CISC Processor Stressmark Generation via Instruction Profile Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual system performance analysis in computer systems is tedious, time-consuming, and error-prone, especially for complex instruction set computers (CISC), due to the vast number of possible configurations and permutations, which constrains execution time and requires substantial expert intervention.
Innovation Solution
A method that analyzes the instruction set architecture of a CISC processor to generate an instruction set profile, determines combinations of instruction sequences corresponding to desired stressmark types, and monitors performance to identify sequences aligning with these stressmarks, enabling effective stress testing of the processor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual system performance analysis is performed on CISC processors, then expert-defined design spaces can reduce computational burden, but the process is tedious, time-consuming, and requires substantial manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing instruction set architectures and generating stressmarks without requiring expert intervention. The processor itself executes the generated instruction sequences, and the system automatically monitors performance metrics and identifies stressmark conditions, eliminating the need for manual analysis while maintaining high accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by automatically varying instruction sequence combinations and execution conditions to generate diverse stressmark scenarios. By programmatically adjusting execution parameters such as instruction types, frequencies, and combinations, the system explores the design space efficiently without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive analysis and time consumption
2Adaptability or versatility
If a generic or brute-force approach is applied to system analysis, then all possible configurations can be explored, but execution time is constrained by the large number of possible configurations and permutations
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential instruction sequences that are most relevant for stressmark generation from the vast instruction set architecture space. By identifying and extracting key instruction patterns and sequences that represent critical stress conditions, the system avoids exhaustive brute-force analysis of all possible configurations while still achieving comprehensive coverage of important design scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the instruction set architecture to pre-identify instruction sequences and patterns that are likely to generate stressmark conditions. By preparing and pre-selecting relevant instruction sequences before actual stress testing, the system reduces the computational burden during execution while maintaining thorough coverage of the design space
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect is a method that includes analyzing, by a processor of an analysis system, an instruction set architecture of a targeted complex-instruction set computer (CISC) processor to generate an instruction set profile for each CISC architectural instruction variant of the instruction set architecture. A combination of instruction sequences for the targeted CISC processor is determined from the instruction set profile that corresponds to a desired stressmark type. The desired stressmark type defines a metric representative of functionality of interest of the targeted CISC processor. Performance of the targeted CISC processor is monitored with respect to the desired stressmark type while executing each of the instruction sequences. The targeted CISC processor is stress tested based on executing at least one of the instruction sequences identified as most closely aligning with the desired stressmark type.