NON-VOLATILE MEMORY CACHE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

• US 20100077197A1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fortin, Michael R., Obr, Nathan Steven, Ergan, Cenk, Kodavalla, Hanumantha R., Parchem, John M., Zwilling, Michael J., Westerinen, William J., Nicholson, Clark D., Teodosiu, Dan, Powell, Therron, Nagar, Rajeev Y., Stemen, Patrick L., DeWhitt, Dean L., Verma, Surenda, Hill, Emily Nicole, Zbikowski, Mark Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/08 in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1016 Performance improvement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/222 Non-volatile memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/281 Single cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/305 being part of a memory device, e.g. cache DRAM
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/312 In storage controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/313 In storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

In order to provide a more efficient persistent storage device, one or more long-term storage media are included along with a non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, one portion of the non-volatile memory is used as a write buffer and a read cache for writes and reads to the long-term storage media. Interfaces are provided for controlling the use of the non-volatile memory as a write buffer and a read cache. Additionally, a portion of the non-volatile memory is used to provide a direct mapping for specified sectors of the long-term storage media. Descriptive data regarding the persistent storage device is stored in another portion of the non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

storing boot data required for initializing said computer system in said non-volatile memory;

utilizing said boot data in order to initialize said computer system; and

performing a preparatory action on said long-term storage medium to prepare said long-term storage medium for activity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to transition said computer to a shut-down state; and

storing second boot data required for a subsequent initialization of said computer system in said non-volatile memory.

3. The method of claim 2, where said storing second boot data comprises:

performing a preparatory action on said long-term storage medium to prepare said long-term storage medium for activity;

writing other data from said non-volatile memory to said long-term storage medium; and

storing said second boot data in said non-volatile memory.

4. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to perform the method of claim 1.

5. A method of operating a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

storing operational data regarding the operations of said computer system in said non-volatile memory; and

using said operational data to analyze said operations of said computer system after a failure of said computer system.

6. The method of claim 5, where said operational data comprises one selected from among the following:

process information regarding processes running in said computer system;

thread information regarding threads running in said computer system;

data accesses; and

device accesses.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to perform the method of claim 5.

8. A method of storing data in a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

storing a first version of data;

creating a second version of said data in said non-volatile memory; and

updating said second version of said data with at least one data change.

9. The method of claim 8, where said first version is stored in non-volatile memory.

10. The method of claim 8, where said first version of data is stored in said long-term storage medium, and where said first version of data is indicated as the current version of said data, further comprising:

changing said indication to indicate that said first version is indicated as an archived version.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to perform the method of claim 8.

12. A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

logic for storing boot data required for initializing said computer system in said non-volatile memory;

logic for utilizing said boot data in order to initialize said computer system; and

logic for performing a preparatory action on said long-term storage medium to prepare said long-term storage medium for activity.

13. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising:

logic for receiving a request to transition said computer to a shut-down state; and

logic for storing second boot data required for a subsequent initialization of said computer system in said non-volatile memory.

14. The computer system of claim 13, where said storing second boot data comprises:

logic for performing a preparatory action on said long-term storage medium to prepare said long-term storage medium for activity;

logic for writing other data from said non-volatile memory to said long-term storage medium; and

logic for storing said second boot data in said non-volatile memory.

15. A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

logic for storing operational data regarding the operations of said computer system in said non-volatile memory; and

logic for using said operational data to analyze said operations of said computer system after a failure of said computer system.

16. The computer system of claim 15, where said operational data comprises one selected from among the following:

process information regarding processes running in said computer system;

thread information regarding threads running in said computer system;

data accesses;

and device accesses.

17. A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

logic for storing a first version of data;

logic for creating a second version of said data in said non-volatile memory; and

logic for updating said second version of said data with at least one data change.

18. The computer system of claim 17, where said first version is stored in non-volatile memory.

19. The computer system of claim 17, where said first version of data is stored in said long-term storage medium, and where said first version of data is indicated as the current version of said data, further comprising:

logic for changing said indication to indicate that said first version is indicated as an archived version.