Abstract: An apparatus containing a maintenance interface unit is described. In one exemplary implementation, the apparatus includes a multiprocessor system and the maintenance interface unit. The multiprocessor system uses cache coherency for accessing memory. The maintenance interface unit is integrated within the multiprocessor system and is configured to provide a backdoor accessibility to the multiprocessor system on-behalf of a peripheral maintenance system. The maintenance interface unit is also configured to perform operations within the multiprocessor system while maintaining the cache coherency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit for prefetching direct memory access descriptors from memory of a computer system, and storing the prefetched direct memory access descriptors within a unified descriptor memory for subsequent access by direct memory access controllers. The descriptors are generated by a central processing unit of the computer system while executing software applications. The descriptors define data transfer operations between memory of the computer system and input/output devices via direct memory access controllers. The direct memory access controllers generate requests for descriptors. Upon generation of a request, the unified descriptor memory is checked to determine whether the requested descriptor is contained therein. If the requested descriptor is contained within the unified descriptor memory, the request descriptor is provided to the requesting direct memory access controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit for prefetching direct memory access descriptors from memory of a computer system, and storing the prefetched direct memory access descriptors within a unified descriptor memory for subsequent access by direct memory access controllers. The descriptors are generated by a central processing unit of the computer system while executing software applications. The descriptors define data transfer operations between memory of the computer system and input/output devices via direct memory access controllers. The direct memory access controllers generate requests for descriptors. Upon generation of a request, the unified descriptor memory is checked to determine whether the requested descriptor is contained therein. If the requested descriptor is contained within the unified descriptor memory, the request descriptor is provided to the requesting direct memory access controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit for prefetching direct memory access descriptors from memory of a computer system, and storing the prefetched direct memory access descriptors within a unified descriptor memory for subsequent access by direct memory access controllers. The descriptors are generated by a central processing unit of the computer system while executing software applications. The descriptors define data transfer operations between memory of the computer system and input/output devices via direct memory access controllers. The direct memory access controllers generate requests for descriptors. Upon generation of a request, the unified descriptor memory is checked to determine whether the requested descriptor is contained therein. If the requested descriptor is contained within the unified descriptor memory, the request descriptor is provided to the requesting direct memory access controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit for prefetching direct memory access descriptors from memory of a computer system, and storing the prefetched direct memory access descriptors within a unified descriptor memory for subsequent access by direct memory access controllers. The descriptors are generated by a central processing unit of the computer system while executing software applications. The descriptors define data transfer operations between memory of the computer system and input/output devices via direct memory access controllers. The direct memory access controllers generate requests for descriptors. Upon generation of a request, the unified descriptor memory is checked to determine whether the requested descriptor is contained therein. If the requested descriptor is contained within the unified descriptor memory, the request descriptor is provided to the requesting direct memory access controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit for prefetching direct memory access descriptors from memory of a computer system, and storing the prefetched direct memory access descriptors within a unified descriptor memory for subsequent access by direct memory access controllers. The descriptors are generated by a central processing unit of the computer system while executing software applications. The descriptors define data transfer operations between memory of the computer system and input/output devices via direct memory access controllers. The direct memory access controllers generate requests for descriptors. Upon generation of a request, the unified descriptor memory is checked to determine whether the requested descriptor is contained therein. If the requested descriptor is contained within the unified descriptor memory, the request descriptor is provided to the requesting direct memory access controller.