JPS62273678A - Test method for magnetic disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the necessity for the preparation of an exclusive medium used for the test by utilizing an idle area existing in a file medium so as to conduct the write/read test of a magnetic disk device while selecting an optional location of the file medium. CONSTITUTION:A file managing table 10 is retrieved and whether or not a test area 15 exists in a data area 11. When the area 15 exists, it is extracted and if not, idle areas 14, 14a and 14b are extracted. In confirming the existence of the area 15, a write/read test is executed and if no existence is confirmed, an area not in use is registered in the idle area management table of a main memory. Based on the information registered in the idle area management table, an area executing the write/read test is set in the area not in use of the medium as the test area. Thus, the write/read test is conducted while the optional location of a file medium is selected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a test method for a magnetic disk device, and particularly to a test method for testing a part or all of a storage area of a storage medium. Concerning how to do this.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, magnetic disk devices are widely used as file devices in information processing systems. Conventionally, write and read tests for such magnetic disk devices were performed using
Either the storage medium is replaced with a test-only medium, or a small area on the medium is designated as a test-only area.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The above-described conventional write test has the disadvantage that if a medium that can be used for testing cannot be prepared in a timely manner, a write test cannot be performed on any storage area of the medium. In other words, the write test is performed only within an extremely narrow area designated as a test-only area, avoiding areas that can be used freely for normal work.

Floppy disk devices, which have recently become popular in the field of office automation, also have the same drawbacks as described above.

An object of the present invention is to create a specific area by using an unused area existing in a medium on which windowed information is written,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for a magnetic disk device that improves the above-mentioned drawbacks by making it possible to perform a write test in a commonly used storage area of a medium.

[Means for solving problems]

The magnetic disk device testing method of the present invention searches for a pre-registered test area in the storage area of a storage medium, and if the test area does not exist, an unused empty area in the storage area of the storage medium is searched for. The present invention is characterized in that the test area is formed and write and read tests are performed on the test area.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a test procedure for a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a file medium for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the file medium 9 is composed of a file management table 10, a data area 11, and a test-only area 12. In the file management table 10, data indicating attributes of files written in the data area 11 is written as file management information. The data area 11 has multiple data files 13.1
These data files 13.13a and 13b are separated into an empty area 14.1.
There are 4a and 14b.

The test-only area is located at the end of the medium that is not normally used.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a test procedure for a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step 1, the file management table 10 is searched to determine whether or not an area used for a write/read test, that is, a test area 15 exists in the data area 11. In the file management table 10, in the data area 11,
Since there is data indicating the names of registered files and the range in which information is actually written for each file, this can be used to test the test area 15 that is already available for write/read tests. if it exists, otherwise empty areas 14.14a and 14bt! −
Extract. Step 2 indicates the judgment to confirm the above test area, and if the existence is confirmed, jump to Step 7 and write/write.
Perform a reading test.

Step 3 indicates the determination to confirm the above-mentioned unused area, and step 4 registers the unused area in the empty area management table. This free space management table is created in the main memory (not shown), step 5 is the step 1 above.
This is a judgment to confirm whether or not steps 4 to 4 have been completed. In this way, all areas in the data area 11 are searched, and empty areas are registered in the above-mentioned empty area management table. In step 7, based on the information registered in the empty area management table, an area in which writing and reading tests are to be performed in an unused area on the medium is set as a test area and registered in the file management table. Further, a write test and a read test are performed on the test area set as described above or the test area that already exists. Test data for these tests is prepared in advance in the main memory. Step 8 is a judgment to confirm whether the above write test and read test have been completed.

In the above embodiment, a magnetic disk device was generally described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to testing of a floppy disk device, which has recently become rapidly popular in the office automation field.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the test method for a magnetic disk device according to the present invention, a write test and a read test of a magnetic disk device can be performed on any file medium by using the free space existing in a file medium that is used for normal business. Since the test can be performed by selecting a location, there is no need to prepare a dedicated file medium for the above test. In addition, instead of performing write tests and read tests only on test-only areas as in the past, tests can be performed on commonly used areas, making it possible to conduct tests that are more in line with reality. There is also. Note that if all areas are set as test areas in advance on the test-only medium, write tests and read tests on all areas can be performed as before.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an embodiment of testing a magnetic disk device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a storage medium illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. 9...File medium, 10...File management table, 11...Data area 1.12...Test exclusive area, 13.13a, 13b-data file, 14.1
4a, 14b...Empty area, 15...Test area for executing write test and read test. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] Search for a pre-registered test area in the storage area of the storage medium, and if the test area does not exist, form the test area in an unused empty area in the storage area of the storage medium, and A method for testing a magnetic disk device, the method comprising performing a write and read test on a magnetic disk device.