IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,710,179
Granted Patent B2
US 9,710,179 · App. 14/829,314 · Granted Jul 18, 2017

Systems and methods for persistent memory timing characterization

Inventors: John Erven Jenne (Austin, TX); Stuart Berke (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F3/0619G06F1/3206G06F3/0604G06F3/0647G06F3/0685
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,710,179
App. No.
14/829,314
Filed
Aug 18, 2015
Granted
Jul 18, 2017
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2115
USPC
713/320
Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a management controller communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to, during boot of the information handling system determine a first amount of energy required by the information handling system to perform a save operation to transfer data from a volatile memory to a non-volatile memory of a persistent memory in response to a loss of power for supplying electrical energy to the information handling system, determine whether a second amount of energy available for providing electrical energy for the save operation in response to the loss of power exceeds the first amount of energy, and responsive to determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy, determine whether to support the persistent memory.

Claims (55)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

a management controller communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to, during boot of the information handling system:

determine a first amount of energy required by the information handling system to perform a save operation to transfer data from a volatile memory to a non-volatile memory of a persistent memory in response to a loss of power for supplying electrical energy to the information handling system, wherein determining the first amount of energy comprises:

emulating the loss of power; and

during emulation of the loss of power:

emulating the save operation to measure a time required to complete the save operation, wherein emulating the save operation includes taking at least a portion of steps necessary to accomplish the save operation to at least a portion of the non-volatile memory;

measuring an amount of power delivered by the one or more power supplies during emulation of the save operation; and

calculating the first amount of energy based on the time and the amount of power;

determine whether a second amount of energy available for providing electrical energy for the save operation in response to the loss of power exceeds the first amount of energy; and

responsive to determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy, determine whether to support the persistent memory.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the first amount of energy comprises at least an amount of energy required to transfer data from the volatile memory to the persistent memory.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to support the persistent memory comprises enabling the persistent memory responsive to determining the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to support the persistent memory comprises disabling the persistent memory responsive to determining the first amount of energy exceeds the second amount of energy.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the management controller is further configured to, responsive to determining the first amount of energy exceeds the second amount of energy:

reconfigure the information handling system to a new configuration to reduce energy needed to perform save operations;

re-determine the first amount of energy under the new configuration;

determine whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy under the new configuration; and

responsive to determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy under the new configuration, determine whether to support the persistent memory.

6. A method comprising, during boot of an information handling system:

determining a first amount of energy required by the information handling system to perform a save operation to transfer data from a volatile memory to a non-volatile memory of a persistent memory in response to a loss of power of one or more power supplies for supplying electrical energy to the information handling system, wherein determining the first amount of energy comprises:

emulating the loss of power; and

during emulation of the loss of power:

emulating the save operation to measure a time required to complete the save operation, wherein emulating the save operation includes taking at least a portion of steps necessary to accomplish the save operation to at least a portion of the non-volatile memory;

measuring an amount of power delivered by the one or more power supplies during emulation of the save operation; and

calculating the first amount of energy based on the time and the amount of power;

determining whether a second amount of energy available for providing electrical energy for the save operation in response to the loss of power exceeds the first amount of energy; and

responsive to determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy, determining whether to support the persistent memory.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first amount of energy comprises at least an amount of energy required to transfer data from the volatile memory to the persistent memory.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining whether to support the persistent memory comprises enabling the persistent memory responsive to determining the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining whether to support the persistent memory comprises disabling the persistent memory responsive to determining the first amount of energy exceeds the second amount of energy.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, responsive to determining the first amount of energy exceeds the second amount of energy:

reconfiguring the information handling system to a new configuration to reduce energy needed to perform save operations;

re-determining the first amount of energy under the new configuration;

determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy under the new configuration; and

responsive to determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy under the new configuration, determining whether to support the persistent memory.

11. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the computer-readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to, during boot of an information handling system:

determine a first amount of energy required by the information handling system to perform a save operation to transfer data from a volatile memory to a non-volatile memory of a persistent memory in response to a loss of power of one or more power supplies for supplying electrical energy to the information handling system, wherein determining the first amount of energy comprises:

emulating the loss of power; and

during emulation of the loss of power:

emulating the save operation to measure a time required to complete the save operation, wherein emulating the save operation includes taking at least a portion of steps necessary to accomplish the save operation to at least a portion of the non-volatile memory;

measuring an amount of power delivered by the one or more power supplies during emulation of the save operation; and

calculating the first amount of energy based on the time and the amount of power;

determine whether a second amount of energy available for providing electrical energy for the save operation in response to the loss of power exceeds the first amount of energy; and

responsive to determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy, determine whether to support the persistent memory.

12. The article of claim 11 , wherein the first amount of energy comprises at least an amount of energy required to transfer data from the volatile memory to the persistent memory.

13. The article of claim 11 , wherein determining whether to support the persistent memory comprises enabling the persistent memory responsive to determining the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy.

14. The article of claim 11 , wherein determining whether to support the persistent memory comprises disabling the persistent memory responsive to determining the first amount of energy exceeds the second amount of energy.

15. The article of claim 11 , the instructions for further causing the processor to, responsive to determining the first amount of energy exceeds the second amount of energy:

reconfigure the information handling system to a new configuration to reduce energy needed to perform save operations;

re-determine the first amount of energy under the new configuration;

determine whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy under the new configuration; and

responsive to determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy under the new configuration, determine whether to support the persistent memory.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037160 FRAME 0142 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040027/0812 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037160 FRAME 0239 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040028/0115 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037160 FRAME 0171 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040017/0253 →
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - NOTES Recorded Nov 25, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; BOOMI, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037160/0142 →
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - TERM LOAN Recorded Nov 25, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; BOOMI, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037160/0239 →
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - ABL Recorded Nov 25, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; BOOMI, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037160/0171 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2015
From: JENNE, JOHN ERVEN; BERKE, STUART ALLEN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 036351/0954 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170052716A1 · Feb 23, 2017