JPH04367013A - Clock system for information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a clock system for information processing equipment, and particularly to a clock system for logically partitioned computer systems.
The present invention relates to a technique that is effective when applied to a clock system of an information processing device that enables automatic initialization of the information processing device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Information processing apparatuses are generally equipped with a TOD that measures the current time. As a conventional technology related to the general specifications of this TOD mechanism, for example, "HITAC M series processing equipment (M
/EX mode) (8080-2-093)” P26-P
27 and the like are known.

[0003] That is, as is clear from the technology described in the above publication, the function of the TOD mechanism itself is a "clock" that can be accessed from a program, and it is nothing like a "clock" in the everyday sense. There is nothing that will change. However, the TOD value obtained by a program accessing the TOD plays a very important role in an information processing system having this information processing device as its core.

For example, the TOD mechanism is usually built into the main body of the information processing device, and therefore the power supply source is also common to the main body of the information processing device. Therefore, the TOD mechanism does not accurately measure time immediately after the information processing device is powered on, and unless there is a special measure, the time must be set by the operator.

[0005] Also, recently, automatic operation of computer systems,
Desirably, unmanned operation is required, and in anticipation of such a situation, the information processing equipment of the general-purpose large computer "HAITAC M series" produced and sold by Hitachi, Ltd. is backed up by a battery, and the computer itself is It is equipped with a clock mechanism that continues to measure the time even when the power is turned off. By initially setting the time measured by this clock mechanism in the TOD when the power is turned on, the operator usually does not need to initialize the TOD.

[0006] In recent years, logically partitioned computer systems, in which one information processing device is logically partitioned and operated as a plurality of logical information processing devices, have come into widespread use. In this type of logically partitioned computer system, 1
The entire information processing device including the two information processing devices is called a host, and the logical information processing realized by this logical partitioning means is called a guest.

Therefore, in such an information processing apparatus, it is necessary to provide a TOD mechanism not only for the host but also for each guest. What is desired is to automatically initialize the TOD of all guests when the power is turned on.

[0008]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the prior art as described above,
Needless to say, this can be achieved by providing multiple clock mechanisms that continue to keep time even when the power to the computer is turned off. However, there is a problem in that this results in an increase in hardware, which in turn leads to an increase in hardware cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems and provide a clock system for an information processing apparatus suitable for use in an information processing apparatus operated in a logical partition format. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device system equipped with a mechanism.

That is, an object of the present invention is to automatically initialize each TOD of each guest computer operating in a logical partition mode when the power is turned on without requesting operator intervention. An object of the present invention is to provide a clock system for an information processing device that enables unmanned operation in an advanced computer system utilization mode called a logical partition mode.

[0011] Furthermore, it is possible to achieve the above-mentioned purpose by effectively utilizing existing computer resources, without causing a significant increase in hardware, and in turn minimizing the increase in hardware costs. The object of the present invention is to provide a clock system for an information processing device that can perform the following functions.

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.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Among the inventions disclosed in this application, a brief overview of typical inventions will be as follows.
It is as follows.

That is, the clock system of the information processing device of the present invention is an information processing device configured with logical partitioning means for providing a plurality of logical information processing devices by logically partitioning one information processing device. A processing system comprising: a first means for setting time information unique to each of a plurality of logical information processing devices provided by a logical partition means;
a second means for non-volatilely holding the time information set by the means; and a third means for initializing the clock mechanism of each logical information processing device according to the time information held by the second means when the power is turned on. The means shall be provided.

[0015]

[Operation] According to the clock system of the information processing device described above, by providing the first means, the second means, and the third means, a plurality of logical information processes can be performed without operator intervention when the power is turned on. Operation of the device can be started.

That is, the first means is to set the guest TOD by the program or the operator.
Obtain relative time difference information between the D value and the host TOD value.

For example, the guest TOD value is GTOD, the host TOD value is HTOD, and the guest TOD value is the host TOD.
Let ΔTOD be the relative time difference information with the D value. Specifically, the following calculation is performed to obtain ΔTOD.

ΔTOD=HTOD−GTOD...(a) Also,
By the second means, ΔTOD calculated by equation (a) is held in a non-volatile manner.

Furthermore, the value of the host TOD at power-on is assumed to be HTOD''. At this time, the third means reads ΔTOD held non-volatilely by the second means to obtain the guest TOD. Specifically, perform the following calculations to obtain GT
Obtain OD''.

[0020]GTOD''=HTOD+α...(b
) That is, from the time when ΔTOD was calculated using equation (a), α
HTOD″ is HTOD″
=HTOD+α...(c). Here, by substituting formula (c) into formula (b), GTOD''=HTOD+α-ΔTOD...(d)
Furthermore, since ΔTOD was originally calculated using formula (a), by substituting formula (a) into formula (d), GTOD''
=HTOD+α-(HTOD-GTOD) Arranging the right side, it becomes GTOD''=GTOD+α...(e).

The meaning of formula (e) is GTOD''
is the value of the guest TOD when α has elapsed from the time when ΔTOD was calculated using equation (a), and is exactly the value of the guest TOD when the power is turned on.

Furthermore, the guest TO obtained by the third means
Set the value of D in the guest computer.

As a result of the above, the guest TOD is automatically initialized when the power is turned on.

[0024] As a result, each TOD of each guest computer can be automatically initialized when the power is turned on, and unmanned operation can be performed in an advanced computer system utilization form called a logical partition form.

[0025]

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information processing system which is an embodiment of the clock system of the information processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the process when setting TOD for a guest computer in the information processing system of this embodiment.
is a flowchart showing the process when providing TOD to a guest computer, Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the process when powering off the host computer, and Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the process when powering on the host computer. FIG.

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

The information processing system of this embodiment is an information processing system that can provide a plurality of logical information processing devices by logically partitioning one information processing device, for example, and includes a host computer 1, a guest computer It consists of A2 and a guest computer B3, and an operator console A5 and an operator console B6 are connected to the host computer 1 via a control cable 4.

The host computer 1 includes a logical partition means (third means) 11, a clock mechanism (first means) 12, a host TO
It includes a D (hereinafter referred to as HTOD) 13 and an auxiliary storage device (second means) 14 as constituent elements, and the auxiliary storage device 14 is a disk storage device using a magnetic storage medium, and is hereinafter referred to as DISK 14.

The logical partitioning means 11 is a logical partitioning means that provides a plurality of logical computers by logically partitioning the host computer 1. In this embodiment, the logical partitioning means 11 operates the guest computer A2 and the guest computer B3. There is.

Further, the logical partitioning means 11 includes an EDA 11
1 and EDB112.
A111 and EDB112 are guest computers A, respectively.
2 and guest computer B3.

The clock mechanism 12 has a clock (hereinafter referred to as CLOC).
CLOCK 121 is a clock that measures the current time, and its power source is BA.
It is supplied by T122.

Furthermore, the BAT 122 is a dry battery that can operate the CLOCK 121 for a sufficiently long period of time without being supplied with external power. can continue to keep track of the time.

The HTOD 13 is a TOD originally provided in the host computer 1, and is a TOD used by the host computer 1.
Holds the OD clock value. This TOD clock value is updated at regular intervals by the function of the HTOD 13 itself.

The DISK 14 is a disk storage device using a magnetic recording medium, and the information stored therein is retained even when the host computer 1 is powered off.

The DISK 14 has been initialized in advance and holds information necessary to operate the computer system. In particular, dTODA141 and dTODB142 are information specific to the present invention.

Guest computer A2 and guest computer B3
is provided with storage means for TOD (hereinafter referred to as GTODA) 21 and TOD (hereinafter referred to as GTODB) 31, respectively, and each GTODA 21 and GTODB 31 are provided from the logical partition means 11 of the host computer 1.

The operator console A5 and the operator console B6 are both connected to the host computer 1 via the control cable 4, and are connected to the guest computer A by the logical partition means 11.
2 and as a control console for guest computer B3.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.
This is explained by:

First, when the host computer 1 is operating,
The HTOD 13 measures the current time. In addition, the logical partitioning means 11 provides GTODA to the guest computer A2.
must be provided.

First, the processing of the logical partitioning means 11 when the operator sets the TOD for the guest computer A2 will be explained based on FIG.

First, in step 201, the logical partitioning means 11 receives T input from the operator console A5.
Read the OD value via the control cable 4 and
It is held internally as .

Furthermore, in step 202, the logical partitioning means 11 reads the value of HTOD 13 and holds it internally as HTOD. Then, in step 203, the logical partitioning means 11 transfers the GTODA value internally held as a result of the processing in step 201 to the GTODA value in step 203.
The result of the process in step 02 is subtracted from the internally held HTOD value, and the subtraction result is set in the EDA 111.

As a result of the above series of processes, the value set in the EDA 111 is EDA=HTOD-GTOD (f).

Next, the logical partitioning means 11
The process when providing TOD for 2 will be explained based on FIG. 3.

First, in step 301, the logical partitioning means 11 reads the value of HTOD 13 and holds it internally as HTOD. Then, in step 302, the logical partitioning means 11 subtracts the EDA value held in the EDA 111 from the HTOD value held internally as a result of the processing in step 301, and transfers the subtraction result to the GTODA2.
1 to the guest computer A2.

Next, the unique processing in this embodiment when powering off the host computer 1 will be explained based on FIG. 4.

First, in step 401, the logical partitioning means 11 reads the value of HTOD13 and sets CLOCK1.
Set to 21. Furthermore, in step 402, the logical partitioning means 11 reads the contents of the EDA 111 and dT
Write to ODA141. Then, in step 403, the logical partitioning means 11 reads the contents of the EDB 112 and writes them to the dTODB 142.

Next, the unique processing in this embodiment when powering on the host computer 1 will be explained based on FIG. 5.

First, in step 501, the logical partitioning means 11 reads the value of CLOCK121, and
Set to 13. Furthermore, in step 502, the logical partitioning means 11 reads the contents of the dTODA 141,
Write to EDA111. Then, in step 503, the logical partitioning means 11 reads the contents of the dTODB 142 and writes them to the EDB 112.

Furthermore, after the host computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 starts operating through a series of power-on processes including FIG.
The logical partitioning means 11 performs GTOD on the guest computer A2.
The process when providing A21 is as already explained using FIG. 3.

Therefore, according to the information processing system of this embodiment, the value measured by the CLOCK 121 operated by the BAT 122, the guest computer A2 and the guest computer B
The relative time difference information with the TOD value of 3 is dTODA141
By holding the TOD value in the dTODB 142 in a non-volatile manner, when the power is turned on, the TOD value of each guest computer is calculated by the logical partition means 11, and the TOD value of each guest computer is calculated and
It is possible to initialize the ODB31. This results in
Guest computers can be initialized automatically.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically explained based on examples, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say.

For example, although the information processing system of this embodiment has been described as being composed of two guest computers, guest computer A2 and guest computer B3, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Without,
For example, it is widely applicable to cases where three or more guest computers are configured.

[0054]

[Effects of the Invention] Among the inventions disclosed in this application, the effects obtained by the typical inventions are briefly explained as follows.
It is as follows.

That is, first means for setting unique time information for each of the plurality of logical information processing devices provided by the logical partition means, and a method for non-volatilely holding the time information set by this first means. By providing the second means for initializing the clock mechanism of each logical information processing device according to the time information held by the second means when the power is turned on, the guest T
Since the OD is automatically initialized, each TOD of each guest computer can be initialized automatically without operator intervention, and unmanned operation in an advanced computer system usage mode called logical partition mode is possible. It becomes possible.

As a result, existing computer resources can be used effectively, without causing a significant increase in hardware, and by minimizing increases in hardware costs, which can be used in the form of logical partitions. A clock mechanism suitable for an information processing device can be realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information processing system that is an embodiment of a clock system of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing a process when setting TOD for a guest computer in the information processing system of this embodiment.

[Figure 3] In this example, TO is sent to the guest computer.
It is a flowchart which shows the process when providing D.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing processing when powering off a host computer in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing when powering on a host computer in this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Host computer 2 Guest computer A 3 Guest computer B 4 Control cable 5 Operation console A 6 Operation console B 11 Logical partition means (third means) 12 Clock mechanism (first means) 13　HTOD 14 DISK (second means) 21 GTODA 31 GTODB 111 EDA 112 EDB 121　CLOCK 122　BAT 141 dTODA 142 dTODB

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An information processing system comprising logical partitioning means for providing a plurality of logical information processing apparatuses by logically partitioning one information processing apparatus, wherein the logical partitioning means provides a plurality of logical information processing apparatuses. a first means for setting unique time information for each of the plurality of logical information processing devices provided; a second means for nonvolatilely holding the time information set by the first means; and a third means for initializing the clock mechanism of each logical information processing device according to the time information held by the second means at the time, and a third means for initializing the clock mechanism of each logical information processing device according to the time information held by the second means. A clock system for an information processing device, characterized in that it is possible to start the operation of the processing device.