JPH05736B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] The present invention relates to an initial program loading method in a computer system, and relates to a non-cross mode in which a central processing unit is connected to one input/output control device, and a method for loading an initial program in a computer system. There is a cross mode in which the central processing unit and the input/output control device are connected to a selected one of a plurality of input/output control devices. , an initial program loading method in which information defining the logical connections switched by the switching means is stored and the initial program is loaded by the central processing unit in a non-cross mode. If you perform an initial program load in the non-cross mode and this initial program load fails, replace the input/output control device set in the non-cross mode with the input/output control device stored in the above information. This system is characterized in that the central processing unit performs the initial program loading again via an input/output control device that can be connected in cross mode.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an initial program load (IPL) method suitable for multi-computer systems, etc., and in particular to an initial program load method that can dynamically and efficiently retry the initial program load when the initial program load fails. It is related to.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, when operating a computer system, the control program is stored in an external storage device, and each time the computer system is started up, an initial program load (IPL) is performed to load the control program from the external storage device to the main storage device. There is.

A central processing unit (CPU) is logically connected to an external storage device via an input/output control device [channel controller (CHC)].

A multi-computer system is equipped with a plurality of external storage devices and a channel processor (CHP) that controls a plurality of input/output control devices corresponding to these external storage devices.

In order to form a path between one central processing unit and one external storage device, a floating channel address (FCA; address for logically identifying the input/output control unit CHC) is used.
is defined in the computer system,
The central processing unit is the operating system (OS)
It is possible to logically connect to any external storage device (hereinafter referred to as cross mode) using a set command for a floating channel address issued by a management program such as .

However, when a computer system is started up, that is, the initial program load is executed in a non-cross mode in which the central processing unit and the input/output control unit are logically connected one-to-one. A processing device executes an initial program load only from a logically connected input/output control device based on the connection relationship with the external storage device that is uniquely determined at the time of startup.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional initial program load (IPL) execution, if the initial program load fails in one pass, for example because the input/output control unit (CHC) is in use or due to a failure, the initial program load can only be executed in non-cross mode and cannot be switched to any other path (alternate path), so the central processing unit retries the initial program load to a different input/output control unit. That was impossible.

In this case, if the initial program load fails in one pass and the next initial program load is to be retried, the central processing unit that performs the initial program load must be switched by the operator. However, there was a problem in that the computer system could not be started up dynamically and efficiently.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned problems, and when the initial program load fails in one path, it is possible to retry the initial program load using an alternate path, and the startup of the computer system is accelerated. An object of the present invention is to provide an initial program loading method that can be performed efficiently and efficiently.

[Means to solve the problem]

Means for achieving the above object of the present invention is as shown in the principle explanatory diagram of FIG.
a non-cross mode in which the central processing unit 1 is set to be connected to one input/output control device 2a, and a setting in which the central processing unit 1 is set to be connected to a selected one of the plurality of input/output control devices 2a to 2n. There is a cross mode, which has a switching means 3 for switching the logical connection between the central processing unit 1 and the input/output control devices 2a to 2n, and defines the logical connection switched by the switching means 3. the central processing unit 1 in the non-cross mode;
In the initial program loading method, the central processing unit 1 loads the initial program in the non-cross mode, and when the initial program load fails, the non-cross mode The input/output control device 2a set in the cross mode is replaced with the input/output control device stored in the information, and the initialization by the central processing unit 1 is performed via the input/output control device connectable in the cross mode. This is an initial program loading method in which the program is loaded again.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, when an initial program load is performed by the central processing unit 1 in the non-cross mode, even if this initial program load fails, the input/output control defined in the non-cross mode is maintained. The switching means 3 replaces the device 2a with one connectable input/output control device selected and set in the cross mode, and the central processing unit 1 performs an initial program load.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a multi-computer system implementing the present invention. First, its configuration will be explained. This computer system includes a plurality of central processing units (CPUs) 1a to 1d, and has main memory control units (MCU) 4a and 4b that are shared by a group of central processing units (CPUs). The main memory control units (MCU) 4a and 4b include a channel processor (CHP) that forms multiple paths for initial program load (IPL).
5a and 5b are respectively coupled, and each channel processor (CHP) 5a and 5b has a plurality of input/output controllers (CHC) 2a to 2h, and in the cross mode, these input/output controllers (CHC) 2a
~2h for all central processing units (CPU) 1a~1
It is possible to connect to d.

In order to enable the cross mode, the main memory control units (MCU) 4a and 4b are interconnected so that the central processing unit (CPU) and channel processor (CHP) on the other side can be connected to each other. It is configured.

Furthermore, each main memory control unit (MCU) 4a, 4
Each of b has a service processor (SVP)
3a and 3b are connected, and these service processors (SVP) 3a and 3b constitute the switching means of the present invention.

Each main memory control unit (MCU) 4a, 4b includes
A main storage device (not shown) is connected and controls access from central processing units (CPUs) 1a to 1d.

In addition, each input/output control device (CHC) 2a to 2h
A magnetic disk device, etc. is connected as an external storage device, and the central processing unit (CPU) is an input/output control unit (CHC) specified by a floating channel address (FCA) formed in the main memory control unit (MCU). ) It is designed to be able to input and output with any of 2a to 2h.

The operation of this embodiment in the multi-computer system configured as above will be explained.

After the initial program load (IPL) is completed, the central processing unit (CPU)
A management program such as an operating system (OS) manages the floating channel address (FCA) that defines the connection between each central processing unit (CPU) and input/output control unit (CHC).
can be freely connected to each input/output control unit (CHC) in cross mode, but when executing the initial program load (IPL), the central processing unit (CPU) has unique access. In particular, it connects to one input/output control unit (CHC) owned by one channel processor (CHP) that has already been installed, and executes an initial program load (IPL) in non-cross mode.

This connection state is a floating channel address (FCA)
defined in the service processor (SVP) 3a,
The service processors (SVP) 3a and 3b each manage the initial program load through a path between, for example, the input/output control unit (CHC) No. 0 of the central processing unit (CPU) No. 0. (IPL) and when a failure in the initial program load (IPL) is detected, the floating channel address (FCA) is temporarily set to an alternate path [for example, central processing unit (CPU) No. 0 and input/output control device (CHC) No. 1] and retry the initial program load (IPL).

This increases the probability that the initial program load (IPL) will be successful.
Furthermore, it becomes possible to dynamically perform a retry when the initial program load (IPL) fails.

Figure 3 shows the initial program load (IPL)
The central processing unit CPU No. 0 that executes the initial program load (IPL) is connected one-to-one with the input/output control unit (CHC) No. 0 in non-cross mode,
In cross mode, this indicates that it is connected to any one of input/output control unit (CHC) No. 0, 1, 2, or 3 via floating channel address (FCA). .

Figure 3 a shows that in non-cross mode, the initial program load (IPL) machine number 0 set in the service processor SVP fails, and the initial program load (IPL) machine number It is a figure which shows after being changed from the number 0 to the number 1.

The "1" shown in the initial program load (IPL) machine number in a in the figure is a temporary input/output control unit (CHC) for retrying the initial program load (IPL) using an alternate path.
It indicates the number of this temporary input/output control device.
The service processor (SVP) searches whether a value corresponding to CHC No. 1 has already been set in the floating channel address (FCA).

As a result of the search, if the floating channel address (FCA) has already been set, it is defined to which central processing unit CPU No. that input/output control unit (CHC) No. 1 is connected in non-cross mode. The service processor (SVP) searches to see if the In this embodiment, the input/output control unit (CHC) No. 1 is defined to be connected to the central processing unit (CPU) No. 1 in the non-cross mode.

Since the initial program load (IPL) is executed only in non-cross mode, the input/output control unit CHC No. 1 specified by the initial program load (IPL) machine number and the target central processing unit (CPU) No. To retry the initial program load (IPL) using 0,
The central processing unit (CPU) No. 1 defined in the non-cross mode is changed to the central processing unit (CPU) No. 0 on which the initial program load (IPL) is actually executed, as shown in Figure 3b. Swap within the floating channel address (FCA) as shown below.
Then, with the central processing unit (CPU) No. 0 swapped, the initial program load (IPL) is retried using central processing unit (CPU) No. 0.
have it done.

As a result of the above actions, the central processing unit (CPU) No. 0 is connected to the input/output control unit (CHC) No. 0 of the channel processor (CHP) No. 0, which is surrounded by the dotted line in a in Fig. 4. Even if the initial program load (IPL) fails on the path between
Initial program load (IPL) is the path between central processing unit (CPU) No. 0 and input/output control unit (CHC) No. 1 of channel processor (CHP) No. 0, which is surrounded by a dotted line. can be retried.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be applied in various ways and implemented in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

Additionally, the floating channel address (FCA) of the present invention
The switching means is not limited to the service program (SVP), but may be hardware with equivalent functionality.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to multi-computer systems, but can also be applied to other single computer systems as long as they are provided with a plurality of paths.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, when the central processing unit performs an initial program load in the non-cross mode, even if this initial program load fails, the input defined in the non-cross mode is executed. The switching means replaces the output control device with one connectable input/output control device selected and set in the cross mode, and the initial program load by the central processing unit can be executed again. If the initial program load fails, it is possible to automatically switch to an alternate path and retry, increasing the success rate of the initial program load and starting up the computer system dynamically and efficiently. be.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of a multi-computer system implementing the present invention, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a table for managing execution of initial program load (IPL), and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a table for managing execution of initial program load (IPL). The figure is an explanatory diagram of switching of alternate paths. 1, 1a to 1d...Central processing unit (CPU), 2
a to 2n...Input/output control unit (CHC), 3...Switching means, 3a+3b...Service processor (SVP), 4a, 4b...Main memory control unit (MCU), 5a, 5b...Channel processor (CHP).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The central processing unit 1 is one input/output control device 2a.
a non-cross mode set so that the central processing unit 1 is connected to a plurality of input/output control devices 2;
There is a cross mode which is set to be connected to a selected one of the central processing unit 1 and the input/output control units 2a to 2n. an initial program loading method for storing information defining a logical connection switched by the switching means 3, and carrying out an initial program loading by the central processing unit 1 in the non-cross mode, the central The processing device 1 performs an initial program load in the non-cross mode, and when this initial program load fails, the input/output control device 2a set in the non-cross mode is stored with the information. An initial program loading method characterized in that the central processing unit 1 performs the initial program loading again via the input/output control device connectable in the cross mode in place of the input/output control device connected in the cross mode.