Automated BIST execution scheme for a link

1. A method performed by hardware logic without support from software executing on a processor, comprising:

performing link training of a link, wherein the link is an interconnect between two devices of a computer system;

performing a built-in self test (BIST) of the link;

comparing a result from the link training to a result from the BIST, wherein comparing the result from the link training to the result from the BIST includes comparing the results from the same lanes of the link, and further wherein comparing the results from the same lanes includes comparing a link training lane bitmap to a BIST lane bitmap;

posting a link status of the link, wherein the link status is based at least in part on the result from the link training and the result from the BIST

wherein the method is performed without complicity from the operating system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the BIST includes automatically performing the BIST after the link training.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing an error handling routine if the result for a lane after link training is different from the result for the same lane from the BIST.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the link includes a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express link, wherein the BIST includes an Interconnect Built-In Self Test (IBIST).

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a first port for a first link;

a first link training engine coupled to the first port; and

a first built-in self-test (BIST) engine connected to the first port and to the first link training engine, wherein the first BIST engine to be automatically initiated by the first link training engine,

wherein the first link training engine includes a comparison logic to compare the results of the first link training engine to the results of the first BIST engine, and further wherein the comparison logic is to compare a link training lane bitmap from the first link training engine to a BIST lane bitmap from the first BIST engine.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first BIST to run without support from software.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first link training engine includes a link training and status state machine substantially in compliance with a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express specification.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

a second port for a second link;

a second link training engine coupled to the second port; and

a second built-in self-test (BIST) engine connected to the second port and to the second link training engine, wherein the second BIST engine to be automatically initiated by the second link training engine.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the link includes a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express link.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the BIST includes an Interconnect Built-In Self Test (IBIST).