Abstract: Disclosed is a bridge system for processing read and write transactions over a bus in which in a preferred embodiment continuous read data obtained from a target device in a number of separate read operations over a secondary bus may be gathered by the bridge and assembled into a larger block of data before forwarding the data over the primary bus to the requesting agent. As a consequence, the transmission of optimal, address boundary-aligned bursts of read data over the primary bus may be increased and conversely, the transmission of fractionated, nonaligned read data over the primary bus may be reduced. Because each agent is assigned particular buffers, read data may be gathered concurrently in the assigned bridge buffers without assertion of a read request by one agent causing the flushing of the data being gathered for a different agent.

Abstract: Aspects for caching storage data include partitioning a storage cache to include a compressed data partition and an uncompressed data partition, and adjusting a size of the compressed data partition and the uncompressed data partition for chosen performance characteristics. A data caching system aspect in a data processing system having a host system in communication with a storage system includes at least one storage device and at least one partially compressed cache. The at least one partially compressed cache further includes an uncompressed partition and a compressed partition, where the compressed partition stores at least a victim data unit from the uncompressed partition.

Abstract: Aspects for caching storage data include partitioning a storage cache to include a compressed data partition and an uncompressed data partition, and adjusting a size of the compressed data partition and the uncompressed data partition for chosen performance characteristics. A data caching system aspect in a data processing system having a host system in communication with a storage system includes at least one storage device and at least one partially compressed cache. The at least one partially compressed cache further includes an uncompressed partition and a compressed partition, where the compressed partition stores at least a victim data unit from the uncompressed partition.