Patent classifications
G06F12/0811
Memory pipeline control in a hierarchical memory system
In described examples, a processor system includes a processor core generating memory transactions, a lower level cache memory with a lower memory controller, and a higher level cache memory with a higher memory controller having a memory pipeline. The higher memory controller is connected to the lower memory controller by a bypass path that skips the memory pipeline. The higher memory controller: determines whether a memory transaction is a bypass write, which is a memory write request indicated not to result in a corresponding write being directed to the higher level cache memory; if the memory transaction is determined a bypass write, determines whether a memory transaction that prevents passing is in the memory pipeline; and if no transaction that prevents passing is determined to be in the memory pipeline, sends the memory transaction to the lower memory controller using the bypass path.
Memory pipeline control in a hierarchical memory system
In described examples, a processor system includes a processor core generating memory transactions, a lower level cache memory with a lower memory controller, and a higher level cache memory with a higher memory controller having a memory pipeline. The higher memory controller is connected to the lower memory controller by a bypass path that skips the memory pipeline. The higher memory controller: determines whether a memory transaction is a bypass write, which is a memory write request indicated not to result in a corresponding write being directed to the higher level cache memory; if the memory transaction is determined a bypass write, determines whether a memory transaction that prevents passing is in the memory pipeline; and if no transaction that prevents passing is determined to be in the memory pipeline, sends the memory transaction to the lower memory controller using the bypass path.
CACHE-BASED TRACE LOGGING USING TAGS IN AN UPPER-LEVEL CACHE
Cache-based trace logging using tags in an upper cache level. A processor influxes a cache line into a first cache level from an upper second cache level. Influxing the cache line into the first cache level includes, based on the first cache level being a recording cache, the processor reading a tag that is (i) stored in the second cache level and (ii) associated with the cache line. Based on reading the tag, the processor determines whether a first value of the cache line within the second cache level has been previously captured by a trace. The processor performs one of (i) when the first value is determined to have been previously logged, following a logged value logic path when influxing the cache line; or (ii) when the first value is determined to have not been previously logged, following a non-logged value logic path when influxing the cache line.
DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM HAVING MASTERS THAT ADAPT TO AGENTS WITH DIFFERING RETRY BEHAVIORS
A data processing system includes a plurality of snoopers, a processing unit including master, and a system fabric communicatively coupling the master and the plurality of snoopers. The master sets a retry operating mode for an interconnect operation in one of alternative first and second operating modes. The first operating mode is associated with a first type of snooper, and the second operating mode is associated with a different second type of snooper. The master issues a memory access request of the interconnect operation on the system fabric of the data processing system. Based on receipt of a combined response representing a systemwide coherence response to the request, the master delays an interval having a duration dependent on the retry operating mode and thereafter reissues the memory access request on the system fabric.
DISTRIBUTION OF INJECTED DATA AMONG CACHES OF A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM
A data processing system includes a plurality of processor cores each supported by a respective one of a plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on receiving on a system fabric a cache injection request requesting injection of a data into a cache line identified by a target real address, the data is written into a cache in a first vertical cache hierarchy among the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on a value in a field of the cache injection request, a distribute field is set in a directory entry of the first vertical cache hierarchy. Upon eviction of the cache line the first vertical cache hierarchy, a determination is made whether the distribute field is set. Based on determining the distribute field is set, a lateral castout of the cache line from the first vertical cache hierarchy to a second vertical cache hierarchy is performed.
DISTRIBUTION OF INJECTED DATA AMONG CACHES OF A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM
A data processing system includes a plurality of processor cores each supported by a respective one of a plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on receiving on a system fabric a cache injection request requesting injection of a data into a cache line identified by a target real address, the data is written into a cache in a first vertical cache hierarchy among the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on a value in a field of the cache injection request, a distribute field is set in a directory entry of the first vertical cache hierarchy. Upon eviction of the cache line the first vertical cache hierarchy, a determination is made whether the distribute field is set. Based on determining the distribute field is set, a lateral castout of the cache line from the first vertical cache hierarchy to a second vertical cache hierarchy is performed.
TARGETING OF LATERAL CASTOUTS IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM
A data processing system includes system memory and a plurality of processor cores each supported by a respective one of a plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. A first vertical cache hierarchy records information indicating communication of cache lines between the first vertical cache hierarchy and others of the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on selection of a victim cache line for eviction, the first vertical cache hierarchy determines, based on the recorded information, whether to perform a lateral castout of the victim cache line to another of the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies rather than to system memory and selects, based on the recorded information, a second vertical cache hierarchy among the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies as a recipient of the victim cache line via a lateral castout. Based on the determination, the first vertical cache hierarchy performs a castout of the victim cache line.
TARGETING OF LATERAL CASTOUTS IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM
A data processing system includes system memory and a plurality of processor cores each supported by a respective one of a plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. A first vertical cache hierarchy records information indicating communication of cache lines between the first vertical cache hierarchy and others of the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on selection of a victim cache line for eviction, the first vertical cache hierarchy determines, based on the recorded information, whether to perform a lateral castout of the victim cache line to another of the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies rather than to system memory and selects, based on the recorded information, a second vertical cache hierarchy among the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies as a recipient of the victim cache line via a lateral castout. Based on the determination, the first vertical cache hierarchy performs a castout of the victim cache line.
SPECULATIVE DELIVERY OF DATA FROM A LOWER LEVEL OF A MEMORY HIERARCHY IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM
A multiprocessor data processing system includes multiple vertical cache hierarchies supporting a plurality of processor cores, a system memory, and an interconnect fabric coupled to the system memory and the multiple vertical cache hierarchies. Based on a request of a requesting processor core among the plurality of processor cores, a master in the multiprocessor data processing system issues, via the interconnect fabric, a read-type memory access request. The master receives via the interconnect fabric at least one beat of conditional data issued speculatively on the interconnect fabric by a controller of the system memory prior to receipt by the controller of a systemwide coherence response for the read-type memory access request. The master forwards the at least one beat of conditional data to the requesting processor core.
SPECULATIVE DELIVERY OF DATA FROM A LOWER LEVEL OF A MEMORY HIERARCHY IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM
A multiprocessor data processing system includes multiple vertical cache hierarchies supporting a plurality of processor cores, a system memory, and an interconnect fabric coupled to the system memory and the multiple vertical cache hierarchies. Based on a request of a requesting processor core among the plurality of processor cores, a master in the multiprocessor data processing system issues, via the interconnect fabric, a read-type memory access request. The master receives via the interconnect fabric at least one beat of conditional data issued speculatively on the interconnect fabric by a controller of the system memory prior to receipt by the controller of a systemwide coherence response for the read-type memory access request. The master forwards the at least one beat of conditional data to the requesting processor core.