Method for starting computer system

• US 20020124164A1
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Masaya, Nagasuka, Hirofumi, Otsuji, Akira, Kiyoi, Masahiro
• Application Number:
  US10/067,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/10 Address translation

Abstract

In this invention, a main storage is divided into an area that should be initialized and an area that should not be initialized at the time when the system is restarted. Part of the main storage area that should not be initialized is allocated to a table for managing a use situation of the main storage and a use situation of an address space. After the restart, for a request for main storage allocation to the virtual space whose contents should be taken over, part of the main storage area that should not be initialized is allocated to a virtual space and part of the main storage area that should not be initialized is also allocated to an address translation table corresponding to the virtual space. For a request for main storage allocation to the virtual space other than the above-mentioned request, part of the main storage area that should be initialized is allocated thereto. At the time of the restart, only areas that should be initialized are subjected to the initialization. Also for a management table for a use state of the main storage, only parts thereof that correspond to the areas that should be initialized are subjected to the initialization.

Claims

1. A method for starting a computer system that adopts virtual memory management whereby in which areas of a main storage individual areas of virtual memory are placed is specified by using an address translation table, comprising the following steps:

a) dividing the main storage into a first main storage area that should be initialized and a second main storage area that should not be initialized at the time when the system is started;

b) dividing the individual areas of the virtual memory into a first virtual area that utilizes said first main storage area and a second virtual area that utilizes said second main storage area;

c) allocating an area belonging to the first main storage area to said first virtual area in response to a request for main storage allocation thereto;

d) allocating an area belonging to the second main storage area to said second virtual area in response to a request for main storage allocation thereto; and

e) initializing the contents of the first main storage area and retaining the contents of the second main storage area at the time when the system is started.

2. A method for starting a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step a) is the step of designating either of a part of the main storage area whose memory addresses are lower than a previously specified address or a part of the main storage area whose memory addresses are not lower than that address as the first main storage area and also designating the rest of the two parts as the second main storage area.

3. A method f or starting a computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step b) is the step of dynamically allocating part of the main storage to each of the individual areas of the virtual memory depending on an attribute borne by each individual area of the virtual memory.

4. A method for starting a computer system, comprising the steps of:

a) dividing a main storage into a first main storage area that should be initialized and a second main storage area that should not be initialized at the time when the system is started; and

b) initializing the contents of said first main storage area and retaining the contents of said second main storage area at the time when the system is started.

5. A method for starting a computer system, comprising the steps of:

a) giving to each of individual memory areas of the main storage an identifier indicating whether said memory area should be initialized at the time when the system is started or not according to an attribute of said memory area; and

b) deleting the contents of the memory area that has the identifier prescribing indicating initialization and retaining the contents of the memory area that has the identifier indicating non-initialization.

6. A method for starting a computer system that has a main storage and an auxiliary storage and stores some areas of virtual memory in said auxiliary storage, comprising the steps of:

a) setting an identifier indicating whether or not the main storage should be initialized at the time when the system is started and a page out address in an address translation table; and

b) initializing the contents of an area that is designated by said address of said auxiliary storage at the time when the system is started if said identifier prescribing the initialization and information was set in said page out address.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a) means of dividing a main storage into a first main storage area that should be initialized and a second main storage area that should not be initialized at the time when the system is started; and

b) means of initializing the contents of said first main storage area and retaining the contents of said second main storage area at the time when the system is started.

8. A computer system having means of managing virtual memory that designating in which area of the main storage each of individual areas of the virtual memory is placed by using an address translation table, comprising:

a) means of dividing a main storage into a first main storage area that should be initialized and a second main storage area that should not be initialized at the time when the system is started;

b) means of diving the individual areas of the virtual memory into a first virtual area that utilizes said first main storage area and a second virtual area that utilizes said second main storage area;

c) means of allocating an area belonging to the first main storage area to said first virtual area in response to a request for main storage allocation thereto;

d) means of allocating an area belonging to the second main storage area to said second virtual area in response to a request for main storage allocation thereto; and

e) means of initializing the contents of the first main storage area and retaining the contents of the second main storage area at the time when the system is started.