Method and apparatus for accessing data stored in a storage system that includes both a final level of cache and a main memory

A method of operating a data access system, wherein the data access system comprises (i) a processor having one or more levels of cache, and (ii) a storage system comprising a cache module and a main memory, wherein the cache module comprises a cache and a first controller, wherein the cache of the cache module is configured as a final level of cache to be accessed by the cache module prior to the cache module accessing the main memory, the method comprising:

• determining whether data required by the processor is cached within the one or more levels of cache of the processor;
• if the data required by the processor is not cached within the one or more levels of cache of the processor, (i) generating a physical address, via the processor, to be accessed within the storage system in order to retrieve the data required by the processor;
• and
• at the first controller and in response to the data required by the processor not being cached within the one or more levels of cache of the processor, converting the physical address to be accessed within the storage system into a virtual address within the final level of cache to determine whether the data required by the processor is cached within the final level of cache,
• wherein, in response to the data required by the processor not being cached within the final level of cache, retrieving the data required by the processor from the main memory.