Memory subsystem to augment physical memory of a computing system

A method, comprising:

• utilizing, by a memory controller of a processor of a server node, a first memory module comprising a system memory of the server node to store data associated with an application executing on the server node;
• and
• utilizing, by the memory controller of the processor, a second memory module which comprises control logic circuitry configured to access a memory appliance coupled to the server node, on behalf of the processor, to store data associated with the application executing on the server node;
• wherein the memory appliance comprises an array of memory devices and control logic circuitry configured to control access to the array of memory devices;
• wherein memory appliance is coupled to and separate from the server node, and configured as a memory subsystem for the server node to augment the system memory of the server node;
• wherein the first memory module and the second memory module reside on the server node;
• wherein the memory controller of the processor communicates with the first memory module and the second memory module using a same first memory interface;
• wherein the second memory module communicates with the control logic circuitry of the memory appliance using a second memory interface, which is different from the first memory interface;
• and
• wherein the second memory module is configured to (i) receive a data access request from the memory controller of the processor to access data in the array of memory devices of the memory appliance and (ii) utilize the second memory interface to communicate with the control logic circuitry of the memory appliance and execute the data access request to access data in the array of memory devices of the memory appliance on behalf of the memory controller of the processor.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein program code of one or more software programs, wherein the program code is executable by a processor to implement a method comprising:

• utilizing, by a memory controller of a processor of a server node, a first memory module comprising a system memory of the server node to store data associated with an application executing on the server node;
• and
• utilizing, by the memory controller of the processor, a second memory module which comprises control logic circuitry configured to access a memory appliance coupled to the server node, on behalf of the processor, to store data associated with the application executing on the server node;
• wherein the memory appliance comprises an array of memory devices and control logic circuitry configured to control access to the array of memory devices;
• wherein memory appliance is coupled to and separate from the server node, and configured as a memory subsystem for the server node to augment the system memory of the server node;
• wherein the first memory module and the second memory module reside on the server node;
• wherein the memory controller of the processor communicates with the first memory module and the second memory module using a same first memory interface;
• wherein the second memory module communicates with the control logic circuitry of the memory appliance using a second memory interface, which is different from the first memory interface;
• and
• wherein the second memory module is configured to (i) receive a data access request from the memory controller of the processor to access data in the array of memory devices of the memory appliance and (ii) utilize the second memory interface to communicate with the control logic circuitry of the memory appliance and execute the data access request to access data in the array of memory devices of the memory appliance on behalf of the memory controller of the processor.