Write Mechanism for Storage Class Memory

Abstract

Storage class memory may be used in an architecture to achieve high performance, high reliability, high compatibility. In some embodiments, reads may be handled in a conventional way used in a memory based model. However writes do not use a memory based model but instead correspond to a storage based model. The hybrid nature can be achieved by setting the storage class memory to be write protected so that all writes must go through a software based block device interface. In some embodiments, the software based block device interface prevents erroneous writes to the storage class memory.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus comprising:
 a block device interface to receive write requests;   a buffer coupled to said interface to receive write requests from said interface;   a controller coupled to said buffer to find contiguous blocks within write requests; and   a non-volatile memory coupled to said controller, said controller to write continguous blocks in a batch write to said non-volatile memory.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said buffer is a circular buffer. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said controller is a syncer daemon. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , said controller to reorganize blocks within write requests into contiguous blocks. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , said controller to batch write contiguous blocks to non-volatile memory by resetting a page table entry for said contiguous blocks from read only to writeable. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , said controller to change said page table entry back to read only after completing the batch write. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said non-volatile memory is a phase change memory. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said block device interface is set up by mapping a space in the non-volatile memory into an operating system, and initializing said space as read only. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein said space can only be accessed by writes using a storage based model. 
     
     
         40 . A method comprising:
 receiving write requests in a block device interface;   receiving write requests from said interface in a buffer;   finding contiguous blocks within write requests; and   writing continguous blocks in a batch write to a non-volatile memory.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein said buffer is a circular buffer. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  including using a syncer daemon. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40  including reorganizing blocks within write requests into contiguous blocks. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40  including batch writing contiguous blocks to non-volatile memory by resetting a page table entry for said contiguous blocks from read only to writeable. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  including changing said page table entry back to read only after completing the batch write. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 40  wherein said non-volatile memory is a phase change memory. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40  including setting up the block device interface by mapping a space in the non-volatile memory into an operating system, and initializing said space as read only. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  only accessing said space by writes using a storage based model. 
     
     
         49 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions to perform a sequence comprising:
 receiving write requests in a block device interface;   receiving write requests from said interface in a buffer;   finding contiguous blocks within write requests; and   writing contiguous blocks in a batch write to a non-volatile memory.   
     
     
         50 . The media of  claim 49  wherein said buffer is a circular buffer. 
     
     
         51 . The media of  claim 49  including using a syncer daemon. 
     
     
         52 . The media of  claim 49  including reorganizing blocks within write requests into contiguous blocks. 
     
     
         53 . The media of  claim 49  including batch writing contiguous blocks to non-volatile memory by resetting a page table entry for said contiguous blocks from read only to writeable. 
     
     
         54 . The media of  claim 53  including changing said page table entry back to read only after completing the batch write. 
     
     
         55 . The media of  claim 49  wherein said non-volatile memory is a phase change memory. 
     
     
         56 . The media of  claim 49  including setting up the block device interface by mapping a space in the non-volatile memory into an operating system, and initializing said space as read only. 
     
     
         57 . The media of  claim 56  only accessing said space by writes using a storage based model.