RA1	Cortex-A8 implementation

This course covers the Cortex-A8 high-end ARM core

Objectives This course is split into 3 important parts: Cortex-A8 architecture Cortex-A8 software implementation and debug Cortex-A8 hardware implementation. MMU operation under Linux is described. Interaction between level 1 caches, level 2 cache and main memory is studied through sequences. The exception mechanism is detailed, indicating how virtualization enables the support of several operating systems. The course also details the hardware implementation and provides some guidelines to design a SoC based on Cortex-A8. An overview of the Coresight specification is provided prior to describing the debug related units. A more detailed course description is available on request at training@ac6-training.com

Prerequisites and related courses Knowledge of ARM7/9 or having attended our course ARM fundamentals. This course does not include chapters on low level programming. ACSYS offers a large set of tutorials to become familiar with RVDS, assembly level programming, compiler hints and tips. More than 12 correct answers to our Cortex-A prerequisites questionnaire. Related courses: Programming with RVDS IDE,reference RV0 - Programming with RVDS IDE course VFP programming, reference RC0 - VFP programming course NEON programming, reference RC1 - NEON-v7 programming course .

First day ARM BASICS States and modes Exception mechanism Instruction sets Purpose of CP15 TRUSTZONE TrustZone conceptual view Secure to non secure permitted transitions L1 and L2 secure state indicators, memory partitioning Boot sequence INTRODUCTION TO CORTEX-A8 Block diagram Highlighting the instruction path and the data path Supported instruction sets Exceptions Configurable options INSTRUCTION PIPELINE Superscalar pipeline operation Studying how instructions are processed step by step Branch prediction mechanism, BTB and GHB usage Return stack Instruction Memory Barrier MEMORY MANAGEMENT UNIT Page sizes Address translation Page access permission Page attributes Software vs hardware tablewalk TLB lockdown Abort exception MMU maintenance operations Second day CORTEX-A8 LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 CACHES Cache basics L1 cache organization Hardware support for virtual aliasing conditions Write buffer L1 caches software read for debug purposes CP15 related registers L2 Cache organization Physical indexing, physical tagging L2 cache transfer policy Write buffer L2 Preload Engine [PLE], programming the channels L2 cache software read for debug purposes PMU related events CP15 related registers

AXI PROTOCOL PL301 AXI interconnect Separate address/control and data phases Support for unaligned data transfers Transaction ordering Read and write burst timing diagrams Cortex-A8 external memory interface, ID encoding HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION Clock domainsk Reset domains Power control, dynamic power management Wait For Interrupt architecture AXI master interface attributes Internal exclusive monitor, clarifying ldrex / strex instructions Third day PERFORMANCE MONITOR Event counting Selecting the event to be counted for the 4 counters Debugging a multi-core system with the assistance of the PMU VECTORED INTERRUPT CONTROLLER Cortex-A8 exception management The 3 vector table base registers Interrupt virtualization Connection of an external interrupt controller Enabling interrupt nesting ARM PL192 VIC Sequence required to clear the interrupt source Cascading two PL192s LOW POWER MODES Voltage domains Run mode, standby mode, dormant mode Studying the sequence required to enter and exit dormant mode Communication to the power management controller CORESIGHT DEBUG UNITS Invasive debug, non-invasive debug APBv3 debug interface Debug facilities offered by Cortex-A8 Process related breakpoint and watchpoint Program counter sampling Event catching Debug Communication Channel ETM interface, connection to funnel Cross-Trigger Interface, debugging a multi-core SoC

 

Duration	Cost	Calendar
3 days	2080 € HT
Last update: 6 April 2009
This course can be provided either remotely or in our Paris training center or, worldwide, on your premises. Scheduled classes are confirmed as soon as there is a confirmed booking.
To book a training session or for more information, please contact us on info@ac6-training.com. Registrations are accepted till one week before the start date for scheduled classes. For late registrations, please consult us. You can also fill and send us the  registration form
Booking one of our trainings is subject to our General Terms of Sales