A dual system shared cache directory structure for a cache memory performs
the role of an inclusive shared system cache, i.e., data, and system
control, i.e., coherency. The system includes two separate system cache
directories in the shared system cache. The two separate cache
directories are substantially equal in size and collectively large enough
to contain all of the processor cache directory entries, but with only
one of these separate cache directories hosting system-cache data to back
the most recent fraction of data accessed by the processors. The other
cache directory retains only addresses, including addresses of lines
LRUed out from the first cache directory and the identity of the
processor using the data. Thus by this expedient, only the directory
known to be backed by system cached data will be evaluated for system
cache memory data.