In Data and Driver, we added a data packet and driver, but that model has the following drawbacks:
- Limited verification components
- Data packet is generated inside the Driver
- Protocol used to send data is hard coded in the driver class
- Data packet had a custom display function
GitHub
You can download/clone the uvm-301 lab from our repository at github.
Testbench
Data
Previously we used to register a new object class with the factory using `uvm_object_utils. If we register it as shown below, we'll be able to utilize the automation features of UVM. That means, we don't have to explicitly write a display function as we did before, or write copy/clone/compare functions for each uvm_object inherited class.
`uvm_object_utils_begin (my_data)
`uvm_field_int (data, UVM_ALL_ON)
`uvm_field_int (addr, UVM_ALL_ON)
`uvm_object_utils_end
So, if we want to print out the contents in the class, all we need to do is call the print () method. We can specify the format in which data should be printed - table, line, tree, etc
data_obj.print ();
data_obj.print (uvm_default_line_printer);
data_obj.print (uvm_default_tree_printer);
data_obj.print (uvm_default_table_printer);
Driver
Since we extended the driver from uvm_driver class, it will have handles to the TLM interface. TLM stands for Transaction Level Modeling. For now, all you need to know is that it is a port that can be connected with another TLM interface. You may also refer to TLM tutorial. Usually we connect this with the sequencer, because that's where the data packets are generated. get_next_item () is a task in the TLM object seq_item_port which will get an item from the interface. drive_item is a user defined, protocol specific task that will do the pin wiggling of the DUT. After data is driven out, the driver will indicate back to the sequencer that it has finished the process by calling the function item_done.
Sequence
We need a sequence for the sequencer to operate on, and a base_sequence can be coded as
class base_sequence extends uvm_sequence;
`uvm_object_utils (base_sequence)
my_data data_obj;
int unsigned n_times;
function new (string name = "base_sequence");
super.new (name);
endfunction
// Raise an objection if started as the root sequence
virtual task pre_body ();
if (starting_phase != null)
starting_phase.raise_objection (this);
endtask
uvm_sequence is indirectly a derivative of uvm_object and hence we have registered it with the factory using `uvm_object_utils. Every sequence has body () task which will execute patterns and consume simulation time. You guessed it right, this is where we put our code for a sequence. The pre_body () task will automatically be called (unless it is configured to be skipped) before the body() task and it's a good place to raise an objection to let the testbench know that the sequence has items still pending for execution.
virtual task body ();
`uvm_info ("BASE_SEQ", $sformatf ("Starting body of %s", this.get_name()), UVM_MEDIUM)
data_obj = my_data::type_id::create ("data_obj");
repeat (n_times) begin
start_item (data_obj);
assert (data_obj.randomize ());
finish_item (data_obj);
end
`uvm_info (get_type_name (), $sformatf ("Sequence %s is over", this.get_name()), UVM_MEDIUM)
endtask
// Drop objection if started as the root sequence
virtual task post_body ();
if (starting_phase != null)
starting_phase.drop_objection (this);
endtask
endclass
Within the body() task, we can use start_item () and finish_item() methods to send the data object to the driver. Note that finish_item() will be over only after the driver calls item_done. After the body() method is over, objection is dropped and simulation proceeds to the next phase.
Sequencer
The sequencer is NOT required to be derived from uvm_sequencer, but instead can be instantiated directly as an object of uvm_sequencer parameterized to handle a specific data type. This is done in env class, where driver and monitor are instantiated.
uvm_sequencer #(my_data) m_seqr0;
The important part now is to connect the sequencer with the driver in the connect_phase () method.
m_drv0.seq_item_port.connect (m_seqr0.seq_item_export);
Simulation Output
----------------------------------------------------------------
CDNS-UVM-1.1d (14.10-s004)
(C) 2007-2013 Mentor Graphics Corporation
(C) 2007-2013 Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
(C) 2006-2013 Synopsys, Inc.
(C) 2011-2013 Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
----------------------------------------------------------------
UVM_INFO @ 0: reporter [RNTST] Running test base_test...
UVM_INFO @ 0: reporter [UVMTOP] UVM testbench topology:
------------------------------------------------------------
Name Type Size Value
------------------------------------------------------------
uvm_test_top base_test - @2629
m_top_env my_env - @208
m_drv0 my_driver - @202
rsp_port uvm_analysis_port - @2828
seq_item_port uvm_seq_item_pull_port - @2777
m_mon0 my_monitor - @2728
m_seqr0 uvm_sequencer - @2859
rsp_export uvm_analysis_export - @2949
seq_item_export uvm_seq_item_pull_imp - @3497
arbitration_queue array 0 -
lock_queue array 0 -
num_last_reqs integral 32 'd1
num_last_rsps integral 32 'd1
------------------------------------------------------------
UVM_INFO ./tb/my_pkg.sv(88) @ 0: uvm_test_top.m_top_env.m_drv0 [my_driver] Applying initial reset
UVM_INFO ./tb/my_pkg.sv(92) @ 390000: uvm_test_top.m_top_env.m_drv0 [my_driver] DUT is now out of reset
UVM_INFO ./tb/my_pkg.sv(99) @ 390000: uvm_test_top.m_top_env.m_drv0 [my_driver] Waiting for data from sequencer
UVM_INFO ./tb/my_pkg.sv(186) @ 390000: uvm_test_top.m_top_env.m_seqr0@@base_sequence [BASE_SEQ] Starting body of base_sequence
UVM_INFO ./tb/my_pkg.sv(194) @ 390000: uvm_test_top.m_top_env.m_seqr0@@base_sequence [base_sequence] Sequence base_sequence is over
UVM_INFO ./tb/my_pkg.sv(118) @ 390000: uvm_test_top.m_top_env.m_drv0 [my_driver] Finished DUT simulation
--- UVM Report catcher Summary ---
Number of demoted UVM_FATAL reports : 0
Number of demoted UVM_ERROR reports : 0
Number of demoted UVM_WARNING reports: 0
Number of caught UVM_FATAL reports : 0
Number of caught UVM_ERROR reports : 0
Number of caught UVM_WARNING reports : 0
--- UVM Report Summary ---
** Report counts by severity
UVM_INFO : 8
UVM_WARNING : 0
UVM_ERROR : 0
UVM_FATAL : 0
** Report counts by id
[BASE_SEQ] 1
[RNTST] 1
[UVMTOP] 1
[base_sequence] 1
[my_driver] 4
Simulation complete via $finish(1) at time 390 NS + 139
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