JPS6023380B2 - Channel diagnostic method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a channel diagnosis method that allows data transfer of a peripheral device such as a channel to be diagnosed by a single operation command from a central processing unit or the like.

Direct data transfer between main memory and auxiliary memory in an electronic computer system is generally performed via dedicated or selective channels.

In such a system, abnormality diagnosis of the data transfer system is normally performed using the following procedure. That is, first prepare the test data in the main memory,
Write this to auxiliary storage. Next, read the written test data into the main memory and compare it with the test data prepared first to see if they match.
However, with this method, even if there is an abnormality in the transferred data, it is not possible to distinguish whether the abnormality occurs in the channel or in the auxiliary storage device. Further, the central processing unit must issue two operation commands: data write and data output. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is provided in a device that mediates data transfer between a main storage device of a computer system and a peripheral device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a channel diagnosis method that can diagnose the presence or absence of a channel.

Embodiments of the channel diagnosis method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment. Although this invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the illustrated embodiment shows a case where a control block system for controlling an auxiliary storage device is adopted. The principle of coffin has already been explained. The operation content to be executed by the auxiliary storage device is set in the main storage device as a control block created in a fixed format, and this is read into its own storage circuit by an execution command from the central processing unit. This is then decoded and necessary control is performed on the auxiliary storage device. The control block includes at least information indicating the content of the requested operation and information indicating the area of the main storage device to be used when executing the operation. Next, the illustrated embodiment based on such processing will be specifically described.

1 in this figure is the central processing unit, and 2
indicates main storage. Data is exchanged between the central processing unit 1 and the main storage device 2 through a bus 3. The main storage device 2 includes a first area 2a, a second area 2a, and a second area 2a.
It has two different regions, region 2b. Also, through the bus 3, the central processing unit 1,
A channel 4 is configured to exchange data with the main storage device 2. In the channel 4, a memory circuit 4a,
A channel control circuit 4b is provided. Channel 4 is connected through bus 5 to an auxiliary storage device (not shown). Next, the operation of the channel diagnosis method of the present invention configured as described above will be explained. First, before the central processing unit 1 issues an operation request to the channel 4, the contents of the requested operation are written in a predetermined format as a control block in the first area 2a of the main storage device 2 through the bus 3. Thereafter, in response to a command from the central processing unit 1, the channel 4 controls the control block to be stored in the first memory of the main memory 2 through the operation of the channel control circuit 4b.
This control block is read into the storage circuit 4a in the channel 4. and,
If the operation specified by the control block is for a normal auxiliary storage device, the channel control circuit 4
b applies control necessary for executing operations to the auxiliary storage device through bus 5. Furthermore, if the operation content instructed by the control block requests abnormality diagnosis of the data transfer system of the channel, the channel control circuit 4b may use the control block read into the memory circuit 4a as data, or use the control block as it is. information indicating the state of channel 4 is added to the data and written to the second area 2b of the main storage device 2 indicated by the control block. In this state, after the operation of the channel 4 is completed, the central processing unit 1 compares the data in the first area 2a of the main storage device 2 with the data in the second area 2b written from the memory circuit 4a, and Diagnose the abnormality in the data transfer system in step 3. As described above, according to the channel diagnosis method of the present invention, a control block is stored in the main memory, the requested operation content in the control block is determined, and the main memory and the main memory are connected according to the determined operation content. Since the peripheral devices independently transfer data between the two, it is possible to diagnose abnormalities only in the peripheral devices, and also to perform abnormality diagnosis processing with a single command.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the channel diagnosis method of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Central processing unit, 2...Main storage device, 2a...First area, 2b...
・Second area, 3, 5... Bus, 4...
・Channel, 4a...Memory circuit, 4b...
Channel control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In diagnosing a channel that mediates data transfer between the main storage device and peripheral devices of a computer system, a channel control block indicating the content of an operation request to the channel by the central processing unit is placed in the first block of the main storage device. means for writing into an area of the channel, means for causing the channel to read the channel control block from the first area and write it to a storage circuit in the channel upon activation of the central processing unit; means for writing the channel control block in the storage circuit into a second area of the main storage device using the channel if the operation content is a request indicating channel diagnosis; and after the operation of the channel is completed, the central processing unit and means for reading and comparing the channel control blocks written in the first and second areas.