Generating instruction streams using abstract CSP

Abstract

One of the challenges that processor level stimuli generators are facing is the need to generate stimuli that exercise microarchitectural mechanisms deep inside the verified processor. These scenarios require specific relations between the instructions participating in them. We present a new approach for processor-level scenario generation. The approach is based on creating an abstract constraint satisfaction problem, which captures the essence of the requested scenario. The generation of stimuli is done by interleaving between progress in the solution of the abstract CSP and generation of instructions. Compared with existing solutions of scenario generation, this approach yields improved coverage and reduced generation fail rate. © 2012 EDAA.