Memory Protection – iMS

• iMS is the abbreviation for intelligence Memory Surveillance.
• iMS is a KINGTIGER’s patented technology which continuously detects and prevents computer memory failures around the clock. iMS, which is often considered as “resident immune system”, helps computers to self-detect and recover from a memory error. Thus iMS can significantly increase the stability of a computer system.

• iMS Lite the is same as the full version iMS, except it can only correct up to errors in one memory address.
• Users can upgrade to a full version in order to enjoy a stable system with full memory protection.

• You may have top quality memory in your system; however, as memory capacity is increasing tremendously, the density of memory cells is highly packed, and the operation speed is increasing from time to time. No Memory can be guaranteed to be error-free in all conditions and with all applications.
• As a hard drive, users are suggested to scan the drive regularly due to the increase of bad sectors over time. For the similar reason, your computer’s memory plays a more significant role in system stability; you need iMS to maintain the health of your computer memory.
• For more technical details, please see <R0005> in the technical section of the FAQ.

• Let us quote the study from Inspur, one of the top 5 worldwide server manufacturer: “iMS reduced more than 95% of memory errors.” For detail, please visit our iMS news page on KingTiger Website.

• Post Package Repair, from the DRAM manufacturers point of view, has been around in use for many years. JEDEC merely implemented the standardization of the PPR process recently.
• Imagine defective memory element is likened to culprits when PPR is considered as remediation to exterminate the culprits. The remaining question is “Who is supposed to identify and catch the culprits? “.
• Another problem for PPR is the lack of effective detection system which can perform cyclic maintenance procedures involving relentless loops of test & repair processes. Not until the procedures have successfully identified all possible memory failures, it remains a doubt that the PPR process has ultimately repaired bad cells or mistakenly quarantined the functional cells.
• PPR is considered as a hardware repair mechanism. Each internal bank can repair only one ROW, and the computer has to be powered down afterward. iMS acts as a software isolation method which is limited only by the availability of the system’s non-volatile storage space. It can continue operating without powering down the computer.
• KINGTIGER is planning to integrate PPR into iMS which refines iMS into a more perfect solution.

• Indeed the existing structure is indispensable.
• Most server suppliers are faced with a common problem – when a correctable error is detected by the MC (machine check) algorithm, should that be reported to System Administrative Utilities? If so, there is a 90% chance that it may trigger an RMA call. Ignoring it may eventually lead to a system crash which is even worse!
• iMS is a pre-emptive method that can effectively prevent memory failure and provide the solution for the above situation. ECC, SDCC, etc. can only protect the system passively.

• ECC detects and reports memory errors at the runtime memory operation. iMS scans and fixes bad/weak memory issues on system boot up and system idle time.
• ECC is not able memorize bad memory addresses; therefore, the same memory error can be repeated again and again in the same lousy memory cell; iMS detects and records bad/weak memory cell, so that the error would not happen on the same memory cell.
• iMS is a pre-emptive method that can effectively prevent memory failure and provide the solution for the above situation. ECC, SDCC, etc., can only protect the system passively.
• ECC can correct up to a 1-bit error in the same address, whereas iMS can fix multiple mistakes in the same or different memory addresses.
• For more information, please see the video of iMS VS ECC on kingtigertech.com/ims-videos/ website.

• The real problem is that we simply do not fully understand where the problems are!
• Google is one of the biggest worldwide server users. According to data collected during a joint research study by Google and Professor Schroeder from the University of Toronto, on long-term monitoring on a large number of server systems, the study indicates that :
• About a third of the server machines and over 8% of DIMMs in their fleet reported at least one correctable error per year.
• The annual incidence of uncorrectable errors is actually 1.3% per server machine and 0.22% per DIMM.
• See the original research paper from http://www.cs.utoronto.ca/~bianca/papers/sigmetrics09.pdf
   
• According to the various module analyses and a joint study by Intel and Carnegie University, over 80%+ of the modules are subject to row-hammer Risk.

Many memory related problems are either being ignored by the Memory Controller or are not truthfully reported to the system administrative utilities when the MC algorithm detects/corrects an error.

• For example during DDR2 generation, there had been many cases like one DIMM pass, two DIMM Fail, single side pass, double sides Fail. We thought that was caused by circuitry noise at that time. In fact, it is due to substantial increase of tRAS as the number of internal banks multiplies, making devices which have marginal tRASmax prone to failing.
• The CPU internal Memory Controller provides a solution as follows :

 
It keeps monitoring tRAS. Once it finds a page which is opened for a long time or when CPU-DRAM bus has an idle time slot, it will close that page even though the tRASmax has not yet been violated.
 
While CPU manufacturer focus is on CPU’s performance primarily, any DRAM issue is considered as their secondary concern. Therefore not only that DRAM issue has not been appropriately addressed, but it also manifests into an intermittent hidden failure!

• iMS is integrated at multiple layers of the BIOS to allow computer systems to self-survey and recover from memory problems. It can be considered as an “immune system” of memory module.
• It is a software solution.

• Users can significantly experience the reliability of the computer systems, without noticeable behavior difference in iMS equipped computers.

• At the system bootup, iMS will occupied some free, non-used resource.
• When a memory error is detected, iMS will take up some resources to correct the memory issue.
• The overall result will be a smoother and more stable system.

• Improved product quality by reducing failure – iMS can make the A+ module to work like A+++.
• Reduce production cost – iMS upgrades the D Grade devices to work like B+.
• Overall expectation – Quality UP, Cost DOWN.

• An iMS enabled mainboard has full iMS features enabled. No other license upgrade nor iMS Certified Memory Modules is required.

• An iMS ready mainboard has iMS features built-in, but these have not been enabled. The use of iMS Certified Memory Modules will serve as an keys to enable the iMS features.
• An iMS ready mainboard can use regular memory modules, but iMS features would not be activated.

• An iMS Certified Memory Module serves as an activation key to activate iMS features on iMS ready mainboard and mainboard with iMS Lite.
• In order to activate iMS features, all memory modules in the system must be iMS Certified Memory Modules.
• iMS Certified Memory Modules meet the standard which defined by KINGTIGER and has a unique authentication code on the Module.
• iMS certified modules can be used on both iMS mainboard or non-iMS mainboard.

• A special type of iMS equipped BIOS would be needed for the mainboard, If your company is interested in joining, please free feel to contact us directly for further information.

• KINGTIGER provides services according to market need. We have the plan to extend iMS support to ARM and Android after fulfilling our commitment to support Intel-based products. However, if your company has substantial business opportunities outside of Intel series, KINGTIGER is willing to provide specialized support to you to explore this opportunity.

• iMS can be incorporated through two different channels – mainboard manufacturers and module manufacturers.
• Some of the mainboards are iMS ready, but need to be used with iMS certificated Memory Modules to enable the feature.
• KINGTIGER is currently creating an iMS certified module supply chain. If your company is interested in joining, please free feel to contact us directly for further information.

• Firstly, contact us and join the iMS certified modules supply chain.
• Secondly, for all modules to meet the standard which is defined by KINGTIGER, the modules must be supplied by the iMS certified modules supply chain as well as tested by KINGTIGER testers.
• Finally, KINGTIGER will add a unique authentication code on the modules upon the completion of the certification process.

• Certainly not.
• Because iMS is integrated into different layers of BIOS, the system is able to behave in a normal non-iMS version after disabling iMS function through the BIOS setting interface.
• iMS ready mainboards can use both iMS certified modules and regular modules.
• iMS certified modules can be used on both iMS mainboards or non-iMS mainboards.

• Certainly yes.
• In fact, it is more valuable for iMS to be integrated on a system which uses onboard memory because defective onboard memory is generally more difficult to be replaced!

• In this case, the only way to integrate iMS is through the mainboard channel, not from the module channel.
• If you are manufacturer who want to produce iMS enabled mainboard, or if you would like to apply iMS enabled mainboard on your Ultrabook, please contact KINGTIGER for information.

• At present, iMS features are available in some of new generation of AMI and Insyde’s BIOS.
• KINGTIGER can customize iMS according to the market need. If your company has substantial business opportunities, it is our pleasure to customize products according to your requirement.

• The difference is who (mainboard manufacturer, or Memory manufacturer) buy and bring iMS to their customers.
• If iMS is integrated by the mainboard manufacturers, the system protects all the different brand of memory modules within the system.
• Alternately, Module Manufacturer can produce iMS certified memory module, which can activate iMS features on iMS ready mainboards, or mainboards with iMS Lite.

• For system manufacturers, iMS can be licensed with per Board, per Platform, per Product Line, or per Brand Name model.
• Please contact your BIOS provider, or KINGTIGER to start the process.
• KINGTIGER’s concept of the iMS License: By applying iMS to their products, customers will see and enjoy cost savings on production and RMA Support. The iMS licensing fee would be equivalent to a small portion of those savings.

• iMS saves money for vendors.
• iMS is not free of charge but from the view of the costs and benefits, it improves system stability, enhances product quality, and reduces service cost. It provides a lucrative incentive for both computer suppliers and manufacturers.
• KINGTIGER’s concept of the iMS License: By applying iMS to their products, customers will see and enjoy cost savings on production and RMA Support. The iMS licensing fee would be equivalent to a small portion of those savings.

• Internet cafes are rapidly expanding in various part of China. Currently, there are more than two hundred thousand outlets, and continually increasing in numbers.
• Computers installed in Internet cafes are required to run 24/7 uninterrupted without any downtime. This stringent requirement becomes a real test for many computers.
• The fact that iMS integrated computer systems are deployed in internet cafes under this extreme stability requirement, is by no means a coincidence. Our commitment to iMS, which enhances computer reliability and stability, is indisputable.