Messages in this thread | | | Date | Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:23:35 -0400 | From | Mark Lord <> | Subject | Re: Implementing NVMHCI... |
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Alan Cox wrote: .. > Alternatively you go for read-modify-write (nasty performance hit > especially for RAID or a log structured fs). ..
Initially, at least, I'd guess that this NVM-HCI thing is all about built-in flash memory on motherboards, to hold the "instant-boot" software that hardware companies (eg. ASUS) are rapidly growing fond of.
At present, that means a mostly read-only Linux installation, though MS for sure are hoping for Moore's Law to kick in and provide sufficient space for a copy of Vista there or something.
The point being, it's probable *initial* intended use is for a run-time read-only filesystem, so having to do dirty R-M-W sequences for writes might not be a significant issue.
At present. And even if it were, it might not be much worse than having the hardware itself do it internally, which is what would have to happen if it always only ever showed 4KB to us.
Longer term, as flash densities increase, we're going to end up with motherboards that have huge SSDs built-in, through an interface like this one, or over a virtual SATA link or something.
I wonder how long until "desktop/notebook" computers no longer have replaceable "hard disks" at all?
Cheers
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