JPH0962626A - On-line testing method of decentralized processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct a test in safety without any on-line stop when software is revised. SOLUTION: In a computer system wherein a plurality of processors 11-16 are coupled with a common transmission medium 20, application modules 114 and 116 which perform processings of the same contents and are different in version are installed in the processors. If a new version module in on-line operation becomes abnormal, an old-version module 116 is made to operate in test mode. A test management part 306 gathers and compares the output results of both the versions to carry out the test without any on-line stop. When the test management part 306 detects the program abnormality, the on-line operation of the new version module 114 is stopped and the old version module is placed in on-line operation to perform restoration. Consequently, if the new version module having started the on-line operation after being revised becomes faulty, the system can easily be restored to the old version module.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing a program operation in a distributed processing system, and more particularly to a program in the system and an online method of diagnosing a hardware version upgrade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a distributed processing system, a plurality of processing devices are connected via a network, and programs operating on these processing devices exchange information with each other to perform given processing. Conventionally, in such a distributed processing system, the software in the system,
When performing a hardware version upgrade, generally, even if the version upgrade targets only some of the processing units or programs in the system, the entire system is stopped and the work is performed. It was
In addition, for example, in the version upgrade work of a program, a test operation is performed in an online actual environment before a new version program after the program modification is operated in the online state. And after the functional verification (online test) in the online real environment is performed,
The new version of the program goes online. Therefore, when the version was updated, the online work was hindered for a long time.

[0003]

The method of version switching / restoration in the version upgrade work as described in the above-mentioned prior art, or the method of online test is as follows.
No consideration was given to making it possible to perform these tasks without shutting down the system. Therefore, during the upgrade work, the user's work in the system is not permitted, or even if it is permitted, the work is extremely limited. Further, with respect to the version upgrade work itself, in order to stop the user's work or to suppress the influence of restrictions, the work is performed during a time period when the user is not using the system, for example, at night or on a holiday. Therefore, the version upgrade work is done by the system administrator who does it.
It was inconvenient.

Further, when an error occurs in the new version program after the new version program is started online after the version upgrade is performed, conventionally, the system is restored by the old version program. However, it is difficult to restore the old version of the program smoothly without hindering user work in the system.

An object of the present invention is to realize, in a distributed processing system, a maintenance management method capable of safely performing version upgrade work of software and hardware in the system while continuing the user's work. To do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the online test method according to the present invention, two program modules (or application modules) of different generations are processed by any one processing device. , The program module of one generation is operated in the test mode, the program module of the other generation is operated online in the online mode, and the message of the processing result of these two program modules is collected by any processing device. , The program module is diagnosed based on the received message contents. In a more preferable aspect of the present invention, each processing device adds a piece of attribute information identifying the program module and generation information to a processing result by the program module in the processing device itself to generate a message, and the common transmission medium Send to the top. In any processor that performs diagnostics,
Messages are accumulated based on these attribute information and generation information to make a diagnosis. A test flag indicating that the message is the processing result of the program module operating in the test mode is added to the message of the processing result of the program module operating in the test mode. A processing device having a program module operating online discards the message to which the test flag is added among the received messages, and performs processing using only the message resulting from the processing by the program module in the online mode.

In another aspect of the present invention, the first aspect
Second generation program module and a second generation program module, which is a newer generation than this program module, are arranged in the processing device in the system.
The next generation program module to run online in online mode. Then, in response to the detection of an abnormality in the processing of the second generation program module, the first
Start the operation of the test module of the generation generation program module. An arbitrary processing device collects the processing result of the first generation program module and the processing result of the second generation program module, and compares the two to make a diagnosis. When an abnormality is detected as a result of this diagnosis, the online operation of the second generation program module is stopped, the operation mode of the first generation program module is switched to the online mode, and the online operation by the first generation program module is performed. Start operation.

[0008]

According to the present invention, program modules of different generations that perform the same content are operated in different operation modes, so that processing by program modules of different generations operates in parallel in the same system. It is possible to test these program modules in an online environment. Also, even after the online operation by the upgraded new generation program module is started, the old generation program module is placed in the system and the old generation program module is detected when an error is detected. Start the program module of the next generation, compare the processing results of both of them, and verify the operation. If an error is detected due to a mismatch between them, stop the online operation of the new version and program of the old generation. By bringing the module online,
It becomes possible to easily perform the recovery process for the failure after the version upgrade of the program module.

[0009]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a distributed processing system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 denote processing devices that store application modules for achieving predetermined processing in a memory provided therein and execute the processing. 20 is a network bus. Each processing device 11-16 is connected to the network bus 20 and sends and receives messages to and from each other via the network bus 20. Addresses are given to the processing devices 11-16 as identifiers that allow them to be distinguished from each other.

FIG. 2 is a format diagram of a message transmitted via the network bus 20. 201,
208 are flags indicating the beginning and end of the message, respectively. 202 is a content code (FC) section,
A predetermined content code corresponding to the content or function of the message is set. Each processing device 11-16 connected to the network bus 20 determines, based on this content code, whether or not the message is necessary for the processing by the application module existing in the own processing device. Reference numeral 203 denotes a source address (SA) unit attached to identify the processing device that has transmitted the message. Reference numeral 204 is a serial number required for message transmission within the system, and 205 is an identifier (test flag) indicating whether the data transmitted by the message is test data or online data. It is a flag part. Reference numeral 206 is data output as a result of processing executed by the application module in the processing device. Also, 20
Reference numeral 7 denotes a module attribute information (PROG) unit in which module attribute information for specifying the application module of the transmission source that outputs the data stored in the data unit 206 is set. As the module attribute information,
For example, the content code of the input / output data of the application module can be used. 208 is the version (generation) of the application module of the transmission source
The version information (V
ER) section.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a logical configuration of each processing device. In FIG. 3, the processing device 11 is shown as an example.
However, the other processing devices 12-16 have the same configuration. In the figure, the test management unit (BIT
/ EXT) 306, the module management unit 307, and the input / output management unit 308 are functional means for controlling the passing of messages between each application module 310 in the processing device 11 and the network bus 20, and in this embodiment, It is realized by the program that achieves each function. The module information management table 305 is a table that holds information necessary for execution management of application modules in the processing device 11, and the content code table 311 is a content of data that the application module 310 needs for its processing. It is a table that stores codes. In the content code table 311, the content code set in the message to be received and the module ID of the application module to which the data of the message is input are registered in correspondence with the content code. Reception buffer 303, transmission buffer 304,
The input / output data storage area 308 is used for passing messages between the application module 310 and the network bus 20, and is actually a storage area secured on a memory in the processing device 11. The input / output data storage area 309 has, for each application module 310, an area for storing data input / output by the application module. 312
Is a storage device such as a disk device, and is used for storing the test data collected by the test management unit 306. A terminal device 313 serves as an interface with the user. The operation of the processing device 11 will be briefly described below.

When the processor 11 fetches a message flowing on the network bus 20, the processor 11 stores the message in the reception buffer 303. The input / output management unit 308
The message stored in the reception buffer 303 is taken out, and based on the content code set in the content code section 202 of the received message, it is determined whether the own processing device has an application module that requires the data of the message. It judges by referring to the code table 311. If the application module 310 that requires the data of the received message exists, the data of the received message is stored in the input / output data storage area corresponding to the application module.
The application module 310 includes the input / output management unit 3
At 08, the data stored in the input / output data storage area 309 is read and a predetermined process is performed. Then, the data obtained as a result of the processing is stored in the input / output data storage area 30.
9 is stored. The test management unit 306 is the input / output management unit 3
08 sets a test flag in the flag portion 205 of the transmission message to be processed, or the area 2 of the reception message.
Application module 3 that identifies the test flag set in 05 and uses the data of that message
When 10 is in the online mode, the input of the data is suppressed. In addition, the test management unit 306 also collects test data, outputs the test status to the terminal device 313, and compares and collates the output results of the application module operating in the online state and the application module in the test state. . Module information management unit 30
Reference numeral 7 manages the operation mode, version, and execution / stop of each application module.

FIG. 4 shows the module management information table 30.
It is a block diagram of FIG. Reference numeral 401 denotes a PID in which, for each application module in the processing device, a module name (PID) such as a process ID and a task number given to each application module is set.
Area 401. Module management information table 30
Further, 5 corresponds to each PID area 401, and module identification information (Pr) about the application module having the PID set in the corresponding PID area.
og), version information (Ver.), and operation mode (Mode), a module identification information area 402, a version information area 403, and an operation mode area 404 are included.

FIG. 5 is a message flow diagram showing how messages are transmitted in an online test that is performed when the software version is upgraded. An application module (old version module) 114 before being upgraded is installed in the processing device 11, and an application module (new version module) 116 of a new version is installed in the processing device 13. The old version module 114 and the new version module 116 are the application modules 113 installed in the processing device 14.
Input the data 516 output by the
518 is output. The input / output management units 308 and 501 of the processing devices 11 and 13 connect the processing device 1 to the network bus 20.
The output data 516 of the application module 113 sent by the input / output management unit 502 of No. 4,
It is passed to the old version module 114 and the new version module 116, respectively. Old version module 11
4 and the output data of the new version module 116 are broadcast from the processing devices 11 and 13 onto the network bus 20. Here, the input / output management unit 501 of the processing device 13 adds a test flag to the flag unit 204 of the output data of the new version module 116 and sends it to the network bus 20. As a result, the output data 518 of the new version module 116 is treated as test data in the system. The test result is
It is monitored by the test management unit 306 on the processing device 11. The test management unit 306 receives the output data of the old version module 114 and the new version module 116 from the input / output management unit 308, and stores it in the storage device 312. Then, the old version module 114 accumulated in the storage device 312 at a predetermined timing,
And output data of the new version module 116 are compared and collated. The result of this comparison and collation is the terminal device 313.
Is output to

On the other hand, the processing device 15 has output data 517, 51 of the application modules 114, 116.
An application module 119 that performs processing using 8 as input data is installed. Since the application module 119 is operating in the online mode, the input / output management unit 503 in the processing device 15 does not input the output data 518 of the new version module 116 having the test flag set in the flag unit 204. (It is discarded without passing it to the application module 119). In this way, in this embodiment, the test is performed while the old version module and the new version module are operating in parallel in the online state.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the data reception processing executed by the input / output management unit of each processing device. The input / output management unit 308 receives the message captured in the reception buffer 303 from the network bus 20 and checks whether the content code set in the content code unit 202 is registered in the content code table 311. If it is registered, it is received (step 602). Next, the type of the received message is determined based on the content code (step 604). When the received message is an instruction to start / end / switch the application module, the received message is passed to the module management unit 307 to end the processing (step 60).
5). The processing in the module management unit 307 will be described later. If the received message is normal data,
Based on the content code table 311, the module ID corresponding to the content code set in the content code section 202 of the received message is acquired (step 606). Then, from the module information management table 305, the application module 3 having the corresponding module ID
10 operation modes are acquired (step 608). It is determined whether the acquired operation mode indicates the online mode or the test mode (step 610). If the acquired operation mode indicates the test mode, the data in the received message is set in the input / output data storage area 309, and the data is passed to the corresponding application module (step 614). On the other hand, when the operation mode is the online mode, the flag portion 20 of the received message is displayed.
5, it is determined whether the data in the received message is online data or test data (step 612). If the data in the received message is online data, the data is set in the input / output data storage area 309 and the data is passed to the application module (step 614). If the data in the received message is test data, the data is discarded (step 616).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a data transmission process executed by the input / output management unit of each processing device. The data transmission process by the input / output management unit 308 is activated by the application module 310 issuing a data transmission command. First, the transmission data by the application module 310 is input / output data storage area 3
09 (step 702). The input / output management unit 308 acquires from the module management unit 307 the module ID of the application module 310 that has issued the transmission command (step 704). Next, referring to the module information management table 305, step 70
The operation mode of the application module 310 having the module ID acquired in step 4 is acquired (step 70).
6). It is determined whether the acquired operation mode is the test mode or the online mode (step 708), and if it is the test mode, the flag portion of the transmission message having the transmission data extracted from the input / output data storage area 309 in the data portion 206. A test flag is set in 204 (step 710). Then, the transmission message is transmitted to the network bus 20 via the transmission buffer 304 (step 712). On the other hand, if the operation mode of the application module that has issued the transmission command is the online mode, the transmission message including the transmission data is transmitted without setting the test flag in the flag unit 205.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the comparison / collation test by the test management unit (EXT). When activated, the test management unit 306 first notifies the start of the comparison / verification test (step 802). The message for starting the test program operation, which is sent in response to the notification of the start of the comparison / verification test, is received (step 804). The application module of the transmission source is identified based on the module attribute information section 207 of the received test program operation start message (step 806), and the module version is acquired based on the version information section 208 (step 808). Then, based on these pieces of information, a data comparison and collation table is created in the storage device 312 (step 810). After that, the test management unit 30
Step 6 enters the comparison / collation processing after step 812.

When the comparison / verification processing is started, the test management unit 306 causes the input / output management unit 308 to notify the common transmission medium 20.
The received message fetched from above is received (step 812). By referring to the flag portion 205 of the received message, it is checked whether or not the test flag is set (step 814). If the test flag is set, the data of the message is stored in the test data area of the data comparison and collation table (step 816). on the other hand,
If the test flag is not set, the data is stored in the online data area of the data comparison and collation table (step 818). Next, it is determined whether or not a fixed amount of data is stored in the data comparison and collation table (step 820). If no fixed amount of data is stored in the data comparison table, the process returns to step 812 and data reception is continued. To do. If a certain amount of data is stored in the data comparison table, the test data stored in the data comparison table is compared and collated with the online data (step 822). As a result of the comparison / collation, it is determined whether or not the two coincide with each other (step 824). If a match between the test data and the online data has been obtained, a comparison determination result match is made in step 826 to the terminal device 31.
After displaying in 3, the comparison process is repeated until the end instruction is given (step 834). When the comparison determination result in step 824 does not match, the output mismatch is displayed on the terminal device 313 (step 828). Then, depending on whether the online test being executed is an online test at the time of version upgrade (online test of the new version module), it is determined whether to execute a switching instruction or an end instruction (step 830). . In the case of the online test of the new version module, the end instruction information is transmitted to the new version module and the test is interrupted (step 832). On the other hand, when it is not the online test of the new version module, the switching instruction information is transmitted in step 836 to interrupt the test.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the processing executed by the module management unit. Module management unit 30
7 starts or ends from the input / output management unit 308, or
When the received message instructing the switching is received, the module attribute information and the version information are acquired from the received message, and the application module that performs the start / end / switch processing is specified (steps 902 and 904).
Based on the content code set in the received message, it is determined whether the received message is start, end, or switching instruction information (step 906). If it is the start instruction information, the corresponding application module is activated (step 908). In the case of the switching instruction information, it is determined whether the version of the application module specified by the switching instruction message is operating in the online mode or the test mode (step 910). If the designated application module is operating in the online mode, the operation mode of the application module is changed to the test mode (step 912). On the other hand, if the designated application module is operating in the test mode, the operation mode of the application module is changed to the online mode (step 914). If the received message is termination instruction information, the processing by the application module of the designated version is stopped (step 916).

Next, regarding the restoration to the old version module when an abnormality of the new version module is detected by the processing device or the operator during the online operation of the new version module after the version upgrade, FIGS. 10 to 13 are used. Explain. 10 to 13, the processing apparatus 11 is provided with an upgraded application module (new version module) 1010. An application module 1020 that outputs data used by the new version module 1010 to the processing device 14 and an application module 1030 that uses the processing result of the new version module 1010 to the processing device 15.
Is arranged. The processing device 13 includes the application module 102 as well as the new version module.
An application module (old version module) 1015 before the version upgrade, in which the output of 0 is used and the processing result is used by the application module 1030, is arranged. 501, 502, 50
3 and 504 are processing devices 13, 14, and
Input / output management units 15 and 12. In the following description, it is assumed that the online test management is performed using the test management unit 1050 on the processing device 12. In addition, in these drawings, illustration is omitted for portions that are not directly related to the following description.

FIG. 10 is a message flow diagram in the operating state of the system after the version upgrade. The processing result of the application module 1020 of the processing device 14 is sent to the network bus 20 as a message 1101 by the input / output management unit 502. Processor 11
The input / output management unit 308 of (1) fetches the message 1101 from the network bus 20 and passes the data to the new version module 1010. The new version module performs processing using the data received from the input / output management unit 308, and passes the result to the input / output management unit 308. The processing result of the new version module 1010 is sent out on the network bus 20 as a message 1102. The input / output management unit 503 of the processing device 15 captures the message 1102 and outputs the message to the application module 10
30 and the application module 1030
Processing is performed using the data. At this point, the old version module 1015 is in a stopped state.

FIG. 11 is a message flow diagram when a failure related to the new version module is detected. When the module management unit 307 of the processing device 11 detects an abnormality of the new version module 1010, the processing device 11 has a message 1103 that has the module attribute information and version information of the new version module, and sets the content code indicating the occurrence of the abnormality. It is sent to the network bus 20. Input / output management unit 504 of processing device 12
However, when receiving this message 1103, the processing device 1
2 starts the test management unit 1050. The test management unit 1050 sets the message 110 in which a content code indicating the start of test operation of the old version module 1015 is set.
4 via the input / output management unit 504
(Steps 802 to 81 in FIG. 8)
0). After that, the test management unit 1050 starts to collect the online data output by the new version module 1010 and the test data output by the old version module 1015. Input / output management unit 501 of processing device 13
When receiving the message 1104 instructing to start the test operation, the module passes it to the module management unit 1060. Here, it is assumed that the content code indicating the start of test operation is registered in advance in the content code table of each processing device. The module management unit 1060 determines the application module that starts the test operation, that is, the old version module, from the module attribute information and the version information in the received message, sets the operation mode of the old version module 1015 to the test mode, The old version module 1015 is activated.

FIG. 12 is a message flow diagram showing the flow of messages in the system during the execution of the online test. During the online test, the old version module 1015 uses the data of the message 1101 and performs the same process as in the online state. Processing device 1
The input / output management unit 501 of No. 3 uses the data output by the old version module as the test data and sets the flag unit 205.
The message 1105 with the test flag set to is sent to the network bus 20. New version module 1
The same content code is set in the content code portion 202 of the message 1102 of the processing result by 010 and the message 1105 of the processing result by the old version module 1015. Input / output management unit 50 of processing device 15
3, it can be recognized that both the message 1102 and the message 1105 are used for the processing of the application module 1030.
Since the test flag is set in 105, only the message 1102 is sent to the application module 1
Pass it to 030. On the other hand, in the processing device 12, the message 1
Both 102 and 1105 are captured, and the test unit 105
By 0, the comparison / collation processing after step 812 described with reference to FIG. 8 is performed.

FIG. 13 is a message flow diagram at the time of restoration to the old version module. When the test management unit 1050 of the processing device 12 decides to switch to the old version module 1015 as a result of the comparison / verification processing, it sends the end instruction information to the new version module 1010 that is in online operation, and sends the end instruction information. After stopping the online operation, the switching instruction information 1106 is transmitted to the old version module 1015 operating in the test mode. End instruction information switching instruction information 1106
Is a content code indicating a switching instruction to the content code section 202,
Attribute information of the application module for switching to the module attribute section 207, version information section 208
Is the message in which the version number is set. Upon receiving the switching instruction information 1506, the input / output management unit 308 of the processing device 11 passes the message to the module management unit 307. Upon receiving the switching instruction information, the module management unit 307 receives the new version module 101.
Stop online operation of 0. Similarly, when the input / output management unit 501 of the processing device 13 receives the switching instruction information 1506, the message is sent to the module management unit 1060.
Pass to. The module management unit 1060 changes the operation mode of the old version module 1015 to the online mode, and starts the online operation by the old version module 1015.

In the embodiment described above, the online operation of the new version module is stopped by setting the operation mode of the new version module in operation online to the test mode when the old version module is restored. It is also possible for the management unit to send termination instruction information to the new version module, stop the processing by the new version module, and issue a switching instruction to the old version module. Also,
In the online test, the new version module was kept online, but prior to the online test, the operation mode of the new version module was set to the test mode, and the old version module was brought online to perform the online test. Good. In this case, if there is no abnormality as a result of the online test, the new version module is returned to the online mode and the old version module is stopped after the test is completed.

According to the embodiment described above, it becomes possible to simultaneously execute different versions of modules in the same system and test the new version of the application module after the version upgrade in an online environment. In addition, it is possible to monitor the operation of the new version module that has started online operation after the version upgrade, and when the failure of the new version module occurs, restore the old version module that is operating in the test state.

[0029]

According to the present invention, in a distributed processing system, maintenance management capable of safely performing software and hardware version upgrade work in the system while continuing the user's work is provided. Can be realized

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a distributed processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a format diagram of a message transmitted on a network bus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a processing device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a module information management table.

FIG. 5 is a message flow diagram during an online test.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a data reception process by the input / output management unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a data transmission process by the input / output management unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a comparison / verification test by a test management unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of application module management by a module management unit.

FIG. 10 is a message flow diagram during online operation of a new version module after version upgrade.

FIG. 11 is a message flow diagram when a new version module abnormality is detected.

FIG. 12 is a message flow diagram during execution of an online test.

FIG. 13 is a message flow diagram at the time of restoration to an old version module.

[Explanation of symbols]

11-16 ... Processing device, 20 ... Common transmission medium, 30
5 ... Module information management table, 306 ... Test management unit, 307 ... Module management unit, 308 ... Input / output management unit, 309 ... Input / output data storage area, 310
...... Application module, 311 …… Content code management table, 114 …… Old version module,
116 ... New version module.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Katsumi Kono 1099 Ozenji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Ltd. System Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. No. 1 stock company Hitachi Ltd. Omika factory

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A common transmission medium, and a plurality of processing devices connected to each other via the common transmission medium, wherein each processing device outputs output data of a program module in each processing device. , A message to which a predetermined content code corresponding to the content of the output data is attached, is sent to the common transmission medium, and the program module in the self-processing device based on the content code is transmitted from the common transmission medium. In a distributed processing system configured to receive a message including data to be used for execution, two program modules of different generations that perform processing of the same content are arranged in any of the plurality of processing devices, and The program module of one of the two program modules is run online and the other The program module is operated in a test mode, an arbitrary processing device receives a message sent on the transmission medium as a result of the processing by the two program modules, and the two program modules are based on the received message contents. An online test method for distributed systems, which is characterized by performing diagnostics. 2. Each of the processing devices adds a message by adding attribute information for specifying the program module and generation information indicating the generation of the program module to the result of the processing by the program module in the processing device itself. 3. The on-line test method according to claim 1, wherein the test is generated and sent to the common transmission medium. 3. The arbitrary processing device stores a message of a processing result of a program module of the one generation received based on the attribute information and the generation information and a processing result of a program module of the other generation in a storage device. 3. The online test method according to claim 2, wherein the diagnosis is performed after the amount of accumulated messages reaches a predetermined capacity. 4. A processing device having a program module operating online judges whether or not the test flag is added to the received message, and when the test flag is added, processes the message itself. 4. The online test method according to claim 3, wherein the program module is discarded without being used for processing the program module in the apparatus. 5. The online test method according to claim 3, wherein the program module of the one generation is a program module of a newer generation than the program module of the other generation. 6. The arbitrary processing device, as a result of the diagnosis,
When an abnormality is detected, a message instructing to stop the operation of the program module of the one generation is sent to the common medium, and in the processing device in which the program module of the one generation operates, the message instructing the operation stop. 6. The online test method according to claim 5, wherein the operation of the program module of the one generation is stopped by receiving the message. 7. A common transmission medium, and a plurality of processing devices connected to each other via the common transmission medium, wherein each processing device outputs output data of a program module in each processing device. , A message to which a predetermined content code corresponding to the content of the output data is attached, is sent to the common transmission medium, and the program module in the self-processing device based on the content code is transmitted from the common transmission medium. In a distributed processing system configured to receive a message containing data to be used for execution, a first generation program module located in a first processing unit and a second processing unit located in a second processing unit, First
A program module of the second generation which is newer than the program module of the first generation by performing the same processing as that of the program module of the first generation,
When the abnormality of the second generation program module is detected during the online operation of the second generation program module, the first generation program module is affected by the processing of other program modules. Start in a test mode that is not given, receive a message of a processing result of the first and second generation program modules in any processing device, and process the received first generation program module The second generation program module is diagnosed by comparing the result with the processing result of the second generation program module, and when an abnormality is detected as a result of the diagnosis, the second
Stop the online operation by the program module of the first generation, change the operation mode of the program module of the first generation from the test mode to the online mode, and start the online operation by the program module of the first generation. An online test method for the characteristic distributed processing system. 8. A common transmission medium and a plurality of processing devices connected to each other via the common transmission medium, wherein each processing device outputs output data of a program module in each processing device. , A message to which a predetermined content code corresponding to the content of the output data is attached, is sent to the common transmission medium, and the program module in the self-processing device based on the content code is transmitted from the common transmission medium. In a distributed processing system configured to receive a message including data to be used for execution, each of the processing devices adds the program module that outputs the data to the data output by the program module in its own processing device. Before generating the message by attaching the attribute information for specifying and the generation information of the program module The message transmitted on the common transmission medium is collected by an arbitrary processing device based on the attribute information and the generation information, the attribute information is the same, and the generation information is An online test method for a distributed processing system, comprising: comparing and collating different messages to diagnose the program module. 9. The arbitrary processing device, when detecting an abnormality of the program module as a result of the diagnosis, sends a first message including the attribute information and the generation information regarding the program module in which the abnormality is detected. Each processing device receives the first message and sends out to the common transmission medium, and the program module in which the abnormality is detected is present in its own processing device based on the attribute information and the generation information. 9. The online test method according to claim 8, wherein it is judged whether or not there is a program module in which an abnormality is detected, and the operation of the program module is suspended.