Stress testing a processor memory with a link stack
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsManoj Dusanapudi, Shakti Kapoor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A processor memory is stress tested with a variable link stack depth using link stack test segments with non-naturally aligned data boundaries. Link stack test segments are interspersed into test code of a processor memory tests to change the link stack depth without changing results of the test code. The link stack test segments are the same structure as the segments of the test code and have non-naturally aligned boundaries. The link stack test segments include branch to target, push/pop, push and pop segments. The depth of the link stack is varied independent of the memory test code by changing the number to branches in the branch to target segment and varying the number of the push/pop segments.
Claims15
An apparatus for testing a computer processor comprising:
- a test case generator that allows a user to create test cases with test code for testing the computer processor;
- a test case executor that replicates the test code and loads the replicated test code into non-naturally aligned segments of consecutive memory locations on the computer processor;
- wherein the test case executor further adds link stack test segments interspersed in the test code in non-naturally aligned segments that vary the depth of a link stack without affecting the test code results;
- and
- wherein the computer processor executes the test code with the link stack test segments to test the memory of the computer processor with varying depth of the link stack independent of the test code.
An apparatus for testing a computer processor comprising:
- a test case generator that allows a user to create test cases with test code for testing the computer processor;
- a test case executor that replicates the test code and loads the replicated test code into non-naturally aligned segments of consecutive memory locations on the computer processor wherein non-naturally aligned means ends of the segments when placed end-to-end with another segment do not fall on a natural boundary that is a number of the form 2n;
- wherein the test case executor further adds link stack test segments interspersed in the test code in non-naturally aligned segments that vary the depth of a link stack without affecting the test code results;
- and
- wherein the computer processor executes the test code with the link stack test segments to test the memory of the computer processor with varying depth of the link stack independent of the test code;
- wherein the replicated test code in the non-naturally aligned segments comprise sub-segments of test code that include word, double word and quad word sub-segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.