JP3546741B2 - Hard disk unit, user area setting method used therefor, and recording medium recording control program therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hard disk unit, a user area setting method used therefor, and a recording medium recording a control program therefor, and more particularly to a user area size of a hard disk (HDD: Hard Disk Drive) having an ATA (AT Attachment) I / F (Interface). About settings.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, hard disk units are roughly classified into ATA (IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) standardized among hard disk manufacturers) and SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) as interfaces used for connection with a host device. .
[0003]
Since a command for setting the user area size is defined in the hard disk using SCSI for connection to the host device, the user area size can be set freely. However, a command for setting a user area size is not defined in a hard disk in which ATA is used for connection with a higher-level device.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described hard disk having the conventional ATA I / F, since a command for setting the user area size is not defined, it can be used only with the user area size initially set by the hard disk maker.
[0005]
For this reason, in the hard disk of the ATA I / F specification, the user area size cannot be changed. Therefore, a disk array (Array) is formed for hard disks having different capacities, and Dead copy for copying all areas is performed. I can't.
[0006]
In addition, in the hard disk of the ATA I / F specification, since the command for confirming the user area size is not defined, the user area size cannot be confirmed.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a hard disk unit which can be used in combination with hard disks having different capacities, a user area setting method used therefor, and a recording medium storing a control program therefor. It is in.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A hard disk unit according to the present invention is a hard disk unit having an ATA (AT Attachment) interface, and first holding means for holding at least a value of a maximum user area size indicating a range in which writing and reading are performed on a hard disk at an initial setting. Second holding means for holding the upper limit of the maximum user area size when the upper limit is reset, and defining the maximum user area size by using an unused command code among ATA command codes. Storage means for previously storing a capacity setting command for changing, and changing means for changing the held content of the second holding means using an externally set value when an external command is the capacity setting command. The user has access to values greater than or equal to the value changed by the changing means. Internal settings are made so that they cannot be performed.
[0009]
A method for setting a user area of a hard disk unit according to the present invention is a method for setting a user area of a hard disk unit having an ATA (AT Attachment) interface, wherein an external command uses an unused command code among ATA command codes. determining whether capacity setting command to change the maximum value of the user area size indicating a range in which at least the writing reading is performed in a defined and hard disk, the maximum when it is determined that the capacity setting command and a step of changing the contents held in the holding means for holding the value when the upper limit of the user area size is reset using the setting value from the outside, so that the user can not access is above its changed value Has been set internally.
[0010]
The recording medium in which the user area setting control program of the hard disk unit according to the present invention is recorded is a recording medium in which a user area setting control program for causing the control means to set a user area in a hard disk unit having an ATA (AT Attachment) interface. In addition, the user area setting control program causes the control means to provide a maximum value indicating a range in which an external command is defined using an unused command code among ATA command codes and at least writing / reading is performed on the hard disk. Holding means for determining whether or not the command is a capacity setting command for changing the value of the user area size, and holding the value when the upper limit of the maximum user area size is reset when the command is determined as the capacity setting command Content The setting is changed using an external setting value, and the internal setting is performed so that the user cannot access the changed value or more.
[0011]
That is, the hard disk unit of the present invention is defined using a command code (Command Code) that is not used (Reserve) in the ATA I / F specification, and a command for changing the user area size is added. It has a command table.
[0012]
Therefore, when a command for changing the user area size is input to the hard disk unit, the user area size is changed according to the command, so that hard disks having different capacities can be used in combination. It becomes possible to incorporate a hard disk into a disk array or perform Deadcopy.
[0013]
Further, the hard disk unit of the present invention adds a command for confirming the user area size to the above-mentioned command table, so that when using hard disks having different capacities in combination, each user area size is It is possible to confirm.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a hard disk unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the hard disk unit 1 includes an ATA (AT Attachment) I / F (Interface) control unit 11, a command table 13, a fixed value register 14, a user setting value register 15, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 16, , A memory 17, a data buffer control unit 18, a data buffer 19, a formatter unit 20, a head control unit 21, and a hard disk 22.
[0015]
The ATA I / F control unit 11, fixed value register 14, user set value register 15, MPU 16, memory 17, data buffer control unit 18, and formatter unit 20 are interconnected by a bus 200.
[0016]
The ATA I / F control unit 11 holds command data input via the ATA I / F cable 100 in the task register 12 and reads out an ATA command corresponding to the content set in the task register 12 from the command table 13. Transfer to MPU16.
[0017]
The MPU 16 controls each unit according to the passed ATA command, and performs operations such as reading data from the hard disk 22 and writing data to the hard disk 22. Note that the processing operation in each unit is performed by executing a program stored in the memory 17.
[0018]
Here, a predefined ATA command is stored in the command table 13, and the corresponding ATA command is read according to the contents set in the task register 12.
[0019]
The types of ATA commands exist from 00h to FFh. Among them, there are command numbers that are not currently used (reserved). Therefore, the user area size is set using these command numbers. A capacity setting command and a capacity setting value confirmation command for confirming the user area size are defined, and these commands are stored in the command table 13 in advance.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the task register 12 of FIG. In the figure, the task register 12 has seven types of registers, that is, 8-bit “COMMAND (1F7h)”, “CYLINDER HIGH (1F5h)”, “CYLINDER LOW (1F4h)”, “DRV_HD (1F6h)”, and “SEC_NUM”. (1F3h) "," SEC_CNT (1F2h) ", and" FEATURES (1F1h) ".
[0021]
By setting the respective values in the registers of the task register 12, the ATA IF control section 11 reads out and issues an ATA command corresponding to the set contents from the command table 13.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the hard disk unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the hard disk unit according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0023]
When the command is input, the ATA I / F control unit 11 holds the command data input via the ATA I / F cable 100 in the task register 12 and holds the command data in the command register (1F7h) of the task register 12. The command number is read, and the type of command is checked (step S1 in FIG. 3).
[0024]
If the input command is not a capacity setting value confirmation command or a capacity setting command (steps S2 and S3 in FIG. 3), the ATA I / F control unit 11 executes other commands (for example, commands for reading and writing to the hard disk 22). The ATA command corresponding to the command number stored in the command register (1F7h) is read from the command table 13 and passed to the MPU 16, and the MPU 16 executes the command (step S4 in FIG. 3).
[0025]
On the other hand, if the input command is a capacity setting command (step S3 in FIG. 3), the ATA I / F control unit 11 stores the six types of registers (1F1h to 1F6h) except for the command register (1F7h) of the task register 12. The stored user area setting value is read (step S5 in FIG. 3).
[0026]
The ATA I / F control unit 11 passes the read user area setting value to the MPU 16 together with the capacity setting command read from the command table 13, and changes the maximum user area size stored in the user setting value register 15 by the MPU 16. (Step S6 in FIG. 3).
[0027]
Here, at the time of the initial setting, the hard disk unit 1 performs writing and reading within the range of the maximum user area size set by the hard disk maker in the fixed value register 14. When the user area size (the same maximum user area size as the fixed value register 14 at the time of initial setting) is changed, writing and reading are executed within the range of the maximum user area size stored in the user setting value register 15 thereafter.
[0028]
As a result, the upper limit of the user area size is reset in the hard disk 22, the internal setting is performed so that the user cannot access the hard disk beyond the set value, and the command is terminated. Thereafter, the ATA I / F control section 11 returns a command normal end to the host device (not shown) via the ATA I / F cable 100 (step S7 in FIG. 3).
[0029]
If the input command is a capacity setting value confirmation command (step S2 in FIG. 3), the ATA I / F control unit 11 passes the capacity setting value confirmation command read from the command table 13 to the MPU 16.
[0030]
Since the MPU 16 reads the maximum user area size stored in the user setting value register 15 and passes it to the ATA I / F control unit 11, the ATA I / F control unit 11 sends the value to the command register (1F7h) of the task register 12. Are set in the six types of registers (1F1h to 1F6h) excluding, and a response is returned to the host device (step S8 in FIG. 3). The user can confirm the user area size set in the hard disk 22 based on the values set in the registers (1F1h to 1F6h).
[0031]
In the above embodiment, the operation for setting the user area size to be used in the user setting value register 15 has been described. However, a command for setting the unused user area size in the command table 13 is stored in advance, and the task By setting the command number in the command register (1F7h) of the register 12, and setting the unused user area size in the six types of registers (1F1h to 1F6h) excluding the command register (1F7h), the maximum user area can be reduced. The user area size calculated by subtracting the unnecessary user area size can also be set in the user setting value register 15.
[0032]
As described above, the capacity setting command for setting the user area size and the capacity setting value confirmation command for confirming the user area size are defined and stored in the command table 13 in advance. Hard disks can be used in combination. Therefore, these hard disks can be incorporated into a disk array, or Dead Copy can be performed.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a hard disk unit having an ATA interface, a capacity setting command for changing the content held in a holding unit that holds a value of a usable range in a hard disk is stored in a storage unit in advance. In addition, when the capacity setting command is designated from the outside, the contents held by the holding means are changed using the set value from the outside, so that there is an effect that hard disks having different capacities can be used in combination.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a hard disk unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a task register of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a hard disk unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 hard disk unit 11 ATA I / F controller 12 task register 13 command table 14 fixed value register 15 user set value register 22 hard disk

Claims (5)

A hard disk unit having an ATA (AT Attachment) interface, wherein first holding means for holding at least a value of a maximum user area size indicating a range in which writing and reading are performed on the hard disk at the time of initial setting; Holding means for holding the value when the upper limit is reset, and a capacity setting command for defining the maximum user area size by using an unused command code among the ATA command codes. the has a storage means for storing in advance, and changing means commands from the outside to change with the setting value from the outside holding the contents of at the second holding means is the volume setting command, the changing means The internal setting is set so that the user cannot access the value that is changed in or above And hard disk unit. The storage means stores in advance a capacity setting value confirmation command defined by using an unused command code among ATA command codes and for confirming the content held by the holding means,
2. The hard disk unit according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying the held contents of the holding means to the outside when the capacity setting value confirmation command is designated from outside. A method for setting a user area of a hard disk unit having an ATA (AT Attachment) interface, wherein an external command is defined using an unused command code among ATA command codes, and at least writing and reading are executed in the hard disk. Determining whether the command is a capacity setting command for changing the value of the maximum user area size indicating the range, and, when the upper limit of the maximum user area size is reset when the capacity setting command is determined , and a step of changing the contents held in the holding means for holding the value by using the setting value from the outside, the user that changed value or more to the user is characterized by performing the internal setting to prevent access Area setting method. A storage means for storing the capacity setting command in advance , wherein a capacity setting value confirmation command defined by using an unused command code of the ATA command code and for confirming the holding content of the holding means is stored in advance. Every
4. The user area setting method according to claim 3 , further comprising the step of notifying the held contents of the holding means to the outside when the command from outside is determined to be the capacity setting value confirmation command. In a hard disk unit having an ATA (AT Attachment) interface, a recording medium storing a user area setting control program for causing a control means to set a user area, wherein the user area setting control program is provided to the control means by an external It is determined whether or not the command is a capacity setting command for changing a value of a maximum user area size indicating at least a range in which writing and reading are performed on the hard disk, which is defined using an unused command code among ATA command codes. When the capacity setting command is determined , when the upper limit of the maximum user area size is reset, the content held by the holding unit that holds the value is changed using an externally set value, and the changed content is changed. User cannot access more than A recording medium in which a user area setting control program is recorded.

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