Multiprocessor system with scheme for managing allocation and reservation of cache segments in a cache system employing round-robin replacement and exclusive access

摘要

A cache management method in a cache system having a plurality of processors for managing the cache storage. Each of the processors may reserve portions of the cache storage which future allocation of cache storage may be expedited. All the processors begin searching for a portion of cache storage to allocate with the same starting portion of cache storage when processing cache commands in which the referenced data is not present in the cache storage. A processor will advance past the starting portion of cache storage when allocation of a portion of cache storage is necessary and another processor is currently using the starting portion of cache storage.