Abstract: The present disclosure may include a processor that uses idle caches as a backing store for a boot code. The processor designates a boot core and an active cache from a plurality of cores and a plurality of caches. The processor configures remaining caches from the plurality of caches to act as a backing store memory. The processor modifies the active cache to convert cast outs to a system memory into lateral cast outs to the backing store memory. The processor copies a boot image to the backing store memory and executes the boot image by the boot core.

Abstract: A multiprocessor data processing system includes multiple vertical cache hierarchies supporting a plurality of processor cores, a system memory, and an interconnect fabric coupled to the system memory and the multiple vertical cache hierarchies. Based on a request of a requesting processor core among the plurality of processor cores, a master in the multiprocessor data processing system issues, via the interconnect fabric, a read-type memory access request. The master receives via the interconnect fabric at least one beat of conditional data issued speculatively on the interconnect fabric by a controller of the system memory prior to receipt by the controller of a systemwide coherence response for the read-type memory access request. The master forwards the at least one beat of conditional data to the requesting processor core.

Abstract: The present disclosure may include a processor that uses idle caches as a backing store for a boot code. The processor designates a boot core and an active cache from a plurality of cores and a plurality of caches. The processor configures remaining caches from the plurality of caches to act as a backing store memory. The processor modifies the active cache to convert cast outs to a system memory into lateral cast outs to the backing store memory. The processor copies a boot image to the backing store memory and executes the boot image by the boot core.

Abstract: A coherent data processing system includes a system fabric communicatively coupling a plurality of coherence participants and fabric control logic. The fabric control logic quantifies congestion on the system fabric based on coherence messages associated with commands issued on the system fabric. Based on the congestion on the system fabric, the fabric control logic determines a rate of request issuance applicable to a set of coherence participants among the plurality of coherence participants. The fabric control logic issues at least one rate command to set a rate of request issuance to the system fabric of the set of coherence participants.

Abstract: A data processing system includes system memory and a plurality of processor cores each supported by a respective one of a plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. A first vertical cache hierarchy records information indicating communication of cache lines between the first vertical cache hierarchy and others of the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on selection of a victim cache line for eviction, the first vertical cache hierarchy determines, based on the recorded information, whether to perform a lateral castout of the victim cache line to another of the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies rather than to system memory and selects, based on the recorded information, a second vertical cache hierarchy among the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies as a recipient of the victim cache line via a lateral castout. Based on the determination, the first vertical cache hierarchy performs a castout of the victim cache line.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of processor cores each supported by a respective one of a plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on receiving on a system fabric a cache injection request requesting injection of a data into a cache line identified by a target real address, the data is written into a cache in a first vertical cache hierarchy among the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on a value in a field of the cache injection request, a distribute field is set in a directory entry of the first vertical cache hierarchy. Upon eviction of the cache line the first vertical cache hierarchy, a determination is made whether the distribute field is set. Based on determining the distribute field is set, a lateral castout of the cache line from the first vertical cache hierarchy to a second vertical cache hierarchy is performed.

Abstract: A multiprocessor data processing system includes multiple vertical cache hierarchies supporting a plurality of processor cores, a system memory, and an interconnect fabric coupled to the system memory and the multiple vertical cache hierarchies. Based on a request of a requesting processor core among the plurality of processor cores, a master in the multiprocessor data processing system issues, via the interconnect fabric, a read-type memory access request. The master receives via the interconnect fabric at least one beat of conditional data issued speculatively on the interconnect fabric by a controller of the system memory prior to receipt by the controller of a systemwide coherence response for the read-type memory access request. The master forwards the at least one beat of conditional data to the requesting processor core.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of snoopers, a processing unit including master, and a system fabric communicatively coupling the master and the plurality of snoopers. The master sets a retry operating mode for an interconnect operation in one of alternative first and second operating modes. The first operating mode is associated with a first type of snooper, and the second operating mode is associated with a different second type of snooper. The master issues a memory access request of the interconnect operation on the system fabric of the data processing system. Based on receipt of a combined response representing a systemwide coherence response to the request, the master delays an interval having a duration dependent on the retry operating mode and thereafter reissues the memory access request on the system fabric.

Abstract: A coherent data processing system includes a system fabric communicatively coupling a plurality of coherence participants and fabric control logic. The fabric control logic quantifies congestion on the system fabric based on coherence messages associated with commands issued on the system fabric. Based on the congestion on the system fabric, the fabric control logic determines a rate of request issuance applicable to a set of coherence participants among the plurality of coherence participants. The fabric control logic issues at least one rate command to set a rate of request issuance to the system fabric of the set of coherence participants.

Abstract: A data processing system includes system memory and a plurality of processor cores each supported by a respective one of a plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. A first vertical cache hierarchy records information indicating communication of cache lines between the first vertical cache hierarchy and others of the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on selection of a victim cache line for eviction, the first vertical cache hierarchy determines, based on the recorded information, whether to perform a lateral castout of the victim cache line to another of the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies rather than to system memory and selects, based on the recorded information, a second vertical cache hierarchy among the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies as a recipient of the victim cache line via a lateral castout. Based on the determination, the first vertical cache hierarchy performs a castout of the victim cache line.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of processor cores each supported by a respective one of a plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on receiving on a system fabric a cache injection request requesting injection of a data into a cache line identified by a target real address, the data is written into a cache in a first vertical cache hierarchy among the plurality of vertical cache hierarchies. Based on a value in a field of the cache injection request, a distribute field is set in a directory entry of the first vertical cache hierarchy. Upon eviction of the cache line the first vertical cache hierarchy, a determination is made whether the distribute field is set. Based on determining the distribute field is set, a lateral castout of the cache line from the first vertical cache hierarchy to a second vertical cache hierarchy is performed.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of snoopers, a processing unit including master, and a system fabric communicatively coupling the master and the plurality of snoopers. The master sets a retry operating mode for an interconnect operation in one of alternative first and second operating modes. The first operating mode is associated with a first type of snooper, and the second operating mode is associated with a different second type of snooper. The master issues a memory access request of the interconnect operation on the system fabric of the data processing system. Based on receipt of a combined response representing a systemwide coherence response to the request, the master delays an interval having a duration dependent on the retry operating mode and thereafter reissues the memory access request on the system fabric.

Abstract: A technique for operating a data processing system that implements a split transaction coherency protocol that has an address tenure and a data tenure includes receiving, at a data source, a command (that includes an address tenure for requested data) that is issued from a data sink. The data source issues a response that indicates data associated with the address tenure is available to be transferred to the data sink during a data tenure. In response to determining that the data is available subsequent to issuing the response, the data source issues a first data packet to the data sink that includes the data during the data tenure. In response to determining that the data is not available subsequent to issuing the response, the data source issues a second data packet to the data sink that includes a data header that indicates the data is unavailable.

Abstract: A method comprises a cache manager receiving reference attributes associated with network data and selecting a replacement data location of a cache to store cache-line data associated with the network data. The replacement data location is selected based on the reference attributes and an order of reference states stored in a replacement stack of the cache. The stored reference states are associated with respective cached-data stored in the cache and based on reference attributes associated with respective cached-data. The reference states are stored in the replacement stack based on a set of the reference attributes and the stored reference states. In response to receiving reference attributes, the cache manager can modify a stored reference state, determine a second order of the state locations, and store a reference state in the replacement stack based on the second order. A system can comprise a network computing element having a cache, a cache manager, and a replacement stack.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving input reference attributes from a data reference interface and selecting a replacement data location of a cache to store data. The replacement data location is selected based on the input reference attributes and reference states associated with cached-data stored in data locations of the cache and an order of state locations of a replacement stack storing the reference states. The reference states are based on reference attributes associated with the cached-data and can include a probability count. The order of state locations is based on the reference states and the reference attributes. In response to receiving some input reference attributes, reference states stored in the state locations can be modified and a second order of the state locations can be determined. A reference state can be stored in the replacement stack based on the second order.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving input reference attributes from a data reference interface and selecting a replacement data location of a cache to store data. The replacement data location is selected based on the input reference attributes and reference states associated with cached-data stored in data locations of the cache and an order of state locations of a replacement stack storing the reference states. The reference states are based on reference attributes associated with the cached-data and can include a probability count. The order of state locations is based on the reference states and the reference attributes. In response to receiving some input reference attributes, reference states stored in the state locations can be modified and a second order of the state locations can be determined. A reference state can be stored in the replacement stack based on the second order.

Abstract: A cache comprises data locations in a storage medium and a set of reference states corresponding to the data locations and abased on reference attributes associated with data stored in the data locations. The cache receives reference information associated with a data reference and selects a data location to store data reference based on a reference state corresponding to the data location. The cache modifies reference states based on reference attributes associated with data references. A method of managing a cache includes receiving reference information associated with a data reference and selecting a data location in a storage medium to store data based on reference attributes associated with data stored in the selected data location. The method can include modifying reference states in response to receiving reference information. The cache and the method can include a count, based on reference attributes, in a reference state.

Abstract: A technique for operating a data processing system that implements a split transaction coherency protocol that has an address tenure and a data tenure includes receiving, at a data source, a command (that includes an address tenure for requested data) that is issued from a data sink. The data source issues a response that indicates data associated with the address tenure is available to be transferred to the data sink during a data tenure. In response to determining that the data is available subsequent to issuing the response, the data source issues a first data packet to the data sink that includes the data during the data tenure. In response to determining that the data is not available subsequent to issuing the response, the data source issues a second data packet to the data sink that includes a data header that indicates the data is unavailable.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying data streams in a processor that are likely to and not likely to benefit from data prefetching. A prefetcher receives at least a first request in a plurality of requests to pre-fetch data from a stream in a plurality of streams. The prefetcher assigns a confidence level to the first request based on an amount of confirmations observed in the stream. The request is in a confident state if the confidence level exceeds a specified value. The first request is in a non-confident state if the confidence level does not exceed the specified value. Requests to prefetch data in the plurality of requests that are associated with respective streams with a low prefetch utilization are deprioritized. Doing so allows a memory controller to determine whether to drop the at least the first request based on the confidence level, prefetch utilization, and memory resource utilization.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying data streams in a processor that are likely to and not likely to benefit from data prefetching. A prefetcher receives at least a first request in a plurality of requests to pre-fetch data from a stream in a plurality of streams. The prefetcher assigns a confidence level to the first request based on an amount of confirmations observed in the stream. The request is in a confident state if the confidence level exceeds a specified value. The first request is in a non-confident state if the confidence level does not exceed the specified value. Requests to prefetch data in the plurality of requests that are associated with respective streams with a low prefetch utilization are deprioritized. Doing so allows a memory controller to determine whether to drop the at least the first request based on the confidence level, prefetch utilization, and memory resource utilization.