Introduction
The software components needed by the PSS tools for the successful execution of the tests are referred to as the “Test Realization” layer in PSS.
The proposed inclusion of the hardware/software interface (HSI) constructs in the upcoming PSS standard will enable the exchange of programmable specification of peripheral IP between IP supplier and IP users - allowing verification teams to create device drivers for their environment. This, however, only addresses part of the problem.
Vayavya Labs is an inventor and contributor of HSI in the PSS standards. For over a decade, Vayavya’s R&D initiatives have been focused on defining a Domain Specific Language (DSL) and tools that would help in automation of bare metal software, device drivers & test-bench glue logic which when combined with Automation of Test cases (PSS’s main objective) would result in true Portable Stimulus Solution for the industry.
Technologies and tools based on Accellera's Portable Test and Stimulus Standard (PSS) are being embraced by the verification teams for the enormous value it brings about: from being able to reason about verification intent in the abstract level - to the productivity boost with automatic generation of test-cases.
One of the major challenges that verification engineers face in deploying PSS tools is managing programmable peripheral devices during the test-case execution. For example, the bare-metal C software drivers that are needed for system-level verification are today implemented manually. This is an effort-intensive and error-prone work. Additionally, complex I/O devices require significant software content for meaningful interaction with hardware. For example, the software stack for a PCIe controller must perform operations like enumeration, handling MSI/MSI-X interrupts, configuring address translation registers etc.
What
is OpenHSI?
OpenHSI™ is a software library ready to be integrated with any Portable Stimulus solution
for Test Realization. OpenHSI™ library consists of software device drivers (usually called
bare-metal code) and a software library that conforms to a standard protocol or device specification.
What
is the difference between HSI and OpenHSI?
Loosely put, HSI can be viewed as a sub-set of OpenHSI. While we are contributing and driving the industry standards for HSI, we also realise that there is a time gap in adopting and rolling out an industry-standard vs. our R&D initiatives. We are seeing that some of the early adopters of PSS in the industry are not able to take the full advantage of PSS based design flow. Our repository of HSI and other additional software modules, both put together is called OpenHSI, will help early adopters to realise the power of PSS to the fullest.
What
are limitations of
existing HSI or PSS solution?
While test case automation is possible using the current PSS tools/technology, engineers
still struggle when it comes to Test Realization. The HSI-APIs for different device classes are
not part of the standard – so API is developed in an ad hoc fashion. Also, as mentioned above, real-life I/O protocols interactions require “software-assist” before any meaningful interaction with hardware is possible.
All this leads to having a dedicated team to stitch together different software libraries and try to get them to work.
OpenHSI™ helps in providing consistent APIs and device interfaces libraries (for protocols like USB, ETH, PCIe, SATA etc.) and help seamless integration of Test Cases with the platform under test.
Why
it is called OpenHSI?
We are opening up the API library for commonly available devices/protocols so that anybody intending to deploy PSS will quickly be able to realise their Test Plans. We intend to collaborate with interested firms, consultants, industry bodies to promote this technology as part of PSS and hence the name OpenHSI.
Stay tuned for more details as we roll out our offerings. We would love to hear from you as to how we can help accelerate your Portable Stimulus Solution adoption across your organisation. Feel free to drop us an email for further information or to set up a brief call to discuss with our subject matter experts.
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We are opening up the API library for commonly available devices/protocols so that anybody intending to deploy PSS will quickly be able to realise their Test Plans. We intend to collaborate with interested firms, consultants, industry bodies to promote this technology as part of PSS and hence the name OpenHSI.
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