TW576966B - Non-volatile cache integrated with mass storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of processing a request for data, the method comprising: receiving a request for a first set of data stored in a non-volatile mass storage device; determining that the first set of data is stored in a non-volatile cache of the non-volatile mass storage device; reading the first set of data from the non-volatile cache; and sending the first set of data.

Description

576966 V. Description of the invention (l) The scope of the invention The specific embodiments of the present invention are related to materials. The specific embodiments of the invention are related to having a non-## & f 2 ^ σ position. 2. Large non-volatile cache storage background. 旁 Π: t = data can be stored in a non-volatile memory and-non-volatile large memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM). We do not allow access to memory (RDRAM), etc. Non-volatile examples, but not limited to, a hard disk drive, 3.5 British pair of floppy disks, 5 2 5 disk 'ZIP® machine (for example, manufactured by Iomega Corporation of Roy, Utah, USA), Jaz® machine (IOmega (Manufactured by the company), LS_12〇 Superdisk (for example, manufactured by Imation, Oakdale, Minnesota, USA), a writable multi-function disc (DVD-RAM), a rewritable optical disc (CD-RW), two magnetic f large storage Device, an optical large storage device, a photomagnetic large storage device, a holographic storage device, etc. Examples of non-volatile memory that store data on a computer include computer instructions (such as an operating system, application a, etc.), and data accessed by computer instructions. When a volatile memory loses power, the material stored in the volatile memory disappears substantially. For non-volatile large storage devices, such as hard disk drives, when the non-volatile memory loses power (for example, when the power is cut off, the electricity / EEG source is turned off, etc.), the data stored on it will not basically disappear: As a result, compared with volatile memory, the access time for acquiring and storing data: is significantly longer. Non-volatile memory basically every ^ $

Page 4 576966 V. Description of the invention (2) The price of the unit (for example, per MB, or per GB, etc.) will be lower than some volatile memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, RDRAM, etc. In addition to volatile and non-volatile memory, computers basically include processors that can perform operations based on instructions and data. The instructions and data to be processed by the processor must be able to be copied from slower non-volatile large storage devices (such as hard drives, etc.) to faster volatile memory (such as DRAM main memory, SRAM cache, etc.) because Fast volatile memory basically has significantly lower memory access times than non-volatile large storage devices. Processor performance and computer performance can increase as memory access time decreases. Because the memory access time of a non-volatile large storage device (such as a hard disk drive) is usually greater than the memory access time of a volatile memory (such as DRAM main memory, SRAM cache, etc.), the non-volatile large storage device is usually Efficiency bottleneck. Known hard drives include a volatile cache (such as DRAM cache, SRAM cache), but this volatile cache is basically part of the main memory address space of the microcontroller of the hard drive, This is used to address the bytes. From the foregoing, it can be understood that there is a potential need for methods and devices that can improve the performance of computer systems. Brief description of the drawings: FIG. 1 shows a computer system according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a non-volatile cache architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows a method according to a specific embodiment of the invention. Detailed description:

Page 5 576966 V. Description of the invention (3) According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, a non-volatile large-scale contains a non-volatile cache. The non-volatile cache can store and read the main large storage medium 1 from the non-volatile large storage device. 'Two computer systems combined with a specific embodiment of the present invention can be used when the volatile large-scale storage device is read by the non-volatile cache, rather than by the main large-scale storage medium of the non-volatile large-scale storage device. With increased system performance. 〃 FIG. 1 is not a computer system (computer π) according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. The computer 1 1 0 may include a processor 1 2 0 coupled to a memory 3 3. The term "coupled" includes a direct connection, an indirect connection, a direct communication, an indirect communication, and so on. The processor 20 may be, for example, a Pentium (g) III processor ', an application specific integrated circuit (AS IC), a microcontroller, etc., manufactured by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California, USA. Memory 130 contains devices that store digital information, such as dram, RDRAM, SRAM, read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, and so on. In another specific embodiment, a system bus can provide a communication channel between the processor 20 and system components. The system bus can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, an extended industry standard structure bus (E I s A), and so on. In a specific embodiment, a chipset can couple and manage the interaction between the processor 120 and other system components, such as memory 丨 30, large storage device 140, attached to an expansion bus Peripheral components, etc. The term chipset contains a combination of one or more integrated circuit chips, which acts as a hub (or core) to transfer data between the processor and other system components. An example of a chipset includes 8 2 0 and 8 1 0 E wafers manufactured by Inte 1 Company. Page 6 576966 V. Description of Invention (4) Set. A chip set may be a single-integrated circuit chip or may include two or more integrated circuit chips. A chipset may include a memory control hub. In a specific embodiment including a PC I bus, a memory control hub can perform functional images. Is well known as the "Northbridge Function". A chipset may include an input / output controller hub. In a specific embodiment including a PC I bus, the functions performed by an input / output controller hub are like the well-known " south bridge function π. The processor 120 may also be coupled to the large storage device 140 through a communication channel 135. In a specific embodiment, the communication channel 135 may be an integrated device electronics (IfE), a bus, an enhanced IDE (EIDE) bus, an AT (AAT) bus, and the like. In another specific embodiment, the communication channel 丨 may be an expansion bus, a bus 'for example, a small computer system interface (scs 丨) bus' ^ \ ΕΕΕ 1 3 94 bus, a universal serial bus (USB )Wait. Examples of large storage devices 1 4 〇 include a hard disk drive, a Z IP® machine, a Jaz® machine ’-CD-RW machine,“ ⑽ 编 ー 编 ”-LS_12〇

Superdwk machine, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, a magneto-optical = storage device a ′, a holographic storage device, etc. An example of a hard disk drive is ScottsValia ^ A, California. m, soil aam ^, 〇 Cheetah 18XL 石 更 盘 # Manufactured by VT ley Technology. The large storage device 140 may include a large storage device controller 141, a main large storage medium 148, and a non-volatile cache 49. The large storage device controller 1 4 1 may include a microcontroller 4 2, a memory 1 4 3, an interface series 144, a main large storage medium £ CC (error control and inspection) logic 145, and a non-volatile fast Take ECC logic 146. In another embodiment of the invention

576966

ί: I ί storage device controller 141 may include one or more ASIC = functions to operate a large storage device 14 (such as a first question combined with one place .... Memory and interface logic mIC implementation [Logic system: 5 system: 142 can execute the instructions stored in the memory 143 to control the operation (for example, the memory 143 can contain read-only memory storage; two η sub-private instructions to initialize and operate when the power is turned on To install * t1, tf: the hidden body 143 can store instructions to execute the large storage # 0 item retrieval, the stored body 143 can store instructions to control formatting and or write data to the large storage device 140 Etc.) The memory 143 can also include a buffer (such as a volatile memory buffer), which can temporarily hold data to be written to or read from the large storage device 14. It is an IDE interface logic, EIDE interface Logic, ATA interface logic, SCSI interface logic, Fibre Channel interface logic, Infinigan (j interface logic, etc. In another specific embodiment, 'the large storage device HQ is a CJ) a rw machine or a DVD-RAM machine, and The interface logic 144 is an ATP package interface (ATAP I) Logic. The term "logic" includes hardware, firmware, software, and combinations thereof. A microcontroller 142 and interface logic 144 can process requests from the processor 12 to read or write data to Large-scale storage device Ⅳ. In an embodiment, the large-scale storage device 140 is a hard disk drive and the interface logic f44. In a specific embodiment, the large-scale storage device 410 is a hard disk drive. The large storage medium 148 contains one or more discs. Each disc can have one or more recordable surfaces, and each recordable surface can be read or written by a special read / write head. The female surfaces can be divided into Multiple magnetic 576966

Track, each track can be divided into a plurality of physical magnetic zones. When a hard disk drive has a plurality of recordable surfaces, the set of all tracks at the same diameter on all recordable surfaces is called a magnetic cylinder. The location of each physical magnetic area of a hard disk drive can be specified by a physical address, which is used to specify the magnetic cylinder, head (surface) and physical magnetic area. In a specific embodiment, the request does not specify the data address. Logical address of hard disk data, etc. When formalizing a hard disk, you can organize all the physical magnetic domains, one logical sector address, and one logical sector address. The logical sector address is mapped to 5 bytes. Write clear. Specify a logical magnetic orientation (that is, addressable sector). When logically specifying a logical block address (that is, an addressable block). When a processor requests data from a hard disk, the physical address of the data, but the logical address of the data may include the logical magnetic disk address. When the logical block is a machine, the hard disk controller area of the hard disk drive. Into a logical magnetic area (such as specifying each physical, etc.), and a mapping algorithm, you can assign each specific physical address. When the area address of a hard disk is assigned, the hard disk drive can be regarded as a magnetic area: a hard disk drive controller can map a physical magnetic block address. When a read or write request is made to a hard disk, the hard disk drive can be regarded as block-oriented. Non-volatile cache 149 can cache data basically stored in the main large body 148. Non-volatile cache 49 can cache data read from and stored in media 148. Non-volatile cache 149 and the main :; the access time of the media U8 will have a faster access time. The data obtained from or written to the large-scale storage device 14 can be completed faster than the main large-scale storage medium 148. Specific embodiment t, data read / write non-volatile cache 149 and information: 576966 V. Description of the invention (7): / write phase I; dagger, only requires less power. Write-back algorithm: send cache "9 write back to the main large storage medium to implement non-cached performance. In another-specific embodiment, implement, consistently write ^ write the business to coax 1 4 9 can Large-scale storage often used = practical to reduce the access = &, Nakata shell material is read by the main large-scale storage medium 148, and, when transmitting through the communication channel 135, a copy of the data can be stored In the cache 1 4 9. When the data to be stored is 140 through the communication tube, the data can be written to the non-volatile fast =, according to a write-back method, a write-through protocol, etc. Main = Storage ^ 148. Because the non-volatile cache 149 is a non-volatile memory & Yancai] = not disappeared. The non-volatile cache H9 can be any kind of memory, which can be read in and retained when the external power of the non-volatile cache 49 is removed or turned off. S 马 非Volatile cache 1 49 can be like a flash memory, a battery injury DRA M 'a battery-backed SRAM, an atomic force probe memory, a magnetic RA M, a ferroelectric ra M' a holographic memory, a storage array, etc. In a specific embodiment, non-volatile cache A read of 1 4 9 can be a destructive read. Non-volatile cache 1 49 is a block-oriented cache when the data is accessed in logical blocks (ie, write, read, etc.). In other words, when the large healthy storage device 140 receives a data request (for example, a data request

Page 10 576966 V. Description of the invention (8) The storage device 140 reads the communication channel 135, a data request to write the data on the communication channel 1 35 to the large storage device 1 4 0), the data request can be Contains a single bit address, which is a logical block address, a logical sector address, and so on. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, each data entry stored in the non-volatile cache 149 corresponds to the data stored at a logical address of the main large storage medium 148. In the embodiment in which the large storage device 140 is a hard disk drive, the volatile cache 149 can increase system performance, because data read or written by the non-volatile cache 149 does not need to be written or read from the hard disk. Warm-up time required for the disc drive (such as rotating the disc to the operating speed, positioning the read / write head, etc.). For example, the time required for the computer to start the system, when the startup information (such as operating system data, device drivers, application data I) is read by a non-volatile cache 149, compared to the hard drive Disk read method 'its time can be reduced. -The lag of typing / mouse clicking felt by users of computer 11 () can also be reduced. In a specific embodiment, the cache management instruction can manage data fetching / writing to the non-volatile cache 149, and the fetch management instruction can be stored in the memory: the body 143, which can be a part of a large storage device driver. The cache management instruction can determine what information is to be cached. 'Π 料 = 等 „The main large storage core KG raw be written back to the special. The cache management instruction can also determine what resources ^ to the non-volatile cache 149. Fast Fetch management decisions, such as whether or not the material must be cached to a non-volatile cache! 49 'It can use known caches;] algorithms to perform. For example, when a cache management algorithm decides that there are more than 576966 V. Description of the invention (9) Low possibility, the data, r, spray # re-read (for example, sound broadcast ;; Γ = part of the AJI file, part of a data flow file, etc.) factory The asset: ... requires a large storage medium called -2: a 1 to ... its use is like a minimum recent :: method, a random replacement algorithm, etc.) Order 1 in-specific embodiments, the big The storage driver of the storage device 14 () may be a typical large-scale storage device, such as the environment in the environment, etc.), and = in the memory body 143. In such a specific embodiment, the non-volatile cache = Save, it is transparent to the Ή system. In another-specific embodiment 1, the cache official instruction can be type A The Jiancun I controller takes part of the management logic. The data read from the main large storage medium 148 can be processed by the main large storage medium ECC logic 145, and the data read from the non-volatile cache 149 can be processed by Non-volatile cache ECC logic 146 to process. Each major large storage medium ECC logic 1 45 and non-volatile cache ECC logic 丨 46 can detect errors at the bit or multi-bit level and send data to the communication The pipeline 135 was corrected for errors. Figure 2 shows the structure of a non-volatile cache according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. A non-volatile cache 200 (such as the non-volatile cache 149 of the picture!) Can store plural numbers Each cache entry 205. Each cache entry 205 may include a table entry block 2 10 and a data entry 2 2 0. The data entry 2 2 0 may include a valid 576966 field area 2 2 2, a correction Block 2 2 4, an address field 2 2 6, a data house f 228 and an ECC field 229. 'A well-known search algorithm to search. A cache entry 20 5 table entry field 21 〇 Corresponds to the tag / index data of each data registration 220 of the cache registration 2 0 5 The plurality of table registration column areas 210 may include a cache directory table 215, and the cache directory may store κ to determine whether a particular large storage device data combination (such as a disk sector of a hard disk drive, The logical block of the disk player, etc.) may exist in the non-volatile cache. In a specific embodiment, a table registration area 210 of a cache entry 205 may store the data entry 22 of the cache entry 20 〇 address (such as a logical sector address, a logical block address, etc.). In order to determine whether a large set of a particular data, group exists in a non-volatile cache directory table 21 5 _ ^ ^ 丨 person Λ .. ^ m fetched in the requested; address and key stored in the cache directory table 2 丨 5 in a specific embodiment, a non-swing. In another embodiment, the cache is combined. The directory table 2 1 5 can be used like a well-known ^ In addition, the cache directory can also use a hash performance. In the embodiment, the big cockroach is left in the po Yan_ # directory can also use a hash algorithm Sort. He was stationed in Potun at a big school. In one

In a specific embodiment, each cache entry 205 stored in a large fetch corresponds to one.

Non-volatile fast for large storage devices-large bismuth left &$; areas (such as a physical magnetic area, a logical magnetic area). _ The logic of a large storage device does not correspond to a large storage device 576966 V. Description of the invention (11) In a specific embodiment, there is 2,000,000 in a non-volatile cache. 〇 cache entries 205 'There are 2,000,000 entries in the cache directory table 215. In this specific embodiment, each table entry of the cache directory table 2-5 can be four bytes long, and the cache directory table 2-5 can use 8 Mb of non-volatile memory. The size of a cache table 2-5 can be reduced by including a block of several sectors in each cache entry (thus increasing the average cache access rate). In a specific embodiment, a data entry 22 of a cache entry 205 may have an effective field 222, a correction field 2 24, an address field 226, a data field 228, and an ECC. Block 229. The valid field 222 can be set to "valid" when the cache entry 205 contains valid data (for example, one of a logic, | 丨, and: logic "0"), and when the cache entry 205 does not include The date of valid data can be 5 and invalid. (For example, a logic " 1 丨, a 丨 丨 --a. For example, when the data from the non-volatile quickly withdraw and withdraw, edited; °; other poor Material cache When the non-volatile cache, the effective block of the logged out data registration can be changed from "active" to "invalid" to indicate that this cache registration no longer stores the shellfish retrieved from Shaanxi. Correct the column area 224 can be set to when the cache entry 2005 is the same as the data stored in the location of the main large storage medium + of the large storage device, and has been corrected ". For example, 3 'Reference Figures 1 and 2 'When a logic corresponding to the large storage device 140 is written back to the large storage device 140 and stored in the non-zero 4 p, n, the shell material is read by the main large storage medium 14 0 Has been corrected, and then the non-volatile cache is logged in 2 " A copy of the data that should be stored in the non-volatile cache 576966 V. Invention description (12) 1 4 9 will be different from the data corresponding to the logical address stored in the main large storage medium 148. Modified column 224 may be referred to as a "dirty bit", which may be cleared when the data is successfully written back to the main large storage medium 148 and maintained in the non-volatile cache 149. The address block 226 may contain storage in The address (such as a logical address, a physical address) of the data in the cache entry 2005. In a specific embodiment, the mass storage device is a hard disk drive, and the address field 226 can store The address of this magnetic area is called “magnetic area identification”. In such a specific embodiment, data = logic, and the block cache is in the non-volatile cache (for example, corresponding to a plurality of magnetic two =: logics). Block), the address field 226 may contain the address of the defective part of the logical block, where each logical block has a known fixed size. The data field 228 may store the data of the cache entry 20 5. In a specific embodiment-thai daylight storage device is a hard disk The data column area 2 2 8 can include a disc disk area (such as 512 bytes), a logical block of data, etc. ECC_ paste area 22-9 can store the data registered in the 205 data Error correction code. The logical block of 'parent data' in the eight-body & example is combined with an error correction code. Fig. 3 shows a method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

, I 120 request, from the operating system of computer 110, to: request for applications running on computer 110, etc.) (block). 〃 Can determine whether the requested data is stored in the non-volatile cache (block 32). In a specific embodiment, the storage object is expected to include an address, and the address is used to Generate a cache hit

Page 15 576966 V. Description of the invention (13) Quick: Two; = Example: Representative-: Fetch directory contains cache "request data can be obtained according to 4 :: Fetch if i: When the requested data is stored in the non-volatile Cache factory today: send cache readout (block 33.), error checking and correction can be done (block 335) 'The data can be stored by the mass storage; (block 34〇). When the requested data is not Stored in = Volatile Cache t, the data can be read by the big bitch on the non-storage medium (block 36.). The upper-mainly stored data is staggered to execute (block 365). = = The reading is sent (block 370), and the data is transmitted by the large storage device (375). Beco can write to the non-volatile cache (block-ί 4Λshown according to a specific embodiment of the present invention) Method. Its receiving example: In a non-volatile large storage device (block 41〇). Give -Γ ^ ^ Cold in-word processing program to edit a document, which can ^ the word processing program to store the ΪΓΠ contains An automatic storage feature, which enables the file to be edited by the second Fuzi. Yet another you 丨 Φ, 2U ^ (-^ oD The PAM ^ rb system can be instructed to store in the main memory (for example, in the main memory of ΛΓν to a hard disk drive or other non-volatile memory, in the 9th limb, the space is removed for other data Etc.) It can make a decision. Deciding two = two; buckets need to be stored in a non-volatile cache (block 42). When the non-volatile material is made, the data can be stored. At $ # I / u / box 43〇). In a specific embodiment, storing the data cache may include updating a non-volatile cache of a cache directory table, page 16 576966 V. Description of the invention (14) (/, = The data is stored in the non-volatile cache storage medium (box ㈣). The main i storage device is mainly based on a specific embodiment of the present invention, and the method is stored in -2: Computer-readable:;: 5: The media can be a device that stores digital information. The media pack can be selected to include -ROM. # This is a yak in a computer readable body (such as niicirocode). The computer can read the body and / or the instructions of a processor to access and execute. The two La perform: The processor is in its current form (such as the second machine is better than the second one): from 7 ★, or requires further methods (such as compiling, decoding, etc.), and is ready for a processor to execute ... A method for accessing a square-non-volatile cache according to a specific embodiment of the present invention is to use a cache to read: it may be better in the farm. The non-volatile cache may be available immediately-a large storage device The external power supply is shut down, and the large number of storage embodiments can still be used to reduce data reading or writing. The second is the invention of f, which can increase the access time when the storage device has a single storage device. The system performance of a large-scale health storage device has been described here. The specific embodiment of the method and device for the data is stored in the cache. However, the present invention provides a complete illustration of the present invention in the form of a block diagram. In addition, professionals of this chip and device department can immediately understand 576966 V. Description of Invention (15), the methods proposed and implemented in this particular order are for illustration purposes, and it is conceivable that the order can be changed, and It is still within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the previous detailed description, the device and method according to specific embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Therefore, this specification and the drawings are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

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Claims (1)

) / () 966, a patent application scope for storing data. This device includes a large non-volatile storage device with non-volatile cache. Store V;:; The device of the first scope of the patent, "The non-volatile large-scale storage device is block-oriented, and the non-volatile cache is block-oriented. Storage device 2: The device surrounding item 1, the non-volatile in ## The large-scale storage 4 guides and the non-volatile cache is guided by the magnetic zone. The storage device is the device of item 1 in the non-volatile large-scale storage. The non-volatile large-scale storage is installed in the 5 packages, and the non-volatile cache is packaged with eight jade pieces. Volatile storage media and the second non-::; send storage media, the first non-volatile health storage media. &Amp; storage media is a different form 6 · If the scope of the patent application No. 5 media contains one and can be thorny The device of Shibei, in which the main large-scale storage 7 such as # 皇 制 一 = Nai surface disk to store data. ≪ · Gao May patent scope 5th first error correction logic, the device, and further Contains the data retrieved; and reads the second error correction logic from the main mass storage medium. The data is used to read from the nonvolatile cache. 8. If the scope of the patent application contains a non- Volatile storage array. A non-volatile cache package 9. A computer system, a Longtai human-processor, including: page 20) / 6966, patent application, a memory coupled to the processor; and a type Non-volatile large-scale storage device of the storage device, the non-volatile large-scale main large-scale storage medium, and non-volatile cache from the main large-scale storage medium to the Haihe. The non-volatile non-volatile storage medium Cache sentence 8 11. If the patent application type 2 storage device is F holding 逡 A system, in which the non-volatile is large 12. Ru Shen V special: The non-volatile cache is block-oriented. 9 Take: The non-volatile Dafa storage medium is a recordable data-? Month "... This is the first-non-volatile recording medium, one and the", ", thick, eight series are selected from a magnetic recordable In the group, the sub 17 recording media, and a group of cigarettes of a magneto-optical recordable medium 1: the computer system of item 9 of the patent scope, where the non-volatile body is a library storage medium, which is Selected from the battery containing ^; :: produced: take S Ji Yi body 'battery power Static random access memory, fast = memory, atomic probe stores memory electrical memory]: in the group of memory. Wang Zhuoqiao. Ji 15 • A method for processing _ data requests, this method Including: Please collect the first set of data stored in a non-volatile large-scale storage device (p. 21) 76966 6. Request for the scope of patent application; Decide that the first set of data is stored in the non-volatile non-volatile cache; Tan The large-scale storage device reads the first set of data from the non-volatile cache; and transmits the first set of data. 1 6. The method according to item 15 of the scope of patent application, wherein the non-volatile cache reads the first set of data. A set of data contains sub-combinations to perform error correction; and-transmitting the error-correction sub-combinations of the non-volatile cache reads to the second group of frames. t 3 transfer the first set of materials 17. If the method of applying for the scope of patent No. 16 is applied, further information is required to receive the information stored in the non-volatile large-scale storage device. Volatile large-scale library storage device first large-scale storage device-the main large-scale storage medium reads this and f loads the second set of data to the non-volatile cache to transfer the second set of data. Where the request is first, the request is first Ι_8 · If the method of applying for the scope of patent application No. 5 and the body is a block-oriented request. 19 · For the method of applying for the scope of patent application No. 5 ， the group data is a sector-oriented request. Page 22