TWI507893B - Automatic identification system for expanded storage device and automatic identification for the same - Google Patents

Description

Storage expansion device automatic identification system and storage expansion device automatic identification configuration party law

The present invention relates to a storage expansion system, and more particularly to an automatic identification and configuration system for a storage expansion device that automatically recognizes a firmware for automatic identification.

Data storage server is one of the most popular servers today, which can effectively meet the needs of customers and solve the problem of data storage of customers. It is an indispensable hardware device in the era of information explosion, and in order to provide reliable hardware. Equipment Service, the existing technology proposes a storage expansion system with redundancy function. Please refer to the first figure. The first figure shows the system diagram of the prior art storage expansion system.

As shown, a storage expansion system PA100 includes a plurality of server nodes PA1a, PA1b (only two are shown), an identification module PA2, a first storage expansion device PA3, and a second storage expansion device PA4. The identification module PA2 includes an intermediate circuit board PA21 and a bridge circuit board PA22. The intermediate circuit board PA21 is electrically connected to the server nodes PA1a and PA1b, and the bridge circuit board PA22 is electrically connected to the middle. The circuit board PA21 and the bridge circuit board PA22 are provided with a first connection port PA221a, a second connection port PA221b and a control unit PA222. The control unit PA222 is electrically connected to the first connection port PA221a and the second connection port PA221b.

The first storage expansion device PA3 is electrically connected to the first connection port PA221a, and the first storage expansion device PA3 has a first connection port corresponding to the firmware PA31. Similarly, the second storage expansion device PA4 is electrically connected to the second connection port PA221b, and the second storage expansion device PA4 has a second connection port corresponding to the firmware PA41. In practice, the first storage expansion device PA3 and the second storage expansion device PA4 have the same hardware device. However, before the first storage expansion device PA3 is connected to the first connection port PA221a, the first storage expansion device PA3 must first The first connection port corresponding to the firmware PA31 corresponding to the first connection port PA221a is swiped, so that when the first storage expansion device PA3 is connected to the first connection port PA221a, the first connection port corresponding to the firmware PA31 is loaded to correspond to The first connection 埠 PA221a setting parameters.

Similarly, before the second storage expansion device PA4 is to be connected to the second connection port PA221b, the second storage expansion device PA4 must first brush the second connection port corresponding firmware PA41 corresponding to the second connection port PA221b. When the second storage expansion device PA4 is connected to the second port PA221b, the second connection port corresponding to the firmware PA41 loads the setting parameter corresponding to the second port PA221b.

As described above, since the first storage expansion device PA3 and the second storage expansion device PA4 have the same hardware device, whether the first storage expansion device PA3 and the second storage expansion device PA4 are connected to the first connection port The main factor of the PA221a or the second port 221PA221b is the firmware built in the first storage expansion device PA3 and the second storage expansion device PA4, because the storage expansion device connected to the first port 221PA221a must have built-in The corresponding first connection port corresponds to the firmware PA31 to operate smoothly. If the built-in firmware of the first storage expansion device PA3 is the second connection port corresponding to the firmware PA41, it needs to be connected to the second port 221PA221b to operate normally.

In view of the prior art, in order to achieve the function that the storage expansion devices can be mutually redundant, a plurality of storage expansion devices are usually provided, but since the storage expansion device is to be able to operate normally, it is necessary to have a firmware corresponding to the connection port. Therefore, even if the storage expansion device can be mass-produced automatically, it needs to be manually classified according to its built-in firmware before being connected to the identification module. In addition, if the firmware built into the expansion device does not match the connection port, the entire storage expansion system will not operate smoothly, which is very inconvenient.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system for automatically identifying a connection port to which a storage expansion device is connected by using an automatic identification firmware, and loading corresponding setting parameters for storage. The expansion unit works smoothly.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system for solving the problems of the prior art, and includes a plurality of server nodes, an identification module, and at least two storage expansion devices. A plurality of server nodes are respectively used to provide a storage number according to. The identification module is communicatively coupled to the server node and configured to receive the stored data, and the identification module includes a first port, a second port, and a control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the first connection port and the second connection port, and is configured to generate a first identification signal corresponding to the first connection port and a second identification signal corresponding to the second connection port. The two storage expansion devices are electrically connected to the first connection port and the second connection port respectively, and the two storage expansion devices respectively have an automatic identification firmware built therein, and the two storage expansion devices respectively transmit an automatic identification by automatically identifying the firmware. The signal is sent to the control unit, so that the two storage expansion devices are electrically connected to the first connection to receive the first identification signal, and the two storage expansion devices are electrically connected to the second connection to receive the second identification signal.

Wherein the second storage expansion device is connected to the first connection, automatically identifies the firmware by automatically identifying the firmware, and loads the first connection port from the automatic identification firmware. Storing the expansion setting parameter; the second storage expansion device is connected to the second connection, automatically identifies the firmware by automatically identifying the firmware, and loads the second connection port from the automatic identification firmware. A second storage expansion setting parameter.

An auxiliary technical means derived from the above-mentioned necessary technical means is that the hardware devices of the second storage expansion device have the same configuration.

An auxiliary technical means derived from the above-mentioned necessary technical means is that the two storage expansion devices are mutually redundant.

An auxiliary technical means derived from the above-mentioned technical means is that the two storage expansion devices are electrically connected to a storage device.

One of the subsidiary technical means derived from the above-mentioned necessary technical means is The storage expansion device is provided with a storage expansion processor. The storage expansion processor has a general purpose input/output (GPIO), and the first connection port and the second connection system are respectively electrically connected to the second storage expansion device. General purpose input and output pins.

An auxiliary technical means derived from the above-mentioned technical means is that the identification module further comprises a bridge circuit board, and the first connection port, the second connection port and the control unit are disposed on the bridge circuit board. Preferably, the identification module further comprises an intermediate circuit board, the intermediate circuit board is electrically connected to the bridge circuit board, and the server node is electrically connected to the intermediate circuit board.

The present invention provides a method for automatically identifying and configuring a storage expansion device, which includes the following steps: First, step S110 is to automatically establish an automatic identification in at least two storage expansion devices. The firmware is connected to the first connection port and the second port of the identification module respectively. Then, in step S130, the storage expansion device is connected to the first port. The automatic identification firmware automatically recognizes that the corresponding connection is connected to the first connection port, and loads the setting corresponding to the first connection port; and in step S140, the second storage expansion device is connected to the second connection device by automatic identification. The firmware automatically recognizes that it is correspondingly connected to the second port and loads the setting corresponding to the second port.

The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described by the following examples and drawings.

PA100‧‧‧Storage Expansion System

PA1a, PA1b‧‧‧ server node

PA2‧‧‧ identification module

PA21‧‧‧Intermediate board

PA22‧‧‧Bridge board

PA221a‧‧‧First port

PA221b‧‧‧Second connection

PA222‧‧‧Control unit

PA3‧‧‧First Storage Expansion Unit

PA31‧‧‧first connection 埠 corresponding firmware

PA41‧‧‧Second connection 埠 corresponding firmware

PA4‧‧‧Second storage expansion unit

100‧‧‧Storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system

1a, 1b‧‧‧ server nodes

2‧‧‧ Identification module

21‧‧‧Intermediate board

22‧‧‧Bridge board

221a‧‧‧First port

221b‧‧‧Second link

222‧‧‧Control unit

3a, 3b‧‧‧ storage expansion unit

31a, 31b‧‧‧Automatic identification of firmware

32a, 32b‧‧‧ Storage expansion processing chip

The first diagram shows a system diagram of a prior art storage expansion system; 2 is a schematic diagram showing a system for automatically identifying and configuring a storage expansion device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and a third diagram showing a method for automatically identifying and configuring a storage expansion device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Please refer to the second figure. The second figure shows a system diagram of the automatic identification and configuration system for the storage expansion device provided by the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system 100 includes a plurality of server nodes 1a, 1b (only two are shown), an identification module 2, and two storage expansion devices 3a and 3b.

The server nodes 1a, 1b are respectively used to provide a stored data. The server nodes 1a and 1b are actually connected to the external electronic device through the same Internet, for example, so that the external electronic device can be connected to the storage expansion device automatic identification and configuration system through the server node 1a or the server node 1b. 100, meaning that the server node 1a and the server node 1b are mutually redundant support.

The identification module 2 includes an intermediate circuit board 21 and a bridge circuit board 22. The intermediate circuit board 21 is communicatively coupled to the server nodes 1a, 1b and is configured to receive stored data. In practice, the intermediate circuit board 21 may be connected to the server nodes 1a, 1b via data lines, or may be coupled to the server nodes 1a, 1b by means of a physical data line and wireless transmission.

The bridge circuit board 22 is provided with a first connection port 221a, a second connection port 221b, and a control unit 222. Control unit 222 is electrically connected The first connection signal 221a and the second connection port 221b are coupled to generate a first identification signal corresponding to the first connection port 221a and a second identification signal corresponding to the second connection port 221b, wherein the first identification signal The second identification signal is implemented by setting a set of resistors to pull up to the power supply and pull down to the power supply ground. This is a common setting in the industry, so it will not be repeated here.

The storage expansion device 3a has an automatic identification firmware 31a and a storage expansion processing chip 32a. In practice, the automatic identification firmware 31a is written in a flash memory, and the storage expansion processing chip 32a is electrically connected to the flash memory written by the automatic identification firmware 31a, and the storage expansion processing chip 32a is stored. The first connection port 221a is electrically connected to a general purpose input/output (GPIO).

Similarly, the storage expansion device 3b also has an automatic identification firmware 31b and a storage expansion processing chip 32b. In practice, the automatic identification firmware 31b is written in a flash memory and is the same firmware as the automatic identification firmware 31a, and the storage expansion processing chip 32b is electrically connected to the automatic identification firmware 31b. The flash memory is inserted, and the memory expansion processing chip 32b is electrically connected to the second port 221b by a universal input/output pin.

Please refer to the second and third figures. The third figure is a method for automatically identifying and configuring the storage expansion device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in the above-mentioned storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system 100, a storage expansion device automatic identification configuration method comprises the following steps: First, step (a) is in the two storage expansion devices 3a, 3b respectively Built-in automatic identification of firmware 31a, 31b; then, step (b) is to store two The expansion devices 3a and 3b are respectively connected to the first connection port 221a and the second connection port 221b of the identification module 2; then, in the step (c), the storage expansion devices 3a and 3b are connected to the first connection port 221a (storage expansion) The device 3a) automatically recognizes that the corresponding connector is connected to the first port 221a by the automatic identification firmware 31a, and loads the setting corresponding to the first port 221a. Step (d), the two storage expansion devices 3a, 3b are connected to the second port 221b (storage expansion device 3b) by automatically recognizing the firmware 31b to automatically identify the corresponding connection to the second port 221b, and The setting corresponding to the second port 221b is loaded.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the hardware devices of the two storage expansion devices 3a, 3b have the same configuration, and the automatic identification firmwares 31a, 31b built in the two storage expansion devices 3a, 3b are also the same. The firmware means that the entire storage expansion device 3a has the same hardware and firmware as the storage expansion device 3b. When the storage expansion processing chip 32a of the storage expansion device 3a is electrically connected to the first connection port 221a, the automatic identification firmware 31a sends an automatic identification signal to the control unit 222, and the control unit 222 receives the automatic identification. After the signal, a first identification signal is sent back to the automatic identification firmware 31a, so that the automatic identification firmware 31a determines that the storage expansion device 3a is electrically connected to the first connection port 221a, and is loaded from the automatic identification firmware 31a. The first storage expansion setting parameter corresponding to the first port 221a is input, so that the storage expansion device 3a can smoothly cooperate with the first port 221a.

Similarly, the storage expansion device 3b also determines that the storage expansion device 3b is electrically connected to the second connection port 221b by automatically recognizing the recognition operation between the firmware 31b and the control unit 222, and automatically recognizes the firmware 31b. The second storage expansion setting parameter corresponding to the first port 221b is loaded.

In practical use, since the two storage expansion devices 3a, 3b are electrically connected to the identification module 2, the stored data transmitted via the server node 1a or the server node 1b can be allocated by the identification module 2 and selected for storage. The storage expansion device 3a or the storage expansion device 3b means that the storage expansion devices 3a, 3b are mutually redundant. In addition, the two storage expansion devices 3a, 3b can be electrically connected to a storage device (not shown).

In summary, compared with the prior art storage expansion system, since the storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system of the present invention is disposed on the same storage expansion device through the automatic identification firmware, the storage expansion device can be directly connected to the first A connection port or a second connection port, without separately installing different firmware, can identify the storage expansion device after connecting to the connection port, and load the corresponding setting parameters according to the connected connection port, thus Not only can the manual classification work be reduced, but also the situation that the system cannot operate due to the connection error of the storage expansion device can be effectively avoided.

The features and spirit of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover various modifications and equivalents within the scope of the invention as claimed.

100‧‧‧Storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system

1a, 1b‧‧‧ server nodes

2‧‧‧ Identification module

21‧‧‧Intermediate board

22‧‧‧Bridge board

221a‧‧‧First port

221b‧‧‧Second link

222‧‧‧Control unit

3a, 3b‧‧‧ storage expansion unit

31a, 31b‧‧‧Automatic identification of firmware

32a, 32b‧‧‧ Storage expansion processing chip

Claims (8)

A storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system includes: a plurality of server nodes respectively for providing a stored data; an identification module coupled to the server nodes for receiving the stored data, and The identification module includes: a first connection port; a second connection port; and a control unit electrically connected to the first port and the second port, and configured to generate a corresponding connection The first identification signal and the second identification signal corresponding to the second connection port; and the at least two storage expansion devices are electrically connected to the first connection port and the second connection port, respectively, and the two storage devices Each of the expansion devices has an automatic identification firmware, and the two storage expansion devices respectively send an automatic identification signal to the control unit, so that the two storage expansion devices are electrically connected to the first Receiving the first identification signal and causing the two storage expansion devices to be electrically connected to the second connection to receive the second identification signal; and wherein the second storage The expansion device is connected to the first connection, and the automatic identification firmware automatically recognizes that it is connected to the first connection port, and loads one of the first connection ports from the automatic identification firmware. a storage expansion setting parameter; wherein the second storage expansion device is coupled to the second connection, automatically identifying the second connection port by the automatic identification firmware, and loading the corresponding identifier from the automatic identification firmware The second storage expansion setting parameter is stored in one of the second ports. The storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the hardware devices of the two storage expansion devices have the same configuration. The storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the two storage expansion devices are mutually redundant. The storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system of claim 1, wherein the two storage expansion devices are electrically connected to a storage device. The storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system of claim 1, wherein the two storage expansion devices are provided with a storage expansion processor having a general purpose input/output pin (General Purpose Input/Output) , the GPIO), the first port and the second port are electrically connected to the universal input and output pins of the two storage expansion devices. The storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system of claim 1, wherein the identification module further comprises a bridge circuit board, and the first connection port, the second connection port, and the control unit are disposed on the Bridge the board. The storage expansion device automatic identification and configuration system of claim 6, wherein the identification module further comprises an intermediate circuit board electrically connected to the bridge circuit board. The storage expansion device automatic identification configuration system of claim 7, wherein the server nodes are electrically connected to the intermediate circuit board.