JPS63187444A - Test equipment for magnetic tape device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To grasp the tendency of fault by reading a test data including a block serial number sequentially from a magnetic tape medium and checking whether or not the read block serial number is correct so as to attain the comparison test of the block serial number over the entire tape medium. CONSTITUTION:When an information processing system 20 applies readout to a magnetic tape device 21, a central processing unit 11 receives the block serial number read out in such a case from the magnetic tape device 21 and compares the number with an expected block serial number read from the memory 12. As the result of checking by the data comparison means, when the block serial number is larger than the correct number, the reverse reading is applied to the magnetic tape device 21, and when smaller, read is applied to the magnetic tape device 21. Thus, the comparison test of the block serial numbers is conducted over the entire magnetic tape medium and it is possible to grasp the tendency of fault.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing a magnetic tape device constituting an information processing system.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of testing apparatus has tested magnetic tape devices in the following manner. That is, in the entire recording area from the tape start marker to the tape end marker of the magnetic tape medium, the block serial number (added data) is written to and read from the magnetic tape medium.Then, the block serial number read in the read operation is The number is sequentially compared with the expected block serial number, that is, the correct block serial number that is read when the magnetic tape device is normal.As a result, if these block serial numbers match, the magnetic tape device is operating normally. On the other hand, if they did not match, it was determined that the device was not operating normally and the test was terminated at that point.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In this way, with conventional test equipment, when a discrepancy in block serial numbers is detected, the test ends at that point, so no information can be obtained about abnormalities that may be detected during subsequent read operations. There wasn't. Therefore, there is a drawback that it is not possible to test the entire magnetic tape medium and grasp the tendency of device failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a test device for a magnetic tape device that eliminates such drawbacks and allows a comparative test of block serial numbers to be performed over the entire magnetic tape medium, thereby making it possible to grasp failure trends. .

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a test device that tests a magnetic tape device by sequentially reading test data including block serial numbers from a magnetic tape medium and checking whether or not the read block serial numbers are correct. data comparison means for checking whether the read block serial number is larger or smaller than the correct number; and when the result of the check by the data comparison means is that the block serial number is larger than the correct number, reverse reading is performed on the magnetic tape device; and a second magnetic tape device that performs a read operation on the magnetic tape device when the block serial number is smaller than the correct number as a result of inspection by the data comparison device. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with reading means.

〔Example〕

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described using the block diagram shown in FIG. The magnetic tape device testing apparatus 10 shown here tests a magnetic tape device 21 that constitutes an information processing system 20. The memory 12 stores program data necessary for testing, as well as expected block numbers, test results, and the like. The central processing unit 11 sequentially reads program data from the memory 12 and performs predetermined operations as described below based on the program data. The terminal device 13 is for instructing the start of a test or displaying test results. Further, a magnetic tape on which test data including a block serial number is recorded is set in the magnetic tape device 21.

Next, the operation will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. When the information processing system 20 performs a read operation on the magnetic tape device 21, the central processing unit 11
receives the block serial number read out at this time from the magnetic tape device 1, and compares this number with the expected block serial number read out from the memory 12 (step 100). If the two numbers match, it is determined that the magnetic tape device is operating normally, and the block serial number comparison test for this read operation is completed.

On the other hand, if they do not match, it is checked whether the block serial number is larger than the expected block serial number (step 101). If it is too thick, perform a reverse read operation on the magnetic tape device 21 in step 1.
02) Check whether the block serial number read in this reverse read operation matches the expected block number plus 1 (step 103), and if they match, the comparison test for this read operation ends. and continue processing. At this stage, the block serial numbers match, so subsequent read operations can be executed correctly. On the other hand, if they do not match, it is determined that positioning of the magnetic tape is impossible, and the test is abnormally terminated.

Further, if the block serial number as a result of step 101 is smaller than the expected block serial number, a read operation is not executed for the magnetic tape device 21.
04), it is checked whether the read block serial number matches the expected block serial number (step 105), and if they match, the comparison test for this read operation is completed and processing continues. If they do not match, it is determined that positioning of the magnetic tape is impossible, and the test is abnormally terminated.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which a comparison test is performed by performing a read operation, but it is also possible to perform a test in the same manner when a reverse read operation is performed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the magnetic tape device testing apparatus of the present invention is configured to continue testing if the magnetic tape can be positioned even if a discrepancy in block serial numbers is detected. Therefore, according to the present invention, a comparative test of block serial numbers can be performed over the entire magnetic tape medium.
It becomes possible to understand trends in failures.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 10...Testing device for magnetic tape device 11...
・Central processing unit 12...Memory 13...Terminal device

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A test device that tests a magnetic tape device by sequentially reading test data including block serial numbers from a magnetic tape medium and checking whether the read block serial numbers are correct. a data comparing means for checking whether a block serial number is larger or smaller than a correct number; and as a result of the checking by the data comparing means, when the block serial number is larger than the correct number, a reverse read operation is performed on the magnetic tape device; and second magnetic tape device reading means that performs a read operation on the magnetic tape device when the block serial number is smaller than the correct number as a result of the inspection by the data comparison means. A test device for a magnetic tape device, characterized in that it is provided with: