Systems and methods for non-volatile cache control

1. A method for controlling a cache, the method comprising:

detecting a power loss to the cache, the cache comprising a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a buffer, and a data transfer controller that controls data transfer between the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory;

in response to the power loss detection, automatically enabling a backup power supply associated only with the cache and providing, via the buffer of the cache, a first control signal that indicates the power loss detection to the data transfer controller;

detecting restoration of power to the cache;

in response to the power restoration detection, automatically providing, via the buffer of the cache, a second control signal that indicates the power restoration detection to the data transfer controller; and

upon restoration of power to the cache, receiving, at a controller configured to control the cache, a flag communicated from the non-volatile memory indicating that the non-volatile memory includes dirty data, the dirty data comprising data that has not been stored in a storage device associated with the cache.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the received flag:

restoring the dirty data from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory; and

flushing the dirty data from the volatile memory to the storage device.

3. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising initializing the non-volatile memory for subsequent writing to the non-volatile memory.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein initializing the non-volatile memory comprises erasing dirty data in the non-volatile memory.

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the received flag:

determining whether the non-volatile memory includes non-dirty data; and

initializing the non-volatile memory.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein initializing the non-volatile memory comprises erasing data in the non-volatile memory.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the power loss detection, automatically writing the dirty data from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory.

8. The method according claim 7 , further comprising:

detecting the restoration of power to the cache prior to completing the writing step;

pausing the writing step; and

flushing the dirty data from the volatile memory to the storage device associated with the cache.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising initializing the non-volatile memory in response to detecting the restoration of power to the cache.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting restoration of power to the cache; and

communicating a signal to a controller associated with the cache, the signal indicating presence of the dirty data in the non-volatile memory.

11. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor;

a cache coupled to the processor, the cache comprising a volatile memory a non-volatile memory, a buffer, and a data transfer controller that controls data transfer between the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory;

a storage device associated with the cache;

a power supply unit coupled to the cache and associated only with the cache; and

a controller associated with the cache and configured to:

detect a power loss to the cache;

automatically enable the power supply unit;

in response to the power loss detection, provide, via the buffer of the cache, a first control signal that indicates the power loss detection to the data transfer controller;

detect restoration of power to the cache;

in response to the power restoration detection, provide, via the buffer of the cache, a second control signal that indicates the power restoration detection to the data transfer controller; and

upon restoration of power to the cache, receive a flag communicated from the non-volatile memory indicating that the non-volatile memory includes dirty data, the dirty data comprising data that has not been stored in the storage device.

12. The information handling system according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the received flag:

restore the dirty data from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory; and

flush the dirty data from the volatile memory to the storage device.

13. The information handling system according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to initialize the non-volatile memory for subsequent writing to the non-volatile memory.

14. The information handling system according to claim 11 , wherein initializing the non-volatile memory comprises erasing dirty data in the non-volatile memory.

15. The information handling system according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the power loss detection, automatically write dirty data from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory.

16. The information handling system according to claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect the restoration of power to the cache prior to completing the writing step;

pause the writing step; and

flush the dirty data from the volatile memory to the storage device associated with the cache.

17. The information handling system according to claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to initialize the non-volatile memory in response to detecting the restoration of power to the cache.