JPH08202630A - Test system for magnetic disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a test system for magnetic disk device in order to prevent the destruction of data used for other software due to a write test and also to shorten the time needed for execution of the write test. CONSTITUTION: This test system includes a free area information storage part 12 which stores the information on the free areas of a magnetic disk device 20, a free area information storage instruction part 11 which acquires the free area information on the device 20 managed by an operating system and stores the information in the part 12, a test program storage part no which stores a test program to give a write test to the device 20 based on the free area information on the device 20 that is stored in the part 12, and a test execution part 14 which performs a write test based on the test program stored in the part 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic disk device test method for performing a data write test on a magnetic disk device in an information processing system using a personal computer, a workstation or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing system using a personal computer, a workstation or the like, an external storage device is connected to a main body device that executes various processes in order to increase the data storage capacity. As the external storage device, a magnetic disk device that is easy to read and write data is most often used.

By the way, when a magnetic disk device, which is an external storage device, is connected to the main body device, a data write test is performed in order to confirm whether or not data can be read and written correctly. Here, when writing data by the test program, it is necessary to prevent other software such as an operating system from being destroyed by writing the data. Therefore, conventionally, the data writing test from the main body device to the magnetic disk device has been performed as follows.

The first method is a method in which a test-dedicated area for a write test is defined in advance in a magnetic disk device, and test program data is written in the test-dedicated area to perform a test. In this case, the test exclusive area provided in the magnetic disk device is defined as an area in which only the test program for the write test writes data without access from the operating system.

The second method is a method of searching a free area of the magnetic disk device, collecting a predetermined amount of data, and writing data of a test program to the free area to perform a test. In this case, the search and collection of the free area of the magnetic disk device are independently performed by a test program or the like before executing the write test.

[0006]

However, each of the above-mentioned conventional techniques has the following drawbacks. In the first method in which the test dedicated area is provided in the magnetic disk device, only the data written by the test program is written in the test dedicated area so that other software such as the operating system is not destroyed when the data is written by the test program. It must be ensured that the operating system does not write data. Therefore, when designing the operating system, it is necessary to design so that the test exclusive area defined on the magnetic disk device is never accessed.
However, with the recent downsizing and opening of system configurations, it is becoming more common to run operating systems designed by other manufacturers on their own main unit. It is expected that it will be difficult to design an operating system that does not violate the test area. For this reason, the data used by software such as the operating system is written in the test-dedicated area, and the data may be destroyed by performing the write test in the area. There was a drawback that it caused trouble.

Further, in the second method in which the free area of the hard disk is searched and the writing test is performed, the free area is searched by the test program or the like before the test is executed.
Since the position of the free area in the magnetic disk device is not uniform, it is necessary to perform a search over the entire magnetic disk device each time a write test is performed. Also,
Searching for a free area in the magnetic disk device requires a certain time because a mechanical access operation by the magnetic head is required. Therefore, as the storage capacity of the magnetic disk device increases, the time required to search for a free area increases significantly, and it takes a long time to execute the write test. Further, considering that the storage capacity of the magnetic disk device tends to increase in the future, there is a possibility that the time required to execute the write test will become longer and longer.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, prevents destruction of data used by other software such as an operating system during a write test, and reduces the time required to execute the write test. An object is to provide a test method for a disk device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a magnetic disk device test method according to the present invention is connected to an information processing system including a magnetic disk device, and provides information on an empty area of the magnetic disk device. The free space information storage unit that stores and holds the free space information of the magnetic disk device managed by the operating system that controls the main body device that executes various processes of the information processing system A write test is performed on the free area of the magnetic disk device by referring to the free area information storage instruction section to be stored in the holding section and the information about the free area of the magnetic disk apparatus held in the free area information holding section. A test program storage section for storing a test program for execution, and a test program storage section stored in the test program storage section. According to the test program has a configuration and a test execution unit that writes the test to the magnetic disk device.

In another aspect, the free area information holding unit, the free area information storage instruction unit, the test program storage unit, and the test execution unit are installed in the main body apparatus. There is.

In another aspect, the free area information storage instruction unit is controlled by an operating system stored in the main unit.

According to another magnetic disk drive test method for achieving the above object, in a magnetic disk drive test method for performing a write test on a magnetic disk drive connected to an information processing system, the information processing is performed at a predetermined timing. A step of acquiring information about the free space of the magnetic disk device managed by an operating system that controls various processes of the system; and referring to the acquired information about the free space of the magnetic disk device, And a step of performing a writing test.

[0013]

[Operation] According to the present invention, since the write test is performed by writing the data in the free area of the magnetic disk device, the main body device is controlled by the operating system designed without considering the test exclusive area of the magnetic disk device. Even in such a case, there is no risk of destroying the data used by other software by writing the data in the writing test. In addition, the data write test is performed on the magnetic disk device by referring to the information about the free space of the magnetic disk device held in the free space information holding unit provided in the main body device, so that the write test is performed prior to execution. It is possible to perform a write test without independently searching a free area of the magnetic disk device by a test program or the like.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system that realizes a test system for a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the information processing system of this embodiment comprises a main unit 10, a magnetic disk unit 20 which is an external storage unit, and a data transmission line 30 which connects both units. It should be noted that in the figure, only the configuration for conducting the write test of the magnetic disk device is shown, and other configurations are omitted. It goes without saying that various peripheral devices such as a keyboard and a printer are actually connected according to the purpose of use of the information processing system and the type of data to be handled.
Also, a plurality of magnetic disk devices can be connected.

The main body device 10 is realized by a personal computer, a workstation, or the like, and has a free space information storage instruction unit 11 for storing and holding information about free space of the magnetic disk device 20 (hereinafter referred to as free space information). Free area information holding unit 12 and magnetic disk device 20
A test program storage unit 13 that stores a test program for performing a write test on the disk and a test execution unit 14 that executes a write test for the magnetic disk device 20 are provided. Although not shown, the main body device 10 has, in addition to the above configuration,
A storage unit that stores software such as an operating system, various processing units controlled by the software, an input / output control unit, and the like are provided. The operating system stored in the main storage device or the like of the main body device 10 is the same as the conventional one, and manages the free area information of the magnetic disk device 20 required to access the magnetic disk device 20.

The free area information storage instruction unit 11 is realized by a central processing unit, a main storage device, etc., acquires free area information of the magnetic disk device 20 managed by the operating system, and stores it in the free area information holding unit 12. send. The free space storage unit 11 can be provided as one of the functions of the operating system.

The free area information holding unit 12 is realized by a main storage device or the like, and stores and holds the free area information of the magnetic disk device 20 sent from the free area storage instruction unit 11.

The test program storage unit 13 is realized by a main storage device or the like, and stores a test program for testing the magnetic disk device 20. As the test program stored in the test program storage unit 13, the same program as that conventionally used can be used. However, it is not necessary to provide the test program itself with a function of searching for an empty area of the magnetic disk device 20.

The test execution section 14 is realized by a central processing unit or the like, and under the control of the test program stored in the test program storage section 13, the free area of the magnetic disk device 20 held in the free area information holding section 12 is controlled. Perform a writing test by referring to the information.

Next, the operation of the write test according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. First, the free space information storage instructing unit 11 is started by a command input at the time of starting the main body device 10 or at a predetermined timing.
Then, it is confirmed whether or not the free area information of the magnetic disk device 20 is held in the free area information holding unit 12 (step 201). Then, when the free area information holding unit 12 does not hold the free area information, the free area information is acquired from the operating system and stored in the free area information holding unit (step 202).

The free area information of the magnetic disk device 20 thus stored and held in the free area information holding unit 12 is stored in the magnetic disk device 20 when the test program or other software subsequently accesses the magnetic disk device 20. It can be referred to in order to obtain the free area information of the disk device 20.

Next, the test execution unit 14 refers to the free area information held in the free area information holding unit 12 according to the test program stored in the test program storage unit 13, and instructs the magnetic disk device 20 to do so. A data write test is performed (step 203).

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the present embodiment, the free area information storage instruction unit can be one function of the operating system, but it may be provided as a control unit separate from the operating system.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the write test is performed by writing the data in the free area of the magnetic disk device, the operating system designed without considering the test exclusive area of the magnetic disk device. Even when the main body device is controlled by, there is no risk of destroying data used by other software by writing data in the writing test. Therefore, there is an effect that shipping inspection and field maintenance are not hindered.

Further, the data write test is performed on the magnetic disk device by referring to the information about the free space of the magnetic disk device held in the free space information holding unit provided in the main body device, thereby performing the write test. It is possible to perform a write test without independently searching a free area of the magnetic disk device by a test program or the like prior to execution. Therefore, there is an effect that the time required for executing the write test can be reduced regardless of the storage capacity of the magnetic disk device. Further, even if the storage capacity of the magnetic disk device increases in the future, it is possible to prevent the time required for the write test from increasing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system that realizes a test system of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Main Unit 11 Free Area Information Storage Instructing Section 12 Free Area Information Holding Section 13 Test Program Storage Section 14 Test Execution Section 20 Magnetic Disk Unit 30 Data Transmission Line

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A free area information holding unit which is connected to an information processing system including a magnetic disk device and which stores and holds information about a free area of the magnetic disk device, and a main body apparatus which executes various processes of the information processing system. A free area information storage instructing unit that acquires information about a free area of the magnetic disk device managed by an operating system that controls the free space information storage unit and stores the information in the free space information holding unit; A test program storage unit that stores a test program for performing a write test on the free space of the magnetic disk device by referring to the information about the free space of the magnetic disk device that is stored in the test program storage unit. Perform a write test on the magnetic disk drive according to a test program Test method of a magnetic disk apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a test execution unit. 2. The free space information holding unit, the free space information storage instruction unit, the test program storage unit, and the test execution unit are mounted in the main body apparatus. Item 1. A magnetic disk drive test method according to Item 1. 3. The test method for the magnetic disk drive according to claim 2, wherein the free space information storage instruction unit is controlled by an operating system stored in the main unit. 4. A magnetic disk device test method for performing a write test on a magnetic disk device connected to an information processing system, wherein the operating system controls various processes of the information processing system at a predetermined timing. And a step of performing a write test on the magnetic disk device with reference to the acquired information about the free area of the magnetic disk device. Test method for magnetic disk drive.