JP2001100946A - Method for confirming disk device position of raid, and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk position confirming method of RAID and a computer system which can safely and properly control the RAID. SOLUTION: This system has a computer 12 having a position storage control part 17a which secures position information storage areas 13a for every hard disk device 13 of a RAID 14 and which stores position information at the time of initial setting and having a position decision display control part 17b which reads the position information at the time of actuation to decide whether or not the physical positions of each hard disk device 13 match with each other a the time of the initial setting and actuation and which displays the physical positions of the hard disk device 13 at the time of the initial setting and actuation on a display 15 by BIOS only when both the positions are mutually different. The system has also the RAID 14, and the display 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method and a computer system for confirming the position of a RAID disk device suitable for RAID having a plurality of hard disk devices used as external storage devices of a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a plurality of hard disk devices are arranged side by side and a RAID (Redundant Array Array) capable of controlling the whole as one hard disk device.
f Independent Disks) has been used as an external storage device of a computer because data reading / writing speed can be increased and reliability can be improved. This RAID is also called a disk array, for example, from level 0 to level 5
It is generally classified as The RAID has a RAID controller board as a controller, like other peripheral devices, and is electrically connected to a computer serving as a server or a host computer via the RAID controller board. The operation of the RAID is controlled based on a control program stored in a computer. Also. RA
The ID controller board is generally used by being mounted on a computer. Furthermore, RAID has
Generally, a hot swap function is provided, and a hard disk device can be attached and detached while the power of the computer is turned on.

[0003] In a computer system having such a RAID, a hard disk device to be used at the time of initial setting for enabling RAID, that is, a hard disk device to be used, is used so that a computer can individually manage a plurality of hard disk devices. When the RAID environment setting after executing the selection and the initialization of the hard disk device is executed, the physical position,
For example, a channel number and a SCSI ID are assigned based on the mounting position, and access to each hard disk device is controlled by this position.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional computer system, the mounting position, which is the physical position of the hard disk drive, may change. For example, due to maintenance work, each hard disk device is removed from the computer system, work is performed on each hard disk device, and then when each hard disk device is installed in the computer system, it may be installed at a different position from the original position. is there. Then, when the mounting position of each hard disk device constituting the RAID changes, when the computer, more specifically, the computer system is started, when the hard disk device whose mounting position is different from that at the time of the initial setting, the position is initialized. It will be different from the setting.

More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that RAID 1 is composed of three hard disk devices (HDDs in FIG. 7) 2A, 2B, and 2C, and as shown in the upper part of FIG. In the initial setting, the channel number shown at the left end of the upper part of FIG.
The hard disk drive 2A is arranged at a physical position where the ID is 0 (CH = 0, SCSI ID = 0), and the channel number shown in the center of the upper part of FIG. 7 is 0 and the SCSI ID is 1 (C
The hard disk device 2A is arranged at a physical position of H = 0, SCSI ID = 1, and the channel number shown at the right end of the upper part of FIG. 7 is 0, and the SCSI ID is 2 (CH = 0, SCS).
Hard disk drive 2 at the physical position of ID = 2)
It is assumed that C is arranged.

Then, due to maintenance or the like, as shown in the lower part of FIG.
Assume that the positions of B and the hard disk 2C at the upper right end in FIG. 7 are interchanged.

Then, at the time of startup, the channel number shown in the lower center of FIG. 7 is 0 and the SCSI ID is 1 (CH = 0,
The hard disk drive 2C is arranged at a physical position of SCSI ID = 1, and the channel number shown at the lower right end of FIG. 7 is SCSI ID 2 (CH = 0, SCSI ID =
The hard disk device 2B is arranged at the physical position 2).

Then, in this state, the hard disk drive 2
(Reference numeral 2 denotes three hard disk devices 2A, 2B, 2C
Are executed, the channel number at the lower left end of FIG. 7 is 0 and the SCSI ID is 0 (CH =
0, SCSI ID = 0), there is no problem because the physical positions at the time of initial setting and at the time of startup are the same.

On the other hand, regarding the hard disk devices 2C and 2B shown in the lower center and the lower right end of FIG. The channel number shown in the lower center of FIG.
The hard disk drive 2C is driven by an operation command for a physical position where the ID is 1 (CH = 0, SCSI ID = 1), and the channel number shown in the lower center of FIG. 7 is 0, and the SCSI ID is 2 (CH = 0). , SCSI ID = 2)
The hard disk drive 2B is driven by the operation command for the physical position of the hard disk drive 2 and the hard disk drive 2 different from that at the time of the initial setting is driven, and the data of the hard disk drives 2C and 2B at different positions may be destroyed. There was a problem.

[0010] Accordingly, an R drive capable of safely and appropriately controlling a plurality of hard disk devices constituting a RAID is proposed.
AID disk device position confirmation method and RAID
There is a demand for a computer system that can easily realize the above disk device position confirmation method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a RAID disk device position confirmation method capable of safely and appropriately controlling a plurality of hard disk devices constituting a RAID, and a RAID disk device position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system that can easily realize a confirmation method.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a RAID according to the present invention.
The feature of the disk device position confirmation method is that at the time of initial setting for enabling RAID, a location information storage area is secured for each hard disk device, and the location information storage area is set for each hard disk device. Location information that represents the physical location of each hard disk drive, and then reads the location information stored in the location information storage area of each hard disk drive when the computer starts up, and initializes each hard disk. Is determined whether the physical position at the time and the physical position at the time of startup match, and only when the two positions are different, the physical position at the time of initial setting and startup of each hard disk device is determined. The point is that it is displayed on the BIOS.

[0013] By adopting such a configuration, the position information at the time of initial setting can be stored in the position information storage area provided in each hard disk device. The position at the time of initial setting and the current position at the time of startup can be easily and reliably determined. Further, when the determination result that the positions are different is obtained, both the physical positions at the time of initial setting and at the time of startup of each hard disk device can be displayed, so that each hard disk device can be rearranged to a normal position. Can be easily executed. Furthermore, by performing display on the BIOS, the operation of the computer can be interrupted. Therefore, it is possible to safely and appropriately control a plurality of hard disk devices constituting the RAID.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system including a computer, a RAID having a plurality of hard disk devices, and a display. At the time of setting, a position information storage area is secured for each hard disk device, and a position storage control for storing position information indicating a physical position of each hard disk device set for each hard disk device in these position information storage areas. Unit, when the computer is started, reads the position information stored in the position information storage area of each hard disk device, and reads the physical position of each hard disk at the time of initial setting and the physical position at the time of startup. Is determined whether or not they match, and only when both positions are different, Certain physical location in the initial setting and startup disk apparatus that has a position determining display control unit for displaying on the display in the BIOS.

By adopting such a configuration, the position storage control section can reliably secure a position information storage area for storing position information in each hard disk drive, and can store position information at the time of initial setting. Can be reliably stored in the position information storage area. further,
The position determination display control unit easily determines the position of each hard disk device at the time of initial setting and the current position at the time of startup based on the position information stored in the position information storage area of each hard disk device when the computer is started. In addition to being able to reliably determine the position of each hard disk drive, if the determination result indicates that the positions are different, both the physical positions at the time of initial setting and startup of each hard disk drive can be displayed. Relocation of the device to a normal position can be easily performed.
Further, since the display can be performed by the BIOS,
When the determination result that the positions are different is obtained, the operation of the computer can be interrupted. Therefore, RA
It is possible to safely and appropriately control a plurality of hard disk devices constituting the ID.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an essential part of an embodiment of a computer system to which a method for confirming the position of a RAID disk device according to the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, a computer system 11 of the present embodiment has a computer 12,
The computer 12 has a RAI including at least a plurality of hard disk devices 13 as external storage devices.
D14 and a display 15 as display means are connected via a controller (not shown).

The peripheral devices connected to the computer 12 can be selected from a wide variety of devices such as a display, a printer, a keyboard, a scanner, a mouse, a modem, and a LAN connection device as needed.

The computer 12 has at least a CP
U16 and a memory 17 formed of ROM, RAM or the like having an appropriate capacity. The memory 17 of the computer 12 has at least the position storage control unit 17.
a and a position determination display control section 17b.

The position storage control unit 17a has a RAID
At the time of initial setting for enabling the use of the hard disk drive 13, a location information storage area 13 a is secured for each hard disk drive 13, and the location information storage area 13 a of each hard disk drive 13 set for each hard disk drive 13 is stored. Physical location, eg, channel number and SC
A control program for storing position information including the SI ID is stored.

When the computer 12 is started, each of the hard disk devices 1
3 by reading the position information stored in the position information storage area 13a, and determining whether the physical position at the time of initialization of each hard disk device 13 matches the physical position at the time of startup. Only when the two positions are different, the physical position of each hard disk device 13 at the time of initial setting and at the time of startup is displayed on the display 1 by the BIOS.
5 stores a control program to be displayed.

The memory 17 has a BIOS, an OS,
A wide variety of programs such as applications are stored.

The RAID 14 includes a plurality of hard disk drives (denoted as HDDs in FIG. 1) 13A, 13B, 13C.
, And these hard disk devices 13 (reference numeral 13 denotes each of the hard disk devices 13A, 13B, 13C).
. Are collectively connected in parallel. Note that RA
The number of the hard disk devices 13 constituting the ID 14 can be selected from an arbitrary number as required according to the design concept or the like. Further, in each hard disk device 13 of the present embodiment, a position information storage area 13a is secured in advance at the time of initial setting. The location information storage area 13a is preferably provided in the management area of the hard disk device 13 in order to secure as much data area used for writing data as possible.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of initial setting, and FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the physical position of each hard disk device at the time of initial setting and the position information stored in the position information storage area of each hard disk device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of startup,
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the relationship when the physical position of each hard disk device at the time of startup matches the position information stored in the position information storage area of each hard disk device, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship when the physical position of each hard disk device does not match the position information stored in the position information storage area of each hard disk device at the time.

The method of confirming the position of the disk device of RAID 14 by the computer system 11 of this embodiment
It is executed at the time of initial setting for enabling the use of the ID 14 and at the time of activation of the computer 12.

First, the operation at the time of initial setting will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, RAID at the time of initial setting
14 disk device position confirmation method is performed by the position storage control unit 17.
When started based on the control program stored in a
In step ST01, a position information storage area 13a is secured for each hard disk device 13, and the next step ST01 is executed.
Proceed to 02.

Next, in step ST02, the physical information of each of the hard disk devices 13 set by being allocated to the position information storage area 13a of each hard disk device 13 based on the mounting position for each hard disk device 13 is set. The position information indicating the position is stored in the position information storage area 13a, and the process ends. For example,
As shown in FIG. 3, the channel number shown at the left end of FIG. 3 is 0 and the SCSI ID is 0 (CH = 0, SCSI ID = 0).
Hard disk drive 13A arranged at a physical position
, CH = 0, SCS representing a physical position in the position information storage area 13a of the hard disk device 13A.
I ID = 0 is stored as position information. And FIG.
The channel number shown at the center is 0 and the SCSI ID is 1 (C
For a hard disk drive 13B located at a physical location of H = 0, SCSI ID = 1), CH = 0, SCSI ID = 1 representing a physical location in the location information storage area 13a of the hard disk drive 13B. Is stored as position information. Further, the channel number shown at the right end of FIG. 3 is 0 and the SCSI ID is 2 (CH = 0, SCSIID =
Hard disk drive 1 located at physical location 2)
For 3C, CH = 0, S representing a physical position in the position information storage area 13a of the hard disk device 13C.
CSI ID = 2 is stored as position information.

Next, the operation at the time of startup will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG.
The disk device position confirmation method of the position determination display control unit 17
b and is started based on the control program,
In step ST11, the position information is read from the position information storage area 13a of each hard disk device 13 into a desired part of the memory 17, and the process proceeds to the next step ST12.

Next, in step ST12, it is determined whether or not the read position information matches the physical position of each hard disk device 13 at the time of startup.
If the determination result is YES (the positions match), for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the channel number and the SCSI I.D.
D is the location information storage area 1 of each hard disk device 13
If it is the same as the channel number and the SCSI ID, which are the position information stored in 3a, the process ends.

If the result of the determination in step ST12 is N
In the case of O (different positions), for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the channel number and the SCSI ID representing the physical position of each hard disk device 13 are stored in the position information storage area 13a of each hard disk device 13. If they are not the same as the channel number and the SCSI ID that are the position information, the process proceeds to the next step ST13. In FIG. 6, the hard disk drive 13C at the center of FIG. 6 and the hard disk drive 13 at the right end of FIG.
The position of B does not match the physical position.

Next, in step ST13, the channel number and the SCSI ID, which are the physical positions of the respective hard disk devices 13 at the time of startup, are stored in the position information storage area 13a of the respective hard disk devices 13 read into the memory 17. Both the channel number and the SCSI ID, which are the positional information, are displayed on the display 15 by the BIOS, and the process proceeds to the next step ST14. In addition, what is displayed on the display 15 may be only the hard disk devices 13B and 13C at different positions.

Next, in step ST14, the hard disk devices 13B and 13C at different positions are rearranged to the normal positions based on the position information stored in the displayed position information storage area 13a, thus ending the processing.

As described above, according to the position storage control unit 17a of the computer system 11 of the present embodiment, the position information storage area 13a for storing the position information in each hard disk device 13 can be reliably ensured. The position information at the time of initial setting is stored in the position information storage area 1.
3a can be reliably stored.

Further, according to the position determination display control unit 17b of the computer system 11 of the present embodiment, when the computer 12 is started, based on the position information stored in the position information storage area 13a of each hard disk device 13, The position of each hard disk drive 13 at the time of initial setting and the current position at the time of startup can be easily and reliably determined, and when the determination result that the positions are different is obtained, the initial setting of each hard disk drive 13 is performed. Since both the time and the physical position at the time of startup can be displayed, the rearrangement of each hard disk device 13 to a normal position can be easily executed. At this time, since the position information stored in the position information storage area 13a is displayed on the display 15, relocation to a normal position can be performed easily, reliably, and in a short time. The operation of the computer 12 can be interrupted by displaying the position information on the display 15 with the BIOS.

Therefore, according to the computer system 11 of the present embodiment, it is possible to safely and appropriately control a plurality of hard disk devices constituting a RAID.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified as needed.

[0041]

As described above, according to the RAID disk device position confirmation method of the present invention, the position information at the time of initial setting is stored in the position information storage area provided in each hard disk device. Therefore, when the computer is started, an extremely excellent effect is obtained such that the position of each hard disk device at the time of initial setting and the current position at the time of startup can be easily and reliably determined. Further, when the determination result that the positions are different is obtained, both the physical positions at the time of initial setting and at the time of startup of each hard disk device can be displayed, so that each hard disk device can be rearranged to a normal position. Can be easily executed. Further, by performing the display using the BIOS, an extremely excellent effect such as that the operation of the computer can be interrupted can be obtained. Therefore, RAID
And a plurality of hard disk devices constituting the computer can be controlled safely and appropriately.

According to the computer system of the second aspect of the present invention, the position storage control section can ensure the position information storage area for storing the position information in each hard disk device, and can perform the initial setting. An extremely excellent effect is obtained such that the position information at the time can be reliably stored in the position information storage area. Further, the position determination display control unit, when the computer is started, based on the position information stored in the position information storage area of each hard disk device, the position of each hard disk device at the time of initial setting and the current position at the time of startup Can be easily and reliably determined, and when the determination result that the positions are different is obtained, both the physical positions at the time of initial setting and at the time of startup of each hard disk device can be displayed. An extremely excellent effect is obtained such that the rearrangement of each hard disk device to a normal position can be easily executed. Further, since the display can be performed by the BIOS, when the determination result that the position is different is obtained, an extremely excellent effect such as the operation of the computer can be interrupted can be obtained. Therefore,
An extremely excellent effect is obtained such that a plurality of hard disk devices constituting the RAID can be controlled safely and appropriately. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize the RAID disk drive position confirmation method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of a computer system to which a RAID disk device position confirmation method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the computer system of FIG. 1 at the time of initial setting;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a physical position of each hard disk device at the time of initial setting of the computer system of FIG. 1 and position information stored in a position information storage area of each hard disk device;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the computer system shown in FIG. 1 at the time of startup;

FIG. 5 shows an example of a relationship when the physical position of each hard disk device at the time of starting the computer system of FIG. 1 matches the position information stored in the position information storage area of each hard disk device. Illustration

6 shows an example of the relationship when the physical position of each hard disk device does not match the position information stored in the position information storage area of each hard disk device when the computer system of FIG. 1 is started up. Illustration

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a case where the mounting position of each hard disk device constituting a RAID in a computer system having a conventional RAID changes.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Computer System 12 Computer 13, 13A, 13B, 13C Hard Disk Drive 13a Position Information Storage Area 14 RAID 15 Display 16 CPU 17 Memory 17a Position Storage Control Unit 17b Position Discrimination Display Control Unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Araki 1-7 Yukitani Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mitsuo Goto 1-7 Yukitani Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alp (72) Kenichi Murakami, Inventor Kenichi Murakami 1-7, Yukitani-Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuichiro Sawame 1-7, Yukitani-Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Inside (72) Inventor Hiroyoshi Usui 1-7 Yukitani Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takechiyo 1-7 Yukitani Otsuka-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Inside (72) Inventor Kentaro Inoue 1-7 Yukitani Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B065 BA01 CA30 CA40 ZA03 ZA05

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An R including a plurality of hard disk devices.
A RAID disk device position confirmation method used in a computer system for controlling an AID by a computer and confirming a position of each of the hard disk devices, wherein each of the hard disk devices is set at an initial setting for enabling the RAID. In addition, a location information storage area is secured, and location information representing the physical location of each hard disk drive set for each hard disk drive is stored in these location information storage areas, and then the computer is started up. Sometimes, by reading the position information stored in the position information storage area of each of the hard disk devices, it is determined whether the physical position of each of the hard disks at the time of initial setting matches the physical position at the time of startup. And only when both positions are different,
A method of confirming the position of a RAID disk device, wherein the physical position of each hard disk device at the time of initial setting and at the time of startup is displayed on a BIOS. 2. A computer, a RAID having a plurality of hard disk devices, and a display, wherein the computer stores position information for each of the hard disk devices at an initial setting for enabling the RAID. A position storage control unit that secures an area and stores position information indicating a physical position of each hard disk device set for each of the hard disk devices in these position information storage regions; Sometimes, by reading the position information stored in the position information storage area of each of the hard disk devices, it is determined whether the physical position of each of the hard disks at the time of initial setting matches the physical position at the time of startup. Only if the two positions are different, the initial setting of each hard disk drive And a position discrimination display control unit for displaying a physical position at the time of start-up on the display by the BIOS.