Group-coherent memory

Abstract

Operating a data distribution including a data distribution module and a plurality of host-bus adapters coupled to the data distribution module can include defining a coherent group that includes a set of members that includes the plurality of host-bus adapters; providing a group-coherent memory area in each of the set of members; and initiating a one-to-all broadcast message from a one of the plurality of host-bus adapters to all of the set of members when the one of the plurality of host-bus adapters requests a write to its local group-coherent memory area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising operating a data distribution system including a data distribution module and a plurality of host-bus adapters coupled to the data distribution module including defining a coherent group that includes a set of members that includes the plurality of host-bus adapters;
 providing a group-coherent memory area in each of the set of members; and   initiating a one-to-all broadcast message from a one of the plurality of host-bus adapters to all of the set of members when the one of the plurality of host-bus adapters requests a write to its local group-coherent memory area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one-to-broadcast message is transmitted on a priority channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the priority channel is lock-free and semaphore-free. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ensuring that when the one of the plurality of host-bus adapters requests the write the one-to-all broadcast message maintains temporal memory coherency across all of the set of members of the coherent group including the one of the plurality of host-bus adapters that request the write. 
     
     
         5 . A non-transitory computer readable media comprising executable programming instructions for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus, comprising: a data distribution system including a data distribution module and a plurality of host-bus adapters coupled to the data distribution module, wherein operating the data distribution system includes
 defining a coherent group that includes a set of members that includes the plurality of host-bus adapters;   providing a group-coherent memory area in each of the set of members; and   initiating a one-to-all broadcast message from a one of the plurality of host-bus adapters to each of the set of members ensuring that when the one of the plurality of host-bus adapters request a write, to update its local group-coherent memory area, the one-to-all broadcast message maintains temporal memory coherency across all of the set of members of the coherent group.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a computing, storage or networking element coupled to each of the at least two host-bus adapters. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising another data distribution module coupled to the data distribution module. 
     
     
         9 . A network, comprising the apparatus of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         10 . An interconnect fabric, comprising the apparatus of  claim 6