JPH0287247A - Maintenance diagnosis method for input/output processing units - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To parallelly execute operation work and the maintenance diagnosis of an input and output processor by controlling the input and output processor generating a trouble by the execution of an obtained test program in a condition that an input and output diagnosing means is separated and independent from a central processing unit. CONSTITUTION:An input and output diagnosing means 21 equipped with a test program 21a, an input and output diagnosing logic 21c and an input and output diagnosing logic control logic 21d can control input and output processors 13 and 14, in which the trouble is generated, by executing the test program in the condition that the means 21 is separated and independent from a central processing unit 11. Accordingly, the input and output processor 13 generating the trouble is separated and independent from the central processing unit 11. Even while the central processing unit 11 executes the operation work of a computer system by using the other operation input and output processor 14, the analysis and pursuit of the trouble generation and the confirmation of operation after recovery in the function level of the input and output processor 13, in which the trouble is generated, can be executed without using the central processing unit 11. Thus, the operation work of the system and the maintenance diagnosis of the input and output processor 13 can be parallelly executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a maintenance diagnosis method for a computer system, and in particular, the present invention relates to a maintenance/diagnosis method for a computer system, and in particular, the function of an input/output processing device in which a failure has occurred, without stopping the operation of the computer system. The present invention relates to a technique that is effective when applied to a maintenance diagnosis method for input/output processing devices that enables execution of a series of maintenance diagnosis for analyzing and investigating the occurrence of failures based on the level, and checking the operation after repair.

[Conventional technology]

In this type of computer system, for example, as shown in FIG.
U) 11, Service Processor (SVP) 12 and 2
It consists of 1 input/output processing device (10P) 13.14, and each input/output processing device 13.14 has an input/output device (
Ilo>1516 is connected.

The service processor 12 is equipped with a semiconductor memory in which internal control functions 12a such as a hardware information scan control function are stored, and is connected to the central processing unit 11 equipped with a human output control logic 11a through a signal line 100. , the hardware service logic 12b performs processing such as setting the system configuration on the central processing unit 11.

The input/output processing device 13.14 is a channel processing device (CH
P) 13a, 14a, channel control device (CHC) 13
b, 14b and channel portions (CH) 13c, 14c. It is connected to the central processing unit 11 through signal lines 101 and 102, and further connected to the service processor I2 through a signal line 103.

Further, in the input/output processing devices 13 and 14, the transferred commands and the like are analyzed in the channel processing devices 13a and 14a, and then sent to the channel control device 13b.

An operation instruction is given to 14b. Furthermore, the input/output processing device 13.14 via the channel units 13c and 14c.
The input/output devices 15.16 are operated by instructions to the input/output devices 15.16 connected to the input/output devices 15.16.

Furthermore, the input/output processing units 13 and 14 include the central processing unit 1
By being connected to the service processor 1 and the service processor 12, it is possible to receive control similar to that of the central processing unit 11, and at the same time, it can also be controlled at a logical level by the internal control function 12a of the service processor 12. The service processor 12 therefore allows diagnosis of the input/output processing devices 13, 14 at a logical level.

Next, in the computer system configured in this way,
For example, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the effect when a failure occurs in the input/output processing device 13.

According to the figure, when an unrecoverable failure occurs in the input/output processing unit 13 during system operation, the input/output processing unit 13 connects the human output processing unit R13 and the central processing unit 11. By logically separating the signal line 101, it is separated from the system configuration. Then, the operational work is continued in the other input/output processing devices 14.

Furthermore, this disconnected input/output processing unit 13 is repaired by analyzing and investigating the occurrence of the failure, and after the system operation work is completed, it is connected to the central processing unit 11 again and operates at the functional level. A confirmation will be made. Then, it will be reconfigured at the next start-up of system operations.

In the computer system configured and executed as described above, for example, a semiconductor memory in which a test program necessary for maintenance diagnosis is stored is mounted as the internal control function 12a in the service processor 12.
It is described in No. 164920. This maintenance diagnosis method is a method in which maintenance diagnosis is executed by replacing and allocating a test program to a part of the main storage device in the central processing unit.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the startup processing and termination processing of the input/output processing unit during maintenance diagnosis are controlled by the input/output control logic within the central processing unit, and the input/output processing unit is separated and independent from the central processing unit. No consideration is given to controlling the output processing device at a functional level from startup to termination.

Therefore, there is a problem in that the operation of an input/output processing unit separated from the central processing unit due to the occurrence of a failure cannot be verified at the functional level unless the operation of the computer system is stopped.

In addition, as a similar maintenance diagnosis method, technology using pseudo devices such as logical simulation has been realized.
Similarly to the above, it has not yet been possible to carry out failure repair work in parallel with computer system operation work and to confirm operation at the functional level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system that can be used without using a central processing unit even during the execution of operational tasks of a computer system.
It is possible to analyze the occurrence of a failure at the functional level of the input/output processing unit where the failure occurred, investigate it, and check the operation after repair.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a maintenance diagnosis method for an input/output processing device that can improve the operability of a computer system.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Means to solve the problem]

A brief overview of typical inventions disclosed in this application is as follows.

That is, the maintenance diagnosis method for the input/output processing device of the present invention is as follows:
In a computer system comprising a central processing unit, an input/output processing unit, a service processor, and an input/output diagnostic means, the input/output diagnostic unit analyzes a failure based on the functional level of the input/output processing unit in which the failure has occurred; a test program that performs maintenance diagnostics for tracking and operation confirmation;
an input/output diagnostic logic for diagnosing the input/output processing device having functions for performing startup processing, data transfer processing, and termination processing; and controlling the input/output diagnostic logic in parallel with the operation work of the computer system. input/output diagnostic logic and control logic, and is capable of controlling the input/output processing device in which a fault has occurred by executing the test program in a state where the input/output diagnostic means is separated and independent from the central processing unit. It is.

[Effect]

According to the above-described maintenance diagnosis method for input/output processing equipment, the input/output diagnostic means, which includes a test program, input/output diagnostic logic, and input/output diagnostic logic control logic, is separated and independent from the central processing unit, and detects failures. When the test program is loaded and an input/output instruction is issued, the input/output processing unit in which the input/output processing unit is generated can be controlled by the execution of the test program. Information such as addresses, commands, and data is sent to the input/output processing unit in the same way as when the central processing unit executes an input/output command during the operation of the system.

At this time, by sending the activation information, the input/output processing device receives the activation information and starts data transfer as if it were connected to the central processing unit. and,
Once the data transfer is complete and termination information is sent from the I/O processor, the I/O diagnostic logic receives the termination information and forwards it to the test program. By analyzing each piece of transferred information in this way, it becomes possible to check the operation of the input/output processing device at its functional level, independent of the central processing unit.

Therefore, even if the failed input/output processing unit is separated and independent from the central processing unit, and the central processing unit is running the computer system using other operable input/output processing units, the central It is possible to analyze the occurrence of a fault at the functional level of the input/output processing device in which the fault has occurred, pursue it, and check the operation after repair without using the processing device.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a part of a computer system that is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the elapsed time from disconnection to reconfiguration of a failed input/output processing device in this embodiment. It is a diagram.

First, the configuration of the computer system of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG.

Data processing device 10 in the computer system of this embodiment
For example, a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a service processor (SVP) 12, and two human output processing units!
I(IOP) 13 and 14, and the difference from the data processing apparatus of the prior art is that a human output diagnostic manual 21 is newly provided in the service processor 12.

Therefore, the configuration and operation of the computer system of this embodiment are based on the prior art, except for the input/output diagnostic means 21, as shown in the upper right corner of Figure 3 and Figure 4.

The input/output diagnostic means 21 newly provided in the computer system of this embodiment is a test program 21a that executes maintenance diagnosis to analyze, pursue, and check the operation of failures based on the functional level of the input/output processing device 13 where the failure has occurred. is stored in the data file 21b, and further includes an input/output diagnostic logic 21c that performs maintenance diagnosis of the output processing device 13 as a semiconductor memory, and an input/output diagnostic logic control logic that controls the input/output diagnostic logic 21C. 21d.

Further, this test program 21a is loaded by a test program load logic 21e stored in the semiconductor memory and stored in a test program storage area 21f in the semiconductor memory. This stored test program 21a is read out by the input/output diagnostic logic 21c operated after the control of the input/output diagnostic logic control logic 21d,
Maintenance diagnosis is performed.

Next, the input/output processing device 13 of the computer system of this embodiment
In the case where a failure occurs in the system, the steps from disconnecting the failed input/output processing device 13, investigating the occurrence of the failure, repairing and checking the operation after the repair, and reconfiguring the system will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the human output control logic 11a in the central processing unit 11 executes input/output activation for the input/output devices 15.16, and the input/output processing devices 13.16 are activated through the signal lines 111 and 112.
14, the input/output processing device 1
3, a disconnection instruction is sent to the channel processing device 13a in the input/output processing device 13 through the signal line 103 under the control of the service processor 12.

The channel processing device E13a operates to be disconnected under the instruction of the service processor 12 (thereby, the signal line 101 is logically disconnected from the central processing unit 11).

Further, the input/output processing unit 13 separated from the central processing unit 11 operates so that the channel processing unit 13a is connected to it under the instruction of the service processor 12. It is connected to the input/output diagnostic logic 2IC, which has functions of startup processing and linking processing of input/output operations, and data read processing and storage processing associated with data transfer.

Then, a test program 21a for executing maintenance diagnostics for investigating, repairing, and confirming the operation of failures at the functional level is loaded by the test program load logic 21e in the input/output diagnostic means 21, and is loaded into the data file 21.
b to the test program storage area 21f.

Furthermore, the input/output diagnostic logic 21c includes the input/output diagnostic means 21
The test program 21a stored in the test program storage area 21f is read word by word and maintenance diagnosis is executed.

Therefore, even when the input/output processing unit 13 is disconnected from the central processing unit 11, the input/output diagnostic logic 21C performs a series of maintenance diagnosis such as searching for failure occurrence at the functional level, repairing, and checking operation after repair. Execution becomes possible.

In addition, system operation tasks include other input/output processing that does not cause failures! 1if14, and the process is performed in parallel with maintenance diagnosis of the input/output processing device 13 in which a failure has occurred.

After the maintenance diagnosis at the functional level of the input/output processing device 13 in which the failure has occurred is completed, a disconnection instruction is sent to the channel processing device 13a in the input/output processing device 13 through the signal line 200 under the control of the service processor 12. It will be done.

Then, the channel processing device 13a works to disconnect the channel processing device 13a under the instruction of the service processor 12, thereby disconnecting the signal line 200 from the input/output diagnostic means 21, and further under the instruction of the service processor 12. The channel processing unit 13a is connected to the central processing unit 11 through the signal line 101.
logically recombined.

As a result, the computer system is reconfigured to the system configuration before the failure occurred, and the input/output processing device 13 can be used for system operation work.

As above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically explained based on Examples, but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the Examples and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. Not even.

For example, we have explained that the test program is loaded from a data file in the service processor and stored in the test program storage area.
The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a method may be used in which the information is loaded from an external storage device, or a method in which the information is resident in the input/output diagnostic logic may be used.

Further, although the human output control logic and the input/output diagnosis logic control logic are configured as a semiconductor memory in the service processor, they are not limited to this, and may be loaded from a data file, for example.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the input/output diagnostic logic, the input/output diagnostic logic control logic, and the test program are configured in the service processor, but in the present invention, It is sufficient if it is configured.

In the above explanation, the invention made by the present inventor was mainly applied to a maintenance diagnosis method for an input/output processing device used in a computer system, which is the field of application of the invention, but the invention is not limited to this. for example,
It is also widely applicable to input/output processing devices in other information processing devices.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Among the inventions disclosed in this application, the effects obtained by typical inventions are briefly described below.

That is, an input/output diagnostic means including a test program, input/output diagnostic logic, and input/output diagnostic logic control logic executes a test program on an input/output processing device in which a failure has occurred in a state separated and independent from a central processing unit. By being able to control the input/output processing unit in which a failure has occurred, it can be separated and independent from the central processing unit, and the central processing unit can use other operable input/output processing units to operate the computer system. Also, without using the central processing unit, it is possible to analyze the occurrence of a failure at the functional level of the input/output processing unit in which the failure has occurred, pursue it, and check the operation after repair.

As a result, it becomes possible to perform computer system operation tasks and maintenance diagnosis of input/output processing devices in parallel, reduce the time required to reconfigure input/output processing devices, and at the same time improve the operability of the computer system. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a part of a computer system that is an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows the elapsed time from disconnection to reconfiguration of an input/output processing device in which a failure has occurred in this embodiment. 3 is a block diagram showing a part of a computer system in the prior art, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the elapse of time from disconnection to reconfiguration of a failed input/output processing device in the prior art. 1.0...Data processing device, 11...Central processing unit (CPU), 11a...Human output control logic, 12.
...Service processor (SVP), 12a...Internal control function, 12b...Hardware service logic, 1
3.14... Input/output processing unit (IOP), 13a,
14a---Channel processing unit (CHP), 13b
, 14b... Channel control device (CHC), 13c,
14c... Channel part (CH), 15.16... Input/output device (Ilo), 21... Input/output diagnostic means, 2
1a... Test program, 21b... Data file, 21c... Input/output diagnostic logic, 21d... Input/output diagnostic logic control logic, 27e... Test program load logic, 27f... Test program storage area, 1
00-103,200...Signal line.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A computer system comprising a central processing unit, an input/output processing unit, a service processor, and an input/output diagnostic means, wherein the input/output diagnostic means is configured to detect the input/output in which a fault has occurred. A test program that executes maintenance diagnostics to analyze, pursue, and confirm operation of failures based on the functional level of the processing device, and diagnoses the input/output processing device that has functions for startup processing, data transfer processing, and termination processing. The computer system comprises an input/output diagnostic logic and an input/output diagnostic logic control logic that controls the input/output diagnostic logic in parallel with the operation work of the computer system, and the input/output diagnostic means is separated and independent from the central processing unit. 1. A maintenance diagnosis method for an input/output processing device, wherein the input/output processing device in which a failure has occurred can be controlled by executing the test program. 2. The maintenance diagnosis method for an input/output processing device according to claim 1, wherein the test program, the input/output diagnostic logic, and the input/output diagnostic logic control logic are arranged in a service processor. 3. The test program and the input/output diagnostic logic are provided as independent logics, and the test program and the input/output diagnostic logic are controlled by a test program loading function and input/output diagnostic logic control logic located in the service processor. A maintenance diagnosis method for an input/output processing device according to claim 1.