Outboard file cache system

• US 5,809,527 A
• Filed: 12/23/1993
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Swenson, Robert E., Cooper, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/174,750
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 395/445, 395/450, 395/452, 395/460, 395/463, 395/471, 395/472, 395/479, 395/481, 395/486, 395/487, 364/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 711/133
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/126 with special data handling, e.g. priority of data or instructions, handling errors or pinning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/312 In storage controller

Abstract

A system and method are described for caching files of data in a cache which is beyond the input/output boundary of a host. A host references a file with file access commands containing a logical file-identifier and a logical offset into the file. An outboard file cache coupled to the input/output section of the host receives the file access commands. The outboard file cache is transparent to users who program the host. Generation of input/output channel programs and mapping the data referenced to a physical address in secondary storage are eliminated when the referenced data is present in the cache. A file descriptor table in the outboard file cache identifies the logical portions of the logical files which are present in the cache. If the data referenced by the logical file-identifier and logical offset in a file access command is present in the outboard file cache, the data is transferred from the outboard file cache to the host memory. Otherwise, a miss status is returned to the host, and the host stages data from secondary storage to the outboard file cache. The outboard file cache further includes a lock table for storing file locks which inhibit access to selected files. In an outboard cache, excessive writes to a file are detected, the outboard cache having the first division for storage of selected portions of normal files, and a second division for storage of selected the second division is monitored and automatically converted to the first division when the storage used in the second division of cache memory falls below the periodic minimum.

Claims

1. A data processing system comprising:

a host processor for issuing file access commands, wherein each file access command defines an operation to be performed on a selectable one of one or more files and includes a file-identifier referencing one file of said one or more files and a logical offset referencing a selected portion of said one file, said host processor including an input-output logic section which provides an interface for input of data to said host processor and output of data from said host processor;

an outboard file cache coupled to said input-output logic section of said host processor and responsive to said file access commands, wherein said outboard file cache provides cache storage for said one or more files and comprises

a cache memory, wherein said cache memory provides random access storage for selectable portions of said one or more files;

a file descriptor table, wherein said file descriptor table provides storage of file-identifiers and offsets which are indicative of portions of said one or more files which are present in said cache memory;

cache detection control interfaced with said file descriptor table and responsive to said file access commands, wherein said cache detection control detects whether said selected portion is present in said cache memory and provides a hit code if said selected portion is present in said cache memory; and

cache access control responsive to said hit code and interfaced with said cache memory, wherein said cache access control provides access to said selected portion of said one file if said hit code is provided.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary storage device responsively coupled to said input-output logic section of said host processor for storing said one or more files;

said cache detection control further provides a miss code if said selectable portion is not present in said cache memory, whereby a miss condition is indicated; and

staging means responsive to said miss code for reading said selectable portion from said secondary storage device and writing said selectable portion in said cache memory.

3. The data processing system of claim 2, wherein,

said selected portion references one or more segments;

and

said cache detection control provides a separate miss code for each said one or more segments which is not present in said cache memory.

4. The data processing system of claim 3, wherein,

said staging means further comprises

address indicator means for providing a device identifier and a device address to said outboard file cache, wherein said device identifier identifies said secondary storage device and said device address indicates the address in said secondary storage device at which each said one or more segments are stored;

said outboard file cache further comprises

address storage means responsive to said staging means for storing said device identifier and device address in said file descriptor table;

destage initiation means for detecting when to destage one or more segments from said cache memory and providing a destage request, wherein said destage request specifies said one or more segments to destage;

destage means responsive to said destage request and interfaced with said file descriptor table for reading said one or more segments to destage from said cache memory and writing said one or more segments to destage to said secondary storage device, whereby said file descriptor table provides said device identifier and said device address where said one or more segments are to be written.

5. The data processing system of claim 3, wherein,

said secondary storage device includes a first secondary storage device responsively coupled to said input-output logic section of said host processor for storing said one or more files;

and

a second secondary storage device responsively coupled to said input-output logic section of said host processor for storing a copy of selected ones of said one or more files;

said staging means further comprising

address indicator means for providing a first device identifier, first device address, second device identifier, and second device address to said outboard file cache, wherein said first device identifier is indicative of said first secondary storage device, said first device address indicates the address in said first secondary storage device at which each said one or more segments is stored, said second device identifier is indicative of said second secondary storage device, and said second device address indicates the address in said second secondary storage device at which each said one or more segments is stored;

said outboard file cache further comprises

address storage means responsive to said staging means for storing said first device identifier, said first device address, said second device identifier, and said second device address in said file descriptor table;

destage initiation means for detecting when to destage one or more segments from said cache memory and providing a destage request, wherein said destage request specifies one or more segments to destage;

destage means responsive to said destage request and interfaced with said file descriptor table for reading said one or more segments to destage from said cache memory and writing said one or more segments to destage to said first secondary storage device and to said second secondary storage device, whereby said file descriptor table provides said first device identifier, said first device address, said second device identifier, and said second device address.

6. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary storage device responsively coupled to said input-output logic section of said host processor for storing said one or more files;

said host processor further including first initiation queue means for queuing said file access commands;

first initiation queue processing means interfaced with said first initiation queue means for monitoring said first initiation queue means, dequeuing a file access command, and sending said file access command to said outboard file cache.

7. The data processing system of claim 6, further comprising:

second initiation queue means for queuing said file access commands;

said host processor further including command enqueuing means interfaced with said first initiation queue means and said second initiation queue means for selecting either said first initiation queue means or said second initiation queue means and enqueuing a file access command in either said first initiation queue means or said second initiation queue means;

second initiation queue processing means interfaced with said second initiation queue means for monitoring said second initiation queue means, dequeuing a file access command, and sending said file access command to said outboard file cache.

8. The data processing system of claim 1,

wherein each file access command further includes a file type which designates whether said one file is a resident file;

wherein said file descriptor table further includes file type designators which are indicative of portions of cache memory in which resident files are stored, whereby said cache memory allocated to said resident files is not eligible for cache replacement;

wherein said cache detection means provides a miss code if said selectable portion is not present in said cache memory;

wherein said outboard file cache further comprises

cache replacement control interfaced with said file descriptor table and responsive to said miss code and said file type from a file access command, wherein said cache replacement control selects a portion of said cache memory which is not allocated to a resident file for storing said selectable portion if said miss code is detected and said file type indicates said one file is not a resident file; and

resident file storage control interfaced with said file descriptor table and responsive to said miss code and said file type from a file access command, wherein said resident file storage control allocates a portion of said cache memory which is not presently allocated to a resident file for storing said selectable portion if said miss code is detected and said file type indicates said one file is a resident file.

9. The data processing of claim 8,

wherein said cache memory comprises:

a first division of storage for storing selected portions of files which are eligible for cache replacement; and

a second division of storage for storing selected portions of resident files which are not eligible for cache replacement;

wherein said outboard file cache further comprises

apportioning control interfaced with said cache memory and responsive to said resident file storage control, wherein said apportioning control automatically converts a first predetermined amount of storage from said first division to said second division when all of said second division of storage is currently assigned to one or more resident files.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, further comprising:

a storage monitor interfaced with said second division of storage, wherein said storage monitor observes an amount of storage in said second division which is assigned to one or more resident files;

a minimum usage indicator responsive to said storage monitor, wherein said minimum usage indicator stores a periodic minimum of said amount of storage in said second division which is assigned to one or more resident files;

wherein said apportioning control is further interfaced with said minimum usage indicator and automatically converts a second predetermined amount of storage from said second division to said first division when said second division of cache memory falls below said minimum usage indicator.

11. A data processing system comprising:

a first host processor for issuing file access commands, wherein each file access command defines an operation to be performed on a selectable one of one or more files and includes a file-identifier referencing one file of said one or more files and a logical offset referencing a selected portion of said one file, wherein one of said file access commands is a lock command, said first host processor including an input-output logic section which provides an interface for input of data to said first host processor and output of data from said first host processor;

a second host processor for issuing file access commands wherein said one or more files are accessible by each of said first and said second host processor, said second host processor including an input-output logic section which provides an interface for input of data to said second host processor and output of data from said second host processor;

an outboard file cache coupled to said input-output logic section of said first host processor and coupled to said input-output logic section of said second host processor and responsive to said file access commands from said first host processor and said second host processor, wherein said outboard file cache provides cache storage for said one or more files;

said outboard file cache comprising,

a cache memory, wherein said cache memory provides random access storage for selectable portions of said one or more files;

a file descriptor table, wherein said file descriptor table provides storage for file-identifiers and offsets which are indicative of portions of said one or more files which are present in said cache memory;

cache detection control interfaced with said file descriptor table and responsive to said file access commands, wherein said cache detection control detects whether said selected portion is present in said cache memory and provides a hit code if said selectable portion is present in said cache memory; and

cache access control responsive to said hit code and interfaced with said cache memory, wherein said cache access control provides access to said one or more requested segments if said hit code is provided.

12. The data processing system of claim 11 wherein:

said outboard file cache further comprises

activity queue means for queuing file access commands received by said outboard file cache;

said cache detection control comprises

first cache detection control interfaced with said file descriptor table and said activity queue means, wherein said first cache detection control reads a file access command from said activity queue means, detects whether said selected portion referenced by said file access command is present in said cache memory, and provides a hit code if said selected portion is present in said cache memory; and

second cache detection control interfaced with said file descriptor table and said activity queue means, wherein said second cache detection control reads a file access command from said activity queue means, detects whether said selected portion referenced by said file access command is present in said cache memory, and provides a hit code if said selected portion is present in said cache memory;

said cache access control comprises

first cache access control responsive to said hit code, interfaced with said cache memory, and coupled to said first host processor, wherein said first cache access means provides access for said first host processor to said one or more requested segments if said hit code is detected; and

second cache access control responsive to said hit code, interfaced with said cache memory, and coupled to said second host processor, wherein said second cache access control provides access for said second host processor to said one or more requested segments if said hit code is detected.

13. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said outboard file cache further comprises:

lock table means for storing file locks;

means responsive to a file lock command and interfaced with said lock table means for locking a file; and

means interfaced with said lock table means and responsive to said miss code for responding to said file access commands and indicating whether said selected portion of said one file is locked if said miss code is detected.

14. A data processing system comprising:

a host processor for issuing file access commands, wherein each file access command defines an operation to be performed on a selectable one of one or more files, said host processor including an input-output logic section which provides an interface for input of data to said host processor and output of data from said host processor, wherein each of said file access commands includes a file-identifier referencing one of said one or more files and an offset referencing a selected portion of said one file;

an outboard file cache coupled to said input-output logic section of said host processor and responsive to said file access commands, wherein said outboard file cache provides cache storage for said one or more files;

said outboard file cache comprising,

a cache memory, wherein said cache memory provides random access storage for said one or more files;

a file descriptor table for storage of file-identifiers and offsets which are indicative of portions of said one or more files which are present in said cache memory, wherein said file descriptor table further includes one or more stage-pending indicators for designating when portions of files are being staged;

cache detection control interfaced with said file descriptor table and responsive to said file access commands, where in said cache detection control detects whether said selected portion of said one file is present in said cache memory, provides a hit code if said selected portion is present in said cache memory, provides a miss code if said selected portion is not present in said cache memory, and provides a resend code if a stage-pending indicator indicates that said selected portion is being staged to said cache memory;

cache access control responsive to said hit code and interfaced with said cache memory, wherein said cache access control provides access to said selected portion of said one file if said hit code is provided;

a secondary storage device responsively coupled to said input-output logic section of said host processor for storing said one or more files;

staging means responsive to said miss code for reading said selected portion of said one file from said secondary storage device and writing said selected portion in said cache memory; and

resend means responsive to said resend code for resending a file access command if said resend code is provided.

15. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein

said staging means further comprises

address indicator means for providing a device identifier and a device address to said outboard file cache, wherein said device identifier identifies said secondary storage device and said device address indicates the address in said secondary storage device at which said selected portion of said one file is stored;

said outboard file cache further comprises

address storage means responsive to said staging means for storing said device identifier and device address in said file descriptor table;

destage initiation means for detecting when to destage a portion of a file from said cache memory and providing a destage request, wherein said destage request specifies a portion of a file to destage;

destage means responsive to said destage request and interfaced with said file descriptor table for reading said portion of said file to destage from said cache memory and writing said portion of said file to destage to said secondary storage device, whereby said file descriptor table provides said device identifier and said device address where said portion of said file is to be written.

16. In a data processing system including a host processor having one or more instruction processors, primary storage, and an input-output section interfacing with devices external to the host processor, wherein the data processing system further includes one or more secondary storage devices and an outboard file cache, each coupled to the input-output section of the host processor, wherein the data accessible to the host processor is logically grouped into one or more files and the secondary storage devices provide storage for the one or more files, and the files are referenced by providing a file access command to the operating system of the host processor, a method for providing access to a selectable portion of the one or more files of data, comprising the steps of:

issuing a file access command to the outboard file cache, wherein the file access command includes a file-identifier and a file-relative-segment-offset, said file-identifier referencing a selected file, and said file-relative-segment-offset referencing a selected portion of said selected file;

comparing the file access command to file-identifiers and file-relative-segment-offsets stored in the outboard file cache to detect whether said selected portion of said selected file is present in the outboard file cache; and

providing access to said selected portion of said selected file if said selected portion is present in the outboard file cache.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

staging said selected portion of said selected file referenced by the file access command from a secondary storage device to the outboard file cache if said selected portion is not present in the outboard file cache; and

storing said file-identifier and said file-relative-segment-offset of said selected portion of said selected file in the outboard file cache to indicate said selected portion of said selected file is present in the outboard file cache.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of reissuing the file access command to the outboard file cache after said storing step to provide access to said selected portion of said selected file.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

inhibiting access to said selected portion of said selected file until said staging step is complete.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

designating said portion of said selected file as stage-pending if said selected portion is not present in the outboard file cache;

designating said selected portion of said selected file available after said staging step.

21. The method of claim 17,

wherein said storing step further comprises storing a device identifier for said selected portion of said selected file, wherein said device identifier indicates the secondary storage device and said device address indicates the physical address on the secondary storage device where said selected portion of said selected file is stored;

the method further comprises the steps of

selecting a portion of a file in the outboard file cache to destage, wherein said portion of said file to destage contains data which is not present on the secondary storage device which provides storage for said portion of said file to destage;

destaging said portion of said file from said selecting step to secondary storage, whereby said device identifier and said device address in the outboard file cache indicate the secondary storage device and the physical address on the secondary storage device at which said portion of said file is to be destaged.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said destaging step comprises the steps of:

notifying the host processor when said portion of said file from said selecting step should be destaged;

issuing a destage file access command to the outboard file cache, wherein said destage file access command indicates said portion of said file to destage;

transferring said portion of said file to destage from the outboard file cache to the host processor; and

writing said portion of said file in said transferring step to the secondary storage device.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

issuing a lock file access command to the outboard file cache indicating a selected file to lock;

locking said selected file; and

inhibiting access to said selected file from said locking step for subsequently issued file access commands if said subsequently issued file access commands reference said selected file which is locked and said selected file which is locked is not present in the outboard file cache.

24. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

issuing a lock file access command to the outboard file cache indicating a selected portion of a selected file to lock;

locking said selected portion of said selected file;

inhibiting access to said selected portion of said selected file from said locking step for subsequently issued file access commands if said subsequently issued file access commands reference said selected portion of said selected file which is locked and said selected portion of said selected file which is locked is not present in the outboard file cache.

25. The method of claim 16,

wherein said file access command further comprises a file type which designates whether said selected file is a normal file or a resident file;

and further comprising the steps of;

if said file type indicates a normal file and said selected portion of said selected file is not present in the outboard file cache, performing steps (a), (b), and (c);

(a) selecting a first portion of cache memory which is unused or presently assigned to a normal file for assignment to said selected portion of said selected file;

(b) destaging said first portion of cache memory if the file data stored therein has been written; and

(c) assigning said first portion of cache memory for storage of said selected portion of said selected file;

if said file type indicates a resident file and said selected portion of said selected file is not present in the outboard file cache, performing steps (d) and (e);

(d) selecting an unused portion of cache memory in the outboard file cache for storing said selected portion of said selected file; and

(e) assigning said unused portion of cache memory for storage of said selected portion of said selected file.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

designating a first division of cache memory in the outboard file cache for storage of selected portions of files which are eligible for cache replacement; and

designating a second division of cache memory in the outboard file cache for storage of selected portions of resident files, wherein portions of said second division of cache memory are not eligible for reassignment.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of automatically converting a first predetermined amount of storage from said first division of cache memory to said second division of cache memory when all of said second division of cache memory is assigned to resident files.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring an amount of storage in said second division of cache memory which is assigned to resident files;

establishing a periodic minimum of said amount of storage in said second division which is assigned to resident files;

automatically converting a second predetermined amount of storage from said second division to said first division when the storage used in said second division of cache memory falls below said periodic minimum.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring said amount of storage in said second division of cache memory which is assigned to resident files;

establishing a periodic minimum of said amount of storage in said second division which is assigned to resident files;

automatically converting a second predetermined amount of storage from said second division to said first division when storage used in said second division of cache memory falls below said periodic minimum.

30. A cache system responsive to data access commands issued by a host processor in a data processing system, wherein each of the data access commands designates an operation to perform on data addressed by the command and a data type indicating whether the data addressed by the command is resident data or replaceable data, wherein resident data presently stored in the cache is not subject to cache replacement and replaceable data presently stored in the cache is subject to cache replacement, the cache system comprising:

a cache memory;

cache detection control responsive to a data access command, wherein said cache detection control detects whether the data addressed by the data access command is present in said cache memory, provides a hit code if the data addressed by the data access command is present in said cache memory, and provides a miss code if the data addressed by the data access command is not present in said cache memory;

cache access control interfaced with said cache memory and responsive to said hit code, wherein said cache access control provides access to the data addressed by the data access command if said hit code is provided;

cache replacement control responsive to said miss code and the data access command, wherein said cache replacement control selects a portion of said cache memory in which replaceable data is stored for storing the data addressed by the data access command if said miss code is detected and the data type in the data access command is replaceable data; and

resident data storage control responsive to said miss code and the data access command, wherein said resident data storage control selects a portion of said cache memory in which is neither resident data nor replaceable data is stored for storing the data addressed by the data access command if said miss code is detected and the data type in the data access command is resident data.

31. The cache system of claim 30,

wherein said cache memory comprises

a first division of storage for storing replaceable data;

a second division of storage for storing resident data;

wherein said cache system further comprises

apportioning control interfaced with said cache memory and responsive to said resident data storage control, wherein said apportioning control automatically converts a first predetermined amount of storage from said first division to said second division when all of said second division is filled with resident data.

32. The cache system of claim 31, further comprising:

a second division storage monitor interfaced with said second division of storage, wherein said second division storage monitor reports said amount of storage in said second division in which resident data is stored;

a minimum usage indicator responsive to said second division storage monitor, wherein said minimum usage indicator stores a periodic minimum of said amount of storage in said second division in which resident data is stored;

wherein said apportioning control is further interfaced with said minimum usage indicator and automatically converts a second predetermined amount of storage from said second division to said first division when usage of storage in said second division of said cache memory falls below said minimum usage indicator.

33. In a cache system responsive to data access commands issued by a host processor in a data processing system, wherein each of the data access commands designates an operation to perform on data addressed by the command and a data type indicating whether the data addressed by the command is resident data or replaceable data, wherein resident data presently stored in the cache is not subject to cache replacement and replaceable data presently stored in the cache is subject to cache replacement, a method of operating the cache system comprising the steps of:

detecting whether the data addressed by a data access command is present in the cache;

providing access to the data addressed by the data access command if the data addressed is present in the cache;

selecting a portion of the cache in which replaceable data is stored for storing the data addressed by the data access command if the data addressed is not present in the cache and the data type in the data access command is replaceable data; and

selecting a portion of the cache in which is neither resident data nor replaceable data is stored for storing the data addressed by the data access command if the data addressed is not present in the cache and the data type in the data access command is resident data.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

designating a first division of the cache for storage of resident data; and

designating a second division of the cache for storage of replaceable data.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of automatically converting a first predetermined amount of storage from said first division to said second division when resident data is stored in all of said second division.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring an amount of storage in said second division in which resident data is stored;

establishing a periodic minimum of said amount of storage in said second division in which resident data is stored; and

automatically converting a second predetermined amount of storage from said second division to said first division when said amount of storage in said second division in which resident data is stored falls below said periodic minimum.

37. In a cache system responsive to data access commands issued by a host processor in a data processing system, wherein each of the data access commands designates an operation to perform on data addressed by the command and a replacement level indicating a relative priority for which the data addressed by the command is subject to cache replacement once the data addressed by the command is stored in memory of the cache system, a method of operating the cache system comprising the steps of:

detecting whether the data addressed by a data access command is present in the memory of the cache system;

providing access to the data addressed by the data access command if the data addressed is present in the memory of the cache system;

selecting a portion of the memory of the cache system in which data with the lowest replacement level is stored for storing the data addressed by the data access command if the data addressed is not present in the memory of the cache system;

storing the data addressed by the data access command in said portion of the memory of the cache system from said selecting step;

reading the replacement level from the data access command;

associating the replacement level from the data access command with said portion of the memory of the cache system from said selecting step, whereby the data access command provides said replacement level; and

decreasing replacement levels associated with portions of the memory of the cache system which are not selected for storing the data addressed by the data access command.