Multiprocessor system formed of a plurality of duplex processors
First Claim
1. A method for updating a program file from an old program file to a new program file in a multiprocessor system formed by a plurality of duplex processors, each duplex processor having two processors, one being used as an active processor, and the other being used as a stand-by processor, each processor having at least a central processing unit (CPU) and a main storage, the CPU being able to access the main storage in the other processor of the duplex processor;
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending said read program file to each processor;
said method comprising;
each duplex processor being able to access each of said communication buses therefrom, being able to identify an usable communication bus for each target processor, setting any communication bus to an active communication path for each target processor, and transmitting/receiving data on the active communication path while setting another communication bus as a stand-by communication path;
during operation of the active CPU using the old program file, reading the new program file to the main storage of the stand-by CPU;
starting the new program file of the stand-by CPU from the active CPU;
communicating between stand-by CPUs by using the stand-by communication path which is set by the active CPU in order to confirm operation of the new program file in the stand-by CPU; and
setting all stand-by CPUs to be active CPUs so that the program file is updated from the old program file to the new program file.
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Abstract
A multiprocessor system includes duplex processors, each duplex processor having two processors, one being active and the other being a stand-by processor. Each processor includes a central processing unit (CPU) and main storage, the CPU being able to access the main storage in the other processor of the duplex processor. Each duplex processor is interconnected through communication buses to enable communication between any processors, and a particular processor can read a program file from program file storage and send it to each processor. For updating from an old program file to a new program file, each duplex processor is able to access each communication bus to identify an usable communication bus for each target processor, to set any communication bus to an active communication path for each target processor, and to transmit/receive data on the active communication path while setting another communication bus as a stand-by communication path. During operation of the active CPU using the old program file, the new program file is read to the main storage of the stand-by CPU, and the new program file of the stand-by CPU is started from the active CPU. Operation of the new program file in communicating between stand-by CPUs is confirmed by CPUs by using the stand-by communication path set by the active CPU, and setting all stand-by CPUs to the active CPU so that the program file is updated.
15 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for updating a program file from an old program file to a new program file in a multiprocessor system formed by a plurality of duplex processors, each duplex processor having two processors, one being used as an active processor, and the other being used as a stand-by processor, each processor having at least a central processing unit (CPU) and a main storage, the CPU being able to access the main storage in the other processor of the duplex processor;
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending said read program file to each processor;
said method comprising;each duplex processor being able to access each of said communication buses therefrom, being able to identify an usable communication bus for each target processor, setting any communication bus to an active communication path for each target processor, and transmitting/receiving data on the active communication path while setting another communication bus as a stand-by communication path; during operation of the active CPU using the old program file, reading the new program file to the main storage of the stand-by CPU; starting the new program file of the stand-by CPU from the active CPU; communicating between stand-by CPUs by using the stand-by communication path which is set by the active CPU in order to confirm operation of the new program file in the stand-by CPU; and setting all stand-by CPUs to be active CPUs so that the program file is updated from the old program file to the new program file. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 7, 9, 11)
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending said read program file to each processor;
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2. A method for updating a program file from an old program file to a new program file in a multiprocessor system formed by a plurality of duplex processors, each duplex processor having two processor, one being used as an active processor, and the other being used as a stand-by processor, each processor having at least a central processing unit (CPU) and a main storage, the CPU being able to access the main storage in the other processor of the duplex processor;
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending it to each processor;
said method comprising;providing a managing means for determining whether a communication path is usable or not between processors, and determining any one of usable communication paths to an active communication path;
a switching means for switching between the active communication path and the stand-by communication path, whereby setting any communication bus to the active communication path for each target processor, and transmitting/receiving data on the active communication path whole setting another communication bus as a stand-by communication path;
a reception means for writing the new program file to the main storage of each stand-by CPU;
a start means for starting the new program file which is written into the main storage of the stand-by CPU; and
an active means for setting the new program file, which is started by the stand-by CPU, to the active new program file;during operation of the active CPU using the old program file; starting the new program file, which is read in the main storage of the stand-by CPU, from the active CPU; communicating between stand-by CPUs by using the stand-by communication path which is set by the active CPU in order to confirm operation of the new program file in the stand-by CPU; and setting all stand-by CPUs to be active CPUs so that the program file is updated from the old program file to the new program file. - View Dependent Claims (4, 6, 8, 10, 12)
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending it to each processor;
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13. A multiprocessor system formed by a plurality of duplex processors, each duplex processor having two processor, one being used as an active processor, and the other being used as a stand-by processor, each processor having at least a central processing unit (CPU) and a main storage, the CPU being able to access to the main storage in the other processor of the duplex processor;
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending it to each processor;
said system comprising;means provided in each duplex processor, being able to access each of communication buses therefrom, being able to identify an usable communication bus for each target processor, setting any communication bus to an active communication path for each target processor, and transmitting/receiving data on the active communication path while setting another communication bus as a stand-by communication path; means for, during operation of the active CPU using the old program file, reading the new program file to the main storage of the stand-by CPU; means for starting the new program file of the stand-by CPU from the active CPU; means for communicating between stand-by CPUs by using the stand-by communication path which is set by the active CPU in order to confirm operation of the new program file in the stand-by CPU; and means for setting all stand-by CPUs to the active CPU so that the program file is updated from the old program file to the new program file. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17, 19, 21, 23)
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending it to each processor;
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14. A multiprocessor system formed by a plurality of duplex processors, each duplex processor having two processor, one being used as an active processor, and the other being used as a stand-by processor, each processor having at least a central processing unit (CPU) and a main storage, the CPU being able to access the main storage in the other processor of the duplex processor;
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending it to each processor;
said system comprising;a managing means for determining whether a communication path is usable or not between processors, and determining any one of usable communication paths to be an active communication path; a switching means for switching between the active communication path and the stand-by communication path, whereby setting any communication bus to the active communication path for each target processor, and transmitting/receiving data on the active communication path while setting another communication bus as a stand-by communication path; a reception means for writing the new program file to the main storage of each stand-by CPU; a start means for starting the new program file which is written into the main storage of the standby CPU; an active means for setting the new program file, which is started by the stand-by CPU, to the active new program file; means for starting the new program file, which is read in the main storage of the stand-by CPU, from the active CPU, during operation of the active CPU using the old program file; means for communicating between stand-by CPUs by using the stand-by communication path which is set by the active CPU in order to confirm operation of the new program file in the stand-by CPU; and means for setting all stand-by CPUs to the active CPUs so that the program file is updated from the old program file to the new program file. - View Dependent Claims (16, 18, 20, 22, 24)
- and each duplex processor being interconnected through communication buses so that it is possible to communicate between any processors, and a particular processor in the duplex processor reading a program file from a program file storage and sending it to each processor;
Specification