1. NVMHCI Workgroup and T10 Collaboration Proposal
Amber Huffman,
on behalf of the NVMHCI Workgroup
4/26/2011
T10/11-208r0

2. Agenda NVM Express Overview Collaboration Opportunity Proposal
NVMHCI Workgroup Structure
NVMHCI Workgroup IP Agreement Details
Feedback & Brainstorming
T10/11-208r0

3. NVM Express Overview
NVM Express is a scalable host controller interface designed for the needs of Enterprise and Client systems that use PCIe SSDs
Composed of two major components: the host controller / queuing interface and command set(s)
Designed to support multiple command sets on top of queuing interface
Several proof of concepts shown, one demonstrating scalability of interface to 1M+ IOPs with only 8 queues; Linux driver available
NVM Express was developed by the NVMHCI Workgroup, composed of 80+ member companies
NVM Express 1.0 was published on March 1st with first products in 2012
Download from nvmexpress.org
T10/11-208r0

4. Collaboration Opportunity
Many companies have indicated a strong desire for common hardware between NVMe and SOP SSDs
Leverages existing investment
Enables faster time to market for SCSI-based SSD solutions
Drives stronger ecosystem for PCIe SSDs
Joint members include: Dell, EMC, Emulex, Fujitsu, Hitachi GST, Huawei, IDT, Intel, Lexar/Micron, LSI, Marvell, Microsoft, NetApp, NVidia, Oracle, PLX, PMC-Sierra, Samsung, SandForce, SanDisk, Seagate, STEC, Toshiba, VMware, Xyratex
T10 has a history of strong collaborations with other standards organizations (e.g. SNIA, USB-IF)
The NVMHCI Workgroup would like to collaborate with T10 for the best interests of the industry
T10/11-208r0

5. Proposal
The NVMHCI Workgroup develops extensions to NVMe to support SOP as needed, based on T10 guidance
The NVMHCI Workgroup members want the extensions to be backwards compatible to ensure goal of leveraging hardware investment is realized
T10 develops SOP and all SCSI related material
T10 solely owns any decision regarding SCSI command set
ANSI patent policy
If material is submitted from the NVMHCI Workgroup to T10, the NVMHCI Workgroup members understand the rules and will commit to using them
T10/11-208r0

6. NVMHCI Workgroup Structure
The NVMHCI Workgroup was originally formed as a single Promoter structure; this is being modified
A special class of participants, called Promoters, will be added that will be responsible for making strategic decisions regarding the Workgroup and the publication of Final Specifications.
This class is open to a maximum of 13 Promoter companies.
All decisions for the Workgroup will be based on a 2/3 consensus vote of the Promoter class of participants.
IP Policy
License is currently to NVMHCI members only; right solution when group created
Consortia come in many flavors and have varying IPR policies that accommodate the needs of the members and the goals of the group. It is common for a informal consortia to only license to members, but even some formalized incorporated SIGs also take this path. For example, PCI SIG only grants licenses to members (and SoP clearly needs to build on the PCI SIG specifications). The NVMHCI Workgroup agreement is compatible with the other aspects of ANSI patent policy, including assurance to license a patent.
T10 has clearly stated their IPR policy and the NVMHCI Workgroup members understand the commitment necessary to participate in any sort of work with T10
Common practice for industry collaborations is to craft a liaison agreement that clearly spells out IP policy for any joint or shared work between two groups which would comply with the ANSI specific terms that T10 has outlined
T10/11-208r0

7. NVMHCI Workgroup IP Agreement Details
Scope
The Scope is defined as enabling an interface between at least one Processor and at least one Non-Volatile Memory Module. RAID controller and host bus adapters are utilized to interface a Processor and a Non-Volatile Memory Module (which could include solid-state drives or hard drives). A RAID controller may itself be considered a Processor. Thus, RAID controllers and host bus adapters fall within the Scope of the NVMHCI agreement.
Term of Agreement
Intel has extended the term of the NVMHCI agreement in perpetuity to all members.
IP Terms
IP terms are reasonable & non-discriminatory zero royalty (RANDZ)
A company is only required to license Necessary Claims to other companies that have signed the NVMHCI Contributor/Adopter Agreement.
Claims that are not within the bound of the Scope are excluded. Exclusions include:
Enabling Technologies (e.g., semiconductor manufacturing, basic operating system technology or the like)
Other Technologies (e.g., caching algorithms, connectors, processors, data buses or the like),
Externally Developed Specification (e.g., the PCI specification or the like), and
Non-Normative Portions of the Final Specification.
The normative portions of the specification include register definitions, DMA, data structures (including queues), commands, and the associated protocol. This type of material is common in other host controller interface specifications.
T10/11-208r0

8. Feedback & Brainstorming
How can we best work together?
T10/11-208r0