Patent ID: 6205528
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a multiprocessor computer having an operating system and having shared memory distributed among multiple nodes, a method of dynamically allocating physical memory on a node, the method comprising the following steps:receiving a request to the operating system from an application program to create a portion of virtual address space and to allocate, in accordance with a specified one of a plurality of policies specifiable by the application program, physical memory on at least one node as a result of a subsequent reference to the virtual address space portion;in response to the request, creating the virtual address space portion; andin response to a subsequent reference to the virtual address space portion, allocating physical memory on a node in accordance with the specified policy for association with the virtual address space portion;wherein the policy specified by the application program is to allocate the physical memory successively on the next node of a list of nodes at the time the subsequent reference is made.