Disk array apparatus, method for exchanging firmware, program for exchanging firmware and storage medium for storing program thereof

• US 8,051,415 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Ryo
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Qing
• Application Number:
  US12/372,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 710/1, 710/4, 710/36, 710/39, 710/48, 710/260, 711202-210
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Disclosed is a disk array apparatus which includes disk apparatuses and which reads and writes data of the disk apparatus based on an I/O instruction issued by a host computer, includes: a CPU which carries out a first firmware; a memory which stores the first firmware in a first storage area of physical address space; and a TLB which belongs to the CPU and makes the first storage area of the physical address space of the memory associated with a first logical area of logical address space, wherein in case that the CPU receives a second firmware and an instruction to exchange firmware, the CPU stores the second firmware in a second storage area of the physical address space of the memory, and updates the TLB to make the second storage area associated with the first logical area. A method and program for exchanging firmware are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A disk array apparatus which includes a plurality of disk apparatus and is connected to one or more host computers, and reads and writes data of said disk array apparatus based on an I/O instruction issued by said one or more host computers, comprising:

a ROM which stores a first firmware;

a CPU which carries out said first firmware;

a RAM which stores said first firmware in a first storage area of physical address space, wherein said CPU carrying out said first firmware from said RAM such that said first firmware is executed from said RAM and not from said ROM prior to firmware exchange; and

a TLB (Translation Look-aside Buffer) which is a buffer memory which belongs to said CPU, and stores information which makes said first storage area of physical address space of said RAM associated with a first logical area of logical address space,

wherein said CPU has a function which, in case an instruction to exchange firmware and a second firmware are received, evacuates work data of said first firmware to an evacuation area, which is set in said RAM in advance, stores said second firmware in a second storage area of said physical address space of said RAM, updates said TLB to make said second storage area associated with said first logical area, and after that, makes said work data evacuated return from evacuation, and makes said second firmware continue to work with said work data,

wherein said CPU carries out said second firmware from said RAM such that said second firmware is executed from said RAM and not from said ROM subsequent to firmware exchange, and

wherein said first firmware is exchanged for said second firmware such that said second firmware becomes operable for said disk array apparatus without said second firmware having to be stored in said ROM.

2. The disk array apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said CPU has a function, in case that an instruction to cancel exchanging firmware is received, to update said TLB to make said first storage area associated with said first logical area.

3. The disk array apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said CPU has a function, in case that an instruction to complete exchanging firmware is received, to overwrite said first firmware stored in said ROM with said second firmware.

4. The disk array apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said CPU receives said instruction to exchange firmware and said second firmware from a monitoring host connected via a network in advance.

5. The disk array apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said disk array apparatus reads said second firmware from a removable storage medium which is fitted to a slot which is included in advance.

6. A method for exchanging firmware in an array controller which includes a ROM to store a first firmware, a CPU to carry out said first firmware, a RAM to store said first firmware in a first storage area, and a TLB (Translation Look-aside Buffer) which is a buffer memory belonging to said CPU to store information to make physical address space of said RAM associated with logical address space and is connected to one or more host computers, and reads and writes data of a plurality of disk apparatus included in a disk array apparatus by an I/O instruction from said one or more host computers, comprising:

a first association step which makes said first storage area of said physical address space associated with a first logical area of said logical address space by said TLB;

a first receiving step which receives an instruction of exchanging firmware and an input of second firmware after said first association step;

a storing step which stores said second firmware in a second storage area of said physical address space of said RAM corresponding to said first receiving step;

an evacuation step which evacuates work data of said first firmware to an evacuation area, which is set in said RAM in advance;

a second association step which updates said TLB following said storing step and makes said second storage area associated with said first logical area; and

a returning step which makes said work data, which is evacuated, return, and makes said second firmware continue to work with said work data,

wherein said CPU carries out said first firmware from said RAM such that said first firmware is executed from said RAM and not from said ROM prior to firmware exchange,

wherein said CPU carries out said second firmware from said RAM such that said second firmware is executed from said RAM and not from said ROM subsequent to firmware exchange, and

wherein said first firmware is exchanged for said second firmware such that said second firmware becomes operable for said disk array apparatus without said second firmware having to be stored in said ROM.

7. The method for exchanging firmware according to claim 6, further comprising:

a second receiving step which receives an input of an instruction to cancel exchanging firmware after said first receiving step; and

a third association step which, corresponding to said second receiving step, updates said TLB and makes said first storage area associated with said first logical area.

8. The method for exchanging firmware according to claim 7, further comprising:

a third receiving step which receives an input of an instruction to complete exchanging firmware after said first receiving step; and

an overwriting step which, corresponding to said third receiving step, overwrites said first firmware stored in said ROM with said second firmware.

9. A firmware exchanging program stored in an array controller which includes a ROM to store a first firmware, a CPU to carry out said first firmware, a RAM to store said first firmware in a first storage area, and a TLB (Translation Look-aside Buffer) which is a buffer memory belonging to said CPU to store information to make physical address space of said RAM associated with logical address space and is connected to one or more host computers, and reads and writes data of a plurality of disk apparatus included in a disk array apparatus by an I/O instruction from said one or more host computers for making said CPU carry out processing comprising:

first association processing which makes said first storage area of said physical address space associated with a first logical area of said logical address space by said TLB;

first receiving processing which receives an instruction of exchanging firmware and an input of second firmware after said first association processing;

storing processing which stores said second firmware in a second storage area of said physical address space of said RAM corresponding to said first receiving processing;

evacuation processing which evacuates work data of said first firmware to an evacuation area, which is set in said RAM in advance;

second association processing which updates said TLB following said storing processing and makes said second storage area associated with said first logical area; and

returning processing which makes said work data, which is evacuated, return, and makes said second firmware continue to work with said work data,

wherein said CPU carries out said first firmware from said RAM such that said first firmware is executed from said RAM and not from said ROM prior to firmware exchange,

wherein said CPU carries out said second firmware from said RAM such that said second firmware is executed from said RAM and not from said ROM subsequent to firmware exchange, and

wherein said first firmware is exchanged for said second firmware such that said second firmware becomes operable for said disk array apparatus without said second firmware having to be stored in said ROM.

10. The firmware exchanging program according to claim 9, further comprising:

second receiving processing which receives an input of an instruction to cancel exchanging firmware after said first receiving processing; and

third association processing which, corresponding to said second receiving processing, updates said TLB and makes said first storage area associated with said first logical area.