JPH0222754A - Operation mode setting system for information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly change the operation mode without the access to a main storage device from a CPU at each time of the change of the operation mode by only reporting the start address of an initialization block in accordance with the operation mode to change the operation mode. CONSTITUTION:When a communication controller 20 will be operated, an initialization block 0 and an initialization block 1 where parameter designation is set are preliminarily stored from storage start addresses ADR0 and ADR1 of a main storage device 30. With respect to setting of the operation mode of the controller 20, a CPU 10 reports the storage start address of the initialization block. When the controller 20 will be operated with the initialization block 0, the start address ADR0 is reported to the controller. When the controller 20 will be operated with the initialization block 1, the address ADR1 is reported to the controller. Consequently, it is unnecessary for the CPU 10 to access the main storage device 30 at each time of the change of the operation mode, and the operation mode is quickly changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is applied to an information processing system. The present invention relates to an operation mode setting method for a communication control device in an information processing system.

〔overview〕

The present invention provides an operation mode setting method for a communication control device in an information processing system, in which an initial setting block is stored in the main memory in advance corresponding to each operation mode. By setting it on the device and notifying the communication control device of the start address of the corresponding initial setting block depending on the operation mode, the central processing unit can change the operation mode each time the operation mode is changed. This makes it possible to quickly change the operating mode without accessing the main memory.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as an example of this type of operation mode setting method, there is an example of a communication processing system using the Am7990LANCE (trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.), a semiconductor integrated circuit manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. of the United States, as a communication control device. There is. (Source: Ra5oul
Written by M. 0skouyLocal AreaNetw
ork Controller Am7990 (LA
NCE) Technical Manual J).

In this example, a communication control device (Am799
0 LANCB), and when changing the operation mode of this communication control device, after changing the parameter specifications in this initial setting block, When the storage start address of the configuration block is given to the communication processing device, the communication processing device reads the initialization block from the main memory based on this address, and sets the operation mode by itself according to the specified operating parameters. .

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional operation mode setting method described above, each time the operation mode of the communication control device is changed, the central processing unit must change the parameter specification in the initial setting block of the main storage device to match the operation mode. In some cases, it may be necessary to update multiple parameter specifications, and the main memory must be accessed each time the operating mode is switched.

This has the disadvantage that it takes time and the operation mode cannot be switched quickly.

The present invention aims to eliminate such problems, and provides a method that eliminates the need for the central processing unit to access the main memory each time the operation mode is changed, and allows the operation mode to be changed quickly. shall be.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention includes a communication control device and a main storage device each connected to a central processing unit via a bus, and stores an initial setting block in the main storage device including a plurality of parameter specifications that define the operation of the communication control device. When the central processing unit notifies the communication control device of the storage start address of the initialization block, the communication control device reads the initialization block from the main storage device, and reads the initialization block according to the parameter specification in the initialization block. In an operation mode setting method for an information processing system that includes means for setting an operation mode of a communication control device itself, an initial setting block in which different parameter specifications are set in the main storage device according to a plurality of operation modes of the communication control device. A plurality of blocks are stored therein, and the communication control device is characterized in that it includes means for notifying the communication control device of a storage start address of a corresponding initialization block in response to a change in the operation mode.

[Effect]

Prepare multiple initial setting blocks with parameter specifications set according to each operating mode in advance on the main memory, and each time the operating mode is changed, the storage start address of the corresponding initial setting block is sent to the communication control device. Notice.

This eliminates the need for the central processing unit to access the main storage device each time the operating mode is changed, and the operating mode can be changed quickly.

〔Example〕

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a diagram showing an operation mode control flow according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a communication control device 20 and a main storage device 30, which are connected to the central processing unit 10 via a path 40, respectively.

In this embodiment system, the communication control device 20 is LANCE (
Local＾rea Network Control
An example using ler for Ethernet (trademark of AMD, USA) is shown below.

The main storage device 30 stores initial setting blocks o, 7, and 1, starting from the storage start address ADRO. to DR1
A means for changing the operation mode of the communication control device 20 by providing an initial setting block 1 stored from the address and notifying the communication control device 20 of the storage start address of the corresponding initial setting block according to the change of the operation mode. including.

Initialization blocks 0 and 1 have parameter specifications for diagnostic mode and cyclic redundancy, respectively.
Check (Cyclic Redundancy Ch
eck) Operation specification for selecting generation/inspection mode, etc. 0-
1 and 1-1, local address designation 0-2 and 1-2 for selectively receiving received frames, and main storage device 3.
It is composed of receive buffer specifications 03 and 1-3, which respectively designate the receive buffer area and transmit buffer area secured on 0, and transmit buffer specifications 0-4 and 1-4. Note that detailed operations by specifying each parameter are not directly related to the present invention and will therefore be omitted.

Communication control device 20 operation designation 0-1, own station address 0
2. Receive buffer designation 0 3. Send (if you want to operate with i buffer designation 0-4, or communication control device 20
If you want to operate with operation specification 1-1, own station address 12, reception buffer specification 1-3, and transmission buffer specification 1-4, initialization block O and initialization block 1 in which parameter specification is set, respectively. The data is stored in advance from storage start addresses ADRO and ADR1 in the main storage device 30.

Note that in this embodiment, there are two initial setting blocks, but
Depending on the contents of each parameter specification, the number of initialization blocks can be further increased.

The operation mode setting of the communication control bag W20 is performed by the central processing unit 1.
This is done by notifying the storage start address of the initial setting block. When you want the communication control device 20 to operate with the initial setting block O, notify the communication control device 20 of the storage start address ADRO, and when you want to operate the communication control device 20 with the initial setting block O, notify the communication control device 20 with the storage start address ADR1. Notify 20.

For example, when the central processing unit 10 notifies the communication control device 20 of the storage start address ADRO, the communication control device 20 reads the initial setting block O of the main storage device 30 based on the storage start address ADRO, and specifies the operation. 0
-1, own station address specification 02, reception buffer specification 0-3
, transmission buffer specifications 0-4, the operation mode of the communication control device 20 itself is upgraded.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of initial setting blocks are prepared in advance on the main storage device in which operation parameter specifications are set to realize a plurality of operation modes of a communication control device. By making it possible to change the operating mode simply by notifying the start address of the corresponding initial setting block, the central processing unit does not need to access the main memory each time the operating mode is changed, making it possible to quickly change the operating mode. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control flow for changing the operation mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. 0.1...Initial setting block, 0-1.1-1...
Operation designation, 0-2.1-2... Own station address designation, 0
-3.1-3...Receive buffer specification, 0-4.14.
・・Transmission buffer specification, 10 ・・Central processing unit, 20
...Communication control device, 30...Main storage device 1.40.
...Bus, ADROlADRI...Storage start address.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The initial setting block includes a communication control device and a main storage device each connected to a central processing unit via a bus, and includes a plurality of parameter specifications that define the operation of the communication control device. The communication control device reads the initialization block from the main storage by notifying the communication control device of the storage start address of the initialization block from the central processing unit, and stores the initialization block in the initialization block. An operation mode setting method for an information processing system including means for setting an operation mode of the communication control device itself according to parameter specifications, wherein different parameter specifications are set on the main storage device according to a plurality of operation modes of the communication control device. An operating mode setting method for an information processing system, characterized in that a plurality of initial setting blocks are stored, and the method includes means for notifying the communication control device of a storage start address of the corresponding initial setting block in response to a change in the operating mode. .