JP3714145B2 - Auxiliary storage device backup method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a backup method for an auxiliary storage device in an information processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a hard disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD) is often used as an auxiliary storage device. This is because, among general auxiliary storage devices, the cost performance of the HDD is excellent in terms of data transfer speed, storage capacity, and the like. In recent years, the capacity and cost of HDDs have been further increased, and some HDDs with large capacity exceeding 10 gigabytes are mounted.
[0003]
The lifetime of a general HDD is 4 to 5 years, although it varies depending on the usage environment, and is shorter than that of semiconductor components. In particular, when used in the industrial field, the service life is further shortened when the continuous operation for 24 hours and 365 days is more severe in terms of the service life. For this reason, by backing up all information recorded in the HDD to another HDD, the system can be quickly restored simply by replacing the HDD when a failure occurs.
[0004]
As a means for improving the reliability of the HDD, a multiplexing system called mirroring is generally known. In this case, there are two primary and secondary HDDs, both HDDs are used for writing, and primary or secondary HDDs are used for reading. If a failure occurs in one HDD, the other HDD is used. Online processing can be continued on the system HDD. However, since both the main and slave HDDs are operated in the same environment and energized, the operating life is shortened as compared with HDDs stored without being energized.
[0005]
In addition, there is means for backing up the HDD in order to improve the reliability of the HDD in a normal system other than mirroring. In this case, after the backup is completed, if the system is operated with the backup HDD connected due to an operation error, the logical drive number of the file structure is changed when the operating system (hereinafter abbreviated as OS) is started. If the application program has been operated by specifying the logical drive number, or if the operator has mistakenly written to the backup data, the information processing device has malfunctioned and not only the backup HDD is operating normally. The data on the main HDD or the information processing apparatus itself may be destroyed.
[0006]
As a conventional technique related to HDD backup, there is a technique for preventing unauthorized copying of an HDD as described in JP-A-7-21089.
[0007]
In this prior art, an identification ID is assigned in advance to each HDD in the information processing apparatus at the time of backup, and at the same time, the identification ID is stored in a nonvolatile memory in the apparatus, and the identification ID matches when the system is started. This prevents unauthorized use of the backup HDD in other devices. However, if the identification IDs coincide with each other regardless of whether a failure occurs or during normal operation, the system will operate with the backup HDD left unattended in the information processing apparatus, which may lead to system malfunction, and the lifetime. Is not taken into consideration. Further, in this method, when a failure occurs in the nonvolatile memory in the information processing apparatus and the identification ID stored in the nonvolatile memory is lost, it takes a long time for the system to be unable to recover or to recover. There is a possibility.
[0008]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-83619 discloses a related art regarding prevention of misplacement of a recording medium. In this prior art, when there is a recording medium or the like in the information processing apparatus, a warning sound is emitted when the recording medium is left for a certain time or longer, and alarm information indicating that the recording medium is misplaced is displayed. . This method only issues an alarm while the OS is running and prompts the user to remove it. However, the state of the information processing apparatus after the alarm is issued is not considered, and the information processing apparatus operates even when the alarm is issued. There is a possibility.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the present invention, in the field where early recovery by backup data is important, by preventing activation of the operation system when the backup auxiliary storage device is present in the information processing device, the information processing device is prevented from malfunctioning, and the operator It is another object of the present invention to provide a backup method for an auxiliary storage device that can prolong the life of the backup HDD by prompting removal of the backup HDD.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises an information processing apparatus including at least a processor, a main storage device, a plurality of auxiliary storage devices, and a removable media drive device, and a display device connected to the information processing device. . The plurality of auxiliary storage devices are composed of two types: a primary system and a secondary auxiliary storage device that stores backup data thereof. At the time of backup, after copying the data of the primary auxiliary storage device to the secondary auxiliary storage device by the data copying program, the data compression program and the flag writing program stored in the recording medium, the secondary auxiliary storage device The first sector area in which the master boot record is recorded is compressed, and an empty area is secured in the sector. Then, a flag clearly indicating that the subordinate auxiliary storage device is for backup is written in the area.
[0011]
Further, when the information processing apparatus is started after the backup is completed, a flag is present in the head sector area of one or a plurality of auxiliary storage devices mounted in the information processing apparatus by processing for detecting the presence or absence of the flag. If at least one flag is detected from any of the auxiliary storage devices, the presence of the flag is displayed to prompt the operator to remove the backup auxiliary storage device.
[0012]
Then, the backup auxiliary storage device can be used as the primary auxiliary storage device by erasing the flag by restoring the compressed data by the data restoration program stored in the recording medium. it can.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of the present invention. The computer 10 includes a processor 20, a flash ROM (hereinafter abbreviated as FROM) 30, a memory 40 as a main storage device, and an auxiliary storage device. It is composed of two HDDs 50 and 51 and a floppy disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as FDD) 60 as a removable media driving device, and a monitor 80 is connected as a display device. The FROM 30 further stores a flag detection program 90 in addition to a BIOS program for normal hardware initialization and diagnosis. A data copy program 71, a data compression program 72, a flag writing program 73, and a data restoration program 74 are stored in a floppy disk 70 (hereinafter abbreviated as FD) that is a removable medium. In this embodiment, a FROM 30, a memory 40, HDDs 50 and 51, an FDD 60, and a monitor 80 are connected to the processor 20 so that data can be written / read out. The HDD 50 is a main HDD including the system, and the other HDD 51 is a backup HDD. During normal operation, the HDD 51 is not connected or connected to a slave HDD. When the power of the computer 10 is turned on, the BIOS program and the flag detection program 90 stored in the FROM 30 are first started.
[0014]
The data copy program 71 is a program for performing a process of creating a backup HDD by copying all data recorded in the primary HDD to the slave HDD. The data compression program 72 reads the continuous data from the head sector area in which the master boot record (hereinafter abbreviated as MBR) of the backup HDD is stored after data copy from the primary HDD to the backup HDD. Compression is performed using a continuous length compression method that compresses by replacing with a code and a continuous number, and an empty area is secured in the head sector area. The flag writing program 73 is a program that writes a flag that clearly indicates that the HDD is for backup in the free space secured by the data compression program 72. The data restoration program 74 is a program for restoring the original MBR from the MBR compressed and processed by the data compression program 72 and the flag writing program 73 when it is confirmed that the flag exists in the HDD. The flag detection program 90 is a program for detecting the flag in the HDD, and reads the head sector area of all HDDs connected to the processor 20 and the flag exists in the head sector area of at least one HDD. The processor 20 notifies the processor 20 that the flag exists in the HDD, and the processor 20 that has received the notification displays the presence of the flag or backup management information described later on the monitor 80 and enters a standby state.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a processing flow of the present invention. Each process included in this flow will be described sequentially. First, a flag detection process flow for detecting whether or not a backup HDD exists when the computer is activated and stopping the activation of the OS when the backup HDD exists will be described. When the power of the computer 10 is turned on, a BIOS program stored in the FROM 30 is started, and the processor 20 is connected to the memory 40, the HDDs 50 and 51, and other normal input / output devices not shown in the configuration of FIG. Is initialized (100). When the hardware initialization process 100 is completed, it is confirmed whether or not the FD 70 storing the data copy program 71, the data compression program 72, the flag writing program 73, and the data restoration program 74 is mounted on the FDD 60 (101). . When the FD 70 is mounted on the FDD 60, the program stored in the FD 70 is read and started so that the processing of each program can be executed (102). However, when the FD is not mounted on the FDD 60, the system reads the head sector area from the HDDs 50 and 51 (106), and checks whether a flag exists in each head sector area (107).
When the flag does not exist in the HDD 50 and the HDD 51, loading of the OS from the HDD 50 to the memory 40 starts (108) and the OS is activated. Thus, the user can use the computer 10, and an arbitrary application program can be executed, or a batch file created in advance can be automatically started to execute automatic processing. However, if there is a flag indicating that it is a backup HDD in at least one of the head sector areas of the HDD 50 and the HDD 51, the processor 20 is notified that the flag is present and the monitor 80 is flagged. After displaying the existence of, the standby state is entered (109), and the activation process is terminated. As a result, when a backup HDD exists in the computer 10, it is possible to prevent the OS from starting up.
[0016]
Next, a backup processing flow for creating a backup HDD will be described. The process up to the hardware initialization process (100) is the same as the flag detection process flow. After the initialization process (100) is completed, a process for confirming the presence or absence of the FD 70 is performed (101). Here, when the FD 70 storing the data copy program 71, the data compression program 72, and the flag writing program 73 for performing the backup process is not installed in the FDD 60, the backup process is not performed. When the FD 70 in which the backup utility program is stored is installed in the FDD 60, these programs are downloaded from the FD 70 and activated (102). After the program is started, a process selection menu is displayed on the monitor 80 and waits for an input of a selection process by the operator (103). Here, when the backup process is selected by an input from the operator, the process of copying the data of the primary HDD to the slave HDD is performed (104), the backup HD is created, and the process ends.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is a detailed process flow of the backup process (104). When the backup process is selected, information on the HDDs 50 and 51 mounted in the computer 10 is displayed (1041), and the system waits for operator input to select a copy source HDD and a copy destination HDD (1042). In this embodiment, since the HDD 50 is the primary HDD and the HDD 51 is the backup HDD, the HDD 50 is read by the data copy program 71 read from the FD 70 when the copy source HDD is selected as the HDD 50 and the copy destination HDD 51 is selected by the operator. Data copy to the HDD 51 is started (1043). After the HDD data is copied, the MBR of the HDD designated as the copy destination is compressed by the data compression program 72 stored in the FD 70, and an empty area is secured in the head sector (1045). The flag writing program 73 writes a flag clearly indicating that the HDD 51 is a backup in this free area (1046), displays a message prompting the user to remove the HDD 51 (1047), and ends the process.
[0018]
FIG. 4 shows the internal state of the HDD 50 and HDD 51 during backup processing. Before data is copied from the HDD 50 to the HDD 51, MBR is recorded in the head sector area of the HDD 50, user arbitrary data is recorded in the area other than the head sector area, and nothing is recorded in the HDD 51 ( (Unformatted) state. After the data copy from the HDD 50 to the HDD 51 is completed, the internal state of the HDD 50 and the internal state of the HDD 51 become the same state. Then, after MBR compression and flag writing, the MBR and flag in which the head sector area of the HDD 51 is compressed are recorded.
[0019]
Next, a restoration process for making a backup HDD usable as a primary HDD will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the processing until the menu display operator input wait (103) is the same as the backup processing. When the restoration process is selected by the operator while waiting for input (103), the MBR compressed in the HDD 51 is restored by the data restoration program 74 in the FD 70 (105). Along with this, the flag is erased, and the internal state of the HDD 51 can be made to coincide with the internal state of the main HDD when the backup process is performed.
[0020]
In this embodiment, the data copy program 71, the data compression program 72, the flag writing program 73, and the data restoration program 74 are stored in the FD 70, but these programs are stored in the FROM 30 in FIG. By providing the program selection process (103) instead of the process (101), the backup and recovery process can be performed without using the FD.
[0021]
In the backup process of FIG. 3, if a flag with backup management information such as the backup date is written in the flag write process (1046) by the flag write program 72, the flag detection process or the recovery process Backup management information can be detected and displayed.
[0022]
In FIG. 1, in the message display process (109) when the connection of the backup HDD is detected, a backup process selection process is provided so that the operator forgets to insert the FD storing the program when performing the backup process. Even in this case, the backup process can be performed without restarting the system.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent activation of the operating system when a backup auxiliary storage device is present in the information processing apparatus, thereby requiring the user to remove the backup auxiliary storage device. The misplacement of the auxiliary storage device can be prevented. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the backup auxiliary storage device from being left in an energized state and to improve the storage environment, thereby extending the life.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart of backup processing according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal state of HDD 50 and HDD 51 during backup processing according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Computer, 20 ... Processor, 30 ... FROM, 40 ... Memory,
50 ... Main HDD, 51 ... Backup HDD, 60 ... Floppy disk drive, 70 ... Floppy disk, 71 ... Data copy program, 71 ... Data compression program, 72 ... Flag writing program, 73 ... Data restoration program, 80 ... Monitor 90 ... Flag detection program.

Claims (4)

In a backup method of an auxiliary storage device that backs up data in a copy source auxiliary storage device of an information processing apparatus including at least a processor, a main storage device, a plurality of auxiliary storage devices, and a removable media drive device to a copy destination auxiliary storage device, A copy process for copying the data of the copy source auxiliary storage device to the copy destination auxiliary storage device, a compression process for compressing a head sector area in which a master boot record of the copy destination auxiliary storage device is stored , and A backup method for an auxiliary storage device, comprising: performing a flag writing process for writing a flag indicating that the data is for backup in an empty area secured by compressing the head sector area of a copy destination auxiliary storage device. 2. The auxiliary storage device backup method according to claim 1, wherein when the information processing apparatus is activated, a mounting determination process for determining whether or not a recording medium is mounted on the removable media driving apparatus, and the mounting determination. In the processing, when the recording medium is mounted on the removable media driving device, a program starting processing for starting a program from the recording medium, and in the mounting determination processing, the recording medium is not mounted on the removable media driving device A read process for reading a head sector area in which master boot records in the plurality of auxiliary storage devices are stored, and determining whether or not a flag exists in the area read by the read process Flag detection process and the flag detection process The auxiliary storage device includes: an OS start processing for starting an operating system from the auxiliary storage device; and an OS start suppression processing for suppressing the OS start processing when a flag is present by the flag detection processing. Backup method.   The backup method of the auxiliary storage device according to claim 2, further comprising a selection process for selecting a program activated by the program activation process, and the copying program, the compression program, and the writing program are selected by the selection process. Management information display processing for displaying management information in the plurality of auxiliary storage devices installed in the information processing device, and a specifying processing for selecting and specifying the copy source auxiliary storage device and the copy destination auxiliary storage device, Display a copy process for copying data by the copy program, a compression process for compressing data by the compression program, a write process for writing the flag by the write program, and a prompt to remove the backup auxiliary storage device Auxiliary memory characterized by having removal display processing Backup method of location.   4. The backup method for an auxiliary storage device according to claim 3, wherein backup management information such as a date and time at the time of backup is added to the compressed free area of the auxiliary storage device by the compression processing instead of the write processing. A backup method for an auxiliary storage device, comprising a management information writing process for writing a flag.

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