JP2016197298A - Control device, information processing device, electronic circuit board, control board, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device capable of transmitting information indicating an operation status before an occurrence of a failure, an information processor, an electronic circuit board, a control board and a program.SOLUTION: The control device includes reading means, determination means and transmission means. The reading means reads operation status information indicating an operation status of a storage device when detecting specific processing. The determination means determines whether the operation status information read by the reading means includes an item indicating necessity of maintenance. When the determination means determines that the operation status information includes an item indicating necessity of maintenance, the transmission means monitors an operation status of the own device and transmits the operation status information to a server device performing remote operation of the own device regardless of the operation status of the own device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a control device, an information processing device, an electronic circuit board, a control board, and a program.

  Conventionally, server devices are collectively installed in a data center. However, data centers are often unattended. Therefore, the maintenance staff must go to the data center whenever a problem occurs in the server device.

  From such a background, a BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) is mounted on a server device installed in a data center or the like. The BMC conforms to the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) standard. IPMI is an interface standard for remotely operating a server device via a network. Therefore, the BMC can transmit information indicating the operating state of the server device in response to a remote operation from the maintenance terminal of the server device. In addition, the BMC can accept a remote operation for preventive maintenance of the server device from the maintenance terminal. Furthermore, the BMC can issue an alarm to the maintenance terminal when a sensor provided in the server device detects an abnormality.

  Here, the auxiliary storage device of the server device is S.I. M.M. A. R. T.A. Some have a function called (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology). And S. M.M. A. R. T.A. The function is a function that provides information indicating the operating state of the auxiliary storage device. Therefore, the maintenance person of the server device can perform preventive maintenance of the auxiliary storage device by reading information indicating the operating state of the auxiliary storage device by remote operation.

  However, in order to obtain information indicating the operating state of the auxiliary storage device, the maintenance person must read the information indicating the operating state of the auxiliary storage device by operating the server device remotely from the maintenance terminal each time. . Therefore, when the maintenance staff notices, a failure may already have occurred.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a control device, an information processing device, an electronic circuit board, a control board, and a program capable of transmitting information indicating an operating state before a failure occurs.

  The control device according to the embodiment includes a reading unit, a determination unit, and a transmission unit. The reading unit reads operating state information indicating an operating state of the storage device when a predetermined process is detected. The determination means determines whether an item indicating that maintenance is necessary is included in the operating state information read by the reading means. When the determination unit determines that the operation state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is necessary, the transmission unit monitors the operation state of the own device and relates to the operation state of the own device. First, the operating state information is transmitted to a server device that remotely operates the device itself.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the control circuit of the store server. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of each unit of the store server. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of activation processing. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the interrupt reading process. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of transmission processing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a control device, an information processing device, an electronic circuit board, a control board, and a program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is an embodiment of a control device, an information processing device, an electronic circuit board, a control board, and a program, and does not limit the configuration, specifications, or the like. The present embodiment is an application example to a management system having a store server installed in each store such as a supermarket and a management server that manages the store server.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The management system 1 includes a plurality of store servers 10 and a management server 20. The store server 10 and the management server 20 are connected via the network 30.

  The store server 10 is an information processing apparatus that manages a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal or the like installed in a supermarket. Further, the store server 10 according to the present embodiment includes a BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) 310 (see FIG. 2). Thereby, the store server 10 can transmit the operation state to the management server 20 by the BMC 310 regardless of the operation state of the store server 10. Further, the store server 10 accepts a remote operation from the management server 20 by the BMC 310 regardless of the operating state of the store server 10.

  The management server 20 is a server device that can monitor the operating state of the store server 10 connected via the network 30. Further, the management server 20 can remotely operate the store server 10 regardless of the operating state of the store server 10 connected via the network 30.

  The network 30 is a network in which security is ensured, such as a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Alternatively, the network 30 may be a public network such as the Internet.

  Next, the control circuit 100 provided in the store server 10 will be described.

  Here, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the control circuit 100 of the store server 10. The control circuit 100 is roughly divided into a control device including a mother board 200 and a BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) board 300. The control circuit 100 is connected to an auxiliary storage device 400a and an auxiliary storage device 400b. Hereinafter, when the auxiliary storage device 400a and the auxiliary storage device 400b are not distinguished, the auxiliary storage device 400 will be described. In addition, although two auxiliary storage devices 400 are connected to the control circuit 100 shown in FIG. 2, there may be one, or three or more. Further, the mother board 200 and the BMC board 300 may be formed on different substrates or may be formed on the same substrate.

  The mother board 200 is an electronic circuit board that controls the function of registering / settlement of commodities related to one transaction provided in the store server 10. The motherboard 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 210, a memory 220, a chip set 230, a BIOSROM (Basic Input Output System Read Only Memory) 240, a sensor 250, and a LAN (Local Area Network) controller 260. doing.

  The CPU 210 executes various arithmetic processes and controls various functions provided in the store server 10. The memory 220 stores various programs and various data used by the CPU 210 in a rewritable manner.

  The chip set 230 is a circuit group that controls the exchange of information between various hardware components on the motherboard 200. The chip set 230 controls information exchange between the mother board 200 and the BMC board 300. Further, the chip set 230 includes a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) controller 231. The SATA controller 231 controls connection by SATA, which is a standard for connecting to the auxiliary storage device 400. That is, the SATA controller 231 controls information exchange between the auxiliary storage devices 400.

  The BIOSROM 240 is a non-volatile storage medium that retains information even when the power of the store server 10 is turned off. The BIOS ROM 240 stores the BIOS 241. The BIOS 241 is software responsible for initializing each hardware component until the OS (Operating System) 401 is activated.

  The sensor 250 is a plurality of sensors that measure each part of the store server 10. For example, the sensor 250 measures the number of rotations of a main housing of the store server 10 and a fan (not shown) that cools the CPU 210, the temperature of the CPU 210, the voltage value of a power supply circuit (not shown), and the like. The LAN controller 260 controls communication via the network 30.

  The BMC board 300 is a control board having an IPMI function compliant with the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) standard. That is, the BMC board 300 controls the connection with the management server 20 via the LAN controller 340 regardless of the operating state of the store server 10 that is the own device by the IPMI function. Thereby, the management server 20 can monitor the operating state of the store server 10. Further, the management server 20 can remotely operate the store server 10 regardless of the operating state of the store server 10.

  The BMC board 300 includes a BMC 310, a memory 320, a firmware ROM 330, and a LAN controller 340. The BMC 310 controls the BMC board 300. The memory 320 stores various programs and various data used by the BMC 310 in a rewritable manner. The firmware ROM 330 stores firmware 331. The firmware 331 is software having a function of transmitting the operating state of the store server 10 to the management server 20 and a function related to remote operation. The LAN controller 340 controls communication via the network 30.

  The auxiliary storage device 400 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The auxiliary storage device 400 stores the OS 401, a program for executing merchandise sales processing, and the like. The OS 401 is a program that implements basic functions of the store server 10.

  Next, characteristic functions of each unit of the store server 10 according to the embodiment will be described.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of each unit of the store server 10.

  First, the functions of the auxiliary storage device 400 will be described. A CPU (not shown) of the auxiliary storage device 400 expands a program stored in a ROM (not shown) in a RAM (not shown) and operates according to the program, thereby causing each functional unit shown in FIG. Generate. Specifically, the auxiliary storage device 400 includes a self-diagnosis unit 4001. The self-diagnosis unit 4001 generates operating state information by a self-diagnosis function. Here, the operating state information is information indicating the operating state of the auxiliary storage device 400. The operating state information stores the ratio of errors that occurred when reading data from the auxiliary storage device 400, the total energization time of the auxiliary storage device 400, and the like. Specifically, the operating state information is, for example, S.I. M.M. A. R. T.A. Stores the contents of each item of (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology).

  Next, functions of the motherboard 200 will be described. The CPU 210 expands the BIOS 241 stored in the BIOS ROM 240 and the OS 401 stored in the auxiliary storage device 400 to the memory 220, and operates according to the BIOS 241 and the OS 401, thereby generating each functional unit illustrated in FIG. . Specifically, the motherboard 200 generates an activation control unit 2001, a process detection unit 2002, an operating state information reading unit 2003, a shutdown control unit 2004, and a remote operation control unit 2005.

  The activation control unit 2001 activates the store server 10 when the power of the store server 10 is turned on. When the power of the store server 10 is turned on, the activation control unit 2001 expands the BIOS 241 stored in the BIOS ROM 240 in the memory 220 and executes it. Then, the activation control unit 2001 performs a POST (Power On Self Test) process. The POST process is a process for detecting, initializing, setting, and the like of hardware components. For example, the activation control unit 2001 detects the auxiliary storage device 400. In addition, the activation control unit 2001 expands the boot loader stored in the auxiliary storage device 400 in the memory 220. Then, the activation control unit 2001 causes the boot loader to activate the OS 401 stored in the auxiliary storage device 400. As a result, the activation control unit 2001 activates the store server 10.

  The process detection unit 2002 detects a signal output during a predetermined process. Then, when the process detection unit 2002 detects a signal output during a predetermined process, the operation state information reading unit 2003 reads the operation state information from the auxiliary storage device 400. Here, the signal output in the predetermined process is, for example, a signal output in the process of starting the OS 401 by the start control unit 2001 after the power is turned on. Alternatively, it is a signal that is output every time a certain period elapses when the timer means (not shown) performs timer processing.

  The operating state information reading unit 2003 serving as a reading unit reads the operating state information from the auxiliary storage device 400 when the process detecting unit 2002 detects a signal output during a predetermined process.

  Then, the operating state information reading unit 2003 serving as an output unit outputs a command having the read operating state information to the BMC board 300.

  The shutdown control unit 2004 controls the shutdown of the store server 10 when an operation for turning off the power is input.

  When the remote operation control unit 2005 receives an input of a command related to a remote operation from the BMC board 300, the remote operation control unit 2005 executes a process according to the content of the command. More specifically, the processing executed by the remote operation control unit 2005 includes processing for transmitting the output value of the sensor 250 to the management server 20 and processing for causing the shutdown control unit 2004 to shut down the store server 10.

  Next, functions that the BMC board 300 has will be described. The BMC 310 generates the functional units illustrated in FIG. 3 on the memory 320 by expanding the firmware 331 stored in the firmware ROM 330 into the memory 320 and operating according to the firmware 331. Specifically, the BMC board 300 generates a command input unit 3001, a command processing unit 3002, a communication control unit 3003, a command output unit 3004, and a sensor reading unit 3005.

  A command input unit 3001 serving as an input unit receives a command input from the motherboard 200.

  When the command input unit 3001 receives an input of a command, the command processing unit 3002 executes a process according to the command. The command processing unit 3002 serving as a determination unit executes a maintenance determination process when the command input unit 3001 receives an input of a command having operating state information. The maintenance determination process is a process for determining whether each item of the operating state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is necessary. For example, the total number of times that the magnetic head has been retracted from the magnetic disk surface to the retracted location and then returned to the magnetic disk surface again exceeds a threshold value. Or it is the case where the total time of energization time of the hard disk from the factory shipment exceeds a threshold.

  The command processing unit 3002 causes the communication control unit 3003 to transmit the operation state information when the operation state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is necessary. On the other hand, the command processing unit 3002 does not execute special processing when the operation state information does not include an item indicating that maintenance is required. Thereby, the maintenance person who operates the management server 20 can determine whether or not the auxiliary storage device 400 needs to be maintained.

  In addition, when the communication control unit 3003 receives a command related to a remote operation, the command processing unit 3002 executes a process according to the received remote operation command.

  The communication control unit 3003 controls communication with the management server 20 via the LAN controller 340. For example, when the command processing unit 3002 determines that the item indicating that maintenance is necessary is included in the operation state information, the communication control unit 3003 serving as a transmission unit transmits the operation state information to the management server 20. .

  Further, the communication control unit 3003 receives, for example, a command for remotely operating the store server 10 from the management server 20. When the content of the received remote operation command is content to be processed by the motherboard 200, the communication control unit 3003 outputs a command for remotely operating the store server 10 to the command output unit 3004. On the other hand, when the received remote operation command content is processed by the BMC board 300, the communication control unit 3003 outputs a command for remotely operating the store server 10 to the command processing unit 3002.

  The command output unit 3004 outputs a command for remotely operating the store server 10. For example, the command output unit 3004 outputs a command or the like for shutting down the store server 10. For example, when each item of the operation state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is required, the management server 20 is auxiliary stored until the maintenance person arrives by shutting down the store server 10. The current status can be maintained without causing the device 400 to perform extra operations.

  The sensor reading unit 3005 reads the output value of the sensor 250.

  Next, a boot process executed by the motherboard 200 of the store server 10 according to the above-described embodiment according to the BIOS 241 will be described. Here, the activation process is a process of reading the operation state information indicating the operation state of the auxiliary storage device 400 when the store server 10 is activated.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of start processing executed by the motherboard 200 of the store server 10 in accordance with the BIOS 241.

  First, the CPU 210 (startup control unit 2001) of the motherboard 200 initializes hardware included in the store server 10 (step S11).

  Next, the CPU 210 (startup control unit 2001) of the motherboard 200 detects the auxiliary storage device 400 (step S12). Next, the CPU 210 (operating state information reading unit 2003) of the mother board 200 reads the operating state information from the auxiliary storage device 400 (step S13). Next, the CPU 210 (operating state information reading unit 2003) of the mother board 200 outputs a command having the read operating state information to the BMC board 300 (step S14).

  Next, the CPU 210 (activation control unit 2001) of the motherboard 200 activates the OS 401 by executing the boot loader (step S15).

  As described above, the CPU 210 of the motherboard 200 ends the startup process.

  Next, interrupt reading processing executed by the motherboard 200 of the store server 10 according to the above-described embodiment according to the OS 401 will be described. Here, the interrupt reading process is a process of reading operating state information indicating an operating state of the auxiliary storage device 400 every time a certain period elapses.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of interrupt reading processing executed by the motherboard 200 of the store server 10 in accordance with the OS 401.

  First, the CPU 210 (shutdown control unit 2004) of the store server 10 determines whether or not an operation for shutting down the store server 10 has been input (step S21).

  When an operation for shutting down the store server 10 is not input (step S21; No), the CPU 210 (operating state information reading unit 2003) of the store server 10 determines whether or not a certain period has elapsed (step S22). When the fixed period has not elapsed (step S22; No), the CPU 210 (operating state information reading unit 2003) of the store server 10 proceeds to step S21.

  When the fixed period has elapsed (step S22; Yes), the CPU 210 (operation state information reading unit 2003) of the store server 10 reads the operation state information from the auxiliary storage device 400 (step S23). Next, the CPU 210 (operating state information reading unit 2003) of the mother board 200 outputs a command having the read operating state information to the BMC board 300 (step S24). Then, the CPU 210 of the mother board 200 proceeds to step S21.

  On the other hand, when an operation for shutting down the store server 10 is input (step S21; Yes), the CPU 210 (shutdown control unit 2004) of the store server 10 shuts down the store server 10 (step S25).

  As described above, the CPU 210 of the motherboard 200 ends the interrupt reading process.

  Next, transmission processing executed by the BMC board 300 of the store server 10 according to the above-described embodiment according to the firmware 331 will be described. Here, the transmission process is a process of transmitting the operation state information to the management server 20 when each item of the operation state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is required.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of transmission processing executed by the BMC board 300 of the store server 10 according to the firmware 331.

  First, the BMC 310 (command input unit 3001) of the BMC board 300 determines whether or not an input of a command has been received from the mother board 200 (step S31).

  When a command is received from the motherboard 200 (step S31; Yes), the BMC 310 (command processing unit 3002) of the BMC board 300 determines whether or not the input command is a command having operating state information (step). S32).

  In the case of a command having no operating state information (step S32; No), the BMC 310 (command processing unit 3002) of the BMC board 300 executes a process according to the command (step S33).

  On the other hand, in the case of a command having operating state information (step S32; Yes), the BMC 310 (command processing unit 3002) of the BMC board 300 includes an item indicating that maintenance is required in each item of the operating state information. It is determined whether or not there is (step S34).

  When the item indicating that maintenance is necessary is not included in each item of the operating state information (step S34; No), the BMC 310 (command processing unit 3002) of the BMC board 300 ends the transmission process.

  On the other hand, when each item of the operation state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is required (step S34; Yes), the BMC 310 (command processing unit 3002) of the BMC board 300 stores the operation state information in the management server. 20 (step S35).

  On the other hand, when an input of a command is not received from the motherboard 200 (step S31; No), the BMC 310 (communication control unit 3003) of the BMC board 300 determines whether a remote operation has been received from the management server 20 ( Step S36). When the remote operation has not been received (step S36; No), the BMC 310 (communication control unit 3003) of the BMC board 300 proceeds to step S31.

  On the other hand, when the remote operation is received (step S36; Yes), the BMC 310 (command output unit 3004) of the BMC board 300 sends the store server 10 to the remote operation control unit 2005 of the motherboard 200 or the command processing unit 3002 of the BMC board 300. A command to remotely operate is output (step S37). Accordingly, the remote operation control unit 2005 or the command processing unit 3002 executes a remote operation corresponding to the command.

  As described above, the BMC 310 of the BMC board 300 ends the transmission process.

  As described above, according to the store server 10 according to the present embodiment, the operating state information reading unit 2003 detects the timing for reading the operating state information. Then, the operating state information reading unit 2003 outputs the operating state information read at the detected timing to the BMC board 300. The command processing unit 3002 of the BMC board 300 determines whether or not the operation status information that has received the input includes an item that requires maintenance. The communication control unit 3003 transmits the operation state information to the management server 20 when the operation state information includes an item that requires maintenance. Therefore, the store server 10 according to the present embodiment can transmit information indicating an operating state before a failure occurs, without using a remote operation from an external computer such as the management server 20.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the store server 10 has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be applied to an information processing apparatus other than the store server 10. The present invention can be applied to a personal computer-based information processing apparatus. For example, the present invention may be a personal computer or a tablet personal computer.

  The program executed by each device of the above-described embodiment or modification is provided by being incorporated in advance in a storage medium (ROM or storage unit) included in each device, but is not limited thereto. For example, an installable or executable file is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). You may comprise. Furthermore, the storage medium is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, but also includes a storage medium in which a program transmitted via a LAN, the Internet, or the like is downloaded and stored or temporarily stored.

  Further, the program executed by each device of the above-described embodiment or modification may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network, or the Internet It may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network.

10 store server 100 control circuit 200 motherboard 210 CPU
241 BIOS
2001 Start Control Unit 2002 Process Detection Unit 2003 Operating State Information Reading Unit 2004 Shutdown Control Unit 2005 Remote Operation Control Unit 300 BMC Board 310 BMC
331 Firmware 3001 Command input unit 3002 Command processing unit 3003 Communication control unit 3004 Command output unit 3005 Sensor reading unit 400a, 400b Auxiliary storage device 401 OS
4001 Self-diagnosis department

JP 2014-182743 A

Claims (6)

A reading unit that reads operation state information indicating an operation state of the storage device when a predetermined process is detected;
Determining means for determining whether the operating state information read by the reading means includes an item indicating that maintenance is required;
When the determination unit determines that the operation state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is required, the operation state of the own device is monitored, and the own device is monitored regardless of the operation state of the own device. Transmitting means for transmitting the operating state information to a server device to be operated remotely;
A control device comprising: The reading means reads the operating state information when detecting a process of starting an OS (Operating System) after the power is turned on.
The control device according to claim 1. A storage device;
A reading unit that reads operation state information indicating an operation state of the storage device when a predetermined process is detected;
Determining means for determining whether the operating state information read by the reading means includes an item indicating that maintenance is required;
When the determination unit determines that the operation state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is required, the operation state of the own device is monitored, and the own device is monitored regardless of the operation state of the own device. Transmitting means for transmitting the operating state information to a server device to be operated remotely;
An information processing apparatus comprising: A reading unit that reads operation state information indicating an operation state of the storage device when a predetermined process is detected;
The operating state of the own device is monitored, and the operating state information read by the reading unit is output to a control board that controls connection with a server device that remotely operates the own device regardless of the operating state of the own device. Output means;
An electronic circuit board comprising: Input means for receiving input of the operating state information from an electronic circuit board that outputs operating state information indicating an operating state of the storage device;
A determination unit that determines whether the operation state information received by the input unit includes an item indicating that maintenance is required;
When the determination unit determines that the operation state information includes an item indicating that maintenance is required, the operation state of the own device is monitored, and the own device is monitored regardless of the operation state of the own device. Transmitting means for transmitting the operating state information to a server device to be operated remotely;
A control board comprising: Computer
A reading unit that reads operation state information indicating an operation state of the storage device when a predetermined process is detected;
The operating state of the own device is monitored, and the operating state information read by the reading unit is output to a control board that controls connection with a server device that remotely operates the own device regardless of the operating state of the own device. Output means;
Program to function as.

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