Backup of volatile memory to persistent storage

摘要

Approaches for automatically backing up data from volatile memory to persistent storage in the event of a power outage, blackout or other such failure are described. The approaches can be implemented on a computing device that includes a motherboard, central processing unit (CPU) a main power source, volatile memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), an alternate power source and circuitry (e.g., a specialized application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the backup of volatile memory to a persistent storage device. In the event of a power failure of the main power source, the alternate power source is configured to supply power to the specialized ASIC for backing up the data in the volatile memory. For example, when power failure is detected, the ASIC can read the data from the DIMM socket using power supplied from the alternate power source and write that data to a persistent storage device.

主权项

1. A computing device, comprising:
a first power source; and a first computing component configured to receive power from the first power source, the first computing component comprising:
a first memory component configured to store data and receive power from the first power source;a second computing component configured to enable protection of the data stored on the first memory component in an event of a power failure of the first power source;a second power source configured to provide power to the second computing component, a second memory component, and the first memory component, wherein in the event of the power failure of the first power source, the second computing component is configured to:
disable protection of the data stored on the first memory component at least until reboot has completed;retrieve storage instructions from the second memory component configured to identify a range of memory address locations associated with the second memory component to write the data;encrypt the data by using a cryptographic key to generate encrypted data, the cryptographic key associated with a decryption key used to decrypt the encrypted data;read the encrypted data from the first memory component;write the encrypted data to the range of memory address locations associated with the second memory component using power supplied by the second power source;decrypt the encrypted data stored in the second memory component using the cryptographic key to generate decrypted data;detect a reboot; andload the decrypted data onto the first memory component.