Expandable data cache

摘要

A method and system for cache management in a storage device is disclosed. A portion of unused memory in the storage device is used for temporary data cache so that two levels of cache may be used (such as a permanent data cache and a temporary data cache). The storage device may manage the temporary data cache in order to maintain clean entries in the temporary data cache. In this way, the storage area associated with the temporary data cache may be immediately reclaimed and retasked for a different purpose without the need for extraneous copy operations.

主权项

1. A storage device comprising:
at least one memory; a controller in communication with the at least one memory and configured to:
access a first area in the at least one memory as a first data cache;allocate a second area in the at least one memory as a temporary data cache for caching data, the temporary data cache being separate from the first data cache;prioritize clean entries over dirty entries in the temporary data cache;in response to determining to free space in the first data cache, prioritize dirty entries over clean entries in the first data cache by prioritizing eviction of clean entries over dirty entries from the first data cache; andreclaim at least a part of the second area in the at least one memory for use other than for the temporary data cache.