EXTENDED WRITE COMBINING USING A WRITE CONTINUATION HINT FLAG

Abstract

A computing apparatus for reducing the amount of processing in a network computing system which includes a network system device of a receiving node for receiving electronic messages comprising data. The electronic messages are transmitted from a sending node. The network system device determines when more data of a specific electronic message is being transmitted. A memory device stores the electronic message data and communicating with the network system device. A memory subsystem communicates with the memory device. The memory subsystem stores a portion of the electronic message when more data of the specific message will be received, and the buffer combines the portion with later received data and moves the data to the memory device for accessible storage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to data processing systems, and more particularly, relates to write combining and pre-fetching in computer memory systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packet based network devices receive electronic messages or streams as sequences of packets. A packet is a formatted block of data carried by a computer network. Data from packets may be aligned arbitrarily when stored in memory causing fractions of cache memory lines to be written at packet boundaries. These fractions can cause expensive Read-Modify-Write (RMW) cycles to read the data, modify it, and then write the data back to memory. Further, write combining buffers may store these fractions and combine them with cache line fractions provided by subsequent packets from the same stream or message.

However, packets of a stream or message may be interleaved with packets from other streams or messages, separating accesses that could be write-combined, and thus reducing the probability of write-combining due to premature eviction of fractions from the write-combining buffer. Also, other store traffic, e.g., stores from a local processor, may use the write combining buffers, separating write-combinable accesses even further.

Therefore, a need exists for a method and/or apparatus to reduce interleaving packets of a stream or message and reduce separating write-combinable accesses. Moreover, it would be desirable for a method and/or apparatus to reduce the amount of Read-Modify-Write cycles caused by the alignment of packet boundaries when storing data in memory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the present invention, a computing apparatus for reducing the amount of processing in a network computing system which includes a network system device of a receiving node for receiving electronic messages including data. The electronic messages are transmitted from a sending node, and the network system device determines when more data of a specific electronic message is being transmitted. A memory device stores the electronic message data and communicates with the network system device. A memory subsystem communicates with the memory device, and the memory subsystem stores a portion of the electronic message when more data of the specific message is being transmitted. The buffer combines the portion with later received data and moves the combined data to the memory device for accessible storage.

In a related aspect, the processor moves the data to the memory device using a Read-Modify-Write cycle.

In a related aspect, the memory subsystem includes a buffer.

In a related aspect, the memory subsystem includes a write combining buffer.

In a related aspect, the network system device includes a computer program for determining when more data is being transmitted of the specific electronic message.

In a related aspect, the network system device includes a hardware device for determining when more data is being transmitted of a specific electronic message.

In a related aspect, the electronic message includes an indicator communicating to the network system device that more data is being transmitted after the network system device receives the specific electronic message.

In a related aspect, the indicator is a write continuation flag indicating a write continuation.

In a related aspect, the flag tags a last portion of the electronic message to indicate to the memory subsystem to store the last portion longer than non-tagged portions.

In a related aspect, the apparatus further including a pre-fetch device executing a fetch of metadata upon initiation from the network system device for a next electronic message being stored in the memory device.

In a related aspect the memory device includes cache memory.

In a related aspect, the electronic messages include data packets.

In a related aspect, the network system device of the receiving node communicates with a communication link communicating with the sending node.

In a related aspect, the network system device is a computer having a processor.

In another aspect, a method for producing a computing apparatus for reducing the amount of processing in a network computing system comprises receiving electronic messages including data on a receiving node; transmitting the electronic messages from a sending node; determining when more data of a specific electronic message is being transmitted; storing the electronic message data; storing a portion of the electronic message when more data of the specific message is being transmitted; and combining the portion with later received data and moving the combined data to the memory device for accessible storage.

In a related aspect, the method further includes fetching metadata for a next electronic message being stored in a memory device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of the invention depicting a receiving node including a computing apparatus having a communication link, a processor, a memory device and a memory subsystem; and

FIG. 2 is block diagram of a representative data packet structure received by the computing apparatus depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An illustrative embodiment of a computing apparatus 20 according to the present invention and shown in FIG. 1 includes a bi-directional communication link 24 connecting a network computing system including sending and receiving nodes. A node is defined herein as a point in a communication topology where data packets being carried through the bi-directional communication link are stored in a memory device for further processing, which may include, for example, reading, modifying, and writing to the memory device. A sending node or other nodes in the network computing system, which are not shown in the figures, are envisioned to be of like composition with the receiving node 10 shown in FIG. 1. A node may include, for example, a processor, a computer system, a server, or a router. A link 24 software protocol includes instructions for the transmission and receiving of packets. The receiving node 10 includes a network interface/system device embodied as a processor 40 communicating with link 24, and the network system device or processor 40 includes a hardware device 44 for determining when more data is being transmitted of a specific electronic message.

The processor 40 further communicates with a memory subsystem embodied as a write combining buffer 60. The write combining buffer is adapted to hold packet information including addresses, 64, a write continuation flag 70, and data 80. The buffer 60 holds a data packet while waiting for more packet data of the same message to be received. The buffer 60 communicates 62 with a memory device embodied as cache memory 100 for storing the data transmitted. The buffer 60 can execute a Read-Modify-Write command to the cache memory when it cannot combine a packet fraction with further write data.

An example of a data packet format is shown in FIG. 2. A packet 200 includes a packet header 201, a packet data payload 202 and a packet cyclic redundancy check (CRC) verification 203. A sending node implements the CRC verification by computing the packet CRC to verify that the data is valid or good before transmitting the data packet. Each packet has a link level sequence number 204 in the packet header 201. The sequence number 204 is incremented for every subsequent packet transmitted over the link 24.

In operation, referring to FIG. 1, a data packet 200 of a stream or message is transmitted by a sending network device (not shown) and received by the processor 40. The packet can either contain sender-provided information that more packets of the message or stream will be received, or the receiver can, based on its message completion detection method, determine if further packets are expected. When the data stream or message is not continuous, the information that more data packets of the message are being transmitted or intended to be transmitted is communicated or handed-off along with the packet data from the processor 40 as a write continuation flag 70 (or high bit) to a memory subsystem device embodied as a write combining buffer 60. The buffer 60 stores the packet data 80 into the cache memory 100 except for the last fraction or portion of the packet if more packet data will be received. In this case, the last fraction of the received data packet is stored into the write combining buffer 60 and held active for combination with later received packet data of the same message. The buffer 60 holds the data packet 200 components including the data 80, the address 64, and the write continuation flag 70. The flag 70 sent along with packet data 80 indicates a write continuation and is used to tag the write buffer entry. This causes the replacement policy of the buffer 60 to keep the data active longer than other line fragments, thereby allowing time for the buffer 60 to receive more data packets of the same message. Expensive Read-Modify-Write cycles are only required if the fragment cannot be combined with subsequent packets even with the extended active time in the buffer. This can occur for example if the delivery of the next packet is severely delayed by exceptional events including link errors and exception processing on the sending node.

The write continuation information is also useful when retrieving metadata from the cache memory device 100 upon initiation from the processor 40 needed for the reception of the next packet. Metadata is data about a data packet which is descriptive information about a set of data, e.g., control information about whether to verify checksums of the packet, whether to discard a packet upon detection of an incorrect checksum or whether to notify a processor about the arrival of the packet. The memory subsystem buffer 60 uses the write continuation information to direct pre-fetch hardware 110 to fetch the metadata from main memory for the next packet and store it in the cache memory 100. This is beneficial as it reduces the time to retrieve the metadata when the next packet arrives, as it is then readily available in the cache memory 100, shortening overall packet processing time.

The illustrative embodiment of the apparatus 10 reduces the amount of Read-Modify-Write cycles to a memory device. Numerous Read-Modify-Write (RMW) cycles are caused by the alignment of packet boundaries when storing the packet to the cache memory 100. The RMW cycles are reduced by communicating message continuation information along with packet data, thus, extending the active time of the fragment in the write combining buffer, and increasing the probability of write combining. More specifically, the processor must initiate and execute a Read-Modify-Write command as new packets of data are received for the same message. The apparatus of the present invention reduces the amount of Read-Modify-Write cycles by explicitly signaling or flagging to the write combing buffer 60 that a write continuation is likely to occur in the near future and to wait for additional data packets 200 before writing the data associated with the flagged message to the cache memory 100, thereby changing the replacement policy decisions of the write combining buffer 60.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated herein, but falls within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A computing apparatus for reducing the amount of processing in a network computing system, comprising: a network system device of a receiving node for receiving electronic messages including data, the electronic messages being transmitted from a sending node, and the network system device determining when more data of a specific electronic message is being transmitted;a memory device for storing the electronic message data and communicating with the network system device; anda memory subsystem communicating with the memory device, and the memory subsystem storing a portion of the electronic message when more data of the specific message is being transmitted, and the buffer combining the portion with later received data and moving the combined data to the memory device for accessible storage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor moves the data to the memory device using a Read-Modify-Write cycle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory subsystem includes a buffer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory subsystem includes a write combining buffer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network system device includes a computer program for determining when more data is being transmitted of the specific electronic message.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network system device includes a hardware device for determining when more data is being transmitted of a specific electronic message.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic message includes an indicator communicating to the network system device that more data is being transmitted after the network system device receives the specific electronic message.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the indicator is a write continuation flag indicating a write continuation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the flag tags a last portion of the electronic message to indicate to the memory subsystem to store the last portion longer than non-tagged portions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further including a pre-fetch device executing a fetch of metadata upon initiation from the network system device for a next electronic message being stored in the memory device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory device includes cache memory.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic messages include data packets.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network system device of the receiving node communicates with a communication link communicating with the sending node.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network system device is a computer having a processor.

15. A method for producing a computing apparatus for reducing the amount of processing in a network computing system, comprising: receiving electronic messages including data on a receiving node;transmitting the electronic messages from a sending node;determining when more data of a specific electronic message is being transmitted;storing the electronic message data;storing a portion of the electronic message when more data of the specific message is being transmitted; andcombining the portion with later received data and moving the combined data to the memory device for accessible storage.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: fetching metadata for a next electronic message being stored in a memory device.