On the Correlation between Controller Faults and Instruction-Level Errors in Modern Microprocessors

We investigate the correlation between register transfer-level faults in the control logic of a modern microprocessor and their instruction-level impact on the execution flow of typical programs. Such information can prove immensely useful in accurately assessing and prioritizing faults with regards to their criticality, as well as commensurately allocating resources to enhance testability, diagnosability, manufacturability and reliability. To this end, we developed an extensive infrastructure which allows injection of stuck-at faults and transient errors of arbitrary starting point and duration, as well as cost-effective simulation and classification of their repercussions into various instruction-level error types. As a test vehicle for our study, we employ a superscalar, dynamically-scheduled, out-of-order, Alpha-like microprocessor, on which we execute SPEC2000 integer benchmarks. Extensive experimentation with faults injected in control logic modules of this microprocessor reveals interesting trends and results, corroborating the utility of this simulation infrastructure and motivating its further development and application to various tasks related to robust design.