Abstract: A processor includes execution resources, data storage, and an instruction sequencing unit, coupled to the execution resources and the data storage, that supplies instructions within the data storage to the execution resources. At least one of the execution resources, the data storage, and the instruction sequencing unit is implemented with a plurality of hardware partitions of like function for processing a respective one of a plurality of data streams. If an error is detected in a particular hardware partition, the data stream assigned to that hardware partition is reassigned to another of the plurality of hardware partitions, thus preventing an error in one of the hardware partitions from resulting in a catastrophic failure.

Abstract: A processor includes execution resources, data storage, and an instruction sequencing unit, coupled to the data storage and the execution resources, that supplies instructions within the data storage to the execution resources. The execution resources include a plurality of load-store units that each process only instructions that access data having associated addresses within a respective one of a plurality of subsets of an address space. The load-store units can have diverse hardware such that a maximum number of instructions that can be concurrently executed is different for different load-store units or such that some of the load-store units are restricted to executing certain classes of instructions.

Abstract: A processor having a hashed and partitioned storage subsystem includes at least one execution unit, an instruction sequencing unit coupled to the execution unit, and a cache subsystem including a plurality of caches that store data utilized by the execution unit. Each cache among the plurality of caches stores only data having associated addresses within a respective one of a plurality of subsets of an address space. In one preferred embodiment, the execution units of the processor include a number of load-store units (LSUs) that each process only instructions that access data having associated addresses within a respective one of the plurality of address subsets. The processor may further be incorporated within a data processing system having a number of interconnects and a number of sets of system memory hardware that each have affinity to a respective one of the plurality of address subsets.

Abstract: A processor having a hashed and partitioned register file includes at least one execution unit, an instruction sequencing unit coupled to the execution unit, and a plurality of registers coupled to the execution unit. The plurality of registers are partitioned into a plurality of groups, such that registers within each group can store only data having associated addresses within a respective one of a plurality of subsets of an address space.

Abstract: A processor includes execution resources, data storage, and an instruction sequencing unit, coupled to the execution resources and the data storage, that supplies instructions within the data storage to the execution resources. At least one of the execution resources, the data storage, and the instruction sequencing unit is implemented with a plurality of hardware partitions of like function for processing data. The data processed by each hardware partition is assigned according to a selectable hash of addresses associated as with the data. In a preferred embodiment, the selectable hash can be altered dynamically during the operation of the processor, for example, in response to detection of an error or a load imbalance between the hardware partitions.

Abstract: A processor includes at least one execution unit, an instruction sequencing unit coupled to the execution unit, and a plurality of caches at a same level. The caches, which store data utilized by the execution unit, have diverse cache hardware and each preferably store only data having associated addresses within a respective one of a plurality of subsets of an address space. The diverse cache hardware can include, for example, differing cache sizes, differing associativities, differing sectoring, and differing inclusivities.

Abstract: A processor includes at least one execution unit, an instruction sequencing unit coupled to the execution unit, and a plurality of caches at a same level. The caches, which store data utilized by the execution unit, each store only data having associated addresses within a respective one of a plurality of subsets of an address space and implement diverse caching behaviors. The diverse caching behaviors can include differing memory update policies, differing coherence protocols, differing prefetch behaviors, and differing cache line replacement policies.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a STORE instruction having memory hierarchy control bits is disclosed. A multiprocessor data processing system includes a multi-level memory hierarchy. The apparatus for adjusting control bits within an instruction to be utilized within the multi-level memory hierarchy comprises a performance monitor and a bit adjuster. The memory hierarchy control bits indicates a memory level within the multi-level memory hierarchy to which an updating operation should be applied. In response to the outputs from the performance monitor, the bit adjuster alters at least one of the memory hierarchy control bits within the instruction in order to achieve optimal performance for the updating operation.

Abstract: An optimizing compiler for generating STORE instructions having memory hierarchy control bits is disclosed. The compiler first converts a first STORE instruction to a second STORE instruction. The compiler then provides an operation code field within the second instruction for indicating an updating operation. The compiler further provides a vertical write-through level field within the second instruction for indicating a vertical memory level and a horizontal memory level within a multi-level memory hierarchy to which the updating operation should be applied.

Abstract: A STORE instruction having horizontal memory hierarchy control bits is disclosed. The STORE instruction comprises an operation code field, a write-through field, and a horizontal write-through level field. The horizontal write-through level field indicates a horizontal memory level within a multi-level memory hierarchy to which the STORE operation should be applied, when the write-through field is set.

Abstract: A STORE instruction having vertical memory hierarchy control bits is disclosed. The STORE instruction comprises an operation code field, a write-through field, and a vertical write-through level field. The vertical write-through level field indicates a vertical memory level within a memory hierarchy to which the STORE operation should be applied, when the write-through field is set.