Bypassing cache memory in a write transaction in a system with multi-level memory

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed on a processor, cause a first memory controller, coupled with the processor to operate a persistent memory device to store data, and a volatile memory device to store the data before it is to be written to the persistent memory device, to:

• maintain one or more tags that indicate whether existing data is stored in the volatile memory device;
• receive a signal from a component coupled with the first memory controller, wherein the signal indicates that the data is to bypass the volatile memory device and be written to the persistent memory device, wherein the component comprises one of:
• a central processing unit, a digital system processor, or a peripheral device, wherein the signal is provided via a bus connecting the component with the first memory controller, wherein the signal is generated according to a bus protocol operating the bus;
• determine, in response to the received signal, whether a write buffer included in a second memory controller is empty, wherein the second memory controller comprises a persistent memory controller that is coupled with the first memory controller to operate the persistent memory device, wherein the write buffer is to temporarily store the data that is to bypass the volatile memory device, before the data is to be written to the persistent memory device;
• direct, if the write buffer is empty, the data to the write buffer for temporary storage prior to storage in the persistent memory device, to bypass the volatile memory device;
• direct, if the write buffer is not empty, the data to the volatile memory device;
• determine, if the write buffer is empty, whether the data was present in the volatile memory device at a time of receipt of the signal;
• and
• in response to a determination that the data was present in the volatile memory device at the time of receipt of the signal, update a tag of the one or more tags to indicate that the data that was present in the volatile memory device is invalid.

A computer system, comprising:

• a first memory controller comprising a two-level memory controller (2LMC);
• a persistent memory device coupled with the first memory controller to store data;
• and a volatile memory device, coupled with the first memory controller, to store the data before the data is to be written to the persistent memory device;
• wherein the first memory controller is to:
• maintain one or more tags that indicate whether existing data is stored in the volatile memory device;
• receive a signal from a component coupled with the 2LMC, wherein the signal indicates that the data is to bypass the volatile memory device and be written to the persistent memory device, wherein the component comprises one of:
• a central processing unit, a digital system processor, or a peripheral device, wherein the signal is provided via a bus connecting the component with the first memory controller, wherein the signal is generated according to a bus protocol operating the bus;
• determine, in response to the received signal, whether a write buffer included in a second memory controller is empty, wherein the second memory controller comprises a persistent memory controller that is coupled with the first memory controller to operate the persistent memory device, wherein the write buffer is to temporarily store the data that is to bypass the volatile memory device, before the data is to be written to the persistent memory device;
• direct, if the write buffer is empty, the data to the write buffer for temporary storage prior to storage in the persistent memory device, to bypass the volatile memory device;
• direct, if the write buffer is not empty, the data to the volatile memory device,
• determine, if the write buffer is empty, whether the data was present in the volatile memory device at a time of receipt of the signal;
• and
• in response to a determination that the data was present in the volatile memory device at the time of receipt of the signal, update a tag of the one or more tags to indicate that the data that was present in the volatile memory device is invalid.