RLAST/WLAST Signal Ambiguity During Non-Transactional States The behavior of the RLAST and WLAST signals in the AMBA AXI4 protocol when no transaction is pending or when the VALID signal is low is a critical aspect of ensuring proper communication between master and slave devices. The AMBA AXI4 specification (IHI0022E) states that the slave must assert…
Fast Model License Feature Mismatch: Cortex-A9MP vs. Cortex-A9UP The core issue revolves around a licensing mismatch when attempting to run a Fast Model simulation for a Cortex-A9MP (Multi-Processor) configuration using a license intended for a Cortex-A9UP (Uni-Processor) model. The error message explicitly states that the license checkout for the feature FM_ARM_Public and SG_ARM_Cortex-A9MP_CT has been…
GICv3 Group 1 Interrupt Enable Bit Not Propagating to ICC_IGRPEN1_EL3.EnableGrp1NS The issue revolves around the inability of the Non-secure ICC_IGRPEN1_EL1.Enable bit to propagate its value to the ICC_IGRPEN1_EL3.EnableGrp1NS bit when written from EL1. According to the ARM GICv3 specification, the Non-secure ICC_IGRPEN1_EL1.Enable bit is a read/write alias of the ICC_IGRPEN1_EL3.EnableGrp1NS bit. This means that any…
MPAM Register Access Ignored During FVP Simulation The issue at hand involves the inability to access Memory Partitioning and Monitoring (MPAM) registers during a simulation using the FVP_Base_RevC_2xAEMvA model. The user has configured the model with specific parameters to enable MPAM functionality, including setting cluster0.has_mpam=2 and defining CPU affinities and redistributor base addresses. However, when…
ARM Cortex-M3 Boot Process and DDR Remap Challenges The ARM Cortex-M3 is a widely used processor in embedded systems, known for its efficiency and deterministic behavior. One of the key features of the Cortex-M3 is its ability to boot from Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) and execute code from various memory regions, including DDR (Dynamic Random-Access Memory)….
Understanding the FCLK to TCK Clock Domain Crossing in Cortex-M3 In the ARM Cortex-M3 processor, clock domain crossings (CDCs) are critical design considerations, especially when dealing with the Free Running Clock (FCLK) and the Test Clock (TCK). FCLK is typically used for the processor’s main operation, while TCK is associated with debug and test functionalities….
ARM Cortex-A72 Program Counter Misalignment Leading to SIGBUS The issue at hand involves a misaligned Program Counter (PC) register observed in a core file generated after a SIGBUS (Bus error) signal was received during the execution of a program on an ARM Cortex-A72 processor. The PC register, which should always point to a 4-byte aligned…
MTB Buffer Full Behavior and Debug State Challenges in Cortex-M33 The Cortex-M33 Micro Trace Buffer (MTB) is a powerful feature designed to capture non-sequential program execution branches, providing valuable insights into program flow for debugging and performance analysis. The MTB writes trace data directly to a designated SRAM buffer, but when this buffer fills up,…
ARM Cortex-M4 Unexpected Reset with PC = 0x00000000 and HFSR = 0x40000000 The issue at hand involves an unexpected reset occurring during the normal operation of a system based on the ARM Cortex-M4F processor, specifically the Tiva TM4C129XNCZAD microcontroller. The reset is accompanied by a register dump that reveals critical information about the state of…
ARM Cortex-A, Cortex-R, and Cortex-M Profiles: Architectural Overview and Design Philosophies The ARM architecture is divided into several profiles, each tailored for specific use cases and performance requirements. The Cortex-A, Cortex-R, and Cortex-M profiles represent distinct families of processors designed to address different segments of the embedded systems market. Understanding the architectural differences and design…