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Formal modeling and verification of a victim DRAM cache
Published in Association for Computing Machinery
2019
Volume: 24
   
Issue: 2
Abstract
The emerging Die-stacking technology enables DRAM to be used as a cache to break the “Memory Wall” problem. Recent studies have proposed to use DRAM as a victim cache in both CPU and GPU memory hierarchies to improve performance. DRAM caches are large in size and, hence, when realized as a victim cache, non-inclusive design is preferred. This non-inclusive design adds significant differences to the conventional DRAM cache design in terms of its probe, fill, and writeback policies. Design and verification of a victim DRAM cache can be much more complex than that of a conventional DRAM cache. Hence, without rigorous modeling and formal verification, ensuring the correctness of such a system can be difficult. The major focus of this work is to show how formal modeling is applied to design and verify a victim DRAM cache. In this approach, we identify the agents in the victim DRAM cache design and model them in terms of interacting state machines. We derive a set of properties from the specifications of a victim cache and encode them using Linear Temporal Logic. The properties are then proven using symbolic and bounded model checking. Finally, we discuss how these properties are related to the dataflow paths in a victim DRAM cache. © 2019 Association for Computing Machinery.
About the journal
JournalData powered by TypesetACM Transactions on Design Automation of Electronic Systems
PublisherData powered by TypesetAssociation for Computing Machinery
ISSN10844309
Open AccessNo
Concepts (14)
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    Dynamic random access storage
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    Formal verification
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    Integrated circuit design
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    Model checking
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    Program processors
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    ARCHITECTURAL MODELING
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    BOUNDED MODEL CHECKING
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    COMMUNICATING STATE MACHINES
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    FORMAL MODELING AND VERIFICATION
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    GPGPU
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    Improve performance
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    Linear temporal logic
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    VICTIM CACHES
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    Cache memory