in each of the above diagnostic programs, the monitor stores the failure information notified from the initial diagnostic program in the control memory (CS) 3
2 Set in a logging area (not shown) above, and from the set failure information, control memory (CS) 32 shown in FIG.
The degeneration information {degeneration flag} is set in the degeneration information area indicated by the above degeneration information area map.

In the case where the above-mentioned failure guarantees the operation of the operating system (OS) of the computer system and the degeneration is possible, that is, the corresponding control adapter can be disconnected,
The diagnosis of the control adapter is continued, and the diagnosis for the next control adapter is executed. {Refer to the processing step 104 of FIG. 5} In this way, when the execution of all the diagnostic program modules is completed, the monitor is controlled by the control memory (CS) 3
2 The degeneration information temporarily stored in the above is used, for example, for the system / power control adapter connected to the input / output bus in FIG.
The nonvolatile memory 40 in the (ISF) 4 is written at the bit positions shown in FIG. 4, and the control is passed to the operating system (OS) executed by the instruction control adapter (IPU) 1.
{Refer to processing step 105 in FIG. 5} The operating system (OS) has a hardware configuration based on the degeneration information in the nonvolatile memory 40 in the system / power control adapter (ISF) 4, that is, the degeneration flag. Specifically, the computer system is operated while selecting an available control adapter designated by the degeneration flag or an LSI mounted on the control adapter.

For example, if the line 0 of the line control adapter (ACP) 5 is abnormal, the communication process using the line 0 is avoided. In this way, by performing the degenerate operation avoiding the unusable control adapter and functions from the beginning of system operation, it is possible to gradually reduce the probability of system down during the user's work. {Refer to processing step 106 in FIG. 5} In the present embodiment, the non-volatile memory for writing the degeneration information has been described as an example provided in the system / power supply control adapter (ISF) 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not something
For example, it goes without saying that each control adapter may be provided independently.

The initial diagnosis program is stored in the hard disk 3a, and the input / output control adapter (CPU) is stored.
Although the example in which the loader is loaded into the control memory (CS) 32 on the above 3 and executed has been described, this is not limited to the means of the above embodiment, and for example, a read-only memory
The initial diagnosis program may be stored in advance in the (ROM) and the read-only memory (ROM) is accessed when the power is turned on to execute the initial diagnosis program. In this case, it is possible to omit the loading and executing procedures of the loader, monitor, etc. as described in the above embodiment.

Further, in the present embodiment, the execution of the initial diagnosis program is explained by the example in which the input / output control adapter (CPU) 3 is executed. It is connected to the disk control adapter (VFC) 30 built in (CPU) 3 and
Further, it is because the input / output control adapter (CPU) 3 is composed of a microprocessor and a control memory (CS), etc., and is not limited to the input / output control adapter (CPU) 3. Obviously, for example, the instruction control adapter (IPU) 1 or the like may be used.

[0024]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, 1) by using the diagnosis result of the initial diagnosis program executed prior to the operation of the computer system, Operating system that can operate by avoiding the detected failure point
(OS) System down rate due to hardware failure during operation can be reduced. 2) Also, by using the non-volatile memory built into the hardware of the computer system as the degenerate information notification area, even during system operation,
Since it can be referenced from the operating system (OS), the failure investigation time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (No. 1).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (part 2).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (part 3).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention (No. 4).

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a degeneration method in a conventional computer system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Instruction Control Adapter (IPU), Instruction Control Adapter Board
(IPU) 2 Memory (SS), Memory board (SS) 3 I / O control adapter (CPU), I / O control adapter board (CPU) 30 Disk control adapter (VFC) 31 Workstation control adapter (WSC) 3a Hard disk 4 System /
Power control adapter (ISF) 40 Non-volatile memory 5 Line control adapter (ACP) Initial diagnosis program Degeneration information, Degeneration flag

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A computer system degeneration method, wherein the hardware is verified by an initial diagnostic program () corresponding to the hardware constituting the computer system before the operating system (OS) operates. , Verification result, operating system as degenerate information ()
It is passed to the (OS), the operating system (OS) recognizes normal hardware based on the passed degradation information (), and performs degenerate operation using the hardware recognized as normal. A computer system degeneration method characterized by the above. 2. The degeneration method for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein the delivery of the degeneration information () is performed via a non-volatile memory (40) built in the computer system. 3. An operating system (OS) in hardware verification by the initial diagnosis program ().
The degrading method for a computer system according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the degenerate state in which is possible to operate, the hardware verification by the initial diagnostic program () corresponding to the next hardware is continued. 4. A computer system composed of a plurality of hardware mechanisms (1, 2, ...) In a hardware system (1, 2, ...) Which constitutes the computer system.
(2) to)) are executed in a predetermined order by an initial diagnostic monitor means for instructing selective execution of an initial diagnostic program () and an executing means for executing the initial diagnostic program (). When a failure is detected and the detected failure can be degenerated, a means for setting the failure result as degeneration information () in the non-volatile memory (40) provided in the computer system, After execution of the initial diagnosis program (), the control is transferred from the initial diagnosis monitor means to the operating system (OS) of the computer system, and the operating system (OS) sets the nonvolatile memory (40). Based on the degraded information () that was
A degeneration device for a computer system, comprising: means for recognizing (1,2, ...) and performing degeneration operation.