Guarded Storage Controls for Virtualized Memory Reclamation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computing environments, the challenge of relocating active data objects during storage reclamation is hindered by the need to suspend execution of all application processes, leading to unacceptable delays due to simultaneous references by multiple central processing units.
Innovation Solution
A guarded storage facility is introduced, utilizing a data structure with ancillary state description structures and control registers to manage memory sections, allowing for the continuation of application execution during storage reclamation by defining guarded storage areas and handling events, enabling efficient memory reclamation without suspending active processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If storage reclamation is performed by relocating active data objects, then memory space is consolidated and freed for subsequent use, but execution of all application processes must be suspended causing unacceptable delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides memory into guarded storage sections that are protected from relocation during storage reclamation. By segmenting memory into protected and unprotected regions, the system can perform storage reclamation on non-guarded sections without suspending application execution, thus resolving the contradiction between memory reclamation efficiency and application execution delay
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guarded storage control blocks and control registers as intermediary structures that manage the interaction between storage reclamation processes and application execution. These intermediaries enable the system to track and protect specific memory sections, allowing storage reclamation to proceed without suspending applications that reference guarded storage
2Productivity
If multiple central processing units simultaneously reference memory during storage reclamation, then processing parallelism is maintained, but relocating active data objects becomes problematic requiring process suspension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments memory into guarded and non-guarded storage sections, allowing storage reclamation to operate on non-guarded sections while leaving guarded sections intact for active references. This segmentation enables parallel processing to continue accessing guarded storage without risk of relocation conflicts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes guarded storage control blocks and control registers in advance to define protected memory sections before storage reclamation begins. This preliminary action ensures that active data objects referenced by multiple CPUs are identified and protected beforehand, preventing relocation conflicts while maintaining processing parallelism
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A guarded storage facility sets up a boundary indicating a range of addresses to be guarded or protected. When a program attempts to access an address in a guarded section defined by the boundary, a guarded storage event occurs. Use of this facility facilitates performance of certain tasks within a computing environment, including storage reclamation.