CXL Persistent Memory Buffering for Fast Power Loss Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face inefficiencies in power loss recovery due to the delay between data transmission and storage, leading to potential data loss during asynchronous power loss events, especially when dealing with large data sets, as traditional non-volatile memory devices struggle to efficiently save 'in-flight' data before complete power loss.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a persistent byte-addressable memory (PBAM) in a compute express link (CXL) memory device, which allows for smaller data granularity and packet-by-packet storage, enabling efficient power loss recovery by using a CXL memory device with a non-volatile memory alongside PBAM to ensure data is saved or resent in smaller packets, reducing the time needed for power sustenance and system restoration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional non-volatile memory devices are used for data storage, then data can be stored persistently, but data loss occurs during asynchronous power loss events due to the delay between data transmission and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into smaller packets and stores them in a persistent byte-addressable memory (PBAM) buffer before final storage in non-volatile memory. This segmentation allows individual packets to be saved quickly during power loss events, reducing data loss while maintaining persistent storage capabilities.
2Productivity
If data is stored in large packets in traditional memory systems, then storage efficiency is improved, but power loss recovery becomes inefficient and data loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides large data sets into smaller packets that are individually addressable in the PBAM buffer. This segmentation enables selective saving of incomplete packets during power loss, allowing recovery of only the necessary data portions rather than requiring recovery of entire large data blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The PBAM buffer pre-stores data packets in a persistent state before they are finally written to non-volatile memory. This preliminary action ensures that data is already saved in a recoverable format if power is lost during the transmission or processing phase, reducing recovery time and data loss.
3Speed
If volatile memory is used for fast data access, then access speed is improved, but data loss occurs during power loss events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a persistent byte-addressable memory buffer as an intermediary between volatile memory and non-volatile storage. This intermediary maintains the fast access characteristics of volatile memory while providing persistent storage capabilities, allowing data to be quickly accessed during normal operation and automatically preserved during power loss events.
Data Source
AI summary
A system can include a persistent byte-addressable memory having a data granularity; a memory device; and a processing device, operatively coupled with the persistent byte-addressable memory and the memory device, to perform operations including: receiving a host command indicating user data to be written to or read from the memory device; storing the user data in the persistent byte-addressable memory; and responsive to determining that the host command is a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) command, transmitting the user data stored in the persistent byte-addressable memory to the memory device.