Data processing system

• US 5,625,841 A
• Filed: 04/20/1994
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Moore, Richard A., Baird, Robert W., Dawkins, John, Wooding, Gary G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coleman, Eric
• Application Number:
  US08/230,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/425, 395/483, 395/497.01, 395/828, 395/835, 395/836, 340/825.06, 364/DIG. 1, 364/264, 364/246.6
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2247 Verification or detection of system hardware configuration

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the maintenance of a data processing system. A topology map of the physical connections of direct access storage devices of storage subsystems is created. This map enables the system to keep track of the physical configuration of DASDs and their control units, especially in the case of interconnected processor complexes. According to an embodiment of the invention, the topology map also includes desired status data and other information data about the DASDs. This data is used in the monitoring of the DASDs to determine deviations from desired operating characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for managing a data processing system including determining the topology of a storage subsystem of the data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

reading identification data representing a processor of the data processing system;

reading identification data representing an I/O controller associated with the processor;

reading identification data representing a storage element of the storage subsystem associated with the I/O controller and processor;

storing the identification data in a database; and

repeating each of the reading steps and storing step for each storage element of the storage subsystem of the data processing system, wherein a topology database is produced from which the data processing system may identify the physical connections of a storage element of the storage subsystem;

creating a plurality of status fields in the topology database, wherein a status field from the plurality of status fields is associated with each storage element;

storing desired operating characteristics into the plurality of status fields, wherein the desired operating characteristics includes desired operating characteristics for a storage element;

monitoring the actual operating characteristics of the storage element;

comparing the actual operating characteristics with the desired characteristics from the topology database; and

signaling the data processing. System if any discrepancies exist between the desired operating characteristics and the actual operating characteristics of the storage element.

2. The method for managing a data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system includes more than one processor, each processor having an associated I/O controller and associated storage subsystem.

3. The method for managing a data processing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each storage element of the storage subsystem is a direct access storage device.

4. The method for managing a data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system includes more than one processor, each processor having an associated I/O controller and associated storage subsystem.

5. A method for managing a data processing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each storage element of the storage subsystem is a direct access storage device.

6. The method for managing a data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each storage element of:

the storage subsystem is a direct access storage device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing commands to change the characteristics of a storage element which has deviated from the desired operating characteristics.

8. The method for managing a data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each storage element of the storage subsystem is a direct access storage device.

9. A data processing system comprising:

one or more processors;

at least one storage subsystem associated with each respective processor;

an I/O controller associated with each respective processor for controlling data transfer between the processor and associated storage subsystems;

means for reading identification data representing one of the processors;

means for reading identification data representing an I/O controller associated with the processor;

means for reading identification data representing an element of one of the subsystems associated with the processor;

means for storing the identification data in a topology database, wherein the data processing system may identify the physical connections of a storage element of the storage subsystem;

creation means for creating a plurality of status fields in the topology database, wherein a status field within the plurality of status fields is associated with each storage element;

storage means for storing desired operating characteristics into the plurality of status fields, wherein the desired operating characteristics includes desired operating characteristics for a storage element;

monitor means for monitoring the actual operating characteristics of the storage element;

comparison means for comparing the actual operating characteristics with the desired characteristics from the topology database; and

signaling means for signaling the data processing system if any discrepancies exist between the desired operating characteristics and the actual operating characteristics of the storage element.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising issue means for issuing commands changing the characteristics of a storage element which has deviated from the desired operating characteristics.