TW200426667A - Computer system used to dynamically access external storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a computer system used to dynamically access external storage device, which can provide more than one external storage devices to dynamically connect and disconnect by means of hot plug/play action and at least comprises a connection interface, an I/O control circuit, a system control circuit, an interface control circuit and a CPU. The CPU of the invention will execute an interrupt service procedure when the connection state of the external storage device and the I/O control circuit changes. At this moment, CPU will go through the external storage device number and the layouts of all external storage devices connected by the I/O control circuit to load the corresponding interface setup value into the interface control circuit so as to proceed with dynamic access to the external storage devices under different layout grouping.

Description

200426667 V. Description of the invention (1) [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to the connection and access technology of a computer system and an external storage device, and particularly refers to more than one large storage device that can be hot-swapped ( Hot Plug) to dynamically connect or disconnect with the computer system for computer system access. [Previous technology] In this era of advanced information, the amount of data is growing by multiples. With the rapid development of technology, computer systems are now commonly used to access large amounts of data. However, the capacity of large storage devices (such as disks) currently used in computer systems is always insufficient, resulting in updated storage devices and expanded storage. The number of devices required to upgrade. Figure 1 shows the system architecture of a traditional computer system. The figure indicates that the hard disk device 10 is connected to the interface bus 12 through the interface port 100, and then connected to the central processing unit 14 and the operating system 16 in sequence, and through the power port 10 2 to connect with the power supply 18. The traditional computer system must be restarted when replacing another hard disk device 10 or adding a new hard disk device 10, and if multiple hard disk devices 10 are connected, if you want to remove one The hard disk device 10 used must also be restarted in order for the operating system 16 to recognize the hard disk device 10 and re-allocate resources. Therefore, it can be known that the conventional computer system cannot provide a large storage device for hot-swap connection, and it is quite inconvenient for the user to replace or expand the hard disk device 10. [Summary of the Invention]

17244 Inventec.ptd Page 5 200426667, _V. Description of the invention (2) The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a computer system for dynamically accessing external storage devices, so that the computer system can provide large-scale Storage-devices are connected in a hot-pluggable manner to facilitate users to update and expand large storage devices. _ In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the computer system of the present invention for dynamically accessing an external storage device is capable of dynamically connecting and disconnecting one or more external storage devices through a hot plug operation, which includes at least: A connection interface is connected to the external storage device; an input / output control circuit for connecting and disconnecting the external storage device is used to output a notification signal when the external »storage device and its connection status change. A unified control circuit, which is connected to the input / output control circuit, which is used to receive the notification signal and output an interrupt request signal after receiving the notification signal; an interface control circuit, which is connected to the connection interface and is based on its memory Each interface setting value controls transmission specifications and interface specifications of the connection interface; a central processing unit is connected to the external storage device through the connection interface, and is used to access the external storage device, and its Connected with the system control circuit to receive the interrupt request signal and execute after receiving the interrupt request signal Interrupt service routine. In order to make those skilled in the art understand the purpose, features, and functions of the present invention, the following specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to describe the present invention in detail as follows. [Embodiment] ^ Figure 2 is a system architecture diagram of a computer system of the present invention. The diagram is a computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device 20, which can be used for

17244 Yingyeda.ptd Page 6 200426667 V. Description of the invention (3) More than external storage devices 20 are connected and separated by hot plugging. The dashed lines in the figure represent each of the external connections dynamically connected to the ground. The computer system that is dynamically invented with the connection interface 22 and the input / output control circuit ^ storage device 20 at least includes a connection interface 仃 connected or separated. The storage device 20 is connected; an input / output control circuit; 2 \, 'is connected and separated from the external storage device 20, and is used to output a notification signal 24 when the external storage device changes state. One person's connection is connected to the input / output control circuit & 24, which is used to receive / control the circuit 26, and output after receiving the notification signal 2 4 0-interrupt request signal 0 0 2 0 0 and control circuit 2 8, connected to the connection interface 2 2, Japan & 2 6 0, an interface set value to control each interface of the connection interface heart processing early 70 29, is connected to the outside through the connection interface 22 ^, —Middle 2 0, which is used to dynamically access the external, connected storage storage circuit 2 6 to receive the interrupt request X \ 2 0, and it executes an interrupt service routine after the system control signal 2 6 0 (In the reception interruption, use the "Emperor" picture 3 shown in Figure 2). < An example of the structure of the child's brain system can be a storage server that is mainly used to store a large amount of data, so it is accessed by the server] = server is a large storage device (such as : The storage device of the magnetic disk device; the setting] ° The connection interface used is 22 series-the disk drive interface 'and any of the following specifications: IDE specifications, E τη_ &"money; I side can be a grid, etc. In addition, 苴Presented by ^^, ΑΤΑ standard, ATAp ^ Ershan r Q ^ ^, I / O control circuit 2 4 can be a super

W iuyer 0) chip, the chip has more than one general-purpose V input / output port (GP I 0) as a general-purpose input / output port for the round-out A-house yu for more than one external type

Painting __P 17244 Inventec.ptd

Page 7 200426667 * u V. Description of the invention (4) Storage device 20 link. As for the system control circuit 26, a south bridge chip can be used. — Figure 3 is a flowchart of the interrupt service routine used in the present invention. Among them, step 30 determines whether the interrupt request signal 2 60 is caused by a change in the connection state between the input / output control circuit 24 and the external storage device 2 0. If yes, proceed Step 32, if no, go to Step 3 4; Step 3 2 is based on the number of external storage devices 20 connected to the input / output control circuit 24 and the configuration of each external storage device 20 Combination, and load the corresponding interface setting value into the interface control circuit 28; step 3 4i ends the interrupt service routine. • Here we will further explain step 3 2 and propose specific methods. Interface The setting value of the interface of the control circuit 2 8 memory must be different according to the number of external storage devices 20 connected to it, and there are different settings in order to properly and correctly control the transmission specifications and interface specifications of the connection interface 22. As for the specific method, the contents of the interface control circuit 28 can be read through the PC I tool program or I / 0 tool program in the operating system environment under various configuration combinations of various external storage devices 20, and then organize a The lookup table is then placed in an interrupt service routine (ISR) used in the present invention. In this way, when the central processing unit 29 executes step 32, the central processing unit 29 will perform an adjustment based on the number of external storage devices 20 connected to the input / output control circuit at this time and the configuration combination of each external storage device 20. The lookup table performs a query to find the corresponding interface setting value, and then loads the interface setting value into the interface control circuit 28 to achieve the purpose of correct control. 'Therefore, the present invention can be re-aligned through the basic input / output system (B I 0S).

17244 英 业 达 .ptd Page 8 200426667 V. Description of the invention (5) Each chip in the traditional computer system is set to function, without the need to completely abandon the old computer system architecture, and then compose it with an interrupt service routine software. By implementing the interrupt service routine of the present invention (as shown in FIG. 3), the hot plugging mechanism of the storage device can be achieved, so the cost of the present invention is low and the implementation is easy, which is indeed progressive and industrially usable; In addition, the present invention has a hot plugging function, that is, the storage device can be directly inserted or removed when the device is in use without restarting, and the inconvenience of opening the housing of the host is also eliminated. In addition, the present invention has Plug and play (P 1 ug-and-P 1 ay), as long as the user plugs in the storage device, the operating system will automatically detect the debt immediately, and automatically load the corresponding interface settings, then you can For users to access data. Because the invention has the characteristics of hot plugging and plug and play, it is quite convenient for users to update and expand the storage device. However, the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the essential technical content of the present invention. The essential technical content of the present invention is broadly defined in the scope of patent application described below. Any technical practice or method completed by others is the same as the definition of the scope of patent application described below or the same equivalent Changes are deemed to be covered by this patent.

17244 Yingyeda.ptd Page 9 200426667 · _Schematic description [Schematic description] — Figure 1 is a system architecture diagram of a traditional computer system. Brother 2 is a system architecture diagram of the computer system of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flowchart of the interrupt service routine used in the present invention.

10 Hard drive device 12 Interface bus 14 Central processing unit 16 Operating system power supply TO External storage device 22 Connection interface 24 Access control circuit 26 System control circuit 28 Interface control circuit 2 9 Central processing σσ Early unit 100 Interface port 102 Power port 240 Informing signal_0 Interrupt request signal 17244 Inventec.ptd Page 10

Claims (1)

200426667 6. Scope of Patent Application 1. A computer system for dynamically accessing external storage devices, which can be used for more than one external storage device to be dynamically connected and disconnected from it by hot-plugging, including at least: The connection interface is connected with the external storage device; an input / output control circuit for connecting and disconnecting the external storage device is used to output a notification signal when the connection status of the external storage device changes; The system control circuit is connected to the input / output control circuit and is used to receive the notification signal and output an interrupt request signal after receiving the notification signal; an interface control circuit is connected to the connection interface and is based on the memory Each interface is set to control transmission specifications and interface specifications of the connection interface; and a central processing unit is connected to the external storage device through the connection interface, which is used to access the external storage device, and its Connected with the system control circuit to receive the interrupt request signal, and receive the interrupt After the signal is sought, the central processing unit is caused to determine whether the interrupt request signal is caused by a change in the connection state between the I / O control circuit and the external storage device. If so, according to the I / O control circuit, At the time, the number of external storage devices connected and the configuration combination of each external storage device are loaded, and the corresponding interface setting values are loaded into the interface control circuit. 2. A computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 1 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the computer system is a storage server. 17244 Inventec.ptd Page 11 200426667 6. Scope of patent application / system (Storage server). 3. The computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 1 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the I / O control circuit is a Super I / O chip. 4. The computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the system control circuit is a south bridge chip. f 5. The computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 1 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the external storage device is a large-scale storage device. The computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 3 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the input / output control circuit has more than one input / output port for the connection of the external storage device. 7. The computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 5 of the scope of patent application, wherein the large storage device is a magnetic disk device. 8. The computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 6 of the scope of patent application, wherein the input / output port is a general-purpose input / output port (GPIO). # The computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 7 of the scope of patent application, wherein the connection interface is a disk drive interface. 1 〇. The computer system for dynamically accessing an external storage device as described in item 9 of the scope of patent application, wherein the disk drive interface can be any of the following specifications: one IDE specification, one E-IDE specification , One ΑΤΑ specification, and one 17244 Inventec.ptd Page 12 200426667 VI. Patent Application Scope AT API Specifications. 17244 Inventec.ptd Page 13