Isolated Debug Networks for Partitioned Multi-Core Processors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional processors face inefficiencies in communication and debugging due to serial execution, shared memory mechanisms, and interference between multiple cores, leading to performance bottlenecks and challenges in isolating and debugging errors in multi-core systems.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a multi-core architecture with configurable isolated partitions, allowing dynamic partitioning of cores into subsets, supporting flexible virtualization and isolation, and providing debug support logic that enables simultaneous debugging and profiling across multiple applications without interfering with processor pipelines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If debug operations are performed to capture state information, then error detection capability is improved, but processor execution is halted
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is divided into multiple independent partitions, each with its own debug capabilities. Debug operations can be performed on one partition without affecting others, allowing continuous execution in non-debugged partitions while capturing state information in the targeted partition.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition isolation mechanism acts as an intermediary that allows debug operations to be performed on specific partitions without halting the entire processor. The isolation mechanism enables selective debugging while maintaining overall system execution.
2Productivity
If multiple processors share memory and communication mechanisms, then resource utilization is improved, but interference and corruption between processors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processor into multiple isolated partitions that can share resources through controlled interfaces. Each partition has dedicated resources (registers, cache) while sharing others (memory, I/O) through isolation mechanisms, preventing interference while maintaining resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Different partitions have different access rights and isolation levels to resources. The system provides local quality by allowing some partitions to have exclusive access to certain resources while sharing others, with debug partitions having enhanced isolation properties compared to non-debug partitions.
3Measurement precision
If debug operations are performed on multi-core systems, then error detection capability is improved, but all processor execution is halted
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is segmented into multiple independent partitions, allowing debug operations to be confined to specific partitions. This enables continuous execution in non-debugged partitions, eliminating the need to halt all processors for debugging and reducing overall execution time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of halting all processors for debugging, the system applies partial action by halting only the specific partition being debugged while allowing other partitions to continue execution. This minimizes the loss of execution time across the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for debugging multi-core processors with configurable isolated partitions have been described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an integrated circuit, may include: a plurality of Cross-Trigger Matrices (CTMs) configured to establish a debug network among a plurality of multi-cluster tiles (MCTs), where each MCT includes a plurality of processor cores, and where each processor core is assigned to a respective isolated partition of processor cores; and a System Interface (SI) coupled to the plurality of CTMs, where the SI is configured to control the plurality of CTMs to enable or disable at least a portion of the debug network to allow an isolated partition to be debugged independently of another isolated partition. A method may include enabling or disabling, by the SI, buses between the MCTs to create isolated debug networks, each isolated debug network corresponding to a distinct isolated partition of processor cores.