Develop Coverage Framework and Architecture Pro lers

Abstract

Arm Fast Model is a software simulation platform which simulates the Arm architecture functioning. Arm Fast Model support generation of traces that consis- tently track the execution and related activities. By creating a plug-in in the form of DLLs, we use these trace sources. It is very difficult to verify whether the entire architecture is fully compliant with given specification as we need to make sure ev- ery architectural and micro-architectural feature has been exercised. For verifying the functional correctness of the microprocessor core, a wrapper is built around the microprocessor core to give some input to it and monitor the output. We developed tools as a part of test case methodology to observe input stimuli quality. We worked on the development of Coverage and Profler tool. The coverage tool determines how is the input stimuli quality and helps in picking out the corner cases where the architecture is not sufficiently stressed. We were able to obtain coverage data and pick out corner cases which were not sufficiently stressed. The Profler tool helps to obtain more information about the test cases. Based on the feature enabled by user, Profler checks for the feature across test suites and gives information. Main work of coverage and profler tool is to provide feedback about the Test Suite and in turn help to improve the test suites quality for the architecture verification.