JPS63288342A - Disk controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the input/output efficiency of a disk controller by providing a means for using one of a cache memory and a semiconductor disk in accordance with a block to be processed, on the disk controller. CONSTITUTION:When a command for storage or read-out is outputted from a computer 101, a processor 111 discriminate a number of a block to be processed. When the discriminated block number is 1-(n), the processor 111 operates a cache memory controller 107, and executes to input and output the block to be processed, with respect to a cache memory 105. On the other hand, when the block number which is discriminated by the processor 111 is (n)+1-(m), the processor 111 operates a semiconductor disk controller 110, and executes to input and output the block to be processed with respect to a semiconductor disk 108.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a "disk control device" and is intended to enable auxiliary storage to be performed with high input/output efficiency.

<Prior Art> A magnetic disk device is one of the auxiliary storage devices for computers. Magnetic disk drives have the advantage of large storage capacity and random access.

FIG. 3 shows a computer system using a magnetic disk device. As shown in the figure, a computer 1 and a magnetic disk device 2 exchange data through an I10 bus 3, and a magnetic disk controller 4 is provided in the middle of the I10 bus 3.

When data is to be stored in the magnetic disk device 2, a storage command is sent to the magnetic disk controller 4 of the computer 1 via the control line 5a and the data is sent via the I10 bus 3. The magnetic disk controller 4 is
It decodes the storage command and sends a drive signal to the magnetic disk device 2 via the control line 5b to cause it to perform necessary operations such as head seek, and sends the data that has been subjected to necessary data processing to the magnetic disk device W2. As a result, data is recorded on the magnetic disk unit W2.

On the other hand, when reading data from the magnetic disk device 2, a continuation command is output from the computer 1, and the data read from the magnetic disk device 2 is taken into the computer 1 through the magnetic disk controller 4.

By the way, compared to the main storage device of the computer 1, the access speed of the magnetic disk device 2 is slow. Therefore, in order to increase the speed of input/output to the magnetic disk device 2 and improve the throughput of the computer system, conventionally, a system is sometimes configured by adding a cache memory or a semiconductor disk. Both systems are shown in Figures 4 and 5.
This will be explained one by one with reference to the figures.

FIG. 4 shows a computer system using cache memory. This system includes a magnetic disk controller 4, a cache memory 6, a cache memory director 7, a cache memory controller 8, and a processor 9.
A disk control device 10 formed by integrally incorporating
It is equipped with

The cache memory 6 is a high-speed semiconductor buffer memory, and its memory area is divided into a plurality of areas in which blocks (data input/output units of the magnetic disk device 2) are stored. The blocks used for any exchange with the computer 1 are made to be exchanged with the cache memory 6 as much as possible. In other words, the cache memory 6 functions as a high-speed buffer storage mechanism.

The cache memory director 7 is the cache memory 6
The block number indicating the block stored in the cache memory 6 and the storage area in which the block is stored in the cache memory 6 are recorded.

When a continuation command is issued from the computer 1, this command is sent to the cache memory controller 8 via the processor 9. Then, the cache memory controller 8 refers to the record table of the cache memory director 7 and determines whether the corresponding block is stored in the cache memory 6.

When the corresponding block exists in the cache memory 6, the corresponding block is read from the cache memory 6. When the corresponding block does not exist in the cache memory 6, the corresponding block is read from the magnetic disk device 2, stored in an unused storage area of the cache memory 8, and the corresponding block is read from the cache memory 8. Note that when a block read from the magnetic disk device 2 is stored in the cache memory 8, if there is no unused storage area in the cache memory 8, the block is stored in an area created by the processor 9 using an appropriate algorithm.

On the other hand, when a storage command is issued from the computer 1 and a block is output, this block is temporarily stored in the cache memory 6.
is memorized.

Among the blocks stored in the cache memory 6, blocks that are rarely used after that are stored in the magnetic disk device 2.
Move to.

Note that the match between the data updated on the cache memory 6 and the data in the magnetic disk device 2 is determined using a store-through method or a swap method.

In this way, in a system using the cache memory 6, most of the data to be processed is exchanged between the computer and the cache memory 6, so throughput is improved.

¥IJ5 Figure shows a computer system using semiconductor disks. This system includes a semiconductor disk device 15 consisting of a semiconductor disk 11, a semiconductor disk director 12, a semiconductor disk controller 13, and a processor 14.

The semiconductor disk 11 exchanges data (blocks in this case) with the computer 1 through the I10 bus 3, and serves as an auxiliary storage device together with the magnetic disk device 2. The semiconductor disk director 12 also records a block number indicating a block stored on the semiconductor disk 11 and a storage area in which the block is stored.

When a storage command or a read command is sent from the computer 1 to the semiconductor disk device 15, this command is sent to the processor 1.
4 to the semiconductor disk controller 13. Then, the semiconductor disk controller 13 executes block input/output to the semiconductor disk 11 while referring to the recording table of the semiconductor disk director 12. The semiconductor disk 11 does not require waiting time such as track seek time or rotational waiting time, and can process data at high speed.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Incidentally, a system using a cache memory and a system using a semiconductor disk are operated independently. Therefore, in order to achieve higher input/output efficiency, both systems must be used together, but if a system is simply used in combination, the configuration will be complicated and the division of roles between the two systems will be confused, resulting in a decrease in efficiency. There is a thousand wa.

In view of the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention provides a disk control device that has a lean configuration and can improve input/output efficiency.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention, which solves the above problems, is characterized in that a magnetic disk controller, a cache memory system, a semiconductor disk system, and a controller are organically integrated into one body.

<Example> Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 101
1 is a computer, 102 is a magnetic disk device, and 103 is a disk control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Disk control device! 03 is a magnetic disk controller +04, a cache memory 105, a cache memory director +06, and a cache memory controller]0
7, a semiconductor disk 108, a semiconductor disk director 109, a semiconductor disk controller 110, and a processor II+. Note that 112 is an I10 bus.

'fS2 As shown in FIG. It is divided into n) storage spaces C.

When a storage or read command is issued from the computer 1, the processor 111 determines the number of the block to be processed. When the determined block number is 1 to n,
Processor II+ has cache memory controller 1
Activate 07. As a result, the cache memory controller]07 becomes the cache memory director 106.
while referring to the record table of the cache memory 105.
Executes input/output of blocks to be processed. Note that the mutual control relationship among the magnetic disk controller 104, cache memory 105, cache memory director 106, cache memory controller 107, and processor Ill is the same as the conventional one shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the block number determined by processor +11 is n+1 to m, processor 111 operates semiconductor disk controller 110. As a result, the semiconductor disk controller 110 performs input/output of blocks to be processed to/from the semiconductor disk 108 while referring to the recording table of the semiconductor disk director 109 . Note that the semiconductor disk 108, the semiconductor disk director 10Q, and the semiconductor disk controller 1
The mutual control relationship between processor 10 and processor 111 is similar to the conventional one shown in FIG.

As described above, the processor 111 not only has the function of operating one of the controllers 107 and 110 according to the block number, but also functions as a higher-level control device for both the controllers 107 and 110.

<Effects of the Invention> Since the present invention uses two high-speed self-storage means, a cache memory and a semiconductor disk, the input/output efficiency is good. Furthermore, a single processor allocates blocks and uses one of two storage means (cache memory or semiconductor disk) depending on the block to be processed, so there is no waste in the overall system configuration or operation. It becomes an efficient system.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an actual example of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing division of storage space, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are block diagrams showing various examples of prior art. In the drawings, 101 is a computer, 102 is a magnetic disk device, 103 is a disk controller, 104 is a magnetic disk controller, 105 is a cache memory, 106 is a cache memory director, 107 is a cache memory controller, 108 is a semiconductor disk, and 109 is a semiconductor 10 is a disk director; +10 is a semiconductor disk controller; and 111 is a processor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A magnetic disk controller that controls data input/output to a magnetic disk device that is an auxiliary storage device of a computer, and a high-speed buffer storage mechanism that is interposed between the computer and the magnetic disk controller to store data. A functioning cache memory, a cache memory director that records data numbers indicating data stored in the cache memory and storage locations of the data in the cache memory, and input of data into the cache memory by referring to the recorded contents of the cache memory director. A cache memory controller that controls output, a semiconductor disk that exchanges data with the computer and stores the data, and records the data number indicating the data stored on the semiconductor disk and the storage location of that data within the semiconductor disk. a semiconductor disk controller that controls data input/output to the semiconductor disk by referring to the recorded contents of the semiconductor disk director; and either a cache memory controller or a semiconductor disk controller depending on the data number of the data to be processed. 1. A disk control device configured by integrally incorporating a processor that operates the disk controller.