Intel Corporation

James R Vash

Bongjin Jung

Robert J Safranek

Herbert H Hum

Eric J DeHaemer

Robert H Beers

Ching-Tsun Chou

Ganesh Kumar

David Bubien

Pritpal S Ahuja

Scott J Erlanger

Michelle M Sebot

Leena K Puthiyedath

Brinda Ganesh

Adrian C Moga

Richard Lawrence Carlson

Eric R Delano

Rishan Tan

Yen-Cheng Liu

Mahesh S Natu

Jeffrey D Chamberlain

Luke L Chang

Scott P Bobholz

Vida Vakilotojar

Ankush Varma

Sailesh Kottapalli

Allen Jay Baum

Malini Krishnan Bhandaru

Sham M Datta

Eric R DeLano

Christopher Allan Poirier

Monica C Wong-Chan

Jeff Wiedemeier

Manoj K Arora

Eric Gouldey

Mahak Gupta

Lavanya Nama

Danielle N Devereaux

Robert E Faber

A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of logical processors each having one or more corresponding lower level caches. A shared higher level cache is shared by the plurality of logical processors. The shared higher level cache includes a distributed cache slice for each of the logical processors. The processor includes logic to direct an access that misses in one or more lower level caches of a corresponding logical processor to a subset of the distributed cache slices in a virtual cluster that corresponds to the logical processor. Other processors, methods, and systems are also disclosed.

Processors having virtually clustered cores and cache slices

A method and apparatus for preserving memory ordering in a cache coherent link based interconnect in light of partial and non-coherent memory accesses is herein described. In one embodiment, partial memory accesses, such as a partial read, is implemented utilizing a Read Invalidate and/or Snoop Invalidate message. When a peer node receives a Snoop Invalidate message referencing data from a requesting node, the peer node is to invalidate a cache line associated with the data and is not to directly forward the data to the requesting node. In one embodiment, when the peer node holds the referenced cache line in a Modified coherency state, in response to receiving the Snoop Invalidate message, the peer node is to writeback the data to a home node associated with the data.

Satisfying memory ordering requirements between partial reads and non-snoop accesses

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining whether a number of stalled cores of a multicore processor is greater than a stall threshold. If so, a recommendation may be made that an operating frequency of system agent circuitry of the processor be increased. Then based on multiple recommendations, a candidate operating frequency of the system agent circuitry can be set. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Dynamically controlling interconnect frequency in a processor

Methods and apparatus relating to an inter-queue anti-starvation mechanism with dynamic deadlock avoidance in a retry based pipeline are described. In one embodiment, logic may arbitrate between two queues based on various rules. The queues may store data including local or remote requests, data responses, non-data responses, external interrupts, etc. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Inter-queue anti-starvation mechanism with dynamic deadlock avoidance in a retry based pipeline

Methods, apparatus and systems for facilitating one-way ordering of otherwise independent message classes. A one-way message ordering mechanism facilitates one-way ordering of messages of different message classes sent between interconnects employing independent pathways for the message classes. In one aspect, messages of a second message class may not pass messages of a first message class. Moreover, when messages of the first and second classes are received in sequence, the ordering mechanism ensures that messages of the first class are forwarded to, and received at, a next hop prior to forwarding messages of the second class.

Apparatus, system, and methods for facilitating one-way ordering of messages

Methods and apparatus relating to multiple-queue multiple-resource entry sleep and wakeup for power savings and bandwidth conservation in a retry based pipeline are described. In one embodiment, a bit indicates whether a corresponding queue entry is asleep or awake with respect to arbitration for resources in a retry based pipeline. Furthermore, multiple entries from different queues may be grouped together and multiple resources may be grouped together. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Multiple-queue multiple-resource entry sleep and wakeup for power savings and bandwidth conservation in a retry based pipeline

Responsive to receiving a write request for a cache line from an input/output device, a caching agent of a first processor determines that the cache line is managed by a home agent of a second processor. The caching agent sends an ownership request for the cache line to the second processor. A home agent of the second processor receives the ownership request, generates an entry in a directory cache for the cache line, the entry identifying the remote caching agent as having ownership of the cache line, and grants ownership of the cache line to the remote caching agent. Responsive to receiving the grant of ownership for the cache line from the home agent an input/output controller of the first processor adds an entry for the cache line to an input/output write cache, the entry comprising a first indicator that the cache line is managed by the home agent of the second processor.

Directory cache supporting non-atomic input/output operations

Methods and apparatus relating to retry based protocol with source/receiver FIFO (First-In, First-Out) buffer recovery and anti-starvation mechanism to support dynamic pipeline lengthening for ECC error correction are described. In an embodiment, upon detection of an error, a portion of transmitted data is stored in one or more storage devices before retransmission. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Retry based protocol with source/receiver FIFO recovery and anti-starvation mechanism to support dynamic pipeline lengthening for ECC error correction

Methods and apparatus for tunneling platform management messages through inter-processor interconnects. Platform management messages are received from a management entity such as a management engine (ME) at a management component of a first processor targeted for a managed device operatively coupled to a second processor. Management message content is encapsulated in a tunnel message that is tunneled from the first processor to a second management component in the second processor via a socket-to-socket interconnect link between the processors. Once received at the second management component the encapsulated management message content is extracted and the original management message is recreated. The recreated management message is then used to manage the targeted device in a manner similar to if the ME was directly connected to the second processor. The disclosed techniques enable management of platform devices operatively coupled to processors in a multi-processor platform via a single management entity.

Tunneling platform management messages through inter-processor interconnects

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, MA, United States of America

James R Vash