Hypervisor Memory Namespace Access Mode Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory namespaces, such as NVDIMM, cannot be accessed in different memory or storage modes without losing data, limiting flexibility and efficiency in virtualized information handling systems.
Innovation Solution
A hypervisor-configured interface maintains a data structure for mapping namespaces to multiple access modes, allowing processors to access namespaces in various modes, including RAW, BLOCK, SECTOR, and DAX, through the use of a Non-Volatile Dual-Inline Memory Module (NVDIMM) Firmware Interface Table (NFIT) and associated metadata entries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a namespace is created with a specific access mode in existing systems, then the namespace can be accessed in that mode, but changing the mode of access results in non-retrieval of data storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary data structure (mapping table) that sits between the namespace and access modes. This mapping table stores associations between namespaces and multiple access modes, allowing the system to translate between different access modes without directly accessing the underlying namespace, thereby preventing data loss during mode transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by maintaining multiple access mode parameters (RAW, BLOCK, SECTOR, DAX) for each namespace in the mapping data structure. This allows the system to switch between different access mode parameters for the same namespace without losing the underlying data, enabling flexible parameter changes while maintaining data integrity.
2Productivity
If multiple operating systems run on a single information handling system through virtualization, then hardware resource utilization increases, but memory access flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal mapping data structure that serves multiple virtual machines and operating systems simultaneously. This data structure maintains namespace-to-access-mode mappings that are accessible to multiple OSes through the virtualized environment, providing multi-functionality and enabling different OSes to access the same memory namespaces in different modes without conflict.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single NVDIMM namespace is accessed in different memory or storage modes, then adaptability improves, but data loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing the mapping data structure that contains all possible namespace-to-access-mode associations before actual access occurs. This preliminary setup ensures that when mode switching is needed, the system can immediately retrieve the appropriate mapping information without performing operations that would cause data loss, thus preventing substance loss while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a memory subsystem and a processor subsystem communicatively coupled to the memory subsystem and configured to execute a hypervisor, wherein the hypervisor is configured to host a plurality of virtual machines and host an interface to the memory subsystem, wherein the interface is configured to maintain a data structure for mapping at least one namespace instantiated within the memory subsystem to a plurality of access modes for accessing the at least one namespace from the processor subsystem.