Persistent block storage attached to memory bus

1. A method of configuring a computer sub-system comprising:

receiving a request from a legacy BIOS that is configured to operate with an operating system (OS);

scanning memory module sockets in response to the request; and

recognizing memory modules in the memory module sockets, the memory modules being made of persistent memory modules (PMMs) and non-persistent memory modules (NPMMs), wherein each memory module is comprised entirely of either PMMs or NPMMs;

creating and storing PMM memory address mapping information in a designated, protected persistent memory area; and

programming a table within a PMM of the PMMs to allow the PMM, in its entirety, to remain invisible to the OS, wherein the PMM can only be indirectly accessed by the OS via a customized software driver.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including indicating the presence or absence of the PMM using a memory module detection indicator in the table.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including identifying a memory type of a memory module of the memory modules using a device type indicator in the table.

4. A method of configuring a computer sub-system comprising:

receiving a request from an extended legacy BIOS;

scanning memory module sockets in response to the request;

recognizing memory modules in the memory module sockets, the memory modules being made of, at least in part, persistent memory modules (PMMs) and non-persistent memory modules (NPMMs), wherein each memory module is comprised entirely of either PMMs or NPMMs;

creating and storing a mapping information in a designated, protected persistent memory area; and

programming a table within a PMM of the PMMs to allow the PMM, in its entirety, to remain invisible to the OS, wherein the PMM can only be indirectly accessed by the OS via a customized software driver.

5. The method of configuring of claim 4 , further including storing a BIOS extension software in a persistent memory device which resides on a PCIe add-on card and executing the BIOS extension software from the PCIe add-on card.

6. The method of claim 4 , further including indicating the presence or absence of the PMM using a memory module detection indicator in the table.

7. A method of configuring a computer sub-system comprising:

receiving a request from a customized legacy BIOS;

scanning memory module sockets in response to the request;

recognizing memory modules in the memory module sockets, the memory modules being made of, at least in part, persistent memory modules (PMMs) and non-persistent memory modules (NPMMs), wherein each memory module is comprised entirely of either PMMs or NPMMs;

creating and storing the mapping information in a designated, protected persistent memory area; and

programming a table within a PMM of the PMMs to allow the PMM, in its entirety, to remain invisible to the OS, wherein the PMM can only be indirectly accessed by the OS via a customized software driver.

8. The method of configuring of claim 7 , further including creating customized legacy BIOS that couples with legacy BIOS functions and a BIOS extension software in a single non-persistent memory device, and installing it in a computer sub-system.

9. A method of configuring a computer sub-system comprising:

receiving a request from an extended UEFI BIOS or customized UEFI BIOS;

scanning memory module sockets in response to the request;

recognizing memory modules in the memory module sockets, the memory modules being made of, at least in part, persistent memory modules (PMMs) and non-persistent memory modules (NPMMs), wherein each memory module is comprised entirely of either PMMs or NPMMs;

creating and storing the mapping information in a designated, protected persistent memory area, and

programming a table within a PMM of the PMMs to allow the PMM, in its entirety, to remain invisible to the OS, wherein the PMM can only be indirectly accessed by the OS via a customized software driver.

10. The method of configuring of claim 9 , further including creating customized UEFI BIOS that couples with UEFI BIOS functions and customized UEFI PMM extension software in a single non-persistent memory device, and installing the customized UEFI PMM extension software on the computer sub-system.

11. The method of configuring of claim 10 , further including storing the customized UEFI PMM extension software to a removable storage device or a specific location on a fixed storage device, and executing the customized UEFI PMM extension software from the one of these devices.