HP-UX 11i Tuning and Performance

6.4. Cache Memory Performance Issues

The processor caches used for data and instructions can greatly affect the performance of the system. Caches are used specifically to store information that is read in with the expectation that it will be needed again soon by the CPU. In a multitasking environment, the cache contains entries belonging to many different processes, in the hope that the processes will execute again before needed locations are flushed by other processes.

6.4.1. Cache Designs

Caches may be of varying size, speed, and organization. Since they are made from higher speed components than main memory, they are expensive. Designers, striving for an optimal solution, must always tradeoff cost and performance. The following sections describe ...