Variable partitioning in a hybrid memory subsystem
A memory module includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and a memory controller adapted to present to a host system external to the memory module an address space that includes an address space of the volatile memory and excludes all addresses of the non-volatile memory capacity. The module includes logic to copy the contents of the volatile memory to memory locations of the nonvolatile memory capacity reserved for backup of the volatile memory, using power from a backup power interface, when suitable power from the host system is unavailable, wherein the memory controller reserves for backup of the volatile memory an amount of nonvolatile memory storage capacity that is at least twice a memory storage capacity of the volatile memory.
1. A memory module comprising:
a volatile memory;
a non-volatile memory;
a memory controller adapted to present to a host system external to the memory module an address space that includes an address space of the volatile memory and excludes all addresses of a non-volatile memory capacity;
a primary power supply input adapted to receive power from the host system;
a backup power interface; and
logic to copy contents of the volatile memory to memory locations of the non-volatile memory capacity reserved for backup of the volatile memory, using power from the backup power interface, when suitable power from the host system is unavailable, wherein the memory controller reserves for backup of the volatile memory an amount of the non-volatile memory capacity that is at least twice a memory storage capacity of the volatile memory.
2. The memory module of claim 1 , further comprising:
the address space presented to the host system including only addresses in the volatile memory and no addresses in the memory controller or the non-volatile memory.
3. A data processing device, comprising:
a host system including a volatile memory interface to a plug-in memory module;
the plug-in memory module comprising:
a volatile memory;
a non-volatile memory;
a memory controller adapted to present to the host system an address space that includes an address space of the volatile memory and excludes all addresses of the non-volatile memory;
a primary power supply input adapted to receive power from the host system;
a backup power interface; and
logic to copy the contents of the volatile memory to memory locations of the non-volatile memory capacity reserved for backup of the volatile memory, using power from the backup power interface, when suitable power from the host system is unavailable, wherein the memory controller reserves for backup of the volatile memory an amount of the non-volatile memory capacity that is at least twice a memory storage capacity of the volatile memory.
4. The memory module of claim 1 , further comprising:
the address space presented to the host system including only addresses in the volatile memory and no addresses in the memory controller or the non-volatile memory.