Model-based hardware exerciser, device, system and method thereof

1. A method for verification of a hardware system-under-test including at least one processor, the method comprising:

building an executable image of a hardware exerciser, wherein the hardware exerciser is adapted to control a test cycle of the hardware system-under-test, wherein the test cycle comprises at least generation and execution of a test; said building comprises embedding in the executable image data corresponding to:

architectural knowledge of the system-under-test,

testing knowledge of the system-under-test, and

a test template for the system-under-test,

wherein said test template is defined in a formal language and includes biasing directives to control one or more parameters of a randomly generated test of said system-under-test;

wherein said building further comprises storing the executable image in a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

wherein said executable image of the hardware exerciser is configured to be executed by the hardware system-under-test.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said biasing directives control at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: a desired test structure, one or more resources of the system-under-test to be included in said test, one or more values to be assigned to said resources, occurrence of one or more architectural or micro-architectural events during said test, and activation of testing knowledge relating to the system-under-test.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said architectural knowledge is obtained from an architectural model including a formal description of the specification for said system-under-test, and wherein said testing knowledge is obtained from a testing knowledgebase including heuristics for testing desired aspects of said system-under-test.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising selecting only a portion of said architectural model and of said testing knowledgebase to embed as data in said executable image, said selected portion including data relevant for supporting said test template to generate a test for the system-under-test; and whereby a size of the executable image of the hardware exercised is reduced.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising embedding in said executable image of the hardware exerciser data corresponding to a description of a topology and a configuration setup of said hardware system-under-test, said data obtained from a system configuration file.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising executing said executable image of the hardware exerciser on a test platform to implement said test cycle, and wherein implementing said test cycle includes randomly generating a test that satisfies said test template, executing said test, and validating said execution; and wherein the test platform is selected from the group consisting of: a hardware simulation accelerator, a hardware emulator, a prototype hardware system, and a hardware production wafer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the executable image comprises a code operative to provide light Operating System (OS) services for the executable image.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

loading the executable image on a post-silicon test platform; and

executing the executable image by the post-silicon test platform, wherein the execution of the executable image having unrestricted machine access.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the architectural knowledge of the system-under-test from an architectural model including a formal description of the specification for said system-under-test.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining testing knowledge of the system-under-test from a testing knowledgebase including heuristics for testing desired aspects of said system-under-test.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hardware exerciser is a bare-metal tool.

12. A system for verification of a hardware system-under-test including at least one processor, the system comprising:

a processing unit;

a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium having stored thereon:

an architectural model including a formal description of the specification for said system-under-test;

a testing knowledgebase including heuristics for testing desired aspects of said system-under-test;

a test template defined in a formal language, said test template including biasing directives to control one or more parameters of a randomly generated test of said system-under-test; and

a builder program, wherein the builder program, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to build an executable image of a hardware exerciser to control a test cycle of said system-under-test, wherein the test cycle comprises at least generation and execution of a test, wherein building said exerciser image includes embedding data corresponding to architectural knowledge of the system-under-test obtained from said architectural model, testing knowledge of the system-under-test obtained from said testing knowledgebase, and said test template.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said biasing directives control at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: a desired test structure, one or more resources of the system-under-test to be included in said test, one or more values to be assigned to said resources, occurrence of one or more architectural or micro-architectural events during said test, and activation of testing knowledge relating to the system-under-test.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein said builder program is adapted to select only a portion of said architectural model and of said testing knowledgebase to embed as data in said executable image, said selected portion including data relevant for supporting said test template to generate a test for the system-under-test; and whereby said builder program is adapted to reduce a size of said executable image of the hardware exerciser.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein said computer readable medium having stored thereon a system configuration file for said hardware system-under-test, and wherein building said exerciser image comprises embedding data corresponding to a description of the topology and configuration setup of said hardware system-under-test obtained from said system configuration file.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein said executable image of the hardware exerciser, when executed on a test platform, configured to implements said test cycle, and wherein implementing said test cycle includes randomly generating a test that satisfies said test template, executing said test, and validating said execution.

17. The system of claim 16 , the test platform is selected from the group consisting of: a hardware simulation accelerator, a hardware emulator, a prototype hardware system, and a hardware production wafer.

18. A computer program product for verification of a hardware system-under-test including at least one processor, said computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium;

a first program instruction operative to obtain architectural knowledge of the system-under-test from an architectural model including a formal description of the specification for said system-under-test;

a second program instruction operative to obtain testing knowledge of the system-under-test from a testing knowledgebase including heuristics for testing desired aspects of said system-under-test;

a third program instruction operative to obtain a test template for the system-under-test, wherein the test template is defined in a formal language and includes biasing directives to control one or more parameters of a randomly generated test of said system-under-test;

a fourth program instruction operative to build an executable image of a hardware exerciser to control a test cycle of said system-under-test, wherein the test cycle comprises at least generation and execution of a test, wherein building said executable image includes embedding data corresponding to said architectural knowledge, said testing knowledge, and a test template for the system-under-test;

wherein said first, second, third and, fourth program instructions are stored on said non-transitory computer readable media.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising:

a fifth program instruction operative to reduce a size of said executable image of the hardware exerciser by selecting a portion of said architectural model and of said testing knowledgebase to embed as data in said executable image, said selected portion including data relevant for supporting said test template to generate a test for the system-under-test; and

wherein said fifth program instruction is stored on said non-transitory computer readable medium.