Storage system with multiple components and method for use therewith

1. A storage system, comprising:

non-volatile memories;

data buffers;

a driver; and

a controller;

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a host and the storage system have agreed to use, for data to be read from the non-volatile memories, non-deterministic reads or deterministic reads,

wherein when the controller determines that the host and the storage system have agreed to use the non-deterministic reads, the controller is configured to cause holding each data read, from the non-volatile memories, for a send command to be received from the host, and preventing transmission of the each read data to the host until receiving the respective send command,

otherwise, the controller is configured to determine that the host and the storage system have agreed to use the deterministic reads, and the controller is configured to cause transmitting the each read data, from the non-volatile memories, to the host when an elapsed time does not exceed a pre-determined time,

wherein the driver is configured to receive, from the host, a read command, an address and a read identifier, configured to provide, to the controller, the read command, the address and the read identifier, and configured to provide, to the data buffers, the read command and the read identifier but not the address,

wherein the controller is configured to read requested data from the non-volatile memories and configured to provide the requested data and the read identifier to the data buffers, and

wherein the data buffers are configured to place the requested data into an allocated space identified by the read identifier, for transmission to the host.

2. The storage system of claim 1 ,

wherein the non-deterministic reads are defined to complete transmitting the each read data to the host irrespective of the pre-determined time, and

wherein the deterministic reads are defined to complete transmitting the each read data to the host only within the pre-determined time.

3. The storage system of claim 1 , comprising:

one or more first memories configured to store data sent between the controller and an input/output interface; and

at least one second memory configured to store commands received from the host,

wherein the one or more first memories are configured to be used for the non-deterministic reads and for the deterministic reads, and

wherein the at least one second memory is configured to be used for the non-deterministic reads and for the deterministic reads.

4. The storage system of claim 1 ,

wherein when the host and the storage system have agreed to use the non-deterministic reads, for all data to be read from the non-volatile memories for transmission to the host, then with respect to determining when to transmit the each read data, the controller is prevented from using, a determination whether the elapsed time exceeds the pre-determined time, to transmit the each read data to the host, and

wherein when the host and the storage system have agreed to use the deterministic reads, for all the data to be read from the non-volatile memories for transmission to the host, then with respect to determining when to transmit the each read data, the controller is prevented from using, the respective send command received, to transmit the each read data to the host.

5. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein physical and command layers of the storage system are configured to be compatible with one or more of the following: unbuffered dual in-line memory module, registered dual in-line memory module, and load-reduced dual in-line memory module, and

wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the host using a clock-data parallel interface, and

wherein the driver is a registered clock driver.

6. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause:

receiving a write command from the host, wherein the host is allowed only a certain number of outstanding write commands as tracked by a write counter in the host;

performing an operation having an undetermined duration from a perspective of the host;

writing data to the non-volatile memories; and

after the data to the non-volatile memories has been written, sending a write counter increase signal to the host.

7. The storage system of claim 1 ,

wherein the pre-determined time has been agreed by the host and the storage system, and

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the host and the storage system have agreed to use either the non-deterministic reads for all data to be read from the non-volatile memories, or the deterministic reads for all data to be read from the non-volatile memories.

8. The storage system of claim 1 ,

wherein the data buffers are configured to allocate space before receiving the requested data and configured to reference the allocated space with the read identifier,

wherein the controller is configured to provide, to the driver, a completion signal and the read identifier, and

wherein the driver is configured to provide, to the host, a ready signal and the read identifier, configured to receive a corresponding send command from the host, and in response, configured to send a request to the controller to have the data buffers transmit, to the host, the requested data associated with the read identifier.

9. The storage system of claim 1 ,

wherein the data buffers have the allocated space having an identifier correlated to the read identifier within the driver,

wherein the controller is configured to provide, to the driver, a completion signal and the read identifier, and

wherein the driver is configured to provide, to the host, a ready signal and the read identifier, configured to receive a corresponding send command from the host, and in response, configured to send a request to the controller to have the data buffers transmit, to the host, the requested data associated with the read identifier.

10. The storage system of claim 8 ,

wherein the storage system comprises a response buffer,

wherein the data buffers are configured to allocate space before receiving the requested data and configured to reference the allocated space with the read identifier,

wherein the response buffer is configured to provide, to the host, a ready signal,

wherein the driver is configured to receive a corresponding send command from the host, and in response, configured to send a request to the controller to have the data buffers transmit, to the host, the requested data associated with the read identifier.

11. A method for a storage system comprising non-volatile memories, data buffers, a driver and a controller and, the method comprising:

determining, by the controller, whether a host and the storage system have agreed to use, for data to be read from the non-volatile memories, non-deterministic reads or deterministic reads,

wherein the determining comprises determining, by the controller, that the host and the storage system have agreed to use the non-deterministic reads but not the deterministic reads, and the controller performs operations comprising:

holding each data read, from the non-volatile memories, for a send command to be received from the host; and

preventing transmission of the each read data to the host until receiving the respective send command,

wherein the storage system comprises one or more first memories, and the method comprises storing, in the one or more first memories, the each data read from the non-volatile memories for the non-deterministic reads,

wherein the one or more first memories are used for the non-deterministic reads and are to be used for the deterministic reads, and

wherein the method comprises:

receiving, by the driver from the host, a read command, an address and a read identifier;

providing, by the driver to the controller, the read command, the address and the read identifier;

providing, to the data buffers, the read command and the read identifier but not the address;

reading, by the controller, requested data from the non-volatile memories;

providing, by the controller, the requested data and the read identifier to the data buffers; and

placing, by the data buffers, the requested data into an allocated space identified by the read identifier, for transmission to the host.

12. The method of claim 11 ,

wherein the non-deterministic reads are defined to complete transmitting the each read data to the host irrespective of a pre-determined time, and

wherein the deterministic reads are defined to complete transmitting the each read data to the host only within the pre-determined time.

13. The method of claim 11 ,

wherein the storage system comprises at least one second memory, and the method comprises storing commands received from the host, and

wherein the at least one second memory is used for the non-deterministic reads and is to be used for the deterministic reads.

14. The method of claim 11 ,

wherein when the host and the storage system have agreed to use the non-deterministic reads, for all data to be read from the non-volatile memories for transmission to the host, then with respect to determining when to transmit the each read data, the controller is prevented from using, a determination whether an elapsed time exceeds a pre-determined time, to transmit the each read data to the host.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein physical and command layers of the storage system are compatible with one or more of the following: unbuffered dual in-line memory module, registered dual in-line memory module, and load-reduced dual in-line memory module, and

wherein the driver is a registered clock driver.

16. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

receiving a write command from the host, wherein the host is allowed only a certain number of outstanding write commands as tracked by a write counter in the host;

performing an operation having an undetermined duration from a perspective of the host;

writing data to the non-volatile memories; and

after the data to the non-volatile memories has been written, sending a write counter increase signal to the host.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining, by the controller, whether the host and the storage system have agreed to use the non-deterministic reads or the deterministic reads comprises: determining, by the controller, whether the host and the storage system have agreed to use the non-deterministic reads for all data to be read from the non-volatile memories, or the deterministic reads for all data to be read from the non-volatile memories.

18. A storage system, comprising:

non-volatile memories;

means for determining whether a host and the storage system have agreed to use, for data to be read from the non-volatile memories, non-deterministic reads or deterministic reads,

wherein when the means for determining determines that the host and the storage system have agreed to use the non-deterministic reads, the storage system comprises: means for causing holding each data read, from the non-volatile memories, for a send command to be received from the host; and means for causing preventing transmission of the each read data to the host until receiving the respective send command,

otherwise, the means for determining comprises means for determining that the host and the storage system have agreed to use the deterministic reads, and the storage system comprises means for causing transmission of the each read data, from the non-volatile memories, to the host when an elapsed time does not exceed a pre-determined time, and

wherein the storage system comprises:

means for receiving, from the host, a read command, an address and a read identifier;

means for providing, to the means for determining, the read command, the address and the read identifier;

means for providing, to data buffers, the read command and the read identifier but not the address;

means for reading requested data from the non-volatile memories;

means for providing the requested data and the read identifier to the data buffers; and

means for placing the requested data into an allocated space identified by the read identifier, for transmission to the host.

19. The storage system of claim 18 ,

wherein the non-deterministic reads are defined to complete transmitting the each read data to the host irrespective of the pre-determined time, and

wherein the deterministic reads are defined to complete transmitting the each read data to the host only within the pre-determined time.

20. The storage system of claim 18 , comprising:

means for storing data sent between an input/output interface and the means for determining whether the host and the storage system have agreed to use the non-deterministic reads or the deterministic reads; and

means for storing commands received from the host,

wherein the means for storing data sent are configured to be used for the non-deterministic reads and for the deterministic reads, and

wherein the means for storing commands is configured to be used for the non-deterministic reads and for the deterministic reads.