Mirrored Memory Reconfiguration via BIOS Switching Without Restart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mirrored memory configurations in computer systems lack flexibility as they cannot be changed after startup, leading to inflexible resource management.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow dynamic reconfiguration of mirrored memory by switching between operating system and basic input/output system states using system management interrupts, enabling offline operations on memory address ranges to facilitate flexible mirrored memory management without restarting the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mirrored memory is configured during hardware initialization in BIOS, then the mirrored memory configuration is stable and reliable, but the flexibility of reconfiguring mirrored memory after system startup is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of mirrored memory by allowing the system to switch between BIOS state and OS state during runtime. The mirrored memory configuration is no longer static after initialization but can be dynamically adjusted through SMI-triggered state transitions, enabling the system to adapt memory allocation while maintaining operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (SMI handler) that mediates between the OS state and BIOS state. When reconfiguration is needed, the SMI handler acts as an intermediary to temporarily switch to BIOS state for configuration changes, then return to OS state, thus bridging the gap between runtime operations and hardware initialization capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system switches to BIOS state for mirrored memory reconfiguration, then the reconfiguration can be performed, but the OS services are interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic or event-triggered SMI interrupts to initiate BIOS state transitions only when reconfiguration is actually needed. This periodic/checkpoint-based approach ensures that the system remains in OS state for normal operations, minimizing interruption time while still providing periodic opportunities for memory reconfiguration when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The SMI handler implements a rapid state transition mechanism that quickly switches to BIOS state for the essential reconfiguration task, then immediately returns to OS state. This rushing through the BIOS state minimizes the duration of service interruption while completing the necessary configuration changes efficiently.
3Productivity
If mirrored memory configuration is fixed after system startup, then the system operates stably, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic parameter changes in mirrored memory configuration by allowing modifications to memory allocation parameters through SMI-triggered BIOS state transitions. The system can adjust memory capacity, allocation ratios, and mirroring parameters based on runtime requirements, thus improving resource utilization while maintaining system stability through controlled transition mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a mirrored memory configuration method and apparatus, and a computer storage medium, and belongs to the field of information processing technologies. The method includes the following: After a computer apparatus is started, if the computer apparatus is currently in an OS state and obtains a mirrored memory establishment request, the computer apparatus may switch from the OS state to a BIOS state through system interruption. Then the computer apparatus configures a mirroring relationship in the BIOS state, and switches to the OS state again after configuring the mirroring relationship, to reconfigure a mirrored memory. In the entire process, the computer apparatus does not need to be restarted. In this way, in a process of reconfiguring the mirrored memory, a service in the OS state does not need to be interrupted, thereby improving flexibility of configuring a mirrored memory.