TW201610694A - Storage control devices and method therefor to invoke address thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage control device comprises storage control and memory modules coupled with each other. The memory module keeps a first SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) address. In one embodiment the memory module further keeps a firmware which the storage control module executes to invoke the first SAS address to facilitate data communication. To invoke the first SAS address, in one embodiment the storage control module fetches a bit string from the memory module. The bit string is written into a data structure that is returned to the storage control module when it is determined that the bit string is a SAS address. In one embodiment the memory module further keeps a configuration file which the storage control module invokes to operate. The configuration file comprises a second SAS address, which is not invoked by the storage control module unless the bit string is not a SAS address.

Description

Storage control device and method for calling its address

The present invention relates to busbar technology, and in particular to the storage control device invoking its busbar address.

The limitations of bus technology make it necessary to have storage control devices in the storage server to manage many hard disks. The storage control device has an address on the bus. The address is generally given in the configuration file of the storage control device and is burned to the storage control device with the configuration file, and cannot be changed separately during the process or during use. The procedures given and burned are cumbersome and not easy. For example, a Universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) programming profile through a storage control device has no alternative to removing the server chassis.

In view of the above, the present invention is directed to several storage control devices and methods for invoking their addresses to simplify the change of bus address and reduce the possibility of trouble or omission of line personnel and users.

A storage control device disclosed includes a storage control module and a storage module. The storage control module is coupled to the central processing unit (central processing) Unit, referred to as CPU) and multiple hard drives. The storage module is coupled to the storage control module and includes an address and a firmware storage area. The address storage area is used to store the first address of the serial attached system (Serial Attached SCSI, hereinafter referred to as SAS, SCSI Small Computer System Interface) of the storage control module. The firmware storage area is used to store the firmware of the storage control module. The firmware has a calling unit. The storage control module is configured to execute the calling unit to invoke the first address for data transmission.

In an embodiment, the storage module further includes a profile storage area for storing a profile of the storage control module. The configuration file includes the second address of the SAS, but the storage control module calls the first address from the storage module to operate without calling the second address. In an embodiment, the second address is a random or preset SAS address.

In an embodiment, when the storage control module executes the calling unit, the storage control module reads from the address storage area and determines whether the one-bit string is a SAS address. Reading the bit string includes selectively reordering the bit string. When the bit string is a SAS address, it is written into a data structure, and the data structure is transmitted back to the storage control module. In an embodiment, when the bit string is not a SAS address, the second address is written to the data structure and returned. In one embodiment, the data structure stores a pointer provided by the control module, and writing the bit string to the data structure writes the bit string to a storage area pointed by the pointer.

In an embodiment, when the storage control module reads the bit string, the storage control module further acquires the buffer and writes the bit string to the buffer. When the bit string is a SAS address, it is written to the data structure from the buffer, and the buffer is released. In an embodiment, the buffer is located in the storage module.

When firmware update is performed in an embodiment, the new firmware is written to the firmware storage area and the first address in the address storage area is unchanged. The new firmware has another call unit. The storage control module is further configured to execute the another calling unit to invoke the first address.

In one embodiment, the storage control module is a SAS or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment hard disk port expander, or a south bridge.

Another storage control device disclosed includes a storage control module and a storage module. The storage control module is coupled between the central processing unit and the plurality of hard disks. The storage module is coupled to the storage control module and stores the configuration file, the firmware, and the first address of the SAS. The storage control module is used to execute the firmware and invoke the profile to operate. The configuration file includes the second address of the SAS, but the storage control module calls the first address from the storage module to facilitate data transmission without calling the second address. In an embodiment, the second address is a random or preset SAS address.

In an embodiment, when the firmware is updated, the new firmware is written to the storage module and the first address in the storage module is unchanged. The new firmware has a call unit. The storage control module is further configured to execute the calling unit to invoke the first address.

One disclosed method is for a storage control device to invoke its first address. The storage control device and the first address are based on SAS. The storage control device includes a storage control module and a storage module. In the method, the storage control module reads a bit string from the address storage area of the storage module, and determines whether the bit string is a SAS address. The address storage area is used to store the first address. Read the bit string to include Selectively reorder the bit string. When the bit string is a SAS address, it is written into a data structure, and the data structure is returned to the storage control module.

In an embodiment, the profile storage area of the storage module is configured to store a profile of the storage control module. The profile contains a random or preset second address of the SAS. When the bit string is not a SAS address, the second address is written to the data structure and returned.

In an embodiment, reading the bit string further includes fetching the buffer and writing the bit string to the buffer. When the bit string is a SAS address, it is written to the data structure from the buffer, and the buffer is released.

In one embodiment, the data structure is a pointer to which the bit string is written to the data structure to write the bit string to a memory area pointed to by the pointer.

In a word, according to the present invention, the first address, the profile, and the firmware are separated, and one of the updates or changes does not interfere with the other, but there is a call or backup relationship between the three. In different embodiments, the manner in which the first address is invoked from the storage module can be implemented as a call-by-value or a call-by-reference.

The above description of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments are intended to illustrate and clarify the spirit and principles of the invention and to provide further explanation of the scope of the invention.

1‧‧‧Storage control device

10‧‧‧Storage Control Module

12‧‧‧ Storage Module

126‧‧‧ address storage area

127‧‧‧Setting file storage area

128‧‧‧ firmware storage area

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of a memory control device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3 are flow diagrams of methods for the storage control device to invoke its first address in various embodiments of the present invention.

The detailed features of the present invention are described in the following description, which is sufficient for any skilled person to understand the technical contents of the present invention and to implement it, and according to the contents disclosed in the specification, the patent application scope and the drawings, any familiarity The related objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The following examples are intended to further illustrate the invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a memory control device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the storage control device 1 includes a storage control module 10 and a storage module 12 coupled thereto. In an embodiment, the storage control device 1 is based on a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), and the storage control module 10 is used as a storage switch or router in the server, thereby managing more A port expander or port multiplier for a SAS device such as a hard drive. The storage control module 10 is coupled between the central processing unit of the server and a plurality of hard disks to control data transmission between the central processing unit and the hard disk or the hard disks. The storage control module 10 can also be a serial porter or multiplier based on Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), or a circuit for controlling data transmission between the central processing unit and the peripheral storage on the server board. , such as the input/output controller hub (Input/Output Controller Hub), platform controller hub (Platform Controller Hub) or the so-called southbridge. The circuit described in practice may also be integrated into a generalized central processing unit.

In an embodiment, the storage module 12 stores firmware and configuration files (of the storage control module 10), and the operation of the storage control module 10 is conceptually dynamic; the mobile storage control module 10 executes The firmware is functional, while the static storage control module 10 loads or calls its profile. The bus address of the SAS protocol required by the storage control device 1 for communication on the SAS is usually recorded in the profile and then loaded, but the storage module 12 has a first address available, and the profile may contain It is called the second address. In an embodiment, the storage control module 10 invokes the first, rather than the second, address. Specifically, part of the firmware code, object code, or machine code can be a calling unit. The storage control module 10 executes the firmware to the calling unit, for example, when it is initializing, and thus calls the first address from the storage module 12 to facilitate data transfer.

The present invention does not limit how the memory module 12 is stored. For example, if the storage module 12 has a low-level file system, the access storage module 12 does not need to know the hardware details, as long as the storage module 12 is specified to be called or The data can be received from the storage module 12. The storage module 12 can also be divided into a plurality of storage areas in advance, each of which has a purpose, such as for storing specific information. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the storage module 12 includes an address storage area 126, a configuration file storage area 127, and a firmware storage area 128 for storing the first address, the configuration file, and the toughness, respectively. body. The storage control module 10 executes the firmware located in the storage area 128, that is, the first address is called from the storage area 126, and the setting is called from the storage area 127. File, and under normal circumstances ignore the second address in the profile. Profiles and firmware may need to be updated from time to time, with the former being more frequent than the latter. In an embodiment, when the new version of the profile is written to the storage area 127, the first address in the storage area 126 is unchanged, and the firmware in the storage area 128 may be the same. The second address (if any) of the different versions of the profile may be the same or different preset or random SAS addresses. When a new version of the firmware is written to the storage area 128, the address storage area 126 is unaffected, as may the profile storage area 127. In an embodiment, the new firmware still has a calling unit whose code may be identical but not identical to the old version, but causes the storage control module 10 to call the first address.

For details of calling the first address by the storage control module 10 (executing the calling unit), see FIG. 2, which is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, in step S21, the storage control module 10 reads a bit string from the storage area 126 of the storage module 12. Depending on the implementation of the storage module 12, the storage control module 10 may not need to know that the bit string is from the storage area 126 when reading, but may need to reorder the bit string to mediate the end sequence between the modules 10 and 12. (endianness) difference. At this time, the storage control module 10 is still unable to ascertain the received content, so it is determined in step S23 whether the bit string is in accordance with the SAS protocol and an address available on the SAS. If so, the bit string is the first address, and the storage control module 10 writes it to a certain data structure in step S25. The data structure is returned in step S29, and the storage control module 10 successfully invokes the first address. Since the calling unit is executed by the storage control module 10, the bit string or the first address after the step S21 in practice may be only different functions in the memory inside the storage control module 10. (function, routine, or method) copy between private sections or scopes, and finally call the upper layer function of the calling unit, the thread, or the operation circuit of the storage control module 10 (such as a processor or a microcontroller) ) is assigned to a section written with the first address, which is the data structure. In an embodiment, when the bit string does not follow the SAS protocol, the second address in the foregoing profile is written as a preset value in the data structure in step S27, so that the storage control device 1 or the module 10 is still reasonable. Bus address.

The aforementioned calling methods for hiding or not specifying the internal memory details of the storage control module 10 may be collectively referred to as a call-by-value. The method uses a call-by-reference when the calling unit acts as a function and the parameters provided by the storage control module 10 include a pointer for returning to represent a memory address. See Figure 3 for an example of implementation. As shown in FIG. 3, in step S30, the storage control module 10 requests and acquires a section of a certain memory (such as the internals of the storage control module 10 or the storage module 12) as a buffer. In step S32, the read bit string (see step S21 of FIG. 2) is stored in the control module 10 or the function write buffer to which it is called. The storage control module 10 determines whether the bit string in the buffer conforms to the SAS protocol and the first address available on the SAS (step S33). If so, the bit string is written or copied from the buffer to the data structure in step S35, that is, the aforementioned pointer. Specifically, after the step S35, any storage area pointed by the pointer stores the first address, and when the calling unit ends or returns as a function (step S39), the storage control module 10 can access the storage area through the pointer. First address. As in the embodiment of Figure 2, when the bit string does not follow SAS In the agreement, the second address in the profile storage area 127 is used as a preset value to be written to the storage area pointed by the pointer in step S37, so that the storage control device 1 or the module 10 still has a reasonable bus address. Since the buffer is only the temporary working area of the storage control module 10 in step S33, after a SAS address is written into the data structure in step S35 or S37, the storage control module 10 releases the buffer in step S38 to make the space available. Reuse. The present invention does not limit the order of steps S38 and S39.

Although the foregoing description of FIG. 2 or 3 refers to the calling unit, please note that the firmware of the storage control module 10 is not necessarily highly modular in practice. In one embodiment, the function of the calling unit may be in another example. It is scattered in many places of the firmware, and even implemented by the hardware of the storage control module 10.

In summary, in the present invention, the firmware is implemented by the storage control module, and the storage control module receives the return value or the return address to call the storage module to add the stored first address for data transmission, unless The second address that may be included in the configuration file should be changed according to the unreasonable bit string read from the storage module on behalf of the first address. The first address, the profile, and the firmware can be changed separately, and the process, use, and maintenance of the storage control device in the server can be simplified by cutting.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. It is within the scope of the invention to be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

Claims (12)

A storage control device includes: a storage control module coupled between a central processing unit and a plurality of hard disks; and a storage module coupled to the storage control module, including: an address storage area, a first address of a serial attached SCSI system for storing the storage control module; and a firmware storage area for storing a firmware of the storage control module; The firmware has a calling unit, and the storage control module is configured to execute the calling unit to invoke the first address to facilitate data transmission. The storage control device of claim 1, wherein when the firmware is updated, a new firmware is written into the firmware storage area and the first address in the address storage area is unchanged. The new firmware has another calling unit, and the storage control module is further configured to execute the another calling unit to invoke the first address. The storage control device of claim 1, wherein when the storage control module executes the calling unit, the storage control module reads a bit string from the address storage area, and reads the bit string to include the selection Reordering the bit string, the storage control module determines whether the bit string is in the sequence of the attached small computer system interface address, and when the bit string is serially attached to the small computer system interface When the address is located, the bit string is written into a data structure, and the data structure is passed back to the storage control module. The storage control device of claim 3, wherein the storage module further comprises a profile storage area, wherein the profile storage area is configured to store a configuration file of the storage control module, the configuration file includes a random or pre-configuration a second address of the serial attached small computer system interface, and when the bit string is an address of the non-sequence attached small computer system interface, the second address is written into the data structure, and The data structure is passed back to the storage control module. The storage control device of claim 3, wherein when the storage control module reads the bit string, the storage control module further acquires a buffer and writes the bit string to the buffer. When the bit string is addressed to the address of the serial small computer system interface, the bit string is written from the buffer to the data structure, and the buffer is released. The storage control device according to claim 3, wherein the storage control module is a hard disk port expander or a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment of a south bridge chip, a serial attached small computer system interface. Hard disk port expander. A storage control device includes: a storage module, a first file located in a configuration file, a firmware, and a Serial Attached SCSI interface; and a storage control module coupled The storage module is coupled between a central processing unit and a plurality of hard disks for executing the firmware and calling the configuration file to operate; wherein the configuration file includes a serial attached small computer system interface The second address, the storage control module calls the first address from the storage module to facilitate data transmission without calling the second address. The storage control device of claim 7, wherein the second address is a random or preset address of a sequence attached small computer system interface. A method for a storage control device to call a first address of the storage control device for data transmission, the storage control device includes a storage control module and a storage module, the method comprising: the storage control module Reading a bit string from the address storage area of the storage module, the address storage area is configured to store the first address, and the storage control device and the first address are based on a serial attached small computer a system interface (Serial Attached SCSI); and the storage control module determines whether the bit string is a sequence-attached small computer system interface address; wherein the bit string is attached to the sequence of the small computer system interface At the address, the bit string is written to a data structure, and the data structure is passed back to the storage control module; wherein reading the bit string includes selectively reordering the bit string. The method of claim 9, wherein a profile storage area of the storage module is configured to store a configuration file of the storage control module, the configuration file comprising a random or preset sequence attached small computer system a second address of the interface, and when the bit string is an address of the non-sequence attached small computer system interface, the second address is written into the data structure, and the data structure is returned to the storage control Module. The method of claim 9, wherein reading the bit string further comprises: obtaining a buffer; and writing the bit string to the buffer; wherein when the bit string is serially attached to the small computer system When the address of the interface is entered, the bit string is written to the data structure from the buffer and the buffer is released. The method of claim 9, wherein the data structure is a pointer, and writing the bit string to the data structure writes the bit string to a memory area pointed to by the pointer.