Method and apparatus for controlling exclusive access to a shared resource in a data storage system
US7246187B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/526
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for controlling exclusive access to a resource shared by multiple processors in a data storage system includes providing a system lock procedure to permit a processor to obtain a lock on the shared resource preventing other processors from accessing the shared resource and providing a faked lock procedure to indicate to the system lock procedure that a processor has a lock on the shared resource where such a lock does not exist, and wherein the faked lock procedure prevents another processor from obtaining the lock on the shared resource, but does not prevent other processors from accessing the shared resource. A data storage system according to the invention includes a shared resource, a plurality of processors coupled to the shared resource through a communication channel, and a lock services procedure providing the system lock procedure and the faked lock procedure. In one embodiment, the shared resource is a cache and the system lock procedure permits a processor to lock the entire cache whereas the faked lock procedure is implemented by a processor seeking exclusive access of a cache slot.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.