JPH11328823A - Disk array device, starting method thereof and medium to record its control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk array device capable of optimally shortening a starting time required for attaining an operable state. SOLUTION: When a start instruction is inputted from a host device, each of magnetic disk devices 11-15 is successively started by a disk array start control circuit 16 in accordance with the contents of a starting order table 18. At this time, start of each magnetic disk devices 11-15 is informed to a start time measuring part 17 of the disk device by the disk array start control circuit 16, and when all of the magnetic disk devices 11-15 are started, the contents of the starting order table 18 are updated based on the starting time of each magnetic disk device 11-15 measured by the start time measuring part 17 of the disk device, and at the next start time, each of the magnetic disk devices 11-15 is started by these updated contents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk array device, a method for starting the same, and a recording medium on which a control program is recorded, and more particularly, to a method for optimizing a start time in the disk array device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a disk array device,
A plurality of magnetic disk devices are provided for the purpose of providing redundancy, and data to be read from or written to these magnetic disk devices are stored in a distributed manner together with parity data.

Thus, even if a failure occurs in one magnetic disk drive, data stored in the failed magnetic disk drive can be restored with data read from the remaining plural magnetic disk drives. It has a simple structure.

[0004] The magnetic disk drive is composed of a disk-shaped magnetic disk medium and a magnetic head. A disk-shaped magnetic disk medium on which data is written is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed by a spindle motor, and a magnetic head for reading and writing data is positioned at a predetermined position by servo control.

[0005] The starting state in which the spindle motor starts to rotate requires more starting torque as compared with the steady state in which the rotation is assisted by inertia, and the current supplied from the power supply is also large.

A magnetic disk device used in a disk array device is no exception, and similarly, a large current is required at the time of startup. Therefore, it is necessary to design the power supply unit for supplying the current according to the amount of the current supplied at the time of starting.

However, there is a large difference between the current at the time of starting and the current at the time of steady rotation. Considering the power supply efficiency, usually, a method of sequentially starting a plurality of magnetic disk devices instead of starting them simultaneously. Is adopted. The order is set according to the place where the magnetic disk device is mounted, and the order is fixed.

[0008] The start-up time of the magnetic disk drive is roughly classified into two states. One is a startup state until the spindle motor itself reaches steady rotation. The other is an initial setting state in which parameters for servo control and read / write control after reaching a steady state are set.

[0009] In any state, there are variations among the magnetic disk devices. In particular, the initial setting state is greatly affected by the characteristics of the magnetic disk device, and is a factor that causes the start-up time to reach an operable ready state.

When a plurality of magnetic disk devices are sequentially activated, the activation time until the disk array device is ready for operation, which is an operable state, is determined by the time at which the magnetic disk mounted at the position where the activation is started last. It is determined by the startup time of the disk device, and if a magnetic disk device having a slow startup time is mounted therein, this is a main factor in delaying the startup time of the disk array device.

In the case of booting in the order shown in FIG. 2, since the boot time a5 of the fifth mounted magnetic disk device # 5 is long, the boot time of the disk array device itself becomes long. ing.

[0012]

In the above-mentioned conventional disk array device, when a plurality of magnetic disk devices are sequentially started in the order according to the mounting position of the magnetic disk device, the starting time until an operable state is reached. Is determined by the boot time of the magnetic disk device that is mounted at the position where the boot is last started, so if a magnetic disk device with a slower boot time is mounted at that position, the boot time of the disk array device will be There is a problem that it becomes longer.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to optimally shorten the start-up time to an operable state, a disk array apparatus, a start-up method thereof, and a recording medium recording a control program therefor. Is to provide.

[0014]

A disk array device according to the present invention is a disk array device that transitions to an operable state by sequentially activating a plurality of magnetic disk devices. Measuring means for measuring the start time of the plurality of magnetic disk devices, a starting order table for holding the starting order of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices, and updating means for updating the contents of the starting order table based on the measurement results of the measuring means. Control means for sequentially activating each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices in accordance with the updated contents of the activation order table at the next activation.

A method for activating a disk array device according to the present invention is a method for activating a disk array device in which a plurality of magnetic disk devices are sequentially activated to transition to an operable state. Measuring the start time of the plurality of magnetic disk devices based on the measurement result; and updating the contents of the start order table at the next start-up. Sequentially activating each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices according to the following.

A recording medium on which a start-up control program for a disk array device according to the present invention is recorded is stored in a computer.
A recording medium recording a start-up control program for a disk array device for sequentially starting up a plurality of magnetic disk devices and transitioning to an operable state, wherein the start-up control program stores the plurality of magnetic disk drives in the computer. The boot time of each device is measured, and the contents of the boot order table holding the boot order of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices are updated based on the measurement result. Each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices is sequentially activated.

That is, in the disk array device of the present invention, a method is employed in which a plurality of magnetic disk devices are sequentially activated to make a transition to an operable state, and the activation time of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices is measured. A start sequence in which the individual boot times of the magnetic disk device are rearranged in a long order and the boot sequence is recorded, and a boot sequence in which the boot times are prearranged in advance in the next disk array boot. A function of activating a plurality of magnetic disk devices.

With the function of measuring the startup time of the magnetic disk drive, the startup time of each magnetic disk drive constituting the disk array device can be ascertained. By grasping the boot time, it is possible to grasp the boot sequence that minimizes the boot time of the disk array device.
Therefore, by measuring the start-up time of each magnetic disk device at each start-up, it becomes possible to cope with the fluctuation factors of each device by using a plurality of magnets.

[0019]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a disk array device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, a disk array device 1 includes magnetic disk devices (# 1 to # 5) 11 to 15, a disk array activation control circuit 16, a disk device activation time measuring unit 17, an activation order table 18, a disk array read / write. And a control unit 19.

When a start instruction is input from a higher-level device (not shown), the disk array start control circuit 16 responds to the contents of the start order table 18 to set the magnetic disk devices 11 to 1.
5 Start each of them sequentially.

At this time, the disk drive activation time measuring unit 1
7 detects the activation of each of the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15, measures the activation time until the completion of activation of each of the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 is detected, and sends the activation times to the disk array activation control circuit 16. The disk array activation control circuit 16 includes the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15
When everything is started, the disk unit start time measuring unit 17
The contents of the start-up sequence table 18 are updated based on the start-up times of the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 measured in step (1).

The boot order table 18 stores the boot order of each of the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15. The disk array read / write control unit 19 includes the magnetic disk device 1
It controls reading and writing for each of 1 to 15 and exchanges data between the disk array device 1 and the host device.
The disk array read / write control unit 19 stores data to be read / written to / from each of the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 in a distributed manner together with parity data, so that even if one magnetic disk device fails, the remaining plural With the data read from the magnetic disk device, the data stored in the failed magnetic disk device is restored.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a starting time when the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 are started in the order of the mounting positions. In the figure, the start-up time of the magnetic disk device (# 1) 11 mounted at the first position is a1,
Disk device (# 2) mounted at the third position
The start time of the magnetic disk device (# 3) 13 mounted at the third position is a3.
The activation time of the magnetic disk device (# 4) 14 mounted at the fourth position is a4, and the activation time of the magnetic disk device (# 5) 15 mounted at the fifth position is a5. It is.

Here, the startup time a5 of the magnetic disk device (# 5) 15 is different from that of the other magnetic disk devices (# 1 to # 4) 1
It is longer than the activation times a1 to a4 of Nos. 1 to 14. Therefore, the startup time a of the disk array device 1 is affected by the startup time a5 of the magnetic disk device (# 5) 15 and becomes longer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a boot time when the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 are booted in the order stored in the boot sequence table 18 of FIG. In the figure, the magnetic disk device (# 5) 15 →
Magnetic disk device (# 3) 13 → magnetic disk device (#
1) shows the start-up time b when the order of 11 → magnetic disk device (# 2) 12 → magnetic disk device (# 4) 14 is stored.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of starting the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A method of starting the magnetic disk devices (# 1 to # 5) 11 to 15 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The processing operation shown in FIG. 4 is realized by the disk array device 1 executing a program stored in a control memory (not shown). At this time, a floppy disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory), or the like can be used as the control memory.

First, the disk array startup control circuit 16 creates a startup sequence table 18 (provisional startup sequence table) indicating the startup sequence according to the mounting positions of the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 (step S1 in FIG. 4). The magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 are sequentially activated in accordance with the activation order stored in the activation order table 18 (step S in FIG. 4).
2), the start time is, for example, Start Command
From issue to Test Unit Ready Comma
The time until the nd responds with Good is measured by the disk drive activation time measuring unit 17 (step S3 in FIG. 4).

At this time, the disk drive activation time measuring unit 17
Now, the start time of the magnetic disk device (# 1) 11 is a
1. The startup time of the magnetic disk device (# 2) 12 is a
2. The startup time of the magnetic disk device (# 3) 13 is a
3. The starting time of the magnetic disk device (# 4) 14 is a
4. The startup time of the magnetic disk device (# 5) 15 is a
5 is measured.

Next, the disk array activation control circuit 16 rearranges the activation times a1 to a5 obtained by the disk device activation time measuring unit 17 in the order of the longest and the longest activation times. Boot order table 18
Is updated (step S4 in FIG. 4).

Thereafter, the disk array activation control circuit 1
6 starts the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 in ascending order of the start-up time based on the information stored in the start-up sequence table 18. For example, in FIG. 2, the order of the start-up time is a5 of the magnetic disk device (# 5) 15 → a3 of the magnetic disk device (# 3) 13 → magnetic disk device (# 1) 1.
1, a1 → a2 of the magnetic disk drive (# 2) 12 → a4 of the magnetic disk drive (# 4) 14.

Therefore, the magnetic disk device (# 5) 15 having a long startup time → the magnetic disk device (# 3) 13 → the magnetic disk device (# 1) 11 → the magnetic disk device (# 2) 1
By starting in the order of 2 → magnetic disk device (# 4) 14, the start time b of the disk array device 1 is shorter than the start time a when starting in the order of mounting positions c.
Therefore, the phenomenon that a specific magnetic disk device [for example, the magnetic disk device (# 5) 15 having a long startup time] delays the entire startup time is eliminated.

As described above, the magnetic disk devices 11 to 15
The startup time of each disk is measured by the disk device startup time measuring unit 17 at the time of startup, and the disk array startup control circuit 16 starts startup at the next startup in the order of the devices with the longest startup time. The startup time can be optimized by starting up the magnetic disk drive (# 4) 14 with a short startup time after the magnetic disk drive (# 5) 15 first.

Therefore, a plurality of magnetic disk devices 11 to
In the disk array device 1 composed of 15 disk drives, it is possible to optimally shorten the start-up time until the plurality of magnetic disk devices 11 to 15 become operable.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a disk array device in which a plurality of magnetic disk devices are sequentially activated to transition to an operable state, the activation time of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices is measured. Then, based on the measurement result, the contents of the boot order table that holds the boot order of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices are updated, and at the next boot, the plurality of magnetic disk devices are sequentially updated according to the updated contents of the boot order table. By activating, there is an effect that the activation time until the operable state can be shortened optimally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a disk array device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a start-up time when starting up a magnetic disk drive in the order of mounting positions.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a boot time when the magnetic disk devices are booted in the order stored in the boot sequence table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of starting a magnetic disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disk array device 11-15 Magnetic disk device (# 1- # 5) 16 Disk array activation control circuit 17 Disk device activation time measurement unit 18 Activation sequence table 19 Disk array read / write control unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A disk array device for transitioning to an operable state by sequentially activating a plurality of magnetic disk devices, comprising: a measuring unit for measuring a start time of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices; A boot order table that holds the boot order of each of the magnetic disk devices; an updating unit that updates the contents of the boot order table based on the measurement result of the measuring unit; and an update unit that updates the boot order table at the next boot. Therefore, a control means for sequentially activating each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices is provided. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit rearranges the boot order in the order of the longest boot time measured by the measuring unit to start each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices held in the boot order table. 2. The disk array device according to claim 1, wherein the order is updated. 3. A method for activating a disk array device in which a plurality of magnetic disk devices are sequentially activated to make a transition to an operable state, comprising: measuring a start time of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices; Updating the contents of a boot order table that holds the boot order of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices based on the measurement result;
Sequentially booting each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices according to the updated contents of the boot order table at the next boot. 4. The step of updating the contents of the boot order table comprises rearranging the boot order in ascending order of the boot time measured by the measuring means, thereby updating the boot order stored in the boot order table. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the start order of each of the magnetic disk devices is updated. 5. A recording medium storing a start-up control program for a disk array device for causing a computer to sequentially start up a plurality of magnetic disk devices and to transition to an operable state, wherein the start-up control program is a computer program. Then, the boot time of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices is measured, and the contents of a boot order table holding the boot order of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices are updated based on the measurement result. A recording medium in which a start control program for a disk array device is recorded, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices is sequentially started in accordance with the updated contents of a start sequence table. 6. The boot control program causes the computer to update the boot sequence table so that the boot sequence is rearranged in the descending order of the boot time measured by the measuring means. 6. The recording medium according to claim 5, wherein a start order of each of the plurality of magnetic disk devices held in a table is updated.