Multi-port Memory Link Expander for Coherent Data Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solutions for data sharing among host devices in dual-host architectures suffer from limited performance due to the need for copying data between hosts over a non-transparent bridge, which results in inefficiencies in edge computing environments.
Innovation Solution
A multi-port memory link expander based on CXL technology is introduced, enabling direct and efficient data sharing among multiple hosts by providing a coherent device memory that can be accessed without copying data, thus enhancing latency and bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is copied between host devices over a non-transparent bridge, then data sharing is enabled, but performance is limited due to copying overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a memory expander as an intermediary device with coherent device memory that acts as a shared memory space between multiple host devices. Instead of copying data between hosts over a non-transparent bridge, the memory expander provides a centralized memory resource that hosts can directly access, eliminating the copying overhead while maintaining data sharing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need for data copying by implementing direct memory access through the memory expander. The coherent device memory in the memory expander serves as a shared memory space where multiple hosts can read and write data directly without copying operations, thereby improving performance and reducing time loss
2Speed
If a non-transparent bridge is used for data sharing, then host connectivity is established, but latency increases due to copying operations
Solution Approach 1:
The memory expander serves as an intermediary that provides coherent device memory accessible by multiple hosts simultaneously. This eliminates the need for data copying over non-transparent bridges, allowing hosts to directly access shared data in the memory expander's memory space, thereby reducing latency and improving data access speed
3Productivity
If data is copied into local memory of host devices, then data sharing is achieved, but bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The memory expander provides a centralized coherent device memory that acts as a shared resource for multiple hosts. Instead of copying data into local memory of each host, the memory expander's memory space can be directly accessed by all hosts, enabling higher throughput and reducing the volume of data copying operations
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for technology that collects, by a BIOS (basic input output system), memory information from a first host path to a coherent device memory on a memory expander, wherein the memory expander includes a plurality of host paths, transfers the memory information from the BIOS to an OS (operating system) via one or more OS interface tables, and initializes, by the OS, the memory expander based on the memory information, wherein the memory information includes memory capabilities and configuration settings associated with the memory expander.