International Business Machines Corporation
Dynamically adjusting partitioned SCM cache memory to maximize performance

Abstract:

A method for dynamically adjusting cache memory partition sizes within a storage system includes computing a read hit ratio for data accessed in each cache partition and an average read hit ratio for all the cache partitions over a time interval. The cache memory includes a higher performance portion (DRAM) and lower performance portion (SCM). The method increases or decreases the partition size for each cache partition by comparing the read hit ratio for the partition to the average read hit ratio for all the partitions. Each cache partition includes maximum and minimum partition sizes, and read hit and read access counters. The SCM portion of the cache memory includes cache partitions reserved for storing data of a specific type, or data used for a specific purpose or with a specific software application. A corresponding storage controller and computer program product are also disclosed.