Computer system with a reduced number of command end interrupts from auxiliary memory unit and method of reducing the number of command end interrupts

• US 5,802,345 A
• Filed: 03/28/1995
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Maxell, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsunami, Naoto, Kan, Masayuki, Kaneda, Yasunori, Yagisawa, Ikuya, Oeda, Takashi, Arakawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US08/411,991
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/275, 395/441, 395/826, 395/733, 395/825, 395/827
• US Class Current: 703/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/126 and has means for transferring I/O instructions and statuses between control unit and main processor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/24 using interrupt G06F13/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer system which includes a host machine having a memory and a CPU with an interrupt handling feature, an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data and an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between the host machine and the auxiliary memory unit. The CPU of the host machine generates a plurality of commands for designating access to the auxiliary unit, in response to at least one command, groups a plurality of the commands for designating access to the auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and supplies the input/output unit with the commands independently of one another. The input/output unit executes access to the auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group supplied independently of one another by the CPU, and notifies the CPU by a single interruption that execution of the commands of the one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to the one group have been terminated.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a host machine having a memory and a CPU which includes interrupt handling feature;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data; and

an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit;

said CPU of said host machine includes;

means for generating a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, and

relation means, responsive to at least one command, for grouping a plurality of said commands according to type for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and for supplying said input/output unit with said commands independently of one another;

said input/output unit includes;

access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group of said at least one group supplied independently of one another by said CPU, and

notification means for notifying said CPU by a single interruption that execution of the commands of said one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group are found to have been terminated.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said CPU further comprises:

means for storing in said memory information representing corresponding relations between each group of said at least one group and commands belonging to said each group.

3. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said CPU further comprises:

means for attaching to each command of each group of said at least one croup identification information identifying the group to which said each command belongs, said identification information being supplied to said input/output unit along with said each command.

4. A computer system according to claim 2, wherein said CPU further comprises:

termination means for referring to said information stored in said memory and said commands belonging to said one group when said CPU is notified by said single interruption from said input/output unit that processing of said one group has been terminated.

5. A computer system according to claim 3, wherein said input/output unit further comprises:

information generation and storage means for generating and storing information representing corresponding relations between each of said commands independently supplied from said relation means and said one group to which said command independently supplied from said relation means belongs based on said identification information attached to said commands independently supplied from said relation means.

6. A computer system according to claim 2, wherein said CPU further comprises:

means for attaching to each command of each group of said at least one group identification information identifying the group to which said each command belongs, said identification information being supplied to said input/output unit along with said commands.

7. A computer system according to claim 6, wherein said CPU further comprises:

termination means for referring to said information stored in said memory and said commands belonging to said one group when said CPU is notified by said single interruption from said input/output unit that processing of said one group has been terminated.

8. A computer system according to claim 7, wherein said input/output unit further comprises:

information generation and storage means for generating and storing information representing corresponding relations between each of said commands independently supplied from said relation means and said one group to which said commands independently supplied from said relation means belong based on said identification information attached to said commands independently supplied from said relation means.

9. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for appropriately terminating all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

10. A computer system according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc array, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

11. A computer system according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all command belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

12. A computer system according to claim 11, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

13. A computer system according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit made of a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives includes within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

14. A computer system according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

15. A computer system according to claim 14, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

16. A computer system according to claim 8, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

17. An input/output unit for permitting data input and output between a host machine and an auxiliary memory unit, comprising:

information generation means for generating information representing corresponding relations between each of a plurality of commands supplied from said host machine and a group to which said command belongs based on identification information for identifying the group to which said command belongs, said identification information being attached to said commands supplied from said host machine to said input/output unit;

access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of said commands supplied from said host machine to said input/output unit included in one group; and

notification means for notifying said CPU by a single interruption that processing of said one group has been terminated when accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group have been terminated.

18. An input/output unit for permitting data input and output between a host machine and an auxiliary memory unit, comprising:

access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by commands supplied from said host machine to said input/output unit, the commands being grouped into at least one group; and

notification means for notifying said host machine by a single interruption that processing of one group of said at least one group has been terminated when accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one have been terminated based on corresponding relation between said one group and commands belonging to said one group.

19. An access method for use in a computer system including a host machine having a memory and a CPU with an interrupt handling feature;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data, and an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit, said access method comprising the steps of;

generating a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary unit;

in response to at least one command, grouping a plurality of said commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group;

supplying said input/output unit with said commands independently of one another;

executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group of said at least one group supplied independently of one another; and

notifying said CPU by a single interruption that execution of the commands of said one group have been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group have been terminated.

20. An access method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of:

storing in said memory information representing corresponding relations between each group of said at least one group and commands belonging to said each group.

21. An access method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of:

attaching to each command of each group identification information identifying the group to which said each command belongs, said identification information being supplied to said input/output unit along with said commands.

22. An access method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of:

referring to said information stored in said memory and said commands belonging to said one group when said CPU is notified by said single interruption from said input/output unit that processing of said one group has been terminated.

23. An access method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of:

generating and storing information representing corresponding relations between each of said commands independently supplied to said input/output unit and said one group to which said commands independently supplied to said input/output unit belongs based on said identification information attached to said commands independently supplied to said input/output unit.

24. A computer system comprising:

a host machine having a memory and a CPU with an interrupt handling facility;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data; and

an input/output unit for allowing data to be exchanged between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit,

wherein said CPU of said host machine includes;

a means for generating a plurality of independent commands each requesting an access to said auxiliary memory unit, and

a relation setting means for setting a relation between at least one of said commands and a group composed of at least one of said commands each requesting an access to said auxiliary memory unit so as to allow an end report of said group to be received as a single interrupt, and for issuing at least one of said commands related to groups independently of each other to said input/output unit without regard to groups to which said commands pertain, and

said input/output unit includes;

an access execution means for making accesses to said auxiliary memory unit as requested by said commands issued by said CPU independently of each other for requesting said accesses to said auxiliary memory unit concurrently at the same time by determining an execution order of said commands without regard to groups to which said commands pertain; and

a notification means which is used for terminating a group and notifying said CPU by a single interrupt that said group has been terminated when an end of execution of all commands pertains to said group is identified.

25. A computer system according to claim 24 wherein said CPU further comprises an information storing means for storing information on relations between at least one group, which is created so as to allow an end report of each of said group to be received by said CPU as a single interrupt, and at least one of commands composing said group.

26. A computer system according to claim 24 wherein:

said CPU further comprises a means for attaching identification information for identifying a group to each of commands constituting said group created so as to allow an end report of said group to be received by said CPU as a single interrupt with which said commands are associated; and

each of said commands is issued to said input/output unit along with said identification information.

27. A computer system according to claim 25 wherein said CPU further comprises a termination processing of all commands pertaining to a group by referring to information on a relation between said group and said commands stored in a host memory when said CPU recognizes an end of processing of said group from a single interrupt generated by said input/output unit.

28. A computer system according to claim 26 wherein said input/output unit comprises information generating/storing means for generating and storing a relation between a plurality of commands issued independently of each other by said relation setting means of said CPU and a group to which said commands pertain with said relation based on identification information attached to each of said commands, allowing a plurality of commands pertaining to a plurality of groups to be received independently of each other at the same time.

29. A computer system according to claim 25, wherein said CPU further comprises:

means for attaching to each command of each group of said at least one group identification information identifying the group to which said each command belongs, said identification information being supplied to said input/output unit along with said commands.

30. A computer system according to claim 29, wherein said CPU further comprises:

termination means for referring to said information stored in said memory and said commands belonging to said one group when said CPU is notified by said single interruption from said input/output unit that processing of said one group has been terminated.

31. A computer system according to claim 30, wherein said input/output unit further comprises:

information generation and storage means for generating and storing information representing corresponding relations between each of said commands independently supplied from said relation means and said one group to which said commands independently supplied from said relation means belong based on said identification information attached to said command independently supplied from said relation means.

32. A computer system according to claim 24, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for appropriately terminating all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

33. A computer system according to claim 28, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc array, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

34. A computer system according to claim 28, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all command belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

35. A computer system according to claim 34, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

36. A computer system according to claim 28, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit made of a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives includes within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

37. A computer system according to claim 28, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

38. A computer system according to claim 37, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

39. A computer system according to claim 31, wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a disc array unit having a plurality of disc drives;

said CPU of said host machine further comprises;

command generation means for generating commands to the individual disc drives included within said disc array unit based on disc array commands for designating access to the disc arrays, and

command correspondence storage means for storing in said memory corresponding relations between said disc array commands and said commands for said individual disc drives;

said relation means groups, into a single group, commands for individual disc drives corresponding to one of said disc array commands; and

wherein said computer system further comprises;

termination means for terminating appropriately all commands belonging to said one group such that a disc array command in said memory which corresponds to the commands belonging to said one group is terminated.

40. A computer system comprising:

a host machine having a memory and a CPU which includes interrupt handling feature;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data; and

an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit;

said CPU of said host machine including;

means for generating a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary unit,

relation means, responsive to at least one command, for grouping a plurality of said commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and for supplying said input/output unit with said commands independently of one another,

command generation means, respective to a disc array command for designating access to the disc array unit for writing new data thereto, for generating a new data write command for designating access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, a current data read command for designating access to said data disc drives for reading current data therefrom, said current data being updated by access to said data disc drives to write new data thereto, a current parity read command for designating access to said at least one parity disc drive for reading current parity data therefrom, said current parity data corresponding to data in said data disc drives which is updated by access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, and a new parity write command for designating access to said parity disc drive for writing new parity data thereto, and new parity data corresponding to said new data which is updated by access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, and

a parity generation unit for generating new parity data,

said relation means grouping said current data read command and said current parity read command into a single group and supplying as a first group said current data read command and said current parity read command to said input/output unit, thereafter grouping into a single group said new data write command and said new parity write command when said parity generation unit generates new parity data to be written by use of said new parity write command and supplying as a second group said new data write command and said new parity write command to said input/output unit;

said parity generation unit exclusive-OR'"'"'ing said current data, said current parity data and said new data, said current data being read from said disc array unit by use of the supplied current data read command, said current parity data being read from said disc array unit by use of the supplied current parity read command, said new data being written by use of said new data write command, and a result of said exclusive-OR'"'"'ing being generated as new parity data to be written by use of said new parity write command;

said input/output unit includes;

access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group of said at least one group supplied independently of one another by said CPU, and

notification means for notifying said CPU by the single interruption that execution of the commands of said one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group are found to have been terminated;

wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a RAID type disc array unit which includes a plurality of data disc drives for storing data, and at least one parity disc drive for storing parity data related to data stored at the same disc addresses in a plurality of data disc drives.

41. A computer system according to claim 40, wherein

said memory stores information representing a corresponding relation among the first group made of said current data read command and said current parity read command, the second group made of said new data write command and said new parity write command, and the disc array commands corresponding to the first and second groups:

and

said computer system further comprises;

termination means for checking whether said input/output unit has already notified termination of said first and second groups stored in said memory with respect to the disc array command which in turn is stored in said memory with respect to said one group and terminating said disc array command if the notification has already been made.

42. A computer system comprising:

a host machine having a memory and a CPU which includes an interrupt handling feature;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data; and

an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit;

said CPU of said host machine including;

means for generating a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary unit,

relation means, responsive to at least one command, for grouping a plurality of said commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and for supplying said input/output unit with said commands independently of one another,

data write means for temporarily writing to a cache area in said memory data to be written to said auxiliary memory, and

a write-back request unit for generating at an appropriate timing a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit for writing thereto a plurality of data items previously written in said cache area;

said relation means grouping into a single group at least part of the commands generated by said write-back request unit at said appropriate timing; and

said input/output unit includes;

access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group of said at least one group supplied independently of one another by said CPU, and

notification means for notifying said CPU by the single interruption that execution of the commands of said one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group are found to have been terminated.

43. A computer system according to claim 42, wherein said write-back request unit attaches, when a predetermined condition is met, information for inhibiting command grouping to the commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit for writing thereto data items written previously in said cache area;

said relation means setting aside from the commands generated by said write-back request unit at said appropriate timing commands furnished with information for inhibiting command grouping so as to refrain from grouping commands furnished with information for inhibiting grouping into any group.

44. A computer system comprising:

a host machine having a memory and a CPU which has an interrupt handling feature;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data; and

an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit;

said CPU of said host machine including;

means for generating a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary unit,

relation means, responsive to at least one command, for grouping a plurality of said commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and for supplying said input/output unit with said commands independently of one another,

command generation means, responsive to a disc array command for designating access to the disc array unit for writing new data thereto, for generating a new data write command for designating access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, a current data read command for designating access to said data disc drives for reading current data therefrom, said current data being updated by access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, a current parity read command for designating access to said at least one parity disc drive for reading current parity data therefrom, said current parity data corresponding to that data in said data disc drives which is updated by the access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, and a new parity write command for designating access to said at least one parity disc drive for writing new parity data thereto, said new parity data corresponding to said new data which is updated by access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, and

a parity generation unit for generating new parity data,

said relation means supplies said current data read command to said input/output unit, supplies a current data write command to said input/output unit when said input/output unit has read current data from said disc arrays, thereafter groups into a single group a plurality of current parity read commands upon elapse of a predetermined period of time, supplies to said input/output unit said single group of current parity read commands, groups into a single group a plurality of new parity write commands for writing the new parity data generated by said parity generation unit, and supplies to said input/output unit said single group of new parity write commands,

said parity generation unit including exclusive-OR calculation means for exclusive-OR'"'"'ing the current data and new data, said current data being read from said disc array unit by said input/output unit in accordance with the supplied current data read commands, said new data being written by said input/output unit in accordance with said new data write command;

exclusive-OR holding means for holding a result of said exclusive-OR'"'"'ing; and

new parity generation means for exclusive-OR'"'"'ing current and held parity data, said current parity data being read from said disc array unit in accordance with said current parity read commands, said new parity generation means further generating as new parity data a result of the exclusive-OR'"'"'ing of said current and said held parity data; and

said input/output unit including access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group of said at least one group supplied independently of one another by said CPU, and notification means for notifying said CPU by the single interruption that execution of the commands of said one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group are found to have been terminated,

wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a RAID type disc array unit which includes a plurality of data disc drives for storing data, and at least one parity disc drive for storing parity data related to data stored at the same disc addresses in a plurality of said data disc drives.

45. A computer system according to claim 44, wherein said CPU of said host machine further comprises holding means for holding, in a cache area in said memory, the data and parity data read from said disc array unit;

said relation means refraining from supplying a current data read command to said input/output unit when there exists in said cache area data corresponding to data to be read by said current data read command, said relation means further refraining from supplying a current parity read command to said input/output unit when there exists in said cache area parity data corresponding to parity data to be read by said current parity read command;

said parity generation unit, when there exists in said cache area data corresponding to data to be read by use of said current data read command, generates an exclusive-OR of new data and data residing in said cache area, said data in said cache area taking the place of said current data read from said disc arrays;

said parity generation unit further, when there exists in said cache area parity data corresponding to parity data to be read by use of said current data read command, generates an exclusive-OR of the current and held parity data, said parity data in said cache area taking the place of said current parity data read from said disc arrays, said exclusive-OR of said current and said held parity data being written by use of said new parity write command.

46. A computer system comprising:

a host machine having a memory and a CPU which includes interrupt handling feature;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data; and

an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit;

said CPU of said host machine includes;

means for generating a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary unit,

relation means, responsive to at least one command, for grouping a plurality of said commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and for supplying said input/output unit with said commands independently of one another,

means for storing in said memory information representing corresponding relations between each group of said at least one group and commands belonging to said each group,

means for attaching to each command of each group of said at least one group identification information identifying the group to which said each command belongs, said identification information being supplied to said input/output unit along with said commands, and

termination means for referring to said information stored in said memory and said commands belonging to said one group when said CPU is notified by said single interruption from said input/output unit that processing of said one group has been terminated,

command generation means, responsive to a disc array command for designating access to the disc array unit for writing new data thereto, for generating a new data write command for designating access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, a current data read command for designating access to said data disc drives for reading current data therefrom, said current data being updated by access to said data disc drives to write new data thereto, a current parity read command for designating access to said at least one parity disc drive for reading current parity data therefrom, said current parity data corresponding to data in said data disc drives which is updated by access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, and a new parity write command for designating access to said parity disc drive for writing new parity data thereto, said new parity data corresponding to said new data which is updated by access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, and

a parity generation unit for generating new parity data,

said relation means grouping said current data read command and said current parity read command into a single group and supplying as a first group said current data read command and said current parity read command to said input/output unit, thereafter grouping into a single group said new data write command and said new parity write command when said parity generation unit generates new parity data to be written by use of said new parity write command and supplying as a second group said new data write command and said new parity write command to said input/output unit, and

said parity generation unit exclusive-OR'"'"'ing said current data, said current parity data and said new data, said current data being read from said disc array unit by use of the supplied current data read command, said current parity data being read from said disc array unit by use of the supplied current parity read command, said new data being written by use of said new data write command, and a result of said exclusive-OR'"'"'ing being generated as new parity data to be written by use of said new parity write command; and

said input/output unit includes;

access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group of said at least one group supplied independently of one another by said CPU,

notification means for notifying said CPU by the single interruption that execution of the commands of said one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group are found to have been terminated, and

information generation and storage means for generating and storing information representing corresponding relations between each of said commands independently supplied from said relation means and said one group to which said commands independently supplied from said relation means belongs based on said identification information attached to said commands independently supplied from said relation means;

wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a RAID type disc array unit which includes a plurality of data disc drives for storing data, and at least one parity disc drive for storing parity data related to data stored at the same disc addresses in a plurality of data disc drives.

47. A computer system according to claim 46, wherein

said memory stores information representing a corresponding relation among the first made of said current data read command and said current parity read command, the second group made of said new data write command and said parity write command, and the disc array commands corresponding to the first and second groups;

and

said computer system further comprises termination means for checking whether said input/output unit has already notified termination of said first and second groups stored in said memory with respect to the disc array command which in turn is stored in said memory with respect to said one group and termination said disc array command if the notification has already been made.

48. A computer system comprising:

a host machine having a memory and a CPU which includes interrupt handling feature;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data; and

an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit;

said CPU of said host machine including;

means for generating a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary unit,

relation means, responsive to at least one command, for grouping a plurality of said commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and for supplying said input/output unit with said commands independently of one another,

means for storing in said memory information representing corresponding relations between each group of said at least one group and commands belonging to said each group,

means for attaching to each command of each group of said at least one group identification information identifying the group to which said each command belongs, said identification information being supplied to said input/output unit along with said commands,

termination means for referring to said information stored in said memory and said commands belonging to said one group when said CPU is notified by said single interruption from said input/output unit that processing of said one group has been terminated,

data write means for temporarily writing to a cache area in said memory data to be written to said auxiliary memory unit, and

a write-back request unit for generating at an appropriate timing a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit for writing thereto a plurality of data items previously written in said cache area,

said relation means grouping into a single group at least part of the commands generated by said write-back request unit at said appropriate timing; and

said input/output unit includes;

access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group of said at least one group supplied independently of one another by said CPU,

notification means for notifying said CPU by the single interruption that execution of the commands of said one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group are found to have been terminated, and

information generation and storage means for generating and storing information representing corresponding relations between each of said commands independently supplied from said relation means and said one group to which said commands independently supplied from said relation means belongs based on said identification information attached to said commands independently supplied from said relation means.

49. A computer system according to claim 48, wherein said write-back request unit attaches, when a predetermined condition is met, information for inhibiting command grouping to the commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit for writing thereto data items written previously in said cache area;

and

said relation means sets aside from the commands generated by said write-back request unit at said appropriate timing commands furnished with information for inhibiting command grouping so as to refrain from grouping commands furnished with information for inhibiting grouping into any group.

50. A computer system comprising:

a host machine having a memory and a CPU which includes interrupt handling feature;

an auxiliary memory unit for recording and reproducing data; and

an input/output unit for permitting data input and output between said host machine and said auxiliary memory unit;

said CPU of said host machine including;

means for generating a plurality of commands for designating access to said auxiliary unit,

relation means, responsive to at least one command, for grouping a plurality of said commands for designating access to said auxiliary memory unit, into at least one group and for supplying said input/output unit with said commands independently of one another,

means for storing in said memory information representing corresponding relations between each group of said at least one group and commands belonging to said each group,

means for attaching to each command of each group of said at least one group identification information identifying the group to which said each command belongs, said identification information being supplied to said input/output unit along with said commands,

termination means for referring to said information stored in said memory and said commands belonging to said one group when said CPU is notified by said single interruption from said input/output unit that processing of said one group has been terminated,

command generation means, responsive to a disc array command for designating access to the disc array unit for writing new data thereto, for generating a new data write command for designating access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, a current data read command for designating access to said data disc drives for reading current data therefrom, said current data being updated by access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, a current parity read command for designating access to said at least one parity disc drive for reading current parity data therefrom, said current parity data corresponding to that data in said data disc drives which is updated by the access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, and a new parity write command for designating access to said at least one parity disc drive for writing new parity data thereto, said new parity data corresponding to said new data which is updated by access to said data disc drives for writing new data thereto, and

a parity generation unit for generating new parity data,

said relation means supplies said current data read command to said input/output unit, supplies a current data write command to said input/output unit when said input/output unit has read current data from said disc arrays, thereafter groups into a single group a plurality of current parity read commands upon elapse of a predetermined period of time, supplies to said input/output unit said single group of current parity read commands, groups into a single group a plurality of new parity write commands for writing the new parity data generated by said parity generation unit, and supplies to said input/output unit said single group of new parity write commands,

said parity generation unit including exclusive-OR calculation means for exclusive-OR'"'"'ing the current data and new data, said current data being read from said disc array unit by said input/output unit in accordance with the supplied current data read commands, said new data being written by said input/output unit in accordance with said new data write command;

exclusive-OR holding means for holding a result of said exclusive-OR'"'"'ing; and

new parity generation means for exclusive-OR'"'"'ing current and held parity data, said current parity data being read from said disc array unit in accordance with said current parity read commands, said new parity generation means further generating as new parity data a result of the exclusive-OR'"'"'ing of said current and said held parity data;

said input/output unit includes;

access execution means for executing access to said auxiliary memory unit as designated by each of the commands of one group of said at least one group supplied independently of one another by said CPU,

notification means for notifying said CPU by the single interruption that execution of the commands of said one group has been terminated when the accesses designated by all commands belonging to said one group are found to have been terminated, and

information generation and storage means for generating and storing information representing corresponding relations between each of said commands independently supplied from said relation means and said one group to which said commands independently supplied from said relation means belongs based on said identification information attached to said commands independently supplied from said relation means;

wherein said auxiliary memory unit is a RAID type disc array unit which includes a plurality of data disc drives for storing data, and at least one parity disc drive for storing parity data related to data stored at the same disc addresses in a plurality of said data disc drives.

51. A computer system according to claim 50, wherein said CPU of said host machine further comprises holding means for holding, in a cache area in said memory, the data and parity data read from said disc array unit;

said relation means refrains from supplying a current data read command to said input/output unit when there exists in said cache area data corresponding to data to be read by said current data read command, said relation means further refraining from supplying a current parity read command to said input/output unit when there exists in said cache area parity data corresponding to parity data to be read by said current parity read command; and

said parity generation unit, when there exists in said cache area data corresponding to data to be read by use of said current data read command, generates an exclusive-OR of new data and data residing in said cache area, said data in said cache area taking the place of said current data read from said disc array;

said parity generation unit further, and, when there exists in said cache area parity data corresponding to parity data to be read by use of said current data read command, generates an exclusive-OR of the current and held parity data, said parity data in said cache area taking the place of said current parity data read from said disc arrays, said exclusive-OR of said current and said held parity data being written by use of said new parity write command.