JPH11161527A - Data storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data storage system capable of improving the cashing function to an HDD(hard disk drive) in a disk cache system utilizing a look- ahead function and a flash disk device. SOLUTION: This system is provided with the HDD 3 provided with a look- ahead cache function and stores a DLL(dynamic link library) at a physical position successive to the storage position of an application program at the time of storing the application program on a disk 30. By the look-ahead cache function, at the time of reading the application program from the disk 30 and storing it in a buffer RAM 31, the DLL is looked ahead from the physical position successive to the storage position of the application program and preserved in the buffer RAM 31. Thus, the file of an execution form as if the application program and the DLL are linked is accessed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a computer system and uses a magnetic disk drive or a flash EE.
The present invention relates to a data storage system having a flash disk device composed of a PROM.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a hard disk drive (HDD) is provided as a standard in a computer system as a magnetic disk device indispensable as an external storage device. The HDD is effective as a large-capacity file device, but has a low access speed due to an access mechanism.
As a technique for improving the access speed performance of the HDD, a look-ahead function or the like has been developed. The look-ahead function
When the specified data is accessed from the disk, the data is continuously read after the data from consecutive physical positions (for example, sectors on the same track), and the buffer R in the HDD is read.
It is a function to store in AM. This read-ahead function increases the possibility that data requested by the host system (computer body) to be accessed exists in the buffer RAM. By reading data from this buffer RAM, access can be speeded up.

Also, a nonvolatile flash EEPROM is used.
A disk cache system using a flash disk device composed of the above has been proposed. This system realizes a high-speed buffer function using a flash EEPROM, which has a high access speed to an HDD, as a cache storage area of the HDD. In the disk cache system, the frequently used OS and application programs are stored in the flash disk device, and as a result, the access process to the HDD in the computer system can be speeded up.

[0004]

As described above, a disk using a pre-read function and a flash disk device is used.
The cache system can speed up access to the HDD. However, not only using the read-ahead function and the disk cache system, but also improving the method of storing files on the disk and the method of setting files to be cached to be stored in the flash disk device, the effective use of the cache function for HDDs there's a possibility that.

An object of the present invention is to provide a data storage system which can improve a cache function for a HDD by improving a disk cache system using a prefetch function and a flash disk device. .

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a data storage system having an HDD having a prefetch cache function, when an application program is stored on a disk, a physical program is continuously stored at a storage location of the application program. Means for storing a specific file at a target position. This specific file is, specifically, a dynamic link library (DLL) that is linked when the application program is executed.
When the application program is read from the disk and stored in the buffer memory, the DLL reads the DLL from a physical position that is continuous with the storage position of the application program and stores the DLL in the buffer memory. Further, the cache means accesses the application program from the buffer memory and stores the application program in the buffer memory when the access request of the application program is generated and the application program exists in the buffer memory. The specified file is accessed.

With the system having such a configuration, it is possible to access an executable file in which the application program and the DLL are linked when an access request of the application program is made. Therefore, as a result, it is possible to speed up the access of the application program.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a computer system related to each embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a concept of a host system of the computer system. (System Configuration) As shown in FIG. 1, the system of the present invention assumes a computer system including a host system (computer body) 10 such as a personal computer and an external storage device. Host system 1
0 has a microprocessor (MPU) 1 and a main memory (RAM) 2 roughly. The external storage device is a flash disk device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a flash disk) 4 including an HDD 3 having a pre-reading function and a nonvolatile flash EEPROM.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the host system 10 handles the OS 11 loaded into the main memory 2 and a cache system which is a kind of device driver (software) as a system executed by the MPU 1. The cache function related to each embodiment of the present invention is a cache system 1 that functions under the control of the OS 11.
2 is realized. The cache system 12 has an MP
In response to an access request (issue of a read / write command) from U1, access control is performed as a storage system in which the HDD 3 and the flash disk 4 are integrated.

That is, when using the flash disk 4 as a cache area, the cache system 12 accesses the flash disk 4 in response to an access request to the HDD 3. If there is no hit in the flash disk 4, the HDD 3 is accessed to transfer the access request file to the main memory 2.

Here, the HDD 3 has a pre-reading function, and is controlled by an internal CPU and a disk controller (HDC).
Data other than the access request stored in the disk 30 is read ahead and stored in the buffer RAM 31. The read-ahead function means that data read from a physical position that is continuous from a storage position of the data (in units of sectors) is read from the buffer RAM 31 in succession to data when the disk 30 is accessed.
To save. Thereby, the data stored in the buffer RAM 31 is transferred from the buffer RAM 31 without accessing the disk 30 in response to the access request to the HDD 3. (First Embodiment) In the above system configuration, FIG.
The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the use of the flash disk 4 is not an essential condition, but relates to a method of storing a file in the HDD 3.

First, it is assumed that the host system 10 stores an application program (AP file) specified by a user in the HDD 3. HDD3
Stores the AP file transferred from the host system 10 in a free area (a physical address set by a head number, a track number, and a sector number) on the disk 30, as shown in FIG.

Further, in the present embodiment, in response to an instruction from the host system 10, the HDD 3 stores a physical location (usually the same track) that is continuous with the physical address (physical location) of the AP file stored on the disk 30. And AP
Stores DLLa and DLLb related to the file. D
LLa and DLLb are dynamic link libraries that are linked to realize predetermined functions when the host system 10 executes an application program.
It is.

In this state, when an access request for an AP file is issued from the host system 10 to the HDD 3, the HDD 3 transfers the AP file from the buffer RAM 31 if it exists in the buffer RAM 31. Here, assuming that the HDD 3 does not exist in the buffer RAM 31, the HDD 3 accesses the disk 30 and transfers the AP file to the host system 10 after once storing it in the buffer RAM 31 as shown in FIG. At this time, the HDD 3 accesses the physical addresses that are continuous from the physical addresses of the AP file accessed from the disk 30 in advance by the prefetch function. That is, here, as shown in FIG.
After storing the AP file in AM31 and transferring it,
By the prefetch function, DLLa and DLL are stored in the buffer RAM 31 at addresses continuous with the address of the AP file.
b is stored.

Next, when the host system 10 issues another access request to the AP file,
The HDD 3 reads the AP file from the buffer RAM 31 and transfers the AP file to the host system 10. At this time, H
DD3 is a specific file related to the AP file in response to an access request from the host system 10.
The transfer process of LLa and DLLb is executed. At this time, H
Since the DD3 stores DLLa and DLLb in the buffer RAM 31 by the prefetch function, the DD3 transfers DLLa and DLLb of the access request target from the buffer RAM 31.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the host system 10 issues a request to access the AP file again, the HDD 3 transfers the AP file from the buffer RAM 31 and transmits the AP file.
Buffer RA for DLLa and DLLb related to the file
It is possible to transfer from M31. Therefore, the host system 10 can obtain the AP file at high speed (loaded into the main memory 2), and can also obtain DLLa and DLLb related to the AP file at high speed. Thus, the host system 10 stores the DLL file in the main memory 2 as if it were a DLL.
It is possible to obtain an executable application program file linked by a and DLLb. (Second Embodiment) The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the use of the flash disk 4 and the cache system 12 is not an essential condition.
It relates to the function of the file system of the OS 11.

First, it is assumed that the host system 10 stores an application program (AP files a and b) specified by the user in the HDD 3. HD
D3 stores the AP files a and b transferred from the host system 10 in free areas (physical addresses set by head numbers, track numbers, and sector numbers) on the disk 30, as shown in FIG.

Further, in this embodiment, in response to an instruction from the host system 10, the HDD 3 stores DLLa and DLLb related to the AP files a and b. At this time, the file system (OS1
1) stores the same files as DLLa and DLLb in different physical locations on the disk 30.

In this state, when, for example, an access request for the AP file a is issued from the host system 10 to the HDD 3, the HDD 3 transfers the AP file a from the buffer RAM 31 if it exists in the buffer RAM 31. Here, assuming that the buffer RAM 31 does not exist, the HDD 3 accesses the disk 30 and, as shown in FIG.
After that, the AP file a is transferred to the host system 10.

Further, the host system 10 accesses the DLL 3 to be linked at the time of execution of the application program of the AP file a from the HDD 3. HDD
When the DLLa does not exist in the buffer RAM 31, the disk 3 accesses the disk 30, temporarily stores it in the buffer RAM 31, and then transfers it to the host system 10, as shown in FIG. Here, in the present embodiment, the DLLa is stored at a plurality of physical locations on the disk 30. Therefore, the HDD 3 reads the DLLa stored in the physical location closest to the physical location of the AP file a accessed before the access, and stores the DLLa in the buffer RAM 31 once, and then reads the DLLa.
Transfer to 0. The same applies to the case of accessing the AP file b and DLLb.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the DLL
By storing such a read-only file or a file whose read frequency is higher than the write frequency in a plurality of physical locations on the disk 30 of the HDD 3, the access speed can be increased when accessing the file. Can be. That is, since it is possible to access the physical position of the file closest to the AP file or the like accessed before (immediately before) the file is accessed, it is possible to suppress random access on the disk 30 as a result. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the access speed of a file such as a DLL that is frequently read. Note that D
Files such as LL do not have such a large data amount as compared with the large capacity of the HDD 3. Therefore, when the same file is stored in a plurality of physical locations, the storage area of the HDD 3 is relatively reduced. However, such an effect is reduced by limiting the storage area to a file having a high read frequency such as DLL. Can be eased.

Further, by applying the present embodiment to the prefetch function of the HDD 3, DLLa, D
The probability that LLb exists in the buffer RAM 31 increases. That is, as shown in FIG.
3 stores the AP file (a or b) read from the disk 30 in the buffer RAM 31 and transfers the AP file (a or b), and then reads the prefetch file from an address continuous with the address of the AP file and stores it in the buffer RAM 31.
If the prefetch file is DLLa or DLLb, the probability of being stored in the buffer RAM 31 by the prefetch function increases. Therefore, DLLa, DLL with high read frequency
If the probability that b exists in the buffer RAM 31 increases,
The access speed to these files can be increased. (Third Embodiment) The operation of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment relates to a cache system 12 based on an OS 11 having a so-called memory-mapped file function.

The memory-mapped file function is an HDD
3 is mapped (assigned) to the address space of the main memory 2 so that the application program (AP) can access the file assuming that the entire file exists in the main memory. This is the function that was used. In this function, OS11
When the AP accesses an address in the allocated address space, the corresponding physical address in the file on the disk 30 is accessed and loaded on the main memory.

Using such a memory-mapped file function, when the AP accesses a part of a file required for execution (for the main memory 2), the OS 11 reads the file from the disk 30 of the HDD 3 as described above. Is accessed and loaded into the main memory 2. Therefore, in the main memory 2, only a part of the file necessary for the execution of the AP exists, and the data of the remaining files actually exist on the disk 30. The data of the remaining files is read from the disk 30 at the time of an access request from the AP and loaded into the main memory 2. For this reason, even if the file appears to be present on the main memory 2 from the AP, the actual access operation requires a processing time corresponding to the access time of the HDD 3.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the cache system 12 accesses a file allocated to the memory-mapped file from the HDD 3 in response to an access request from the AP via the OS 11, the entirety of the file (all data) Is accessed and loaded into the main memory 2. Thus, when the AP accesses the file required for execution from the main memory 2, the AP can actually access the file from the main memory 2 because the entire file physically exists on the main memory 2. . That is, unlike the conventional memory-mapped file function, the cache system 12 of the present embodiment loads the entire file related to the AP onto the main memory 2 when the AP accesses a part of the file. Thus, the AP accesses the required file from the main memory 2 in the same manner as the apparent file, so that the AP can access the file at high speed. (Modification 1 of the present embodiment) In this modification, when the file existing on the main memory 2 is accessible by the AP being executed by the memory mapped file function, the cache system 12 Control is performed so as to be preferentially held in the cache area (cache memory). Further, when the file existing on the main memory 2 is related to the AP being executed, the cache system 12 preferentially holds the file in a cache area (cache memory) on the main memory 2. To control.

With such a cache function, the use efficiency of the main memory 2 can be improved, and particularly when the related AP is executed, the file which is used relatively frequently can be accessed at high speed from the cache area. Become. Therefore, as a result, the utilization efficiency of the main memory 2 can be improved, and the execution speed of the application program can be increased. (Modification 2 of this embodiment) In this modification, as shown in FIG. 5, the cache system 12 uses the HDD 3 and the flash disk 4 in combination, and utilizes the memory-mapped file function in the third embodiment described above. And a function of storing a part of the file read from the disk 30 of the HDD 3 in the flash disk 4.

That is, the cache system 12
A part of the file allocated to the memory-mapped file in response to an access request from the AP via
3, the entire file (all data) is accessed. The cache system 12
A part of the file corresponding to P's access request is loaded into the main memory 2. Further, the remaining data of the file is stored in the flash disk 4.

In this case, as in the conventional case, the entire file necessary for execution exists in the main memory 2 from the apparent AP. When the access request for the remaining data of the file is received from the AP, the cache system 12
Main memory 2 accessed from flash disk 4
Load on top. Therefore, compared to the conventional method of accessing from the disk 30 of the HDD 3 at the time of an access request, since the access is made from the flash disk 4 having a relatively high access speed, the file required for the AP is consequently accessed at high speed. can do. Further, compared with the method of the third embodiment, it is not necessary to load the entire file into the main memory 2, so that the use efficiency of the main memory 2 can be improved.

When accessing the flash disk 4, the cache system 12 may use either a file name or a physical address of the HDD 3. For example, when the file is the above-mentioned DLL and the flash disk 4 is used as a cache area of the HDD 3, it is desirable to access the file by the file name. Further, when accessing the file allocated to the memory-mapped file from the HDD 3, the flash disk 4
Is used as a cache area, the physical address of the HDD 3 is used. (Fourth Embodiment) The operation of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the cache system 12 uses the HDD 3 and the flash disk 4 together,
It relates to the cache function of DD3.

In this embodiment, the cache system 12
It is assumed that the user accesses a file stored in the HDD 3 in response to an access request from the AP via the OS 11. Here, on the disk 30 of the HDD 3, for example, a font file 30a necessary for executing the AP is stored.
And a kana-kanji conversion dictionary file 30b. When the AP accesses, for example, a part of the font file 30a, the cache system 12
From the disk 30 of DD3, the font file 30
a is accessed and stored in the main memory 2. The same applies when the AP accesses a part of the kana-kanji conversion dictionary file 30b.

Therefore, according to the cache function of the present embodiment, for example, during execution of an AP such as a word processor,
When a part of the font file 30a (or the kana-kanji conversion dictionary file 30b) is accessed from the HDD 3, the entire font file 30a is loaded into the main memory 2. Here, a specific file (a file related to an AP such as a word processor) such as the font file 30a or the kana-kanji conversion dictionary file 30b includes data that is frequently used during execution by an AP such as a word processor. Therefore, the specific file is AP
Is frequently accessed during the execution of. By loading such a frequently used specific file in its entirety from the HDD 3 into the main memory 2, it is possible to reduce the number of times the HDD 3 accesses the specific file in the future.

In this embodiment, when the AP accesses a part of the specific file, the cache system 12 accesses the entire font file 30a from the disk 30 of the HDD 3 and sets the font file 30a as a cache area of the HDD 3. It may be stored in the flash disk 4 to be used. In this case, the cache system 12 accesses the flash disk 4 and loads it onto the main memory 2 in response to subsequent access from the AP. In this method, the processing time required for the access time of the flash disk 4 is required as compared with the method of loading the entire specified file into the main memory 2 described above, but the use efficiency of the main memory 2 can be improved.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the cache system 12 sets a specific file stored on the disk 30 of the HDD 3 as a default parameter (the type of the specific file is set in advance). ). On the other hand, the cache system 12
Monitor the address in the file to be accessed by D3,
A method of determining whether to cache based on the access state may be used. As a specific example of the determination in this case, in the case of an access pattern in which an intermediate part of a certain file is dissipatively read, the file is set as a specific file to be cached. (Modification of Fourth Embodiment) Cache System 12
Normally has a cache hit determination table 12a as shown in FIG. 6, and when an access to the HDD 3 occurs, a hit determination of the flash disk 4 (a determination as to whether data to be accessed exists or not). ) Is executed based on the table 12a. The table 1
2a is a table for associating the physical address of the HDD 3 with the address of the flash disk 4. The cache hit determination table 12a is stored in the main memory 2 which is usually a RAM, and is managed by the cache system 12. However, the cache hit determination table 12a may be stored on the disk 30 of the HDD 3. Further, the cache hit determination table 12a may be stored on the flash disk 4.

Since the storage capacity of the HDD 3 is much larger than the storage capacity of the flash disk 4,
The table 12 which covers all physical addresses of the DD3
When a is configured, the table size becomes very large. Therefore, this modified example is based on the font file 3
In this method, a specific file such as 0a or a kana-kanji conversion dictionary file 30b is limited to a specific physical storage area on the disk 30 of the HDD 3. In such a method, the table 12a has a limited size corresponding to a specific physical storage area. However, normal OS1
1 has a function of arranging physical positions with respect to the HDD 3 (defragmentation function). If the physical position of the HDD 3 is moved by this function, it becomes inconvenient in the method of the present modified example. Therefore, it is preferable that the function is not applied to the specific physical storage area.
Further, if the physical position of the HDD 3 is moved by the function, it is necessary to change the address of the table 12a for accessing the flash disk 4 as a matter of course. (Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the fifth embodiment. In a fifth embodiment,
In the host system 10 having the sleep function (resume function), the file to be accessed is stored in the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4 before executing the sleep operation.
This is the method of holding the data. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

This embodiment assumes a personal computer having a sleep function (resume function) in the host system 10 shown in FIG. The sleep function is a function of backing up the contents stored in the main memory 2 and stopping the main operation or all operations of the system when the system is turned off or in a low power mode (low power consumption mode). Here, since the HDD 3 and the flash disk 4 are both non-volatile storage devices,
Keeps stored files without needing a backup. Here, when the sleep function is canceled and the system is restarted, access to the main memory 2 can be performed immediately, but the HDD 3 requires some time to start. Therefore, after the system is restarted, it takes a certain amount of time to access the HDD 3, read a file or the like necessary for executing the AP, and load it on the main memory 2.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the cache system 12 executes a process (cache control) as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 immediately before the sleep operation, and does not start the HDD 3 when the system is restarted. AP
Access the files you need faster. Figure 7 below
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the host system 10 sets the sleep mode, just before entering the sleep operation,
In S11, it is determined whether there is a file to be accessed by the current AP (steps S1 and S2). That is, it is determined whether or not the file loaded on the main memory 2 exists. If the file does not exist, the system shifts to the sleep operation as it is (NO in step S2).

If the file exists in the main memory 2, it is determined whether or not the entire file has been loaded (step S3). As a result of this determination, if not the entire file but a part is loaded, that is, a part of the font file or the like stored in the HDD 3 is accessed by the AP and loaded on the main memory 2. (N in step S4)
O). In such a case, the cache system 12
Accesses the HDD 3 to read the entire file and store it in the flash disk 4 (step S
5).

On the other hand, when the entire file exists in the main memory 2, the cache system 12 does nothing (YES in step S4). In this case, even if the operation shifts to the sleep operation, since the main memory 2 is backed up, the entire loaded file is retained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the file to be accessed by the AP is stored in the flash disk 4 immediately before the system enters the sleep operation.
Thereby, when the sleep mode is released and the system is restarted, when the AP requests access to a file necessary for execution, the cache system 12 accesses the flash disk 4 and loads the flash disk 4 into the main memory 2. Therefore, necessary files can be accessed at high speed from the flash disk 4 without waiting for the HDD 3 to be started when the system is restarted.

In the present embodiment, especially when the entire file to be accessed by the AP is loaded on the main memory 2 immediately before the sleep operation is started, the process of storing the file on the flash disk 4 is not executed. Since the main memory 2 is backed up, when the system is restarted, the AP can immediately access the main memory 2 and read a necessary file. Further, since it is not necessary to store all the files to be accessed in the flash disk 4, the time required for the write operation to the flash disk 4 can be reduced as compared with the case where the file is not accessed. Further, it is possible to save the storage capacity of the flash disk 4 and increase the use efficiency. That is, if a frequently used file such as a font file or a kana-kanji conversion dictionary file is not loaded on the main memory 2 as an access target of the AP, the file is stored in the flash disk 4. This makes it possible to speed up the file access processing at the time of restarting the system. (Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the sixth embodiment. In the sixth embodiment,
User setting operation of host system 10 or OS 11
In this method, the entire specified file that is currently being accessed by the AP is accessed from the HDD 3 and stored in the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4 in response to the above operation. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the host system 10 shown in FIG.
In S11, the file to be accessed (called the designated file) is stored in the HDD 3 at the time of execution by the AP at the current time.
Is specified (step S1).
0). Here, it is assumed that the user has set the cache mode for storing the specified file to be accessed by the AP in the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4 with respect to the OS 11 (YES in step S11).

The OS 11 receives a setting operation from the user, determines whether or not the entire specified file is loaded on the main memory 2.
The operation of D3 is stopped (YES in step S13, S1
5). Thus, the AP accesses the designated file read from the main memory 2 and executes a predetermined process.

On the other hand, if the entire specified file is not loaded on the main memory 2 (only a part is loaded), the cache system 12
3 is accessed and the entire specified file is stored in the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4 (NO in step S13, S14). Thereafter, the operation of the HDD 3 is stopped (Step S15). The selection of the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4 is determined by the user through a setting operation. Thereby, the AP accesses the designated file read from the main memory 2 via the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4, and executes a predetermined process. Note that, instead of the user's setting operation, the OS1
1 may decide to execute the cache mode for storing in the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the entire designated file to be accessed by the AP is accessed from the HDD 3 and stored in the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4, so that the AP needs to access the HDD 3. The user can access the specified file without having to do so. Therefore, as described above, the entire specified file is stored in the main memory 2 or the flash disk 4.
After that, the activation of the HDD 3 can be stopped. As a result, the power consumption required to start the HDD 3 can be saved, and the system can execute the low power consumption mode. In addition, since the HDD 3 rotates the disk 30 by the motor, the stop of the disk 3 can also suppress the generation of noise due to the rotation.

Further, when the entire specified file is loaded in the main memory 2, the operation of writing the specified file to the flash disk 4 is not executed.
It can be shortened as compared with the case where it is not. Further, it is possible to save the storage capacity of the flash disk 4 and increase the use efficiency. In addition, a system that takes into account the user's use environment and operation environment can be provided by a method that is executed in response to a setting operation from the user. In the present embodiment, the stop operation of the HDD is not an indispensable requirement, but is automatically stopped in view of the effect of low power consumption, and is restarted when a new file access request occurs. Is desirable.

[0047]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a data storage system capable of improving a cache function for an HDD by improving a disk cache system using a prefetch function and a flash disk device. Can be provided. With such a system, when an access request of an application program is made, the application program and the DL
It is possible to access an executable file linked to L. Therefore, as a result, it is possible to speed up the access of the application program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a computer system related to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the concept of a host system related to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the concept of a system related to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the concept of a system related to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the concept of a system related to the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the concept of a system related to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart relating to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart relating to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microprocessor (MPU) 2 ... Main memory (RAM) 3 ... Hard disk drive (HDD) 4 ... Flash disk device 10 ... Host system 11 ... OS 12 ... Cache system (cache driver) 30 ... Hard disk 31 ... Buffer RAM

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A data storage system which is applied to a computer system having a cache function and has a disk storage medium for storing files, wherein the application program is stored in the disk storage medium when the application program is stored in the disk storage medium. Means for storing a specific file required at the time of execution of the program at a physical location continuous with the storage location of the application program; and reading the application program from the disk storage medium and storing the application program in a buffer memory. Read-ahead means for pre-reading the specific file from a physical position that is continuous with the storage location of the program and storing it in the buffer memory; A cache means for accessing the application program from the buffer memory when the application program exists in the memory and accessing the specific file stored in the buffer memory. Storage system. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specific file is an application file.
A dynamic link library (DLL) linked at the time of execution of a program, the file corresponding to an executable file in which the application program and the DLL are linked when an access request of the application program is issued by the cache unit; 2. The data storage system according to claim 1, wherein the data storage system is configured to be able to be accessed as. 3. A data storage system applied to a computer system having a file management function and having a disk storage medium for storing a file, wherein a predetermined file having a relatively high frequency of use is stored in the disk storage medium. Means for storing each of the same files at different physical locations on the disk storage medium when storing, when accessing the predetermined file from the disk storage medium, And an access means for reading the file from a target position. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined file is a read-only file or a file whose read frequency is higher than a write frequency, and wherein the access means changes a physical position of the disk storage medium in response to an access request for the file. 4. The data storage system according to claim 3, wherein, when accessing, the file is accessed from a physical position closest to a physical position to be accessed immediately before the access request. 5. A data storage system which is applied to a computer system having a memory-mapped file function and has a disk storage medium for storing a file, wherein the predetermined file stored in the disk storage medium is a memory-mapped file. File management means for managing the file assigned to the file; and disk storage when the file is assigned to the memory-mapped file by the file management means when the application program accesses the file. A data storage system comprising: cache control means for accessing all data of the file from a medium and loading the data into a main memory. 6. The cache control means, in a state where the file can be accessed or a period during which an application program related to the file is activated,
6. The data storage system according to claim 5, further comprising means for preferentially retaining all data of the file in a cache area of the main memory. 7. The cache control means includes a first disk storage medium having a relatively low-speed access and a large capacity and a second disk storage medium having a relatively high-speed access and a small capacity as the disk storage medium. Accessing all the data of the file from the first disk storage medium, loading a part of the entire data into the main memory, storing the rest in the second disk storage medium, 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said data is accessed from said second disk storage medium and loaded into said main memory in response to the access.
A data storage system as described. 8. The cache control means according to one of a file name and a physical address of the first disk storage medium in response to an access request to the main memory. 8. The data storage system according to claim 7, wherein a disk storage medium is accessed. 9. A data storage system applied to a computer system having a cache function and having a disk storage medium for storing files, wherein a specific file required for executing an application program is stored in the disk storage medium. And a cache control unit that, when the application program accesses a part of the specific file, accesses the entirety of the specific file from the disk storage medium and loads it into the main memory. Data storage system characterized. 10. The disk storage medium includes a first disk storage medium having a relatively low-speed access and a large capacity and a second disk storage medium having a relatively high-speed access and a small capacity. Storing a specific file necessary for executing the program in the first disk storage medium, wherein the cache control unit, when the application program accesses a part of the specific file, deletes the entire specific file. 10. The data storage system according to claim 9, wherein the data storage system is configured to be accessed from the first disk storage medium and stored in the second disk storage medium. 11. The storage means stores the specific file in a specific physical storage area of the first disk storage medium, and the cache control means stores the entirety of the specific file in the first disk storage medium. Access from the second
After storing the data in the disk storage medium, a cache hit determination table corresponding to the physical storage area is provided, and cache control is performed using the cache hit determination table. 10
A data storage system as described. 12. A data storage system which is applied to a computer system having a sleep function and has a disk storage medium for storing a file, wherein the disk storage medium has a relatively low-speed access and a large capacity first. A disk storage medium and a second disk storage medium with a relatively high speed access and a small capacity, and having a cache function of using the second disk storage medium as a cache area of the first disk storage medium; Before executing the sleep function, the entire file to be accessed at present is stored in the second disk storage medium, and the second disk is released in response to an access request when the computer system is restarted by releasing the sleep function. Cache control means for accessing the entire file stored in the storage medium. Data storage system, characterized in that. 13. The cache control unit according to claim 1, further comprising: accessing a whole file not entirely stored in a main memory of the computer system from the first disk storage medium before executing the sleep function; 13. The data storage system according to claim 12, further comprising means for storing the data in a disk storage medium. 14. A cache control method applied to a computer system having a sleep function and applied to a data storage system having a disk storage medium for storing a file, wherein the disk storage medium has relatively low access speed. A first disk storage medium having a large capacity and a second disk storage medium having a relatively high access speed and a small capacity, wherein the second disk storage medium is used as a cache area of the first disk storage medium; A cache control unit having a cache function, a step of specifying a file which is a file to be accessed at the present time before executing the sleep function and which is not entirely held in the main memory of the computer system; Access from the first disk storage medium Storing the file in the second disk storage medium, and accessing the entire file stored in the second disk storage medium in response to an access request when the computer system is restarted by releasing the sleep function. A cache control method characterized by executing a process including steps. 15. A data storage system which is applied to a computer system and has a disk storage medium for storing a file, wherein the first disk storage medium having a relatively low speed access and a large capacity is provided as the disk storage medium. A second disk storage medium having a relatively high speed access and a small capacity; and a designated file stored in the first disk storage medium being entirely stored in a main memory of the computer system or the second disk storage medium. Setting operation means for setting whether or not to be stored in the first disk storage medium; and a file specified in the file stored in the first disk storage medium, which is specified as an access target at the time of the current execution of the application program. The entirety of the main memory or the second memory set by the setting operation means may be used. And a control means for storing the data in one of the disk storage media. 16. The control means stores the specified file as a whole in one of the main memory and the second disk storage medium set by the setting operation means, and thereafter stores the specified file in the first disk storage medium. The data storage system according to claim 15, further comprising means for stopping driving of the medium. 17. A controller for determining whether or not the entirety of the specified file specified as the access target is loaded in the main memory, wherein the control unit determines that only a part of the specified file is in the main memory. 17. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means for storing the specified file in the main memory or the second disk storage medium when the specified file is loaded in the memory. Data storage system. 18. A cache control method applied to a computer system and applied to a data storage system having a disk storage medium for storing a file, wherein the disk storage medium has a relatively low-speed access and a large capacity. A first disk storage medium and a second disk storage medium having a relatively high speed access and a small capacity, and a main memory of the computer system or the second memory as a cache area of the first disk storage medium.
A cache control unit having a cache function that uses the disk storage medium of (1), causes the entirety of the designated file stored in the first disk storage medium to be stored in the main memory of the computer system or the second disk storage medium And setting the entire file specified in the file stored in the first disk storage medium as an access target at the time of the current execution of the application program. Storing the specified file in either the main memory or the second disk storage medium, and storing the specified file in the main memory or the second disk storage medium. Stopping the driving of the first disk storage medium; Cache control method characterized by performing the Ranaru process.