JPS6354649A - Input/output controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To load a desired firmware in accordance with a use purpose even by an input/output controller of the same hardware by constituting the input/ output controller so that a unit name sent out by said controller can be set by a switch part. CONSTITUTION:A input/output controller 2 whose power source has been turned on executes a self-diagnostic function in accordance with a diagnostic program which has been written in a ROM23, and generates an interruption in order to inform a completion to a central processor equipment. The central processing equipment issues a read instruction in order to obtain the information of the input/output controller 2. The input/output controller 2 sends out unit information containing a data stored in the ROM23, for instance, 'CCU', and a unit name which has been generated together with setting of a switch (a), for instance, 'CCU1', to the central processing unit. The central processing equipment reads out the firmware concerned from a disk device, based on this unit name. Subsequently, the firmware is loaded to the input/output controller 2, and the controller 2 loads it to a RAM24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an input/output control device that becomes operational by downloading firmware from a central processing unit (JJ).

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a general computer system. In the figure, 1 is the central processing unit as a device server, 2
, 3.4 is an input/output control device constituting the LAN, 5 is a disk control device controlled by the central processing unit 1, and 6 is a shared disk device.

In recent years, with the spread of microprocessors, input/output control device 2
Most of them now adopt the distributed processing type configuration shown in the figure. In the same figure, 21 is a channel, and 23 is an I
ROM (read-on memory) in which PC processing and processing names are written; 24 is R for storing a firmware specific program downloaded from the central processing unit 1;
It is AM (Random Access Memory).

Next, the operation of the input/output control device 2 (procedures up to firmware loading) will be explained according to FIG.

In step 1, the input/output control device 2 that has been powered on first performs a self-diagnosis function using the ROM 23. In step 2, when the self-diagnosis is completed, a high side load is generated to notify the central processing unit 1 of the completion. In step 3, the central processing unit 1 that has received the interrupt issues an IJ-do command in order to obtain information about the input/output control unit 2. In step 4, the input/output control device 2 that has received the read command reads the ROM2.
Own device name stored in 3 (e.g. “CCU”)
The device information including the information is output to the central processing unit 1. In step 5, the central processing unit 1 that has received this device information reads the corresponding firmware (personal program) from the disk device 6 based on the device name (for example, "CCU"). In step 6, the firmware is then loaded (written) into the input/output control device 2. Ste, Tsubu 7
Now, the input/output control device 2 that has received the firmware
stores this in the RAM 24.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In conventional devices, the firmware to be loaded is determined based on the specific device name written in advance in the ROM as described above, so the same hardware (input/output control device) can be used for other purposes. Therefore, if you try to load another firmware (program), you will need to change the name in R, 0M or separately manage the device address etc. for each system by 56N, which is complicated. There was a problem.

This invention was made to solve the above problems, and provides an input/output control device that allows loading of desired firmware depending on the purpose of use, even if the input/output control devices are made of the same hardware. It is aimed at something.

[Means for solving problems]

The input/output control device according to the present invention includes the input/output control device 2
A switch section 26 is provided for selectively loading different firmware.

[Effect]

The setting information of the switch unit 26 in this invention is stored in the ROM
It is read into the microprocessor 21 by a program written in the ROM 23, and is combined with a part of the device name written in the same ROM 23 to generate a new different device name.

〔Example〕

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

A large-capacity disk device is connected to the central processing unit of the host station via a disk control device, and this disk device is used for sharing databases and the like. A large number of input/output control devices are connected to the central processing unit via communication cables, etc., forming a type of LAN structure. Main departure θ
The 8'' input/output control device is one of the many input/output control devices, and accesses a shared disk device via the central processing unit.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an input/output control device according to the present invention, in which 21 is a ROM in which IPL processing and device name components for the input/output control device are written, and 24 is a central processing device. Firmware downloaded from the device (
25 is an input port connected to the microprocessor; 26 is an input port 2;
This is a switch unit for changing and setting the name of the device connected to 5.

It is assumed that the switch unit 26 includes switches a and b, and one of the switches a is turned on.

The microprocessor 21 performs overall management of the input/output control device 2 as a front processor of the distributed processing system, and transfers data such as firmware to the central processing device of the host station via a communication path.

Hereinafter, the operation until the firmware is loaded from the host unit to the input/output control device 2 of the present invention will be explained according to FIG.

In step 1, the input/output control device 2 that has been powered on executes a self-diagnosis function according to a diagnostic program written in the ROM 23. In step 2, when the self-diagnosis is completed, an interrupt is generated to notify the central processing unit 1 of the completion. In step 3, the central processing unit 1 that has received the interrupt issues a read command to obtain information about the input/output control unit 2. In step 4, the input/output control device 2 that has received the read command is a device that includes the data stored in the ROM 23 (for example, CCU') and the device name (for example, "CCUI") generated by the setting of switch a. The information is sent to the central processing unit 1. In step 5, the central processing unit 1 that has received the device information uses the device name (for example, CCU1
''), and the corresponding firmware A is read out from the disk device 6. In step 6, the firmware A is then loaded into the input/output control device 2. Step 7
Then, the device 2 that has received this firmware A loads it into the RAM 24.

As described above, the firmware A corresponding to the purpose of use is loaded into the input/output control device 2, and the input/output control device 2 executes the desired task.

Next, it is assumed that the other switch b of the switch section 26 is turned on. .

In step 4, the input/output control device 2 that received the I node 2 command uses the device name (for example, "CCU2') generated by combining the data stored in the ROM 23 (for example, "CCU") and the setting of switch b. The device information including “C” is sent to the central processing unit 1. In step 5, the device name “C
The corresponding firmware B is read from the disk device 6 based on the CU2'. Below, in step 6.7, this firmware B is loaded into the input/output control device 2, and the RAM is
24. and input/output i1. The I-control device 2 is the same device that performs different tasks.

In this way, the input/output 1DiJ control device can easily change the name of the device to be sent using the setting information of the switch section.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to b.c., the device name sent by the input/output; I; U control device can be set using the switch section, so that different firmware can be loaded.
It is possible to realize different functions using the same hardware, and this has the effect of reducing production costs by improving the reusability of hardware.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the A+1 device on the human side according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a general computer system, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the firmware loading procedure according to the present invention. be. 2... Input/output control device, 21... Microprocessor, 23... ROM, 24... RAM125...
Input port, 26... switch section. Agent Masu Oiwa til (and 2 others) 1st
Diagram 2 Diagram 3 Diagram 3 To the Commissioner of the Patent Office, volunteering to write amendments to the procedure. □-1993□No.4 2,
Name of the invention No. 1 n-side device 3, relationship with the person making the amendment Patent applicant address 2-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Name (601) Moriya Shiki, Representative of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation 4. Agent 5: Detailed explanation of the invention to be amended and drawings section. 6. Contents of amendment (1) In the 6th line of page 2 of the specification, "22 directly controls the input/output control device 2 to which the frequency is assigned" has been changed to "22".
2 is input/output.'' (2) In the same book, page 2, line 7, "rlPc processing and processing" is corrected to "rlPL processing and device." (3) In the 10th line of page 2 of the same book, the phrase "specific program" is amended to read "(specific program)." (4) In the same book, page 3, line 8, line 9 of 15L, [6, then firm] is corrected to ``6, firm.'' (5) The same book, page 5, line 12, “22 is input/output control device 2
The phrase "22 is an input/output channel" should be corrected. (6) In the same book, page 5, line 20, "switch a" is corrected to "switch a only." (7) On page 6, line 7 of the same book, the word ``-no'' is amended to read ``one''. (8) In the same book, page 6, line 18, the phrase ``switch a'' is corrected to ``switches a and b.'' (9) In the same book, page 7, line 11, "switch b" is corrected to "switch b only." QO) In the same book, page 7, line 15, "switch b" is corrected to "switch a, bJ." [Drawing 111 and Figure 3 are corrected as shown in the attached sheet. Above is the 30th

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An input/output control device that can operate by downloading firmware from a central processing unit, characterized by being provided with a switch section that selectively loads different firmware into the input/output control device. An input/output control device.