Efficient sharing of non-volatile memory

A method for dynamically sharing non volatile memory of a computing system across other memory types, the computing system comprising:

• a first memory that is a first type of memory;
• a second memory that is of a second type that is different from the first type;
• a third memory that is of a third type of memory that is different from the first type of memory and the second type of memory, the third type of memory being faster than the second type of memory, but slower than the first type of memory;
• the method comprising:
• configuring the first memory as part of main memory of an operating system that executes one or more applications;
• configuring the second memory to be accessible by a file system of the operating system;
• dynamically configuring a first portion of the third memory as part of the main memory and a second portion of the third memory as part of write cache memory for accelerating access to the second memory, the dynamic configuration of the third memory comprising
• determining, for the one or more applications being executed by the operating system, an amount of the main memory or an amount of write cache memory being used by the one or more applications based on a value associated with at least one of the one or more applications, the value being a part of a sliding scale, such that a lower value is indicative of read heavy, and a higher value is indicative of write heavy;
• based on the determination of the amount of the main memory or the cache memory being used by the one or more applications:
• causing a first sub-portion of the first portion of the third memory that is configured to function as the main memory to be reconfigured to function as the write cache memory and to be added to the write cache memory when it is determined that the amount of the write cache memory being used by the one or more applications is not sufficient for the one or more applications;
• or
• causing a second sub-portion of the second portion of the third memory that is configured to function as the write cache memory to be removed from the persistent write cache memory when it is determined that the amount of the main memory is insufficient for executing the one or more applications.

A computer program product comprising one or more hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that are structured such that, when the computer-executable instructions are executed by one or more processors of a computing system, the computer-executable instructions cause the computing system to dynamically share memory across other memory types, wherein:

• the computing system includes:
• a first memory that is of a first type of memory,
• a second memory that is of a second type that is different from the first type, and
• a third memory that is of a third type of memory that is different from the first type of memory and the second type of memory, the third type of memory being faster than the second type of memory, but slower than the first type of memory;
• the computer-executable instructions cause the computing system to:
• configure the first memory as part of main memory of an operating system that executes one or more applications;
• configure the second memory to be accessible by a file system of the operating system;
• dynamically configure a first portion of the third memory as part of the main memory and a second portion of the third memory as part of write cache memory for accelerating access to the second memory, the dynamic configuration of the third memory comprising:
• determining, for the one or more applications being executed by the operating system, an amount of the main memory or an amount of write cache memory being used by the one or more applications;
• and
• based on the determination of the amount of the main memory or write cache memory being used by the one or more applications based on a value associated with at least one of the one or more applications, the value being a part of a sliding scale, such that a lower value is indicative of read heavy, and a higher value is indicative of write heavy:
• causing at least some of the first portion of the third memory that is configured to function as the main memory to be reconfigured to function as the write cache memory and to be added to the write cache memory when it is determined that the amount of the write cache memory being used by the one or more applications is not sufficient for memory needs of the one or more applications;
• or
• causing at least some of the second portion of the third memory that are configured to function as the write cache memory to be removed from the write cache when it is determined that the amount of the main memory being used by the one or more applications is in sufficient for executing the one or more applications.