ARM N1 SDP L4 Cache Mismatch Between lstopo and CLIDR_EL1 The ARM Neoverse N1 System Development Platform (SDP) is a highly configurable and scalable SoC designed for high-performance computing workloads. It features a hierarchical cache architecture, including L1, L2, and L3 caches, as documented in the N1 SDP technical reference manual (TRM). However, when running…
APB Slave DUT Verification Plan Using UVM The verification of an APB (Advanced Peripheral Bus) slave Design Under Test (DUT) using the Universal Verification Methodology (UVM) requires a structured approach to ensure that all functional aspects of the APB protocol are thoroughly tested. The APB protocol, being a part of the AMBA (Advanced Microcontroller Bus…
APB State Machine and the Role of the "Transfer" Signal The Advanced Peripheral Bus (APB) is a part of the ARM AMBA (Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture) protocol family, designed for low-power and low-complexity peripherals. The APB protocol operates based on a state machine, which transitions between states depending on the assertion of specific signals. One…
AHB Slave ERROR Response Timing and Protocol Compliance The Advanced High-performance Bus (AHB) protocol, part of the ARM AMBA specification, defines a robust and efficient communication mechanism between masters and slaves in an SoC. One of the critical aspects of the AHB protocol is the handling of error responses, particularly the requirement for a two-cycle…
APB Protocol Limitations and 64-bit Data Bus Requirements The Advanced Peripheral Bus (APB) is a key component of the ARM AMBA (Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture) protocol family, designed for low-bandwidth, low-complexity peripheral interfaces. By default, the APB protocol specifies a 32-bit data bus width, which is sufficient for most peripheral register accesses. However, certain applications,…
Database STC-STC12 Override and Detection Failure in ARM SoC Design Flow The absence of the STC-STC12 database in the device selection pop-up during the ARM SoC design flow is a critical issue that can halt the entire design and verification process. This database is essential for configuring and integrating ARM IP blocks, particularly when dealing…
AMBA TLM and AMBA-PV Compatibility Challenges in AXI-Based Systems When designing and simulating ARM-based SoCs, engineers often leverage the AMBA TLM library and AMBA-PV extensions to model complex systems. However, integrating these two frameworks can present significant challenges, particularly when attempting to simulate AXI-based systems with multiple masters and slaves. The AMBA TLM library is…
Keil_v5 Debugger Settings Error: Cannot Load JL2CM3.dll The issue at hand involves the Keil_v5 integrated development environment (IDE) failing to recognize the Segger J-link/J-trace debugger when attempting to connect to an ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller. The specific error message indicates that the IDE cannot load the driver file JL2CM3.dll, which is located at the expected path…
AHB-Lite Single-Byte Read Transfer with HREADY Low in Data Phase In the context of ARM AHB-Lite protocol, the behavior of the HTRANS signal during a single-byte read transfer when HREADY is low in the data phase is a critical aspect of ensuring correct bus operation. The AHB-Lite protocol defines a two-phase transfer mechanism: the address…
AXI Write Transaction Reordering and Its Functional Implications In ARM-based SoC designs, the Advanced eXtensible Interface (AXI) protocol is widely used for high-performance communication between masters and slaves. One of the key features of AXI is its support for out-of-order transaction completion, which can significantly impact system performance. However, this feature also introduces complexity, particularly…