System for installing processor control code

• US 5,537,598 A
• Filed: 08/17/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kukula, Dennis A., Legvold, Vern J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US08/524,139
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 395/700, 395/650, 395/200.08, 395/474, 395/479
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running

Abstract

A system for automatically installing new processor control code in a computing system running old processor control code with minimal disruption in the operation thereof. The new code is loaded into the computing system and compared to the old code to identify values of a plurality of updating variables. Changes in the operation of the computing system are effected based on the values of the updating variables without disrupting the operation thereof. In a specific embodiment, the inventive system includes microcode in which resource management variables are labeled and given predetermined values. The resource management variables are compared to corresponding variables in the old code to determine which resources to control to effect an updating of the system. Thus, substantial changes in microcode are effected automatically and without disruption.

Claims

1. A storage controller for providing uninterrupted access by a host computer to a shared memory during a microcode update, said storage controller comprising:

first and second processors, said first processor executing first processor microcode and said second processor executing said first processor microcode;

storage means shared between said first processor and said second processor for storing data; and

means for updating microcode in said first processor without interrupting access by said second processor to all data stored in said storage means, said means for updating including;

first means for installing second processor microcode into said first processor,

second means for comparing the second processor microcode with the first processor microcode during installation of the second processor microcode into said first processor and identifying values of a first set of updating variables; and

third means for effecting changes in the operation of said storage controller based on the values of said first set of updating variables without disrupting the operation thereof.

2. The invention of claim 1 further including means for installing said second processor microcode into said second processor.

3. The invention of claim 2 further including means for comparing the second processor microcode with the first processor microcode during installation of the second processor microcode into said second processor and identifying values of a second set of updating variables.

4. The invention of claim 3 further including means for effecting changes in the operation of said storage controller based on the values of said second set of updating variables without disrupting the operation thereof.