JPH08272547A - Disk array device and conversion box used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a disk array device in which communication can be executed through a communication cable and in addition an MPU and the firmware of a communicating opposite party at that time can be managed with traditional things. CONSTITUTION: A connector (Cn) 12 which is connected to a host machine by the communication cable, and outputs a first to m3rd connector transmission signals CTSs, and inputs a first to n3rd connector reception signals CRSs, and a first to k-th (k=2) MPUs 111 ,2 which are provided with communication functions, and control the recording and reproduction of plural hard disks are provided. Then, these MPUs 111 ,2 output a first to m-th (m=3) unit transmission signals UTSs, and input a first to n3rd unit reception signals URSs. A connector multiplexing and demultiplexing part 13 is located between the connector Cn12 and the MPUs 111 ,2 . Those consist of a multiplexing part which multiplexes the first to m-th (m=3) UTSs of output from the MPUs 111 ,2 as the first to m-th (m=3) CTSs and a demultiplexing part which demultiplexes the first to n-th (n=3) CRSs inputted to the Cn12 into the first to n-th (n=3) URSs for each of the first and the second MPUs 111 ,2 .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk mechanism section having a plurality of hard disks, a disk control section for controlling the operation of the disk mechanism section, a communication function control for a host machine, and a host control for the disk control section. And a disk array device having a control unit for integrally controlling
The present invention relates to the improvement of the communication function of the control unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a disk array device, communication function control for a host machine and higher-level control for a disk controller, that is, control for monitoring the operating state of the device, control for hardware diagnosis for maintenance, and for each of a plurality of hard disks are performed. As a control unit for controlling recording / reproduction control and the like, for example, a plurality of MPUs are required for each of a plurality of hard disks. Here, in order to analyze the operating rate of the disk array device and maintain the firmware, communication firmware is placed in each MPU in the device, while each host device such as a personal computer outside the device is used to The purpose is achieved by performing serial communication with the MPU. That is, serial communication is performed between each of the plurality of MPUs in the device and the host machine. In order to perform serial communication between the host machine and a plurality of MPUs in the disk array device, it is basically possible to use communication cables for the number of MPUs, but wiring increases as the number of MPUs increases. It is common to connect the disk array device and the host machine with a single cable for communication because of the above reasons.

Conventionally, a configuration has been used in which a disk array device and a host machine are connected by a single cable for communication.
For example, the following three examples can be given.

In the first conventional example, of the plurality of MPUs in the disk array, only one MPU communicates with the host machine, and this representative MPU has a certain data communication protocol with the remaining MPUs. On the basis of this, by receiving the information of the remaining MPUs and communicating with the host machine, a single communication cable is provided.

In the second conventional example, an interface (driver and receiver) of RS-485 which defines one-to-many communication for each MPU is connected, and the host side is connected in a daisy chain, whereby the disk array device and the host are connected. In this configuration, a single communication cable is used for connection with the machine.

In the third conventional example, a special bit is added to the data format of serial communication to set the protocol itself to M.
The configuration is defined inside the PU, and a plurality of MPUs are daisy-chained to a pair of drivers and receivers to connect the disk array device and the host machine to one communication cable.

[0007]

In the first conventional example, it is necessary to newly make hardware and communication protocol for communication between the representative MPU and the remaining MPUs.
Since the added hardware depends on the hardware of the disk array device, there is a problem that it is necessary to consider it for each device type. The second conventional example requires as many RS-485 drivers and receivers as there are MPUs, and when there are many MPUs, there is a problem such as heat generation.
Also, in serial communication between each MPU and the host machine,
There is a problem in that it is necessary to define a communication protocol in which the identification number of each MPU is added to the data so that it can recognize which MPU the data being communicated with. In the third conventional example, each MPU has its own communication protocol so that the MPUs can recognize whether or not the data is necessary for themselves, but the communication software on the host side must support this. There is a problem that is required.

As described above, in the conventional disk array device, when the host device side is connected with one cable for communication, it is necessary to newly design hardware and firmware in the disk array device. , It is necessary to newly design the firmware for the host machine as well. In addition, there is a problem of heat generation inside the device.

It is an object of the present invention to perform communication using a single communication cable, and even in the case of performing such communication, the MPU and the firmware of the communication partner can use the conventional disk as they are. It is to provide an array device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a host machine is connected via a communication cable, and the first to mth (m)
Is a natural number) and outputs the connector transmission signal
Thru nth connector (n is a natural number), one connector for receiving a reception signal and a communication function for the host machine, and first through kth (k is 2 or more) for controlling recording / reproducing for a plurality of hard disks. Natural number) MPU
And each of the first to kth MPUs has a first
In the disk array device which outputs the first to mth unit transmission signals and inputs the first to nth unit reception signals, the connector and the first to kth MPUs
And a multiplexing unit that is provided between the first and the kth MPUs and that multiplexes the first to the mth unit transmission signals output from the respective MPUs as the first to the mth connector transmission signals. Through the n-th connector received signal to the first
It is possible to obtain a disk array device having a multiplexer / demultiplexer including a demultiplexer that demultiplexes the first to nth unit received signals for each of the to the kth MPUs.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a conversion box used for connecting the disk array device to the host machine via the communication cable, wherein the host machine has first to mth host reception signals. A first to a kth port for inputting a signal and outputting a 1st to nth host transmission signal, and being connected to the connector via the communication cable, the 1st to mth connectors One device side that inputs a transmission signal as a first to mth device-side connector reception signal and outputs first to nth device-side connector transmission signals corresponding to the first to nth connector reception signals A connector, provided between the device-side connector and the first to kth ports, for transmitting the first to nth host transmission signals to the first to nth host side connector reception signals. The first to m-th host-side connector transmission signals corresponding to the first to m-th host reception signals and the first to m-th host-side connector transmission signals, and the first to m-th A box separating unit that separates a device-side connector reception signal as the first to mth host-side connector transmission signals for each of the first to kth host-side connectors and each of the first to kth host-side connectors Conversion box used in a disk array device having a box multiplexer / separator including a box multiplexer for multiplexing the corresponding first to nth host-side connector reception signals as the first to nth device-side connector transmission signals Is obtained.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A disk array device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an application example of a disk array device according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, a disk array device 10 includes a host computer 50 such as a personal computer, a communication cable 60 of EIA-232-D standard, a conversion box 20 used for the disk array device 10, and an EIA-232-D. It is connected via standard communication cables 71 and 72. Figure 2
2 is a conceptual diagram showing a main part of the disk array device 10. FIG. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together, a disk array device 10
Has one connector 12 that outputs the first to m-th (m is a natural number) connector transmission signals and inputs the first to n-th (n is a natural number) connector reception signals. Here, m and n are each 3, and the first to third connector transmission signals are MRTS for requesting transmission from the host machine 50 and MD indicating data terminal ready.
It is MTxD indicating read data from any one of TR and a plurality of hard disks (not shown). On the other hand, the first to third connector reception signals are transmitted to the host machine 50.
Is an MCTS indicating that data can be transmitted, an MDSR indicating a data set ready, and an MRxD indicating write data to any one of a plurality of hard disks.

The disk array device 10 also has a communication function with respect to the host machine 50, and also has first to kth (k is a natural number of 2 or more) MPUs for controlling recording and reproduction for a plurality of hard disks. . Where k
Is 2. The first MPU 11 ₁ is the first to mth
(3) unit transmission signals RTS ₁ , DTR ₁ ,
And TxD ₁ and outputs the _first to nth (3)
CTS ₁ , DSR ₁ , and RxD ₁ which are unit reception signals of the above are input. On the other hand, the second MPU 11 ₂
RT which is the first to m-th (3) th unit transmission signal
S ₂ , DTR ₂ and TxD ₂ are output, and CTS ₂ , which is the first to nth (3) th unit reception signals,
DSR ₂ and RxD ₂ are input.

Each transmitted / received signal is H by a certain constant voltage.
It has only two levels, level and L level, and serial communication is performed by a combination of H level and L level of each transmission / reception signal. The communication protocol of each transmission / reception signal is EIA-232
The description is omitted because it follows the half-duplex communication of the -D standard.

The disk array device 10 further has a multiplexer / demultiplexer 13 which is a frequency division multiplexer / demultiplexer provided between the connector 12 and the MPUs ₁ and ₂ .
The demultiplexer / demultiplexer 13 outputs a unit transmission signal RT output from each of the _first and _second MPUs ₁ and _2.
S ₁ , DTR ₁ , and TxD ₁ , and RTS ₂ ,
DTR ₂ and TxD ₂ are connected to the connector transmission signal MRT.
Multiplexer for multiplexing as S, MDTR, and MTxD, and connector reception signal MCT input to the connector 12
S, MDSR, and MRxD as the first and second M
Unit reception signal CT for each of PU ₁ and ₂
S ₁ , DSR ₁ , RxD ₁ , as well as CTS ₂ , DSR
₂ and a separation part that separates as RxD ₂ .

The multiplexing section in the multiplexer / separator 13 is the first
To the k (2) th carrier are transmitted to the first and second MPUs.
Unit transmission signals RTS ₁ , DTR ₁ and TxD ₁ output from ₁ and ₂ respectively, and RT
S _2, DTR _2, and then modulated by TxD _2, and outputs the first to third modulated signals corresponding to each of the first and second MPU ₁ and _2, first and second MPU ₁ and modulator 131 ₁₁ for _2, respectively, 1
31 ₁₂ and 131 ₁₃ and modulators 131 ₂₁ and 1
31 _22, and and 131 _23, the first and second MPU
_{The first to} third modulated signals corresponding to ₁ and ₂ are respectively transmitted to the connector transmission signals MRTS, MDTR, and M.
It is composed of combiners 133 ₁ , 133 ₂ , and 133 ₃ which combine as TxD. Modulator 131 ₁₁ , 131
₁₂ and 131 ₁₃ output nothing when the input signal is L, while they output a sine wave of 40 kHz when the input signal is H. Modulator 131 _21, 131 _22, and 131 _23,
When the input signal is L, nothing is output, while when it is H, a 90 kHz sine wave is output.

FIG. 4 shows the connector transmission signal MRTS output from the combiners 133 ₁ , 133 ₂ , and 133 ₃ .
It is a figure which shows the component distribution of MDTR and MTxD.
Referring to FIG. 4, connector transmission signals MRTS, MDT
R and MTxD have unit transmission signals RTS ₁ ,
DTR ₁ , and TxD ₁ , and RTS ₂ , DTR
₂ and the signal corresponding to TxD ₂ is included.

On the other hand, the demultiplexer in the demultiplexer / demultiplexer 13 has connector reception signals MCTS, MDSR, and MR.
demultiplexers 134 ₁ , 134 ₂ , and 134 _{3 for} demultiplexing xD as first to third demultiplexing signals corresponding to the _first and _second MPUs ₁ and ₂ , respectively, and the _first and _second demultiplexers. the first to third corresponding to each of the MPU ₁ and ₂ of the demultiplexed signals, the first and second MPU ₁ and using the carrier of said first to k (2)
Unit reception signals CTS ₁ , DS for each of ₂
First and second MPU ₁ demodulating as R ₁ , RxD ₁ and CTS ₂ , DSR ₂ and RxD _2.
And demodulators 132 ₁₁ , 132 ₁₂ , for each of ₂ and
And 132 ₁₃ , and demodulators 132 ₂₁ , 132 ₂₂ ,
And 132 ₂₃ and.

Next, the conversion box 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 1, the diagram conversion box 20 is used to connect the disk array device 10 to the host machine 50 via the communication cable 60. still,
The host machine 50 receives the first to mth (3) th host reception signals and outputs the first to nth (3) th host transmission signals to the first to kth (2) th ports 51 ₁ 5,
Equipped with 1 ₂ .

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a main part of the conversion box 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 as needed in FIG. 3, the conversion box 20 is connected to the connector 12 via the communication cable 60, and transmits the first to mth (3) th connectors. The signals MRTS, MDTR, and M
TxD is input as the first to mth (3) th device-side connector reception signals MRTS ′, MDTR ′, and MTxD ′, and the first to nth (3) th connector reception signals M are input.
First to nth (3) th device-side connector transmission signals MCTS ', MD corresponding to CTS, MDSR, and MRxD
One device-side connector 21 that outputs SR ′ and MRxD ′, and is provided between the device-side connector 21 and the first and second ports 51 ₁ and 51 _2, and transmits the first to third host transmissions. The signals are CTS ₁ ′, DSR ₁ ′, Rx which are the first to third host side connector reception signals.
D ₁ ′ and CTS ₂ ′, DSR ₂ ′, and Rx
RTS ₁ ′, DTR ₁ ′, and TxD ₁ ′ that are the _{first to} mth host-side connector transmission signals corresponding to the first to third host reception signals, respectively, as well as being input as D ₂ ′, and It has first and second host side connectors 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ for outputting RTS ₂ ′, DTR ₂ ′ and TxD ₂ respectively, and a box multiplexer / separator 23 which is a frequency division multiplexer / separator. There is.

The box multiplexer / separator 23 receives the device-side connector reception signals MRTS ', MDTR', and MTxD.
′ Is the host-side connector transmission signal RT for each of the first and second host-side connectors 22 ₁ and 22 _2.
S ₁ ′, DTR ₁ ′, and TxD ₁ ′, and RT
A box separating unit for separating S ₂ ′, DTR ₂ ′, and TxD ₂ and host-side connector reception signals CTS ₁ ′, DSR ₁ ′ corresponding to the first and second host-side connectors 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ , respectively. , RxD ₁ ′,
And CTS ₂ ′, DSR ₂ ′, and RxD ₂ ′
The device side connector transmission signals MCTS ', MDSR',
And a box multiplexing unit that multiplexes as MRxD '.

The box demultiplexing unit of the box multiplexer / separator 23 is a device side connector received signal MRTS ', MD.
TR ′ and MTxD ′ are demultiplexed into first to mth (3) box demultiplexing signals corresponding to the first and second host side connectors 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ , respectively. Box demultiplexers 234 ₁ , 234 ₂ ,
And 234 ₃ and the first to third box demultiplexed signals corresponding to the first and second host side connectors 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ , respectively, using the above-mentioned first to kth carriers. 1 and second host-side connector 2
Host-side connector transmit signals RTS ₁ ′, DTR ₁ ′, and TxD ₁ ′ for 2 ₁ and 22 ₂ respectively, and first and second hosts demodulating as RTS ₂ ′, DTR ₂ ′, and TxD ₂ Side connector 22 ₁
And box demodulator 23 for each of 22 ₂
2 ₁₁ , 232 ₁₂ , and 232 ₁₃ and a box with demodulators 232 ₂₁ , 232 ₂₂ , and 232 ₂₃ .

On the other hand, the box multiplexer of the box multiplexer / separator 32 converts the first to kth carriers into the first
And second host side connectors 22 ₁ and 22 ₂
Host side connector received signal CT input to each
S ₁ ′, DSR ₁ ′, RxD ₁ ′, and CTS
₂ ′, DSR ₂ ′, and RxD ₂ ′ are respectively modulated, and the first to nth (3) th box modulated signals corresponding to the first and second host side connectors 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ are output. to the first and second host connector 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ of the box modulator 231 ₁₁ for each 231 _12, and 231 ₁₃ and box modulator 231 _21,, 231 _22, and 231 ₂₃
And the device-side connector transmission signals MCTS ', MDSR corresponding to the first to third modulated signals corresponding to the first and second host-side connectors 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ , respectively.
′ And a box synthesizer 2 that synthesizes as MRxD ′
33 ₁ , 233 ₂ , and 233 ₃ .

In the embodiment described above, the multiplexer / demultiplexer 13 of the disk array device 10 and the box multiplexer / demultiplexer 23 of the conversion box 20 are frequency division multiplexers / demultiplexers. The disk array device and the multiplexer / demultiplexer in the conversion box by
It may be a time division multiplexer / separator.

[0028]

Since the disk array device according to the present invention can communicate using a single communication cable, the MPU and the firmware of the communication partner are conventionally used even when such communication is performed. The thing can be used as it is. More specifically, for example, one EIA-232
Since the -D connector allows input / output and the occupied space is small, downsizing as a disk array device can be realized. In addition, since multiplexing is performed for each transmission / reception signal type, although there is a band characteristic, a conventional EIA-232-D cable can be used, and the conventional serial communication software for the host machine can be used as it is. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an application example of a disk array device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a main part of a disk array device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a conversion box used in the disk array device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the multiplexing and multiplexing in the disk array device shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the component distribution of the connector transmission signal output from the synthesizer in a separator.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 disk array device 11 ₁ , ₂ MPU 12 connector 13 multiplex / separator 20 conversion box 21 device side connector 22 ₁ , ₂ host side connector 23 box multiplex / separator 50 host machine 51 ₁ , ₂ ports 60, 71, 72 communication cable 131 _{11-131 13,} 131 _{21-131 23} modulator 132 _{11-132 13,} 132 _{21-132 23} demodulator 133 _{1-133 3} synthesizer 134 _{1-134 3} demultiplexer 231 _{11-231 13,} 231 ₂₁ ˜231 ₂₃ box modulator 232 ₁₁ ˜232 ₁₃ , 232 ₂₁ ˜232 ₂₃ box demodulator 233 ₁ ˜233 ₃ box combiner 234 ₁ ˜234 ₃ box demultiplexer

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A host device connected via a communication cable to output connector transmission signals of the first to mth (m is a natural number) and receive connector reception signals of the first to nth (n is a natural number). One input connector and a first to kth (k is a natural number of 2 or more) MPU that has a communication function for the host machine and controls recording and reproduction for a plurality of hard disks. The k-th M
Each of the PUs outputs the first to mth unit transmission signals and inputs the first to nth unit reception signals. In the disk array device, the PUs are provided between the connector and the first to kth MPUs. The first to m-th, which are provided and output from the first to k-th MPUs, respectively.
Multiplexing unit transmission signals as the first to mth connector transmission signals and the first to nth connector reception signals for the first to nth MPUs, respectively. A disk array device comprising a multiplexer / demultiplexer including a demultiplexer for demultiplexing as a unit reception signal. 2. The multiplexer / demultiplexer is a frequency division multiplexer / demultiplexer.
The disk array device according to claim 1, which is a separator. 3. The multiplexing unit modulates the first to kth carrier waves with the first to mth unit transmission signals output from the first to kth MPUs, respectively. A first for each of the first to kth MPUs that outputs first to mth modulated signals corresponding to each of the kth MPUs
To m-th modulator, and the first to m-th modulator signals that are combined with the first to m-th modulated signals corresponding to the first to k-th MPUs as the first to m-th connector transmission signals, respectively.
And the separating unit includes the first to n-th
First to nth demultiplexers for demultiplexing the connector received signals as first to nth demultiplexing signals corresponding to the first to kth MPUs, respectively, and the first to kth MPUs, respectively. The first to nth demultiplexed signals corresponding to
1st to nth for each of the 1st to kth MPUs that demodulate as the 1st to nth unit reception signals for each of the 1st to kth MPUs using the to kth carrier The disk array device according to claim 2, comprising a demodulator. 4. Each of m and n is at least 3, and the first to mth connector transmission signals are an RTS signal for requesting transmission from the host machine, a DTR signal indicating data terminal ready, And TxD indicating read data from any of the plurality of hard disks
CTS that includes a signal and that the first to nth connector reception signals indicate that the host machine can transmit.
4. The disk array device according to claim 1, further comprising a signal, a DSR signal indicating data set ready, and an RxD signal indicating write data to any of the plurality of hard disks. 5. A conversion box used for connecting the disk array device according to claim 1 to the host machine via the communication cable, wherein the host machine is a first to a first box. m first host reception signals are input and first to nth host transmission signals are output, and first to kth ports are provided. The first to kth ports are connected to the connector via the communication cable and the first to kth ports are connected. The mth connector transmission signal is input as the first to mth device-side connector reception signals, and the first to nth device-side connector transmission signals corresponding to the first to nth connector reception signals are output. One device-side connector, provided between the device-side connector and the first to kth ports,
The first to nth host transmission signals are input as first to nth host-side connector reception signals, and the first to mth host-side connector transmissions corresponding to the first to mth host reception signals are input. 1st to kth host-side connectors that output signals, and 1st to mth host-side connectors for receiving the 1st to mth device-side connector received signals, respectively. A box separation unit that separates as a connector transmission signal and the first to nth host-side connector reception signals corresponding to the first to kth host-side connectors respectively are used as the first to nth device-side connector transmission signals. A conversion box used in a disk array device having a box multiplexer / separator including a box multiplexer for multiplexing. 6. The conversion box used in the disk array device according to claim 5, wherein the box multiplexer / demultiplexer is a frequency division multiplexer / demultiplexer. 7. The box separation unit demultiplexes the first to mth device-side connector received signals as first to mth box demultiplexed signals respectively corresponding to the first to kth host side connectors. The 1st to mth box demultiplexers and the 1st to mth box demultiplexed signals corresponding to the 1st to kth host side connectors, respectively, using the 1st to kth carriers. And the first to mth boxes for the first to kth host side connectors respectively for demodulating as the first to mth host side connector transmission signals for the first to kth host side connectors respectively. A box demodulator, and the box multiplexing unit includes the first to kth
The carrier waves of the first to kth host side connectors are respectively modulated by the received signals of the first to nth host side connectors and are respectively modulated by the first to kth host side connectors. First to n-th box modulators for outputting the 1st to nth box-modulated signals for the 1st to kth host-side connectors, respectively, and the above-mentioned corresponding to the 1st to kth host-side connectors First
7. The conversion box used in the disk array device according to claim 6, further comprising: a first to nth box combiner for combining the first to nth box modulated signals as the first to nth device-side connector transmission signals.