1 week Ago By Jung So-yeon
On September 23, SK hynix announced that it has integrated key features of its software, HMSDK, designed to optimize the operation of CXL (Compute Express Link) memory, into Linux, the world's largest open-source operating system. CXL is a next-generation interface that efficiently connects components like CPU, GPU, and memory in high-performance computing systems to support large-scale, ultra-fast computations. Applying CXL to existing memory modules can expand their capacity by more than ten times.
HMSDK (Heterogeneous Memory S/W Development Kit) is SK hynix's unique software development tool for heterogeneous memory. It enhances the performance of heterogeneous memory systems, including CXL memory, through effective memory control. SK hynix emphasized, "CXL memory is recognized as the next-generation AI memory following HBM, and our CXL optimization software, HMSDK, has gained international recognition, leading to its integration into Linux, the world's largest open-source operating system.
This not only acknowledges our high-performance hardware memory like HBM but also our software capabilities." Looking forward, developers worldwide who work with Linux will adopt SK hynix's technology as an industry standard when utilizing CXL memory. The company anticipates securing a favorable position in future global collaborations related to next-generation memory.
HMSDK enables more than a 30% expansion of memory bandwidth between existing and expanded CXL memory without adjusting existing applications by differentially allocating memory based on bandwidth. Additionally, its "access frequency-based optimization" feature relocates frequently used data to faster memory, enhancing performance by over 12% compared to existing systems. The semiconductor industry expects CXL to enter a phase of widespread commercialization with the market release of the first server CPUs applying the 'CXL 2.
0' specification within this year. In response, SK hynix is conducting customer verification for its 96GB and 128GB CXL 2.0 memory and plans to begin mass production by the year's end.
"To support the development and proliferation of AI, like large language models (LLM), we must significantly improve the system application level alongside semiconductors," said Joo Young-pyo, Vice President of SK hynix’s Software Solution division. "Through this Linux integration and collaboration, we aim to advance technology innovation and expand this field's ecosystem, enhancing our position as a 'total AI memory solution company.'".
