Abstract: A multi-processor computer system that includes at least one “regular” processor and one “enhanced mode” processor. The enhanced mode processor is preferably not turned over to the regular processor, but is initialized to look like an internal or external device, such as a disk drive or the like. In a preferred embodiment, fast access memory that is outside the addressable range of the regular processor is coupled to the enhanced mode processor and accessed through a RAM-disk device driver. In this manner, the amount of fast access memory available to the regular processor is increased.

Abstract: A multiprocessor computing apparatus that includes a mechanism for favoring at least one processor over another processor to achieve more equitable access to cached data. Logic for detecting when, for example, a remote and a local processor are attempting to access data from the cache of another local processor is disclosed. Logic that provides an advantage to the remote processor in a manner that achieves fairer access among the various processors is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a physical memory larger than a corresponding virtual memory. An apparatus is disclosed that includes a processor having an address word of a predefined length, a main memory having a size larger than the addressable range of the predefined address word, and virtual memory logic for configuring the processor virtual memory to contain a subset of the main memory as resident memory and pointers to the remainder of main memory. Analogous method steps are disclosed as is dividing main memory into a plurality of buffer uniquely identifiable within the address range of the predefined address word.

Abstract: A method and computer system are disclosed for executing family generic, processor specific files. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of executing a file on a computer system. The method includes the computer implemented steps of determining the processor type of a processor; storing a processor type identifier that represents the determined processor type of the processor; executing a first plurality of instructions that includes instructions exclusively from a common set of instructions that are common to a plurality of processor types; executing a second plurality of instructions that is optimized for a first processor type, if the processor type identifier indicates that the processor is of the first processor type; and executing a third plurality of instructions that includes instructions exclusively from the common set of instructions, if the processor type identifier indicates the processor is of a type different than the first processor type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending a tenure of a process that owns a system process that has shared data or resources and also is requesting the owned system process. The ability to extend the tenure of the owning process allows the nesting of requests to the system process. By properly ordering how the requests are nested, deadlocks may be avoided. Additionally, by extending the tenure of a current process, some unnecessary changes in processor instructions and data may be avoided and processing efficiency increased.