PROCESSOR AND PLATFORM ASSISTED NVDIMM SOLUTION USING STANDARD DRAM AND CONSOLIDATED STORAGE
First Claim
1. A method for saving data in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in a computer platform to a persistent storage device, wherein the computer platform includes a primary power source used to provide power to components in the computer platform during normal operation, the computer platform including the persistent storage device and running an operating system during normal operation, the method comprising:
- detecting a power unavailable condition under which power is no longer being supplied by the primary power source to the computer platform; and
, in response to detection of the power unavailable condition,automatically copying data in the DRAM to the persistent storage device without operating system intervention.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for effecting a processor- and platform-assisted NVDIMM solution using standard DRAM and consolidated storage. The methods and apparatus enable selected data in DRAM devices, such as DIMMs to be automatically copied to a persistent storage device such as an SSD in response to detection of a power unavailable event or an operating system error or failure without any operating system intervention. In one aspect, a platform includes a power supply and a temporary power source, such as a capacitor-based energy storage device, a small battery, or a combination of the two, either integrated in the power supply or separate. When power becomes unavailable, the temporary power source is use to continue to provide power to selected components in one or more power protected domains. The energy stored in the temporary power source is sufficient to temporarily power the components to enable DRAM data to be written to the persistent storage device. Upon system restart, the previously-stored DRAM data is restored to one or more DRAM devices from which the data was originally copied.
31 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for saving data in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in a computer platform to a persistent storage device, wherein the computer platform includes a primary power source used to provide power to components in the computer platform during normal operation, the computer platform including the persistent storage device and running an operating system during normal operation, the method comprising:
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detecting a power unavailable condition under which power is no longer being supplied by the primary power source to the computer platform; and
, in response to detection of the power unavailable condition,automatically copying data in the DRAM to the persistent storage device without operating system intervention. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computing platform having a primary power source, comprising:
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a processor including, at least one memory controller including a first memory controller; and an input-output (IO) interface including a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine; at least one dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device including a first DRAM device, operatively coupled to the first memory controller via a first memory controller-to-DRAM device link; a persistent storage device, operatively coupled to the IO interface via an IO link; and a temporary power source, operatively coupled to each of the first memory controller, the persistent storage device, the IO link, the first DRAM device, and the first memory controller-to-DRAM device link, wherein the temporary power source is configured to supply power to each of the first memory controller, the persistent storage device, the IO link, the first DRAM device, and the first memory controller-to-DRAM device link for a finite period of time in the event of a condition under which the primary power source no longer supplies power to the computer platform; wherein the computer platform is configured to detect a condition under which the primary power source no longer supplies power to the computer platform and wherein in response to detection of the condition the IO interface is configured to copy data stored in the first DRAM to the persistent storage device via the DMA engine. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A processor, configured to be installed in a computer platform including a power supply having a primary power input source, one or more dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, and a persistent storage device, the processor comprising:
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a plurality of processor cores, operatively coupled to an interconnect; at least one memory controller including a first memory controller and memory controller interface, operatively coupled to the interconnect and configured to interface with a first memory controller to DRAM device link coupled at an opposing end to a first DRAM device when the processor is installed in the computer platform; an input-output (IO) interface, operatively coupled to the interconnect and including a link interface for an IO link to which the persistent storage device is coupled; a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine; and logic, configured upon operation of the processor to, detect a power unavailable condition under which the primary power input source no longer supplies power to the power supply; and
in response to detection of the condition,copy DRAM data stored in the first DRAM device to the persistent storage device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification