Method and apparatus for supporting hot-plug cache memory

A method of hot-plug removal of cache memory, comprising the steps of:

• signaling a cache memory controller to start a removal operation;
• flushing the cache memory to a main memory;
• disabling further cache transactions;
• hot-plug removing the cache memory module;
• reconfiguring a tag memory for the cache controller;
• and
• enabling further cache transactions.

A method for hot-plug replacing cache memory, comprising the steps of:

• hot-plug removing a cache memory module;
• hot-plug inserting a replacement cache memory module;
• and
• reconfiguring a tag memory for a cache memory controller to correspond to the replacement cache memory module.

A cache memory subsystem adapted for hot-plug insertion and removal of cache memory comprising:

• a plurality of slots for insertion of cache memory modules;
• a tag memory;
• and
• a cache controller, coupled to the tag memory and the plurality of slots, comprising:
• circuitry to detect insertion of a cache memory module in one of the plurality of slots;
• circuitry to validate a cache memory module detected by the circuitry for detecting;
• and
• circuitry to indicate successful insertion of the cache memory module.