KR100352377B1 - The console device driver operation method for single console on multi-node system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of operating a console driver for displaying the status of each node in a single console window of a console station in a multi-node system in a multi-node environment. . In a multi-node system, the user needs the system console function to boot the operating system of each node, diagnose the system, and view the status of each node.

To this end, the present invention uses the serial port of the COM1 port of each node and the serial port of the console station using a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter) chip in the input / output board of each node constituting the multi-node system RS-232C cable Connect with It provides serial console driver initialization, serial console read, and serial console write for each node's serial console driver operation, showing the status of each node in a single console window on the console station.

Since the present invention is a software implementation using a UART chip in each node, it enables a single console at low cost in a multi-node system. It can also be used in a high performance multimedia server with Cache Coherent-Non Uniform Memory Access (CC-NUMA) architecture, which is a distributed shared memory system in which several nodes under development make up distributed shared memory.

Description

The console device driver operation method for single console on multi-node system}

The present invention is a multi-node system in which multiple nodes having an Intel-based processor and memory are distributed or operated in a CC-NUMA structure system, which is a distributed shared memory system in which multiple nodes form a distributed shared memory. A console driver for a single console that can display status in a console window of a console station.

A single console station is a system in a windowing environment where you can view the status of multiple nodes. In a multi-node system with multiple nodes, it is necessary to diagnose the system or to track the normal operation of the operating system.

However, in the conventional multi-node system, a hardware such as a separate diagnostic board is provided for each node for a single console, and the existing keyboard and VGA console functions are changed to be processed as a network.

Therefore, there is a problem of increased cost due to the addition of hardware. In addition, since the diagnostic board is made for diagnostic purposes, the function of changing the keyboard and VGA console functions is simple (input or output), and the diagnostic boards used are not stable in hardware. As a result, the console may crash and crash.

The present invention provides a method for operating a console driver for a single console in a multi-node system by implementing a single console function in software using a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART) chip present in the Intel processor of each node. The purpose is to provide.

1 is a system configuration applied to the present invention

2 is an overall configuration diagram of a console driver operating method for a single console of the present invention;

Figure 3a is a serial console driver initialization data structure diagram according to the present invention

Figure 3b is a flow diagram of the serial console driver initialization execution at boot in accordance with the present invention

3C is a flow diagram of serial console driver initialization in the kernel in accordance with the present invention.

4A is a serial console read data structure according to the present invention

4B is a flow diagram of serial console read execution in accordance with the present invention.

5a is a serial console write data structure according to the present invention

5B is a flow diagram of serial console write execution in accordance with the present invention.

6a is a data structure of the console input and output execution according to the present invention

6B and 6C show a console input / output execution flow chart

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1: Node 2: interconnect network

3: RS232C Cable 4: Serial Terminal Switch

5: console station

A console driver operating method for a single console on a multi-node system of the present invention for achieving the above object, the console driver initialization process for processing a single console to be executed at boot and early kernel; A serial console reading process for executing input of a serial console terminal to handle a request for providing a node status of a user; And a serial console write process of executing an output to a serial console terminal to transmit a state of a node to a user, wherein the serial console read / write process is performed by an I / O mapped input / output process. do.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The multi-node system to which the console driver operating method for a single console of the present invention is applied is a cluster system in which one or more nodes 1 are connected to the interconnection network 2 as shown in FIG.

Specifically, one or more nodes 1 connected to the interconnection network 2 consist of a single processor and shared memory of the Intel Pentium family, or multiple (eg four) processors and shared memory and local resources. It may be a node which is a SMP (Symeritric Multi Processor) structure which is composed of a network connected to a system bus.

In addition, each node (1) runs an operating system kernel with a serial console driver function based on UnixWare7. Each node (1) has two UART chips to enable serial terminal input and output functions to display the status of each node in the console station (5) window. Of course, the console station 5 runs a Windows program capable of performing such serial console input / output processing under the Windows 98 or NT operating system.

In addition, an Ethernet network or an SCI ring may be used as the interconnection network 2 connecting each node 1, and the serial port of each node 1 and the serial port of the console station 5 may be used. An RS232C cable (4) is used to connect the cable.

When the number of serial ports of the console station 5 is less than the total number of ports of the respective nodes 1, the serial terminal switch 4 is used to connect each node 1 and the console station ( 5) can be connected.

Serial console driver operation of the present invention for single console processing in a multi-node system as described above is performed by serial console driver initialization, serial console read / write as shown in FIG.

First, the serial console driver initialization will be described.

3A illustrates the registers and structures used by the Intel processor as data structures used to initialize the kernel console driver for single console processing.

In fact, the registers used to invoke the BIOS interrupts to initialize the serial port are eax and edx.

The conssw structure is a structure that stores interface function pointers such as device open, close, input, and output for the console driver used in the console. The console driver initialization in the kernel initializes the cn_getc and cn_putc functions, the kernel's last input / output functions, for inputting and outputting serial consoles.

Initializing the serial console driver first initializes the serial port in the boot code, and uses the console input and output of the boot code at the beginning of the kernel, so that the console can be used separately between the boot node and the non-boot node.

First, the initialization of the serial console driver at boot time is described, and then the initialization of the serial console driver in the kernel is described.

3B is a flowchart for performing serial console driver initialization at boot time.

The execution of serial port initialization on the boot node is in assembly code. First, values of the stack base pointer register% ebp and the index registers% ebx,% esi, and% ed, which are registers used for initialization, are pushed and stored on the stack (S1). It then converts to real address mode to actually use the BIOS call for serial console initialization (S2).

Then, enable interrupts in the real address mode so as not to generate an interrupt while invoking the BIOS (S3), and then set values of registers to be used. Since the COM 1 port is used among the serial ports of each node (1), a value corresponding to the serial port number is specified in the edx register. COM1 port is 0x0, COM2 port is 0x1, COM3 port is 0x2 and COM4 port is set to 0x3, so% edx is designated as 0x0 to initialize the COM1 port (S4).

Next,% eax is initialized in step S5. At this time, the initialization value varies depending on the contents of the upper 8 bits and the lower 8 bits of% eax. First, the value of the upper 8-bit register% ah is set to 0. The lower 8-bit register% al is used as an argument to initialize the serial port. At this time, the data rate is 9600bps per second, the character size is 8-bit characters, the parity bit (parity bit), the number of stop bits (stop bit) is 1 bit specifies 0xE3 indicating an initialization factor to% al.

Next, call serial number initialization BIOS with call number 0x14 to execute initialization (S6).

Since the BIOS call can be executed only in the real address mode, the BIOS call is executed in the real address mode, and then converted to the protected address mode (S7).

After that, the serial console driver initialization is terminated at boot time by restoring the values stored on the stack at the start of initialization to% epp,% ebx,% esi and% edi (S8) and returning them.

3C is a flowchart for performing serial console driver initialization during kernel initialization.

When the kernel console starts, it first checks whether a boot node is made using the node ID (S9). Since each node 1 uses the same operating system, all other nodes can use the text program of the boot code loaded in the boot node. Therefore, even if only the boot node takes arguments from the boot code and processes it, other nodes can use it.

If the result of the check in step S9 is not a boot node, the flow branches to step S13.

However, in the case of the boot node as a result of the check in step S9, initialization (S10 to S12) is performed with the information (argument) of the user received from the boot code.

The arguments received from the boot code include the boot program, root filesystem, root filesystem type, boot-time messages, copyright statements, system boot request status (such as single-user mode or multiuser mode), physical memory size, system bus type, and so on. There is this. For the console, the console device number and console driver type (such as keyboard or serial console) can be specified. By default, the console driver is initialized to the serial console.

First, the argument received from the boot code is stored in the kernel structure (S10).

Thereafter, the serial console I / O function used at boot is initialized to be used by the console driver (S11). Specifically, the functions are called at the end of I / O by initializing the cn_putc and cn_getc variables of the structure conssw, which stores the entry pointers of the serial console I / O functions used at boot received from the boot code.

Next, the memory that is not used is searched for and processed (S12).

This is done to collect unused memory and put it in the available page pool, or to prevent unused memory from being reserved or in use (kernel text, data).

Subsequently, a kernel page table is constructed for kernel execution (S13).

In the case of the boot node, step S13 is performed immediately after performing the above-described initialization of steps S10 to S12, and in the case of not the boot node, without performing the initialization.

When the kernel virtual address memory is constructed in step S13, kernel console input / output initialization is performed to no longer use the serial console input / output function of the boot code (S14). Specifically, it is set to the entry pointer of the kernel serial console I / O function.

After that, the _start function, which is the kernel main function that performs initialization for a single console in the system, is called (S15) and returned.

There are many kernel-related tasks in the _start function, the main kernel function, but only those related to the console are shown in the drawings.

First, the stream module for the console to be used in the multi-user mode is initialized (S16).

Thereafter, the kernel console driver is bound to the boot processor of the boot node so that all system states or operations are inputted and output to the serial port of the boot node (S17).

Next, it is checked whether it is a boot node (S18).

If the kernel console function is not a boot node after initialization, the console I / O contents of the node are bound to the boot processor's boot processor and input / output, so the window of the boot node is used. Therefore, a predetermined character is sent to the window program to remove the window used by the node (S19). Thereafter, various input / output modules of the kernel are initialized (S20).

4A is a data structure used to read a serial console for handling a node state provision request of a console station 5 user, showing the shape registers of the serial console port. The port registers of these serial consoles use I / O mapped I / O using port I / O rather than memory mapped I / O using memory.

The registers for each port I / O are different from each other. The COM1 port can access the addresses 0x3f8 through 0x3ff, and the COM2 port can access the addresses 0x2f8 through 0x2ff. Do. In the present invention, since each node 1 uses the COM1 port, addresses from 0x3f8 to 0x3ff are used.

Each field of the configuration register of the serial console port is a letter.

In order to explain this, rbr is a buffer having characters sent or received as a receiver buffer register. And thr is a transmitter holding register that indicates that the character to be sent is held.

Iit is an interrupt enable register, lcr is a line control register for controlling a line, and mcr is a modem control register.

Lsr is a Line Status Register that indicates the status of the line, msr is a Modem Status Register that indicates the status of the modem, and finally a Scratch Pad Register that temporarily holds data. to be.

4B shows a flowchart of execution of serial console read.

As shown in the figure, when starting to read the serial console, first read the value of the line status register of the COM port (serial console port) register (S31). In this case, I / O mapped input is used, which will be described later.

Referring to the value of the line status register, it is checked whether there is data input from the outside (S32). If there is no data input from the outside as a result of the check, step S31 is again performed, and if there is data input from outside, the value of the receiver buffer register storing the data is read (S33). Then return the value of the read data and finish reading the serial console.

5A shows the data structure used for serial console writes in response to a console station user's request to provide node status, using shape registers as in serial console reads.

5B shows a flowchart of execution of serial console writes.

As shown in the figure, when the serial console write is started, first, the counter i is initialized to 0 to check whether there is already data requested to be written to the serial port (S41).

Then, the line status register is read (S42). At this time, an I / O mapped input is executed, which will be described later.

The transmitter determines whether the current transmitter holding register is empty by referring to the line status register (S43). If the transmitter holding register is empty as a result of the check, the character to be output is recorded in the receiver buffer register (S44). In this case, I / O mapped output is used, which will be described later.

When writing is complete, the console write is terminated by returning a result value (success or failure).

However, if the transmitter holding register is not empty as a result of the check in step S43, it is checked whether the counter i is smaller than a preset value (for example, 1000) (S45).

If the check result counter i is smaller than the preset value (e.g. 1000), the counter i is incremented by one (S46), and the process is repeated to check whether the transmitter holding register is empty by referring to the line status register value and repeating the process. .

However, as a result of the check in step S45, if the counter i is equal to or larger than the preset value, the character branched to write in step S44 is written to the receiver buffer register, and the result value is returned (success or failure) to end the console writing.

Here, a set value (e.g. 1000) that is compared to the counter i for loop iterations by reading the line status register value to verify that the transmitter hold register is empty is set to a value sufficient for the transmitter holding register to be empty.

FIG. 6A is an interface data structure used to execute I / O mapped input / output executed in serial console read / write. There are% eax,% edx, and% esp as registers to be used.

FIG. 6B is a flowchart illustrating an execution process of an I / O mapped input used when reading a value of a line status register in the console read / write described above.

As shown in the figure, when input execution starts, first, a value of% edx is stored on a stack (S51). After that, the port address to be entered is transferred to% edx among the contents of the stack received as an argument (S52). In order to store the port input result,% ax is set to 0 (S53).

An inb instruction for reading a character from an actual port address is performed (S54). At this time, the port address in register% edx is used.

The stored value of% edx is restored from the stack (S55).

It then returns, which is equivalent to returning with the result because the result of inb is in the% ax register.

FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing an execution process of the I / O mapped output used when writing a character to be output in the console write to the receiver buffer register.

As shown in the figure, when the execution of the output starts, the value of% edx is stored on the stack like the input (S61). The port address entered as an argument is moved to% edx from the stack (S62), and the character to be outputted as an argument is replaced with% al (S63).

Characters are output at the port address using the outb instruction (S64). At this time, the characters in% al are displayed in the port address in% edx described above.

Then, the stored value of% edx is restored from the stack (S65) and then returned.

As described above, the present invention provides a single console function by using a UART chip in each node without additional hardware, such as a diagnostic board, except that a serial terminal switch is required when the multi-node system is composed of three or more nodes. This is implemented. Therefore, by using the present invention, it is possible to smoothly manage the multi-node system by tracking the state and operation of each node at low cost.

The technical spirit of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but this is by way of example only and not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, it is obvious that any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and imitations without departing from the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

Claims (9)

An operating system kernel with a serial console driver function based on UnixWare7 runs, and at least two nodes (1) including an Intel-based processor with a UART chip that provides serial terminal input / output functions and shared memory are interconnected (2). In a multi-node system, which is configured to be connected to a multi-node system, the UART chip in each node 1 displays a state of each node 1 in a single console window of the console station 5 through an RS232C cable 3. In the driver operating method, A console driver initialization process for processing a single console executed at boot time and early in the kernel; Console station 5 A serial console reading process of executing an input of a serial console terminal for processing a request for providing a node status of a user; And A method of operating a console driver for a single console on a multi-node system, comprising a serial console write process that executes output to a serial console terminal to convey the status of the node to a console station user. The method of claim 1, Initialization that is booted during the console driver initialization process, Storing the values of registers (% ebp,% ebx,% esi,% edi) used for initialization on a stack and converting them to real address mode to use a BIOS call for serial console initialization; Enabling an interrupt in a real address mode; Setting values of registers (% edx,% eax) to specify a serial port to initialize and to specify arguments (data rate per second, character size, number of exit bits, etc.) for serial port initialization; Invoking an actual serial port initialization BIOS and performing initialization according to a value of the registers (% edx,% eax); And Converting from real address mode to protected address mode, and then restoring the contents of the stack to registers (% ebp,% ebx,% esi,% edi) for a single console on a multi-node system. How to operate the console driver. The method of claim 1, Initialization executed during the initial kernel initialization process in the console driver initialization, A first step of verifying whether a boot node is obtained using a node ID; As a result of checking in the first step, in the case of a boot node, the arguments received from the boot code are stored in the kernel structure, initialized so that the console driver can use the serial console I / O function used at boot time, and then not used. Searching for an unused memory and performing a process for the same; A fourth step of building a kernel page table to execute a kernel when the verification result in the first step is not the boot node or after the third step is performed; A fifth step of initializing the kernel console I / O by setting an entry pointer of the kernel serial console I / O function so that the serial console I / O function of the boot code is no longer used; And A method of operating a console driver for a single console on a multi-node system, comprising the sixth step of calling the kernel main function _start function to perform initialization for use as a single console in the system. The method of claim 3, The _start function, which is the kernel main function called in the sixth step, Initializing a stream module for a console to be used in a multi-user mode; Binding a kernel console driver to the boot processor of the boot node such that all system state or operations are inputted and output to the serial port at the boot node; Removing a window program of the console station in the case of a node other than the boot node; And A method of operating a console driver for a single console on a multi-node system, comprising the step of initializing various input / output modules of the kernel. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The serial console reading process, Reading a value of a line status register of a serial console port register using an I / O mapped input; A second step of checking whether there is externally input data by referring to a value of a line status register; And If there is no data input externally as a result of the checking of the second step, branching to the first step of reading the line status register value, and if there is data input externally, reads the value of the receiver buffer register storing the data and stores the data value. Console driver operating method for a single console on a multi-node system, characterized in that it comprises a third step of returning. The method of claim 1, The serial console write process, A first step of initializing the counter i to 0 to check whether there is already data requested to be written to the serial port; Reading a line status register using an I / O mapped input and referring to it to determine whether the current transmitter holding register is empty; A third step of writing a character to be output to the receiver buffer register using an I / O mapped output and returning a result value if the transmitter holding register is empty as a result of the first step; A fourth step of checking whether the counter i reaches a constant value if the transmitter holding register is not empty as a result of the checking in the second step; And As a result of the checking in the fourth step, if the counter i reaches a certain value, I / O mapped output writes the character to be output to the receiver buffer register and branches to the third step of returning the result value. And a fifth step of shifting the first step back to the second step. The method of claim 5, The I / O mapped input used to read the value of the line status register is Storing a value of register% edx on the stack to be used upon input; Moving the port address of the contents of the stack inputted to the argument into% edx; Setting a register% ax to 0 to store the port input result value; And A method of operating a console driver for a single console on a multi-node system, characterized by the execution of an inb instruction that reads characters from a real port address and then restoring the value of% edx from the stack. The method of claim 6, The I / O mapped output used when writing the character to be output in the third step to the receiver buffer register, Storing a value of register% edx on the stack to be used at output; Moving the port address and the character to be output from the stack to% edx and% al, respectively; And A method of operating a console driver for a single console on a multi-node system, characterized by the use of the outb instruction to output characters to the port address and to restore the value of% edx from the stack. An operating system kernel with a serial console driver function based on UnixWare7 runs, and at least two nodes (1) comprising an Intel-based processor with a UART chip providing serial terminal input / output functions and shared memory are interconnected (2). In a multi-node system consisting of a multi-node system, the multi-node system displays the state of each node 1 in a single console window of the console station 5 through an RS232C cable 3 using a UART chip in each node 1. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program providing a method for operating a console drive for a single console on a node system, the method comprising: A console driver initialization process for processing a single console executed at boot time and early in the kernel; Console station 5 A serial console reading process of executing an input of a serial console terminal for processing a request for providing a node status of a user; And A computer-readable recording medium having recorded an executable program including a serial console writing process for executing output to a serial console terminal to convey a node status to a console station user.