Local primary memory as cpu cache extension

A system comprising:

• a local primary memory;
• an interconnect;
• and
• a processor configured to cause, in response to a memory allocation request from an application, allocation of a region of an external primary memory included in a memory appliance, the external primary memory in the memory appliance accessible by the system over the interconnect with client-side memory access, wherein the client-side memory access is independent of a central processing unit of the memory appliance, wherein the external primary memory is memory that is external to the system but is primary memory to the system, and wherein the processor is further configured to operate the local primary memory as a cache for data accessed in the external primary memory included in the memory appliance.

A method comprising:

• causing, in response to a memory allocation request from an application at a client device, allocation of a region of an external primary memory that is included in a memory appliance, wherein the external primary memory is memory that is external to the client device but is primary memory to the client device;
• accessing the external primary memory, which is included in the memory appliance, by the client device over an interconnect with client-side memory access, wherein the client-side memory access is independent of a central processing unit of the memory appliance;
• and
• caching data read from the external primary memory in a local primary memory of the client device.