Shared SMM Code Access in Multi-Host Memory Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-host systems, storing the same system management mode code in each host's memory leads to a waste of memory resources, which intensifies with the increase in hosts, necessitating a more efficient utilization of memory resources and reduction in hardware configuration costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for code sharing in multi-host systems, where system management mode code is stored in shared memory modules, allowing hosts to access and initialize the mode without duplicating the code in local memory, thereby establishing a data connection with a target shared memory module to retrieve and initialize the system management mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each host stores the same system management mode code in its local memory, then each host can independently initialize the system management mode, but the memory resources are wasted due to code duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the system management mode code storage function from individual host memories to a centralized shared memory module. Multiple hosts access the same code through the shared memory, eliminating code duplication while maintaining independent initialization capability for each host.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared memory module serves multiple hosts simultaneously, providing universal access to the system management mode code. This multi-functional storage approach allows any host to initialize the system management mode without requiring dedicated local memory storage for the code.
2Reliability
If dedicated system management random access memory is provided in each host, then system management mode can be reliably implemented, but hardware configuration costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the memory resources of multiple hosts into a single shared memory module that serves all hosts. This consolidation reduces the total hardware configuration cost while maintaining the reliability of system management mode through centralized code storage and access.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing physical memory copies in each host, the patent uses memory mapping or virtual memory mechanisms to create logical copies of the code in each host's address space while storing only one physical copy in the shared memory module.
3Quantity of substance
If code is stored in shared memory modules, then memory resource utilization improves, but code access and initialization efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a memory controller or bridge as an intermediary between hosts and the shared memory module. This intermediary manages code access requests, ensures proper initialization timing, and maintains high initialization efficiency despite the centralized storage architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system management mode code is pre-loaded into the shared memory module during system setup or bootstrapping. This preliminary action ensures that when hosts need to initialize, the code is already available in the shared memory, reducing access time and improving initialization efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a code sharing method and apparatus, a switch, a multi-host system, a device, and a medium. The method includes: determining to enable a system management mode of a current host; sending a system management mode initialization request to a switch in a multi-host system, where the switch is configured to determine, based on the system management mode initialization request, a target shared memory module for storing system management mode code among a plurality of shared memory modules in the multi-host system, and a system management random access memory area corresponding to the system management mode code in the target shared memory module, and establish a data connection between the current host and the target shared memory module; and initializing the system management mode of the current host based on the system management mode code.