Method and Apparatus for Providing a Shared Nonvolatile Memory System Using a Distributed FTL Scheme

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention discloses a shared non-volatile memory (“NVM”) system using a distributed flash translation layer (“FTL”) scheme capable of facilitating data storage between multiple hosts and NVM devices. A process of shared NVM system includes an NVM management module or memory controller able to receive a request from a host for reserving a write ownership. The write ownership allows a host to write information to a portion of storage space in an NVM device. Upon identifying availability of the write ownership associated with the NVM device in accordance with a set of predefined policy stored in the NVM management module, the request is granted to the host if the write ownership is available. The host is subsequently allowed to fetch the FTL snapshot from the NVM device for the write operation.

主权项

1. A method for providing a shared non-volatile memory (“NVM”) system, comprising:
receiving, by an NVM management module, a first request from a first host for reserving a write ownership for allowing the first host to write information to a portion of storage space in a first NVM device; identifying availability of the write ownership associated with the first NVM device in accordance with a set of predefined policy stored in the NVM management module; granting the first request to the first host if the write ownership of the first NVM device is available for reserve; and allowing the first host to fetch a flash translation layer (“FTL”) snapshot from the first NVM device.