Facilitating input/output processing by using transport control words to reduce input/output communications
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating input/output processing of a processing environment, said method comprising:
- obtaining by an input/output communications adapter of the processing environment a transport control word, said transport control word including a count of the total amount of data being transferred, an address of a descriptor control block to be sent to a control unit of the processing environment, in which the descriptor control block includes a plurality of input/output commands to be executed, an address of a list that informs the input/output communications adapter where to store or fetch data received from or transmitted to the control unit, and an address where to store ending status from the control unit;
forwarding from the input/output communications adapter to the control unit the descriptor control block that includes the plurality of input/output commands as one entity, wherein the forwarding includes forwarding from the input/output communications adapter to the control unit the descriptor control block including the plurality of input/output commands in a single communication; and
executing by the control unit the plurality of input/output commands to perform one or more input/output operations, wherein the executing is performed absent a tracking by the input/output communications adapter of state relative to the individual input/output commands of the plurality of input/output commands being executed by the control unit.
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Abstract
Input/output processing is facilitated by reducing communications between input/output communications adapters and control units during input/output processing. The number of exchanges and sequences between an input/output communications adapter and control unit is reduced by sending a plurality of commands from the adapter to the control unit as a single entity for execution by the control unit. The control unit executes the commands and provides the data, if any, in one sequence. The control unit relieves the adapter of the responsibility of tracking state of the individual commands and is able to calculate precise measurement data relating to execution of the commands.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of facilitating input/output processing of a processing environment, said method comprising:
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obtaining by an input/output communications adapter of the processing environment a transport control word, said transport control word including a count of the total amount of data being transferred, an address of a descriptor control block to be sent to a control unit of the processing environment, in which the descriptor control block includes a plurality of input/output commands to be executed, an address of a list that informs the input/output communications adapter where to store or fetch data received from or transmitted to the control unit, and an address where to store ending status from the control unit; forwarding from the input/output communications adapter to the control unit the descriptor control block that includes the plurality of input/output commands as one entity, wherein the forwarding includes forwarding from the input/output communications adapter to the control unit the descriptor control block including the plurality of input/output commands in a single communication; and executing by the control unit the plurality of input/output commands to perform one or more input/output operations, wherein the executing is performed absent a tracking by the input/output communications adapter of state relative to the individual input/output commands of the plurality of input/output commands being executed by the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification