TWI238938B - A hot swappable master processor card inserted in the processor slot of the hot swap bus - Google Patents

Abstract

A hot swappable master processor card inserted in the processor slot of the hot swap bus is disclosed. The master processor card can transmit the information at least with a slave processor card. The master processor card can deliver some work to the slave processor card to reduce the loading of the master processor card.

Description

1238938

V. Description of the invention (1) swap The present invention provides a master processor card, especially a master processor add-in card that can be hot-swapped on a hot-swap bus. . For today's society, which increasingly depends on computer equipment, the failure of computer equipment is becoming increasingly unacceptable to users. Especially for computer equipment that provides communication functions or network services, due to its special operating requirements, when it is down, it may cause inestimable damage to the entire system. Therefore: In order to minimize errors and downtime of computer equipment, computer manufacturers have adopted certain designs to solve the above problems. For example, some motherboards have adopted passive backpiane == architecture. The passive panel is a circuit board with a simple circuit. ^: "Exhaust power." The passive panel contains a number of circuit boards with card slots. Because the passive panel circuit structure is earlier than the general host t = early (ideally, the passive panel does not have any active circuits), the mean time between the two failures of the sub-panel (mean time between res) res (MTBF) ratio In general, the rate between two failures of the motherboard must come. In addition, m-like motherboards have two failures! ΪΓ and a plurality of add-in card slots, ..... Road connection The add-in card is connected to the processor and the related bus power. When the processor is installed in the passive panel, the add-in card or other add-in card is

Page 4 1238938 _ V. Description of the invention (2) In the event of an obstacle, the user can easily remove it and replace it with a substitute. The user does not have to spend a lot of time updating all the computer equipment. In addition, because the passive panel does not have an active circuit like a general motherboard, the passive panel does not need to be replaced due to the failure of its electronic components like the motherboard. Therefore, when users update or maintain computer equipment, they can obtain many benefits and conveniences because the computer equipment adopts a passive panel architecture design. Although the above-mentioned passive panel is so fast in replacing the attached card that is installed on it, when it is necessary to replace the attached card, the computer equipment must still be turned off first. Therefore, as long as the computer equipment is only replaced with an add-in card with few functions, the computer equipment must still be shut down first and temporarily stop related functions. In addition, since the startup process of computer equipment often takes a considerable period of time, it does cause considerable inconvenience to users who need to use the functions of computer equipment immediately. For this reason, the industry has adopted a hot swapping technology to solve the problem. After the computer equipment adopts this hot-replacement technology, if the user needs to replace the add-in card, he can remove it directly from the add-in card slot without first turning off the computer device. Although the computer equipment cannot provide the relevant functions of the add-in card when the add-in card is removed, other devices of the computer device can still operate normally. The user only needs to replace the faulty add-in card with another normal add-in card to restore all the functions of the computer equipment before the failure of the add-in card. The standard for the hot-swapping technology of the PC 1 bus (peripheral communications interface bus) described on the A side has been defined in the compact type

1238938 V. Description of the invention (3) Among the PCI bus hot swap specifications (CompactPCI Hot Swap S pecificati ο η), this specification is by the International PCI Industrial Computer Association (PCII ndustria 1 C 〇mputers Manufacturing, p I c MG ). As of now, the publicly available version of the Compact PC I Bus Hot Replacement Specification is PICMG 2.1 R1.0. Please refer to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a conventional technology processor with an add-in card 11 inserted in a PCI (peripheral communications interface) hot-swap bus (hot port s w a p b s). The hot-replaceable bus i 〇 is used to control a server's RAID (redundant array of independent di sks). The hot-replaceable bus 10 includes a processor socket 11 for inserting a processor, an add-in card 20, and a plurality of add-in card slots 12 for inserting various add-in cards. The add-in card inserted in the add-in card slot 12 can be an input / output card 14 for communication connection with peripheral devices (such as a modem), or a network card 16 for connecting to a network. It is also a SCSI + 18, which is used to control other SCS I interface devices. With the connection end 13, many types of devices can be installed on the hot-replacement bus 1 (such as a processor with a plug-in card 20, an input / output card 1, 4, a network card 16, and a SCSI card 1 8). On the slots π, 1 2. In addition to the processor add-in card 20, each of the add-in cards (such as I / O card 1, network card 16, SCS I card 1 8) installed on the hot-replaceable bus 10, includes a power supply. Switching circuit 15, a signal switching circuit 17 and a PCI circuit 19 'so that the add-in card can be hot-replaceable (h 01 swappab 1 e) to be inserted into the hot-replaceable bus 1 0 add-in card Slots 1 and 2. Every power switch

1238938 V. Description of the invention (4) Circuit 1 5 is used to control its add-in card. ^ It is made by hand, 卞 said: 卞 the power source 1 source switching circuit 15 can be controlled by motion, or 疋 can be replaced by heat. The processor is attached with a card 20) for control. + Additional devices (such as the signal cable and hot replacement 17 are used to switch the add-in card when the add-in card is removed from the add-in card slot = 3 wires. Prevent hot replacement confluence Row i. Generate instantaneous =,! R signal switching circuit 17 can ^ φ ^. Shoal produces instantaneous electric melon pulses to protect the circuit components on the attached card. When attached + ν # ^ ^. 9. Tian 丨The π supplementary card is inserted or pulled out of the card slot with hot swap. The flood switching circuit 17 can provide related hardware interface functions to enable the function of the card to be used or removed. Processor attached The card 20 includes a processor 25 and a PCI circuit 27. The processor attached card 20 is different from other attached cards (such as input / output card j 4, network card 6 and SCSI card 18). 2〇 There is no power switching circuit and signal switching circuit. Pc 丨 circuit 2 7 is used to provide a hardware interface between the processor 25 and the hot-swap ^ bus 10, and the processor can be connected with a card 2 〇 More add-in cards. As shown in Figure 1, the processor add-in card 20 is used to control the operation of a RA 1 D control circuit 40. RAID control The circuit 40 is used to control the reading and writing of the hard machine 42. / As shown in FIG. 1, the hot-replacement bus 10 includes a power control circuit 3 ′, which is used to provide power to the hot-replacement bus. Row 1 0. Therefore, the input / output card 14, the network card 16, the SCSI card 18, and the processor add-in card 20 can obtain the required power through the power control circuit 30, respectively.

Page 7 1238938 V. Description of the invention (5) Based on the above description, although the user can insert or remove the input / output card 14, the network card 16, and the SCSI card 18 by hot replacement, they cannot be replaced by hot replacement. Way to insert or remove the processor add-in card 2 0. This is because the processor add-in card 20 lacks the power supply switching and signal switching circuits necessary for PCI hot-swap specifications. In addition, because the processor's add-in card 2 0 will control the transfer operation of the signal line of the hot-replacement bus 10 so that various add-in cards can work normally, it is generally considered that the processor should be inserted or removed by hot replacement. Attaching a card 20 is an unlikely event. Therefore, the main purpose of the present invention is to provide a main process that can be hot-replaced on a hot-swappable sink. The master card is a masterpr 〇cess 〇r card. Insert or remove the main processor attached card from the processor socket of the replacement bus. The main processor add-in card can transmit signals with at least one sub-processor add-in card (slaVe process〇r card), and can transfer part of the computing work to the sub-processor add-in card to reduce the main processor add-in card. Card calculation work. Detailed description of the invention Please refer to FIG. Figure 2 shows the main processor attached card 12 of the present invention installed in a PC I hot-swap bus! Function block diagram at 0:00. pc 丨 Hot replacement bus 100 is designed according to the specifications of PICMG 2.1 · R1 · 〇, and related documents of PICMG 2.1 · R1 · 0 can be organized from general pc 丨 (such as the international pc 丨 Industrial Computer Association, PI CMG )obtain. Pc 丨 Hot replacement bus i 〇 〇

1238938 V. Description of the invention (6) On the backplane 10 2. The base plate 102 includes a plurality of add-in card slots 104 and two processor slots 105. All add-in card slots} 04 and processor slots 105 are electrically connected to each other via PC I hot-swap busbars 100. The additional card slot 104 can be used to insert a variety of hot-swappable add-in cards, for example, an I / O card 106 can be inserted for communication connection with peripheral devices (such as modems) or one The SCS I card 108 is used to control other SCSI interface devices (such as hard drives), or a network card 1 10 is inserted to connect to a network. In addition, the two processor sockets i 05 can be used for female insertion of a master processor card 12 (master processor card) and a slave processor card 160 (Slave processor card). Each add-in card 106, 108, 110 and the processor add-in card 120 and 160 are respectively connected to the plug-in card slot 104 and the processor slot. 1 0, and the respective signal lines are connected to the signal line of the PC 丨 hot-replacement bus 〇〇〇. Each plug-in card slot 1 (^ of the add-in card 1 〇6, 〇8, n㈣ includes a power switching circuit ll2, a signal switching circuit 114 and a = 1 circuit 1 1 6 to make each The attached card can perform its related functions. The Yu number switching line Π4 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 13. The main processor has an attached card 1 2 0 and 5 丨! The processor has an attached card 1 b η 久 ή a ^ jUnder ibu each contains a processor, a power switching circuit 1 2 2, a + Π switching circuit 1 2 8 and a P c I circuit 1 2 6. The signal switching circuit 1 2 8 # 雷 、 * & Gui &! M 10aa This 8 series is electrically connected to the connection terminal 130. The PC I circuit 1 2 6 series is used to handle the crying gangster 1Πβ 11Ω +… & card 120, 160 and The hardware interface between the other add-in cards 106, 108, and 1 10 is the same, so that the processor attaches the add-in cards 1 2 0 and 16

1238938

For related functions in other add-in cards 106, 108, and n0. In addition, each PCI circuit 126 can also be used as a transfer interface between the processor n8 and the PCI hot-swap bus 100. The base plate 102 includes a power control circuit 15 for providing power to the card, a card slot 104 and a processor slot 丨 05, and further to supply power to the processor add-in card 120, 160, and Other add-in card processors, add-in cards 1 2 0, 160, and other add-in cards i 〇 06 ,! 〇 8. The power switching circuits 122 and 112 of i 丨 〇 are used to control the power supply of processor add-in cards ι20, 160 and other add-in cards 106, 108, and 110. The power switching circuits i 丨 2, 1 2 2 can be controlled manually, or can be controlled by pc 丨 hot-replacement of other devices on the bus 100. In this embodiment, the main processor add-in card 120 can be used to turn on or off the power of other add-in cards 106, 108, and 〇, and the auxiliary processor add-in card 160. In addition, the auxiliary processor add-in card 16 can also turn on / off other add-in cards 106, 108, and 11 and the main processor add-in card i 2. The power switching circuits 122 and 112 respectively obtain power from the PC I hot-replacement bus 100 through their respective connection terminals 13 and transmit the power to the processor add-in cards 120, 160, and other add-in cards. Other components (such as signal switching circuits 1 2 8 and 1 1 4, PCI circuits 1 2 6 and 1 1 16 and server 1 1 8). The hardware architecture of the signal switching circuits 128 and 114 conforms to the specifications of the PCI hot-swap bus. They are used to switch the processor's add-in cards 1 2 0, 16 0, and other add-in cards 1 06, 1 08, 1 1 0 signal line and pc I hot replacement bus

Page 10 1238938 V. Description of the invention (8) The state of electrical connection between the 5 tiger wires. The signal switching circuit 1 2 8, 1 1 4 can ensure that the processor has attached cards 1 2 0, 16 0, and other attached cards} 0, 1 0 8, 1 1 0 for inserting or removing the processor socket 1 〇5. Attach a card slot 丨 〇4 'will not interrupt the operation of other devices on the PCI hot-swap bus 100. When the processor has attached cards 1 2 0, 1 60 and other attached cards 1 06, 1 08, 1 1 0, insert or remove the processor slot 1 05, the attached card slot! At 4:00, the signal switching circuit 1 28, 1 14 will notify pc I to hot-swap other devices on the bus 1 0, and notify them that the main processor has an add-in card 120 and the sub-processor has an add-in card 160. ^ Other add-in cards 106, 108, and 110 have been inserted or removed from the processor socket 105 or add-on cards ^ 104. The main processor with a plug-in card 120 can be used to exchange signals with the PC I hot-replacement bus 1000 and the sub-processor with a plug-in card 160, and also through a communication line 14 with Yada and J processors with a plug-in card. 1 6 0 sends signals to each other. The communication line 14 can be a local area network (LAN) cable, a serial winding (such as RS-2 3 2), a universal serial bus (Universal SerUl bus, USB) winding, or A fiber optic cable. Each processor 118 will continuously replace the bus ιOO through the communication line 14o or PCI to transmit signals with other processors 1 1 8. In addition, the connection between the communication line i 4 〇 and the processor add-in cards 120 and 160 can be directly connected to the two processor add-in cards 1 2 0 and 16 through a cable (not shown). This can be achieved by connecting two processors with socket 105. When the power control circuit 1 5 〇 transmits power to the processor add-in card 1 2 〇,

1238938 V. Description of the invention (9) 160 and other add-in cards 106, 108, and 110. Among the two-processor add-in cards 〇160, there is a main processor add-in card 120 which will truly be pci 埶Replace sink requirements. Therefore, the processor of the main processor with the card 12 = it will become the main processor, and will control the operation of a RA_200 circuit. At the same time, the add-in card 160 of the sub-processor is in a standby state. The add-in card 120 of the main processing state will continue to be transmitted through the communication line 14. : f: plug + 160mutual # to send consumption, and the deputy office will be notified on a regular basis, the: attached card m its operating status. In addition, the sub processor 160 can also actively monitor the operating status of the main processor card 120. There are two Γ! Attachment! # 卡 _Measurement of its own operating conditions are not correct Card i \ 〇y. After that, the management / attachment of the card 1 20 will immediately notify the sub processor to attach 1 M 2 and the processor card 120 will instruct its signal switching circuit to break the circuit connection between it and the PCI hot-replacement bus 100. Card Saki takes over the main processor attached card 12. After the operation is attached == management attached card 12_ The operation performed will be transferred to the deputy companion master, so when the main processor attaches the card 1 2 0, the operation will not be controlled. Therefore, the circuit 20 0 will continue to be processed by the deputy. With the card attached to the 16 ° port, operation will not be interrupted or data errors will result. Yes: When the operation of the card m is abnormal, in addition to using this method to prevent possible effects, its operation can be described as follows. The sub processor with a card 1 6 0 will monitor the main location 1238938

The operating status of the physics add-in card i 2〇. When the main processor add-in card 丄 20 is not operating properly, the sub-processor add-in card i 6 will control the signal switching circuit 128 of the main processor add-in card 120 to cut off the main processor add-in card 12 〇 Pci hot replacement electrical connection between busbars 100. At the same time, the sub-processor add-in card 160 takes over the operation of the main processor add-in card 120. In addition, the sub-processor add-in card 160¾ instructs the main processor add-in card 120 to switch off the power of the main process to the add-in card 120. In addition, when the auxiliary processor add-in card 1 60 cannot detect the main processor add-in card i 20 after a specific time, it will be deemed that the main processor add-in card i 20 has failed, and its related Operation. Similarly, the main processor add-in card 12 will monitor the sub-processor add-in card 16 in the same way. In addition, when the main processor add-in card (20 is operating normally, the sub-processor add-in card 160 is on standby. In order to effectively play the benefits of the sub-processor add-in card 160, the main processor add-in The card j 2〇 can transfer part or all of the different operations to the sub-processor attached card 16 to reduce the main processing benefit of the attached card 1 2 0. When the main processor is attached to the card i 2 〇 When the computing work is handed over to the sub-processor attached card 160, it can be handed over to the card processor through hot replacement of the bus 100 or the communication line 140. When the sub-processor is attached to the card 16, the main The processor has an add-in card / 2. After the processing operation is completed, I 'will send the result of the operation to the main processor add-in card 12 through the replacement bus 100 or the communication line 140. Compared with the conventional main processing,器 附 ++, the purpose of the present invention is to use

1238938 V. Description of the invention (u) Management $ 2 f A signal switching circuit 1 28 and a power switching circuit 1 22 The main card of the card and at least one sub-processor attached card 16〇, = number 2 of the circuit 1 40, so that the user can replace the main location τ! 1! Ϊ́12! In a hot-swappable manner; the field processing card i 6 〇 takes over, and the entire system can continue to work. In addition, when the main processor add-in card 120 operates normally, the main processor add-in card 120 can hand off part of the computing work to the sub-processor add-in card 160 to reduce the main processor add-in card 1. The operation of 2〇. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Any equal changes and modifications made in accordance with the present application 4 shall fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

Page 14 1238938 Brief description of diagrams Brief description of diagrams Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a conventional technology processor add-in card inserted into a PC I hot-swap bus. Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the main processor add-in card of the present invention when it is inserted into a PC I hot-swap bus. Symbols shown in the figure 100 PCI hot-swappable bus 102 Substrate 104 With card slot 105 Processor slot 106 I / O card 108 SCSI card 110 Network card 112 Power switching circuit 114 Signal switching circuit 116 PC I circuit 118 Processor 120 Main processor with add-in card 122 Power switching circuit 126 PCI circuit 128 Signal switching circuit 130 Connection end 140 Communication line 150 Power control circuit 160 202 Sub processor with card hard drive 200 RAID control circuit

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Claims (1)

1238938 Case No. 90133281 said Amendment 6. Scope of Patent Application 3. For the main processor attached card of the first patent application scope, the sub processor attached card is installed on the hot-replacement bus. 4 card holder attachment ίι place. Lord place ίι place vice Hai = mouth should be cut off the way. The card is inserted and connected between the line and the electric signal. Attachment I, device replacement 3, and the third place are hot: If you want to control the plug-in, you can attach a card application device. 4 The main processor 5. If the main processor attached card of item 4 of the scope of patent application, when the signal switching circuit of the main processor attached card cuts off the main processor attached card and the hot-replacement bus After being electrically connected, the main processor add-in card can be removed from the hot-swap bus. Card cut reactor-Μ I for I card source main plug with attached k item card 〇〇 plug the first place enclosed main device Fan Lili system office special control master please apply for card closing c.0aw Attach or connect the device to the sub-processor at JJ, and change its route. 7. If the main processor attached card of the scope of patent application No. 1 is connected to the sub-processor attached card through the hot replacement bus Send a signal. 8. If the main processor with a plug-in card in item 1 of the scope of the patent application, the hot swap bus is used to hand over the computing work to the sub-processor with a plug-in card. 9. If the main processor attached to the card in the scope of patent application No. 1 has a structure similar to that of a PCI communication l 4 non-peripheral communication interface bus Page 17 1238938 Case No. 90133281 Amendment 6. The scope of patent application. 10. If the main processor add-in card of item 9 in the scope of patent application, it also contains -PC I circuit, which is used to match the main processor add-in card with the PC I bus 1 The main processor add-in card of the first item in the scope transmits signals to and from the sub-processor add-in card through the communication line. 1 2. If the main processor is attached with an add-in card as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the communication line is a local area network (Loca 1 Ar ea Ne t work, LAN) cable, a serial winding (seria 1 cab 1 e), a universal serial bus (Universa 1 Serial 1 Bus, USB) winding or a fiber channel cable. _ ij, the owner of the card, including its attachments, ι, the owner of 5, J3, the card holder, mc-JJ, and the vice-president, who will be assigned by the workman, will be able to apply for the card. 3 1 device Page 18