Patent ID: 7062675
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for storing data comprising: a cache for coupling between a host and a storage device; a controller capable of responding to write requests from the host to cause write data from the host to be stored in the cache as dirty data that has not yet been written to the storage device; the controller being capable of causing the dirty data in at least a portion of the cache to be flushed to the storage device in response to an indication to do so, the controller also being capable of responding to I/O requests from the host system to any cached location during the entirety of the flushing of the cache by causing some data to be transferred to or from the storage device and other data to be transferred to or from the cache during the flushing of the dirty data such that, upon completion of the flush, no dirty data remains in the portion of the cache flushed.