JPH08320816A - Hardware management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To speedily cope with the trouble of respective function blocks of respective housings while flexibly constituting the system. CONSTITUTION: A housing 2 which is connected to a 1st communication line NW1 of a network and has a central processor and various function blocks controlled by the central processor is equipped with a device stored in a storage rack and a management computer K; and the housing 2 is provided with a network interface 21 for management which is connected to the 1st communication line NW1 and a gathering and setting information generating means 22 which generates a state information signal by gathering state information on the respective function blocks, and the management computer K is provided with an interface which is connected to the 1st communication line NW1, a trouble detecting means which detects trouble states of the function blocks on the basis of the state information signal received by the interface and a trouble processing means which performs trouble processes according to the detection result of the trouble detecting means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hardware management system, and more particularly to a hardware management system that centrally manages a device including a plurality of housings housing hardware of various functional blocks connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, for example, a communication line for main information of a network is provided with a plurality of hard disk devices as external storage devices, and information signals are dispersed and stored / reproduced in the respective hard disk devices. Disk array device and multiple magnetic tape recording / reproducing devices and disk recording /
A reproducing apparatus or the like is provided, and a server apparatus having a database apparatus such as a magnetic tape recording / reproducing apparatus or a video recording / reproducing apparatus for simultaneously operating the disk recording / reproducing apparatus is connected, and the server apparatus is connected to a network. Computers such as workstations and the system configuration of the above network can be used for video on demand (Video On Demand).
d: VOD) enables multiplexed communication of large-capacity information signals to a plurality of terminals such as set-top boxes, which are household terminals, and high-speed processing of large-capacity information signals.

The server device includes at least one central processing unit (Central Processor) that controls the database device.
ocessing Unit: hereinafter referred to as CPU. ) Is installed.

In this server device, a database subrack having the above database device is mounted in a master chassis, or at least one database chassis in which at least one database subrack is detachably mounted is installed. A database subrack mounted on the database chassis or master chassis can be controlled by a CPU subrack mounted on the database chassis or master chassis to perform communication between the network and the master chassis. It is possible.

Further, the server device collects status information based on operating conditions set in the server device itself and operating conditions and failure conditions of the server device itself to generate a status information signal. And information generating means.

This server device is provided with display means for displaying based on the status information signal generated by the collection setting information generation means, and the operating means and the defective condition of the server device itself are displayed by the respective display means. Information is displayed.
When the server device is housed in a plurality of housings including a master housing and a database housing, the status information of each server device is confirmed by the display means provided for each housing. .

[0007]

By the way, in the system in which a plurality of housings are provided in the network, the method of confirming the status information by using the display means of the server device, when a problem occurs in the server device, It is necessary to confirm the defect for each display means of each housing, and it takes a long time to confirm and the trouble processing is delayed. Further, the main information network of each case is connected to an external device, and there is a problem that trouble processing of each case may be impossible due to a network failure or the like by the external device. Was there.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a hardware management system having a plurality of enclosures and a management computer which is directly connected to the collection setting information generating means of the enclosures by a bus is constructed. A method is generally used in which the management computer centrally manages the operating state and the defective state of each chassis based on the status information signal supplied from the collection setting information generating means of each chassis to the management computer.

In this hardware management system, a management computer dedicated to the processing of status information is provided,
The centralized management by the management computer enables confirmation of defects in a short time, but each of the plurality of chassis is directly connected to the management computer, and when the system configuration is changed, the change is made according to the change. Therefore, it is necessary to change the connection between the cabinet and the management computer, which requires a long time to change.

Further, when the specifications of the system configuration are determined, it is necessary to consider the specifications of the hardware and firmware of each case in configuring the hardware management system, and the system configuration is flexibly performed. There was a problem that it could not be done.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hardware management system capable of promptly coping with a defect in each housing while flexibly configuring the system.

[0012]

A hardware management system according to the present invention, which has achieved this object, is a first network of a network having a first communication line for management information and a second communication line for main information. At least one central processing unit that is connected to the communication line and is capable of loosely coupling to each other among a plurality of central processing units, and at least one housing having hardware of various functional blocks controlled by the central processing unit. The housing includes a device housed in at least one housing rack and a management computer, the housing includes a receiving unit that receives a command signal from the first communication line, and an operating state of each functional block of the housing. Collection setting information generating means for collecting state information based on a state such as a defect state and generating a state information signal, and the above-mentioned collecting setting when the command signal is received by the receiving means. Transmission means for transmitting the status information signal generated by the information generation means to the first communication line is provided, and the management computer transmits the command signal to the first communication line; A receiving means for receiving a status information signal from the first communication line; a failure detecting means for detecting a failure status of each functional block of the housing based on the status information signal received by the receiving means; There is provided a defect-handling means for carrying out a defect-handling based on the detection result.

Further, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises one storage rack in which a plurality of casings each having a central processing unit and hardware of various functional blocks controlled by the central processing unit are accommodated.

Further, the apparatus is characterized by comprising a plurality of storage racks each accommodating at least one casing having a central processing unit and hardware of various functional blocks controlled by the central processing unit. .

Further, the malfunction processing means is characterized in that when the malfunction is fatal, the malfunctioning functional block is stopped or the functional block is restarted.

Further, the housing is characterized by being provided with display signal generating means for generating a display signal for displaying the status information.

Further, the management computer is characterized in that it is provided with a power supply control means for controlling supply and stop of electric power to the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of casings.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a hardware management system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The hardware management system according to the present invention includes a server device having a plurality of housings 1, housings 2, ... Housings N and a management computer K which are connected via a network as shown in FIG. With. Here, the housing 1, the housing 2, ... The housing N are stored in independent storage racks.

The network has a management line NW1 which is a dedicated line for managing the state of each case, and a main information line NW2 which is a line for communication of main information. here,
The management line NW1 and the main information line NW2 are, for example, the Internet: Ethernet or FDD (FDD).
I: Fiber Distributed Data Interface).

The case 1 is, for example, a small computer system interface (SCSI: Small).
Computer System Interface) and a fiber channel: a management network interface 11 connected to the housing 2, ..., N by a dedicated bus SB defined by Fiber Channel and connected to the management line NW1. The collection setting information generating means 12 collects the state information of each component constituting the housing 1 itself and sets the operating condition of each component based on the setting signal supplied from the management computer K.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 2 includes a management network interface 21 connected to the management dedicated line NW1, a set operating condition of the housing 2 itself and an operation of the housing 2 itself. A collection setting information generating means 22 for collecting state information based on a state such as a state and a trouble state and generating a state information signal, a main body CPU connected to the main information line NW2 for signal processing of main information, and Body C
A CPU sub-unit 23 provided with means for transmitting the status information of the PU to the management network interface 21, a disk array device, and status information of the disk array device, the management network interface 2
1. A redundant power supply device having a disk array device subunit 24 provided with a means for sending to one, and a plurality of power supply modules that can independently operate so that they can be backed up in the event of a failure of any one, and the state of the redundant power supply device. A redundant power supply subunit 25 provided with means for sending information to the management network interface 21, and the housing 2
A fan 26 for cooling the inside of the housing, a fan rotation sensor 27 for detecting a rotation failure of the fan 26, an uninterruptible power supply for supplying electric power to the housing 2 during normal and blackouts, and an uninterruptible power supply for the uninterruptible power supply. And an uninterruptible power supply subunit 28 provided with means for sending the status information to the management network interface 21.

The disk array device is, for example, an SCS.
A plurality of hard disks connected by a bus specified by I, and a disk array for controlling each hard disk
And a controller.

Each of the main body CPU, disk array device, and redundant power supply device is provided with a cooling fan for cooling itself.

The management network interface 21 functions as a receiving means and a transmitting means.

The collection setting information generating means 22 is the C
From the PU subunit 23, the disk array device subunit 24, the redundant power supply subunit 25, the fan rotation sensor 27, and the uninterruptible power supply subunit 28 to the main CPU, the disk array device, the redundant power supply device, and the fan 2.
6 and the uninterruptible power supply status information are supplied, a status information signal is generated based on the status information, and the status information signal is sent to the management network interface 21. Further, the management network interface 21
The operating conditions of each of the subunits 23, 24, 25 and the fan 26 designated based on the setting signal supplied from the management computer K via the.

The CPU subunit 23 is a main body CP.
A CPU operating information signal is generated based on the operating information such as the operating condition and operating condition set by U, and status information such as a fault condition, and a fan information signal in the subunit based on the operating condition of the cooling fan of the main body CPU is generated. The CPU operation information signal and the in-subunit fan information signal are generated and supplied to the collection setting information generating means 22. In addition, an input / output signal from the management computer K to the console for operating the main body CPU and a display signal for display are generated and supplied to the management network interface 21.

The disk array subunit 24 is
A hard disk configuring a controller of the disk array device or the disk array device by generating a disk array access information signal based on an operating condition such as an operating condition and an operating condition set as the access condition of the disk array device and a malfunction condition. A controller failure information signal or a hard disk failure information signal based on the access failure state of the disk array device, and set the operating information such as the operating condition and the operating condition set for the cooling fan of the disk array device and the status information such as the defective condition. Based on this, a fan information signal in the sub-unit is generated, and the disk array access information signal, controller failure information signal, hard disk failure information signal and fan information signal in the sub-unit are supplied to the collection setting information generating means 22.

The redundant power supply sub-unit 25 generates a power supply module failure information signal based on the defective state of the power supply module of the redundant power supply device, and based on whether or not the power supply module has been removed due to replacement of the power supply module, the presence or absence of the power supply module. An information signal is generated, and a fan information signal in the subunit is generated based on status information such as an operating condition such as a set operating condition and operating condition of the redundant power supply device and a defective condition, and the power supply module. Failure information signal,
The power supply module presence / absence information signal and the in-subunit fan information signal are supplied to the collection setting information generating means 22.

The uninterruptible power supply subunit 28 generates a power failure information signal based on a power failure state, generates a battery remaining capacity information signal based on the remaining battery capacity of the uninterruptible power supply, and outputs the power failure information signal and the power failure information signal. The battery remaining amount information signal is supplied to the collection setting information generating means 22.

The casing N includes a management network interface N1 connected to the management line NW1.
Collecting the status information of each component forming the casing N itself,
A collection setting information generating means N2 for setting the operating condition of each component based on a setting signal supplied from the management computer K; and a main body CPU connected to the main information line NW2 for signal processing of main information. And a CPU subunit N3 provided with a means for supplying the state information of the main body CPU to the information collecting setting information generating means N2.

The case 1 described above is an example in which the CPU subunit is not provided, and the case 2, ... The case N is the CPU subunit 23 ,.
This is an example of the case where N3 is provided. Further, the storage capacity and the like of the disk array device provided in each of the housings 2, ... N is different depending on each specification.

The management computer K has a management line N.
Detecting the status information of the housing 1, the housing 2, ... Housing N from the interface connected to W1 and the status information signal received from the management line NW1 at the interface,
A management CPU that performs control based on the detection result, a display unit such as a CRT that displays the status information, and a buzzer, a speaker that emits a warning sound that warns when the problem occurs, and a light for a warning. It has warning means for displaying a warning on a lamp or the like or the display section, and input means such as a keyboard for giving an instruction to the malfunction by the operator when the malfunction is warned by the warning means. In addition, the management CP
U functions as a power supply control unit that controls ON / OFF of the power supplies of all power supply modules and a malfunction, and the interface functions as a transmission unit and a reception unit.

Next, the operation of the hardware management system will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1, the management computer K sequentially designates the housing 1, the housing 2, ... The housing N, and a request signal for requesting a status information signal is sent to the management line NW1.
, And go to step 2.

In step S2, the state from the case 1, the case 2, ... The case N to which the request signal is supplied from the management computer K via the management line NW1 to the management line NW1. The information signal is transmitted and the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the status information signal received from the management line NW1 by the management computer K is analyzed, and the flow advances to step S4.

In step S4, it is determined based on the above analysis result whether or not a failure has occurred in the housing, and if there is a failure, the process proceeds to step S5.
Proceed to 6.

In step S5, the management computer K detects a defective casing, a defective portion of the casing and a defective state of the defective portion based on the analysis result,
The warning means gives a warning such as a name of a member that needs to be replaced on the display unit, a warning display, and a message for dealing with the problem. Further, when the malfunction is a fatal failure, the main body CPU is reset and restarted. In addition, the setting to stop the power supply of the uninterruptible power supply unit and redundant power supply unit in the case where a failure occurs when a fatal failure occurs or when the power failure time exceeds the backup time of the uninterruptible power supply, etc. To do. Further, when an alternative device such as this redundant power supply device when a failure occurs is provided, a setting is made to activate the alternative device instead of the failed device. Further, when the malfunction is recovered by resetting or repairing the main body CPU, each functional block is restarted.

In this way, the management C of the management computer K
The PU functions as a failure detecting unit, and the management CPU, the display unit, and the warning unit function as a failure processing unit.

In step S6, after waiting for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S1.

In the hardware management system having the above-described configuration, the management computer K has a plurality of housings 1, 2, ...
., N is centrally managed, and when changing or expanding the system configuration of the network, the additional chassis is connected to the management computer K via the management line NW1 and By simply registering the chassis to the management computer K, the changes and expansions can be dealt with, and the malfunctions of the chassis can be quickly dealt with while flexibly configuring the system configuration of the network.

Further, since the management line NW1 is a dedicated line for managing the chassis, the status information signal and the management command signal are not disturbed by the failure of the main information line NW2, etc.
It is possible to quickly deal with defects in each case.

In addition, the failure treatment means stops or restarts the functional block according to the occurrence status or the recovery status of the failure to prevent the normal functional block from failing or to promptly restart the functional block. Quickly recover from failures.

Further, the collection setting information for each case can be quickly displayed on the display section of the management computer K, or can be displayed as a window on another screen display, which improves usability.

Further, the management computer K controls the supply and stop of electric power to the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of casings by the power supply control means, thereby surely and easily stopping and starting the system.

In the above embodiment, the case where one management computer is provided has been described, but the hardware management system according to the present invention is not limited to such a configuration and, for example, usually a plurality of management computers are provided. A first management computer that manages the enclosure, and a first management computer that detects a failure of the first management computer and manages the plurality of housings in place of the first management computer when the failure is detected It is also applicable to the case where two management computers are provided.

[0048]

As described in detail above, according to the hardware management system of the present invention, at least one case and the management computer are connected via the first communication line of the network, It is possible to manage the status information of the housing via one communication line. For this reason, it is possible to centrally manage defects in multiple chassis with a management computer,
In addition, when changing or expanding the system configuration of the network, simply by connecting the added case to the management computer via the network and registering the added case in the management computer, It is possible to provide a hardware management system capable of flexibly coping with changes in the system configuration by taking measures against the changes and expansions. Further, the first communication line is separated from the second communication line for main information which is connected to the external device, and may be affected by a failure or the like due to the main information from the second communication line. There is no. Therefore, the status information signal and the command signal are not hindered by the failure of the main information and the like, and the malfunction of each housing can be dealt with promptly, so that the reliability of the network system is improved.

In addition, the failure processing means stops or restarts the functional block according to the occurrence status or recovery status of the failure. In this way, by promptly stopping the functional blocks according to the situation, normal functional block failure can be prevented, and by restarting the functional blocks quickly depending on the situation, failure recovery can be performed. Can be performed quickly.

Further, the housing is provided with display signal generating means for generating a display signal for displaying the status information. Therefore, it is possible to quickly display the status information of each housing on the display unit of the management computer or to display it in a window on another screen display, which improves the usability of the hardware management system.

Further, the management computer is provided with a power supply control means for controlling supply and stop of electric power to the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of casings. Therefore, the system can be stopped and started reliably and easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hardware management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of a housing of the hardware management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a main part of the hardware management system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, N case K management computer NW1 management line 11, 21, N1 management network interface 12, 22, N2 collection setting information generation means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A network having a first communication line for management information and a second communication line for main information, which is connected to the first communication line and can be loosely coupled among a plurality of central processing units. At least one housing having at least one central processing unit and hardware of various functional blocks controlled by the central processing unit is provided with an apparatus housed in at least one storage rack, and a management computer, The housing collects status information based on a receiving unit that receives a command signal from the first communication line and status information such as an operating status and a malfunction status of each functional block of the housing to generate a status information signal. When the command signal is received by the collecting setting information generating means and the receiving means, the state information signal generated by the collecting setting information generating means is set to the first information.
And a transmitting means for transmitting a command signal to the first communication line, and a receiving means for receiving a status information signal from the first communication line. A defect detecting unit that detects a defect state of each functional block of the housing based on a state information signal received by the receiving unit, and a defect correcting unit that performs defect processing based on a detection result of the defect detecting unit. A hardware management system provided. 2. The apparatus comprises one storage rack in which a plurality of housings each having a central processing unit and hardware of various functional blocks controlled by the central processing unit are accommodated. Item 1. The hardware management system according to item 1. 3. The apparatus comprises a plurality of storage racks each accommodating at least one housing having a central processing unit and hardware of various functional blocks controlled by the central processing unit. The hardware management system according to claim 1. 4. The hardware management system according to claim 1, wherein the defect handling means stops the functional block having the defect or restarts the functional block when the defect is fatal. 5. The hardware management system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a display signal generating means for generating a display signal for displaying status information. 6. The hardware management system according to claim 1, wherein the management computer is provided with power supply control means for controlling supply and stop of electric power to the entire apparatus having a plurality of casings.