Integrity of data objects used to maintain state information for shared data at a local complex

• US 5,331,673 A
• Filed: 03/30/1992
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Elko, David A., Nick, Jeffrey M., Swanson, Michael D., Frey, Jeffrey A., Helffrich, Audrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Norman M.
• Application Number:
  US07/860,800
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 395/575, 395/375, 371/3, 371/8.2, 371/68.2, 371/68.1
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/22 Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2205 using arrangements specific to the hardware being tested
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0813 with a network or matrix configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/825 the problem or solution involving locking

Abstract

Apparatus and method insuring that data objects used to maintain state information for shared data at a local central processing complex (CPC) are coherent with respect to state information maintained at a structured external storage facility (SES) over a link is valid. An error detector is attached to the CPC side of the link for detecting errors on the link, and, when an error is detected, setting a error state pending (ESP) latch to indicate that the link has failed and that the shared data in the local data object may be invalid because a message invalidating the data may not have been received by the CPC. In data processing operations, the ESP latch is interrogated by a central processor in the CPC to determine the health of the message path to the SES facility. A local cache vector reflecting the validity of the shared data in the local cache may then be interrogated to determine if the shared data in the local cache is valid. If a healthy path has continuously existed and the vector indicates that the local cache data is valid, the integrity of the data can be relied on.

Claims

1. A data processing system comprising:

a central processing complex (CPC) having

a central processor for executing instructions arranged in programs for processing data, and

a main storage connected to said central processor, said main storage for storing said programs and state information for shared data;

a structured external storage facility for storing state information for shared data;

a message path between said CPC and said structured external storage facility for passing data, messages and response therebetween;

error detecting means connected to said message path for detecting an error in said message path;

error state pending indication means in said error detecting means for maintaining an indication that said error has been detected by said error detecting means, said indication being maintained in said error state pending indication means after said error detecting means ceases to detect said error, and

testing means in said CPC responsive to said error state pending indication means for determining if said state information stored in said CPC is to be considered valid.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 further comprising:

program means in said testing means having an instruction executed by said central processor for interrogating the indication stored in said error state pending indication means such that said central processor determines that an error in said message path has been detected, said interrogation not changing the indication in said error state pending indication means.

3. The data processing system of claim 2 further comprising:

a status area in said main storage for storing an identification of said message path for maintaining a valid connection between said main memory and said structured external storage facility.

4. The data processing system of claim 3 further comprising:

status area testing means in said testing means for determining if said message path stored in said status area identifies a valid message path.

5. The data processing system of claim 4 further comprising:

said status area testing means includes means for determining if the message path stored in said status area identifies a valid message path only after said program means instruction is executed for interrogating the indication stored in said error state pending indication means such that a concurrent message path recovery which makes the status area invalid is detected.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 further comprising means in said testing means for obtaining state information for shared data when said message path in said status area is valid.

7. The data processing system of claim 5 further comprising state returning means enabled by said status area testing means determining that said message path in said status area is not a valid path, said state returning means for returning a code indicating that the requested state information for shared data requested by said state information testing means is to be considered invalid.

8. The data processing system of claim 2 further comprising:

multiple message paths between said main memory and said structured external storage facility, and

a status area in said main memory for storing an identification of one of said multiple message paths for maintaining a valid connection between said main memory and said structured external storage facility.

9. The data processing system of claim 8 further comprising:

status area testing means in said testing means for determining if the message path stored in said status area identifies a valid message path.

10. The data processing system of claim 9 further comprising:

said status area testing means includes means for determining if the message path stored in said status area identifies a valid message path only after said program means instruction is executed for interrogating the indication stored in said error state pending indication means such that a concurrent message path recovery which makes the status area invalid is detected.

11. The data processing system of claim 10 further comprising state information testing means in said testing means for obtaining state information for shared data from said main storage when said message path in said status area is valid.

12. The data processing system of claim 10 further comprising:

valid message path locating means in said testing means enabled when said program means instruction or said status area testing means determines the message path stored in said status area is not valid, said valid message path locating means for testing, when enabled, each of said multiple message paths for locating a valid message path between said main storage and said structured external storage facility for passing data, message and responses therebetween, said valid message path locating means including means for stopping further testing of message paths when a first valid message path is located.

13. The data processing system of claim 12 further comprising means in said testing means enabled by said valid message path locating means for obtaining state information for shared data when a valid message path is found by said valid message path locating means.

14. The data processing system of claim 12 further comprising state returning means enabled by said valid message path locating means not locating a valid path in said multiple paths, said state returning means for returning a code indicating that the requested state information for shared data requested by said state information testing means is to be considered invalid.

15. A data processing system comprising:

a central processing complex (CPC) having

a central processor for executing instructions arranged in programs for processing data, and

a main storage connected to said central processor, said main storage for storing said programs and state information for shared data;

a structured external storage (SES) facility for storing state information for shared data;

a message path having a first end connected to said CPC and a second end connected to said SES facility for passing data, messages and responses therebetween;

error state pending indication means connected to the first end of each of said message path for storing an indication indicating when a error has been detected in said message path;

message error detecting means in said SES facility for detecting errors in sending a message from said SES facility to said main storage;

signal sending means in said SES facility connected to said message error detecting means, said signal sending means for sending a continuous signal to said error state pending indication means to set the indication therein when said message error detecting means detects an error; and

second error detecting means connected to the first end of said message path for detecting said continuous signal sent by said signal sending means on the message path, said second error detecting means having means for setting the indication of said error state pending indication means.

16. The data processing system of claim 15 further comprising:

multiple message paths, each having a first end connected to said CPC and a second end connected to said SES facility for passing data, messages and responses therebetween, each path being identified as active or inactive at its second end; and

multiple error state pending indication means, each error state pending indication means connected to the first end of one of said multiple message paths for indicating an error detected on its message path.

17. The data processing system of claim 16 further comprising;

path selection means in said SES facility enabled by said message error detecting means, said path selection means for initiating, in turn, the sending of said message over each of said multiple message paths identified as active until the message is successfully completed or until all said paths have been tried, said path selecting means setting of the indication of said error state pending indication means for each path over which said message was not successfully sent, thereby providing a completion of said path selection means.

18. The data processing system of claim 17 wherein said path selection means includes path deactivate means for marking as inactive at its second end, each of said multiple paths which is found by said path selection means to be unable to send said message from said SES facility to said CPC.

19. The data processing system of claim 18 further comprising:

activating means in said SES facility for activating inactive ones of said message paths; and

serializing means in said path selection means for disabling said activating means during execution of said path selection means such that said message paths are serialized so that message paths are not activated during the sending of a message.

20. The data processing system of claim 19 further comprising deserializing means for enabling said activating means after said completion of said path selection means.

21. The data processing system of claim 20 further comprising:

program means having an instruction executed by said central processor for sending a direct command from said central processor to said SES facility, said direct command causing said SES facility to generate a command to access state information on at least one of said CPC(s);

message sending means in said path selection means for initiating, the sending of said generated command;

second completion means for completing said direct command even if said generated command is not successfully completed.

22. A data processing system comprising:

multiple central processing complexes (CPCs), each CPC having

a central processor for executing instructions arranged in programs,

a main storage for storing said programs, operating systems for one or more CPCs, data including data shared between two or more operating systems, and state information for said shared data;

a structured external storage (SES) facility for storing state information for said shared data;

multiple message paths, at least one message path between each CPC and said SES facility;

program means having an instruction executed by one of said central processors for sending a first command from said one central processor to said SES facility, said first command causing said SES facility to generate a second command to access and set the state information to a desired setting on at least one of said connected CPCs;

first means in said SES facility for initiating, in turn, the sending of said second command over each one of said multiple message paths between said SES facility and said at least one CPC until the second command is successfully completed or until all such message paths have been tried;

means in each of said CPCs for accessing and setting the state information to said desired setting as commanded by said second command even if said second command is not successfully completed; and

second means in said SES facility for completing said first command even if said second command is not successfully completed.

23. A data processing system comprising:

a central processing complex (CPC) having

a central processor for executing instructions arranged in programs for processing data, and

a main storage connected to said central processor, said main storage for storing said programs and state information for shared data;

a structured external storage facility for storing state information for shared data;

a message path between said CPC and said structured external storage facility for passing data, messages and responses therebetween;

error detecting means connected to each of said message path for detecting an error in said message path; and

error state pending indication means in said error detecting means for maintaining an indication that a error has been detected by said error detecting means, said indication being maintained in said error state pending indication means after said error detecting means ceases to detect an error;

message path status test means having an instruction executed by said central processor for interrogating the indication stored in said error state pending indication means such that said central processor determines that an error in said message path has been detected, said interrogation not changing the indication in said error state pending indication means;

a status area in said main memory for storing an identification of said message path for maintaining a valid connection between said main memory and said structured external storage facility;

status area testing means for determining if the message path stored in said status area identifies a valid message path only after said program means instruction is executed for interrogating the indication stored in said error state pending indication means such that a concurrent message path recovery which makes the status area invalid is detected;

message sending means in said SES facility for sending messages to said CPC, said message accessing the state information for shared data in said main storage;

lock means for serializing changes to said shared data;

state information testing means for testing said state information by said central processor so that the state information may be obtained by said central processor; and

program means having instructions executed by said central processor for serializing changes to said shared data at said SES facility to said CPC by said lock means, testing said message path status with said message path status test means, and, if no message path errors have been detected by said status test means, obtaining one or more times, state information for shared data with said state information testing means, thereby insuring that said obtained state information is valid.

24. The data processing system of claim 23 further comprising;

multiple message paths between said main memory and said structured external storage facility; and

valid message path locating means enabled when said program means instruction or said status area testing means determines the message path stored in said status area is not valid, said valid message path locating means for testing, when enabled, each of said multiple message paths for locating a valid message path between said main storage and said structured external storage facility for passing data, messages and responses therebetween, said valid message path locating means including means for stopping further testing of message paths when a first valid message path is located.

25. The data processing system of claim 24 further comprising means enabled by said valid message path locating means for obtaining state information for shared data when a valid message path is found by said valid message path locating means.

26. The data processing system of claim 25 further comprising state returning means enabled by said valid message path locating means not locating a valid path in said multiple paths, said state returning means for returning a code indicating that the requested state information for shared data requested by said state information testing means is to be considered invalid.

27. In a data processing system having:

a central processing complex (CPC) having

a central processor for executing instructions arranged in programs for processing data, and

a main storage connected to said central processor, said main storage for storing said programs and state information for shared data;

a structured external storage facility for storing state information for shared data;

one or more message paths between said CPC and said structured external storage facility for passing data, messages and responses therebetween;

error detecting means connected to each of said message paths for detecting an error in its message path; and

error state pending indication means in said error detecting means for maintaining an indication that a error has been detected by said error detecting means, said indication being maintained in said error state pending indication means after said error detecting means ceases to detect an error;

a status area in said main storage for storing an identification of a message path for maintaining a valid connection between said main storage and said structured external storage facility;

status area testing means for determining if the message path stored in said status area identifies a valid message path;

message sending means in said SES facility for sending messages to said CPC, said message accessing the state information for shared data in said main storage;

lock means for serializing changes to said shared data; and

state information testing means for testing said state information by said central processor so that the state information may be obtained by said central processor;

the method of obtaining state information for shared data comprising the steps of;

a) serializing changes to said shared data by obtaining a lock with said lock means;

b) interrogating with said central processor, the indication stored in said error state pending indication means such that said central processor determines if an error in said message path has been detected, said interrogation not changing the indication in said error state pending indication means;

c) after step b) determining with said status area testing means if the message path stored in said status area identifies a valid message path; and

d) if no message path error is detected in steps b and the message path is valid in step c, obtaining one or more times, state information for shared data with said state information testing means, thereby insuring that said obtained state information is valid.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of:

e) if an error is detected in steps b) or the message path is not valid in step c), performing an operation for locating a valid message path; and

f) if a valid message path is located in step e), obtaining one or more times, state information for shared data with said state information testing means.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

g) if a valid path is not located in step e), returning a code indicating that the requested state information for shared data requested by said state information testing means is to be considered invalid.