The write transaction: AW, W and B
Follow one write from its address to its response, accept the data in any order the protocol allows, and say exactly when the response may be sent.
- Lesson
- P2.3
- Time
- 35 min
- Runs on
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- 5 questions
A memory controller dropped every fourth write from a new DMA engine. To save a cycle, the engine put the first data beat on W in the same cycle as the address, and a cycle earlier whenever the address channel was busy. The controller accepted the address first and only then began accepting data, so a beat that arrived early was simply not there when it looked. The specification allows the engine's order; the controller was the bug, and it had passed every test written by someone who always sent the address first.
The slots of the memory fill one beat at a time; the response comes only when all four are in.
- Cycle 3
The address transfer: 0x100,
AWLEN= 3 (four beats),AWSIZE= 2 (four bytes each),AWBURST= INCR, id 1. - Cycle 4
Beat 0 on W. The strobes say which byte lanes carry data; here all four.
- Cycle 6
Beats 1 and 2 followed in consecutive cycles because
WREADYstayed high. - Cycle 7
Beat 3 carries
WLAST: the manager says this is the final beat of the burst.AWLENsaid four, and this is the fourth. - Cycle 10
The response, three edges later on this bench: one
BVALID, oneBRESPof OKAY, withBID= 1 so the manager knows which write it answers.
Measured on the bench. One transaction, six transfers: one on AW, four on W, one on B.
Three channels, one transaction
A write is an address transfer on AW, AWLEN + 1 data transfers on W, and one response transfer on B. The address transfer carries everything the subordinate needs to place the data: start address, burst length, beat size, burst type, ID, and the attributes of lessons P2.13 and P2.14. The data transfers carry the bytes with a strobe per byte lane; the last one is marked with WLAST. The response says whether the write succeeded and carries the ID of the write it answers.
| Transfer | Payload | Count per transaction | Who drives VALID |
|---|---|---|---|
| AW | AWID, AWADDR, AWLEN, AWSIZE, AWBURST, AWLOCK, AWCACHE, AWPROT (and more) | exactly one | manager |
| W | WDATA, WSTRB, WLAST | AWLEN + 1, WLAST on the final one | manager |
| B | BID, BRESP | exactly one, after the last W transfer | subordinate |
In AXI4 the data channel carries no ID: write data belongs to write addresses in the order the addresses were issued.
The data has no address of its own. A subordinate matches beats to addresses by order: the first burst of beats belongs to the first address it accepts, the second to the second. That is why AXI4 forbids interleaving the beats of two writes, and why the number of beats must match AWLEN exactly.
Address and data are independent
The AW and W channels are two handshakes with no fixed order between them. The address may come first, the first data beat may come first, or both may move in the same cycle. The subordinate may wait for either one before it accepts the other, or for both before it asserts either READY. That is legal only because a manager must never make WVALID wait for AWREADY, or AWVALID wait for WREADY. The bench memory accepts both whenever they come and marries them when the burst is complete.
axi_write(1, 32'h3000, 1, 2, INCR, 0); // order 0: AW at e3, beats at e4 and e5, B at e8
axi_write(2, 32'h3008, 1, 2, INCR, 1); // order 1: beats at e9 and e10, AW at e10, B at e13
axi_write(3, 32'h3010, 1, 2, INCR, 2); // order 2: AW and beat 0 at e14, beat 1 at e15, B at e18An interconnect cannot route a beat whose address it has not seen, so it holds WREADY low until the matching AW has been accepted and decoded. The beat waits, and the hold rule applies to it like any other offer. The fabric of lesson P2.10 does exactly that; the predict item below counts the edges it costs.
WLAST and the count
AWLEN promises a number of beats; WLAST marks the final one. Both must agree. A beat with WLAST before beat AWLEN ends the burst early, and the next beats become a burst with no address. A burst that runs past AWLEN without WLAST is just as broken. The checker names wlast for both.
Too early: WLAST on beat 0 of a two-beat write
aw_issue(1, 32'h100, 1, 2, INCR); // AWLEN = 1: two beats promised
w_burst(32'h100, 0, 2, INCR); // one beat sent, WLAST on it
b_wait(1);
RULE wlast broken at edge 4: WLAST on beat 0 of write 0, AWLEN=1.
Too late: three beats for a two-beat write
aw_issue(1, 32'h100, 1, 2, INCR); // AWLEN = 1
w_burst(32'h100, 2, 2, INCR); // three beats, WLAST on the third
b_wait(1);
RULE wlast broken at edge 5: beat 1 of write 0 is AWLEN=1 but WLAST is 0.
The bench memory ends a burst at WLAST whatever AWLEN said, as most subordinates do. In the first case the second word never arrives; in the second, the third beat is dropped. The response still says OKAY, because the subordinate has no way to know the manager lied.
The response comes last
In AXI4 the subordinate may raise BVALID only after it has accepted the last data beat and the address. The second condition is the AXI4 addition: AXI3 let a subordinate answer once the data was in, even with the address still pending. AXI4 closed that door: the response guarantees that later transactions can observe the write (lesson P2.12), which no subordinate can promise before it knows where the data goes.
The bench memory's twin breaks exactly this. With mem.early_b = 1 it answers the moment any write beat has arrived. The checker names border at the edge where BVALID rose: before the last beat, and in a data-first write, before the address too.
mem.early_b = 1;
wd[0] = 32'ha0; wd[1] = 32'ha1; wd[2] = 32'ha2; wd[3] = 32'ha3;
axi_write(1, 32'h100, 3, 2, INCR, 1); // data first
// RULE border broken at edge 4: BVALID before the last beat of the write it answers
// RULE bid broken at edge 4: B with id 0, which has no outstanding writeThe response is a handshake like any other: the manager may hold BREADY low, and the subordinate must hold BVALID, BID and BRESP until the transfer.
A lit wire carries a 1. A pill is a transfer in that cycle.
- Cycle 5
The last beat has been taken. The write is complete inside the memory; only the answer is missing.
- Cycle 8
BVALIDrises withBID= 1 and OKAY.BREADYis low: the response waits, unchanged. - Cycle 10
BREADYis high. The response moves. The manager now knows the write can be seen by anyone who reads that address.
Measured on the bench. The two stalled edges are 8 and 9.
What may wait for what
The specification draws the dependencies as arrows. In words:
The manager
must not wait for
AWREADYorWREADYbefore assertingAWVALIDorWVALID. It may wait forBVALIDbefore assertingBREADY, or keepBREADYhigh in advance.The subordinate, accepting
may wait for
AWVALIDorWVALID, or both, before assertingAWREADY; the same forWREADY. It may also assert either READY in advance.The subordinate, answering
must wait for
AWVALIDandAWREADY, and forWVALIDandWREADYwithWLAST, before assertingBVALID. It must not wait forBREADYbefore assertingBVALID.
All of them follow from two ideas: VALID moves first on every channel, and a response is a promise that can only be made once the whole write is in.
Where you will meet it
Write paths go wrong when one state machine walks AW, W, B in order. A bench for a write path offers data before the address, the address before the data, both at once, stalls BREADY, and checks that the response never comes early.
Asked in interviews: the write transaction
Can write data arrive before the write address?
Yes. AW and W are independent handshakes; the data may be accepted before, after or in the same cycle as the address. A subordinate may wait for one before accepting the other, or for both before accepting either. No manager may make one VALID wait for the other channel's READY.
When may a subordinate send the write response?
In AXI4, only after it has accepted the last data beat (WLAST) and the address. AXI3 required only the data. BVALID must never wait for BREADY.
How does a subordinate know which data belongs to which address?
By order. AXI4 write data carries no ID and cannot be interleaved, so the n-th burst of beats belongs to the n-th address accepted.
What happens if WLAST is on the wrong beat?
The protocol is broken: WLAST must be on beat AWLEN exactly. A subordinate typically ends the burst at WLAST, so data is lost or misattributed, and the response still says OKAY because the subordinate cannot tell.
Try it
Three orders, three identical copies in memory. In the second write the address arrives at edge 10, in the same cycle as the last beat; the memory had already taken beat 0 at edge 9 without knowing where it would go. The response of every write comes three edges after its last beat, never before the address.
Add mem.early_b = 1; as the first line and run again: the checker names border in every write, and in the second one the response even precedes the address. Then try w_burst(32'h3000, 0, 2, INCR) after an aw_issue(4, 32'h3000, 1, 2, INCR): one beat for a promise of two, and the wlast rule fires.
e3 AW id=1 addr=0x3000 len=1 size=2 INCR e4 W beat 0 data=0xcafe0001 strb=1111 last=0 addr 0x3000 lanes 0-3 e5 W beat 1 data=0xcafe0002 strb=1111 last=1 addr 0x3004 lanes 0-3 e8 B id=1 OKAY e9 W beat 0 data=0xcafe0001 strb=1111 last=0 addr 0x3008 lanes 0-3 e10 AW id=2 addr=0x3008 len=1 size=2 INCR e10 W beat 1 data=0xcafe0002 strb=1111 last=1 addr 0x300c lanes 0-3 e13 B id=2 OKAY e14 AW id=3 addr=0x3010 len=1 size=2 INCR e14 W beat 0 data=0xcafe0001 strb=1111 last=0 addr 0x3010 lanes 0-3 e15 W beat 1 data=0xcafe0002 strb=1111 last=1 addr 0x3014 lanes 0-3 e18 B id=3 OKAY 0x03000 01 00 fe ca 02 00 fe ca 01 00 fe ca 02 00 fe ca 0x03010 01 00 fe ca 02 00 fe ca 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 checker: 3 writes, 0 reads, 0 stalled edges, 0 rules brokenRead included file: axi_pkg.sv
`timescale 1ns/1ns
// axi_pkg.sv: the arithmetic of a burst (read-only).
// Every transfer n of a burst has an address and a set of byte lanes, computed from the start
// address, the burst length, the transfer size and the burst type exactly as the AXI specification
// defines them. The memory, the manager tasks and the checker all use these functions, so they
// never disagree about where a byte lands.
package axi_pkg;
localparam logic [1:0] FIXED = 2'b00, INCR = 2'b01, WRAP = 2'b10;
localparam logic [1:0] OKAY = 2'b00, EXOKAY = 2'b01, SLVERR = 2'b10, DECERR = 2'b11;
function automatic string burst_name(input logic [1:0] b);
case (b) FIXED: return "FIXED"; INCR: return "INCR"; WRAP: return "WRAP"; default: return "RESERVED"; endcase
endfunction
function automatic string resp_name(input logic [1:0] r);
case (r) OKAY: return "OKAY"; EXOKAY: return "EXOKAY"; SLVERR: return "SLVERR"; default: return "DECERR"; endcase
endfunction
// Bytes in one transfer: 1, 2, 4, ... 128.
function automatic int bytes_of(input logic [2:0] size);
return 1 << size;
endfunction
// The address of transfer n (n counts from 0).
// transfer 0 uses the start address as given, aligned or not;
// later transfers use the start address aligned down to the transfer size, plus n transfers;
// a WRAP burst returns to its wrap boundary (the start aligned down to the whole burst) when
// it reaches the end of that window; a FIXED burst repeats the start address.
function automatic int unsigned beat_addr(input int unsigned start, input int len, input logic [2:0] size,
input logic [1:0] burst, input int n);
int unsigned nb = 1 << size;
int unsigned aligned = (start / nb) * nb;
int unsigned window = nb * (len + 1);
int unsigned boundary = (start / window) * window;
int unsigned a;
if (burst == FIXED || n == 0) return start;
a = aligned + n * nb;
if (burst == WRAP && a >= boundary + window) a = a - window;
return a;
endfunction
// The byte lanes transfer n uses on a bus of bus_bytes bytes, packed as {upper, lower}.
// Transfer 0 of an unaligned burst (and every transfer of a FIXED burst) uses only the lanes from
// its address up to the end of its aligned transfer; every other transfer uses all the lanes of
// its size.
function automatic logic [15:0] beat_lanes(input int unsigned start, input int len, input logic [2:0] size,
input logic [1:0] burst, input int n, input int bus_bytes);
int unsigned nb = 1 << size;
int unsigned a = beat_addr(start, len, size, burst, n);
int unsigned aligned = (a / nb) * nb;
int unsigned word = (a / bus_bytes) * bus_bytes;
int lower = a - word;
int upper = (n == 0 || burst == FIXED) ? (aligned + nb - 1 - word) : (lower + nb - 1);
return {upper[7:0], lower[7:0]};
endfunction
// The strobe of transfer n: a 1 for every lane it uses (bit l is lane l).
function automatic logic [63:0] beat_strb(input int unsigned start, input int len, input logic [2:0] size,
input logic [1:0] burst, input int n, input int bus_bytes);
logic [15:0] lanes = beat_lanes(start, len, size, burst, n, bus_bytes);
logic [63:0] s = 0;
for (int l = lanes[7:0]; l <= lanes[15:8]; l++) s[l] = 1'b1;
return s;
endfunction
// True when the burst crosses a 4 KB boundary (only an INCR burst can).
function automatic bit crosses_4k(input int unsigned start, input int len, input logic [2:0] size, input logic [1:0] burst);
if (burst != INCR) return 0;
return (beat_addr(start, len, size, burst, 0) / 4096) != ((beat_addr(start, len, size, burst, len) + (1 << size) - 1) / 4096);
endfunction
endpackage
Read included file: axi_mem.sv
`timescale 1ns/1ns
// axi_mem.sv: an AXI4 subordinate with a byte-addressed memory behind it (read-only in this lesson).
// It accepts requests on AW and AR, write beats on W (before or after their AW), writes the bytes a
// burst addresses using the strobes, and answers on B and R after a latency. The switches below are
// plain variables: the stimulus sets them by name (mem.reorder = 1;) before it starts.
// rd_latency, wr_latency cycles from a request (or its last write beat) to its first response
// slow_latency, slow_above addresses at or above slow_above answer after slow_latency instead
// err_above addresses at or above err_above get SLVERR (and are not written)
// reorder answer transactions with DIFFERENT IDs as soon as each is ready;
// transactions with the same ID still answer in order
// interleave interleave the read data beats of ready transactions with different IDs
// excl_on support exclusive access (one monitor per ID), else answer OKAY
// posted apply a write to the memory only when its response is sent, so a read
// that arrives between the last beat and B still sees the old bytes
// trace print every byte the memory writes
// Broken twins, each off by default: early_b (B before the last write beat and before AW),
// ignore_strobes (write every lane of the bus word), drop_hold (RDATA changes while RVALID waits
// for RREADY), reorder_same_id (a later transaction with the same ID may answer first),
// wrap_bug (a WRAP burst addressed like INCR).
module axi_mem #(parameter int DATA_W = 32, parameter int ID_W = 4, parameter int DEPTH = 65536) (
input logic aclk,
input logic aresetn,
input logic [ID_W-1:0] awid,
input logic [31:0] awaddr,
input logic [7:0] awlen,
input logic [2:0] awsize,
input logic [1:0] awburst,
input logic awlock,
input logic [3:0] awcache,
input logic [2:0] awprot,
input logic awvalid,
output logic awready,
input logic [DATA_W-1:0] wdata,
input logic [DATA_W/8-1:0] wstrb,
input logic wlast,
input logic wvalid,
output logic wready,
output logic [ID_W-1:0] bid,
output logic [1:0] bresp,
output logic bvalid,
input logic bready,
input logic [ID_W-1:0] arid,
input logic [31:0] araddr,
input logic [7:0] arlen,
input logic [2:0] arsize,
input logic [1:0] arburst,
input logic arlock,
input logic [3:0] arcache,
input logic [2:0] arprot,
input logic arvalid,
output logic arready,
output logic [ID_W-1:0] rid,
output logic [DATA_W-1:0] rdata,
output logic [1:0] rresp,
output logic rlast,
output logic rvalid,
input logic rready
);
import axi_pkg::*;
localparam int BUS = DATA_W / 8;
localparam int N = 16; // transactions in flight per direction
// ---- switches ----
int rd_latency = 2, wr_latency = 2, slow_latency = 8;
int unsigned slow_above = 32'hffff_ffff, err_above = 32'hffff_ffff;
bit reorder = 0, interleave = 0, excl_on = 0, posted = 0, trace = 0;
bit early_b = 0, ignore_strobes = 0, drop_hold = 0, reorder_same_id = 0, wrap_bug = 0;
// ---- the memory ----
logic [7:0] mem [0:DEPTH-1];
initial for (int i = 0; i < DEPTH; i++) mem[i] = 8'h00;
int cycle = -1;
int seq = 0; // every request gets a sequence number: issue order
// ---- write side: accepted AW requests (a ring) and write beats (a ring) ----
logic [ID_W-1:0] aw_id [0:N-1];
int unsigned aw_addr [0:N-1];
int aw_len [0:N-1];
logic [2:0] aw_size [0:N-1];
logic [1:0] aw_burst [0:N-1];
logic aw_lock [0:N-1];
int aw_head = 0, aw_tail = 0, aw_count = 0;
localparam int WQ = 1024;
logic [DATA_W-1:0] w_data [0:WQ-1];
logic [BUS-1:0] w_strb [0:WQ-1];
logic w_last [0:WQ-1];
int w_head = 0, w_tail = 0, w_count = 0, w_bursts = 0; // w_bursts: complete bursts in the ring
// ---- write responses waiting for their latency ----
logic b_use [0:N-1];
logic [ID_W-1:0] b_id [0:N-1];
logic [1:0] b_rsp [0:N-1];
int b_at [0:N-1], b_seq [0:N-1];
logic b_driving = 0;
logic early_done = 0; // the early_b twin answers once per burst
// posted writes: the beats of a write kept until its response goes out
logic [DATA_W-1:0] p_data [0:N-1][0:255];
logic [BUS-1:0] p_strb [0:N-1][0:255];
int unsigned p_addr [0:N-1];
int p_len [0:N-1];
logic [2:0] p_size [0:N-1];
logic [1:0] p_burst [0:N-1];
logic p_pending [0:N-1];
// ---- read side: accepted AR requests with their progress ----
logic r_use [0:N-1];
logic [ID_W-1:0] r_id [0:N-1];
int unsigned r_addr [0:N-1];
int r_len [0:N-1];
logic [2:0] r_size [0:N-1];
logic [1:0] r_burst [0:N-1];
logic r_lock [0:N-1];
int r_at [0:N-1], r_seq [0:N-1], r_beat [0:N-1], r_served [0:N-1];
int r_cur = -1; // the transaction whose beat is on the wires
logic r_driving = 0;
// ---- exclusive monitors, one per ID ----
logic mon_use [0:(1<<ID_W)-1];
int unsigned mon_addr [0:(1<<ID_W)-1];
int unsigned mon_bytes [0:(1<<ID_W)-1];
initial begin
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) begin b_use[i] = 0; r_use[i] = 0; p_pending[i] = 0; end
for (int i = 0; i < (1 << ID_W); i++) mon_use[i] = 0;
awready = 0; wready = 0; arready = 0; bvalid = 0; rvalid = 0; bid = 0; bresp = 0; rid = 0; rresp = 0; rlast = 0; rdata = 0;
end
function automatic int latency_of(input int unsigned a, input int base);
return (a >= slow_above) ? slow_latency : base;
endfunction
function automatic logic [1:0] burst_used(input logic [1:0] b);
return (wrap_bug && b == WRAP) ? INCR : b;
endfunction
// ---- selection policies ----
// The oldest of all pending entries, or the oldest of its ID: the in-order rule of the protocol.
function automatic bit b_oldest(input int i, input bit same_id_only);
for (int j = 0; j < N; j++)
if (b_use[j] && j != i && b_seq[j] < b_seq[i] && (!same_id_only || b_id[j] == b_id[i])) return 0;
return 1;
endfunction
function automatic bit r_oldest(input int i, input bit same_id_only);
for (int j = 0; j < N; j++)
if (r_use[j] && j != i && r_seq[j] < r_seq[i] && (!same_id_only || r_id[j] == r_id[i])) return 0;
return 1;
endfunction
function automatic bit b_eligible(input int i);
if (!b_use[i] || b_at[i] > cycle) return 0;
if (!reorder) return b_oldest(i, 0);
return reorder_same_id ? 1 : b_oldest(i, 1);
endfunction
function automatic bit r_eligible(input int i);
if (!r_use[i] || r_at[i] > cycle) return 0;
if (!reorder) return r_oldest(i, 0);
return reorder_same_id ? 1 : r_oldest(i, 1);
endfunction
function automatic int free_b();
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) if (!b_use[i]) return i;
return -1;
endfunction
function automatic int free_r();
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) if (!r_use[i]) return i;
return -1;
endfunction
function automatic int pick_b();
int best = -1;
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) if (b_eligible(i) && (best < 0 || b_seq[i] < b_seq[best])) best = i;
return best;
endfunction
function automatic int pick_r();
int best = -1;
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) if (r_eligible(i)) begin
if (best < 0) best = i;
else if (interleave ? (r_served[i] < r_served[best]) : (r_seq[i] < r_seq[best])) best = i;
end
return best;
endfunction
// ---- the bytes of one read beat, as the bus word that holds them ----
function automatic logic [DATA_W-1:0] read_word(input int unsigned a);
logic [DATA_W-1:0] d = 0;
int unsigned word = (a / BUS) * BUS;
for (int l = 0; l < BUS; l++) d[8*l +: 8] = (word + l < DEPTH) ? mem[word + l] : 8'h00;
return d;
endfunction
// ---- the write of one complete burst into the memory ----
task automatic write_burst(input int e);
logic [1:0] rsp = OKAY;
logic do_write = 1, ended = 0;
int unsigned a, word;
logic [15:0] lanes;
int n = 0, slot;
int unsigned total = (1 << aw_size[e]) * (aw_len[e] + 1);
slot = free_b();
if (aw_lock[e] && excl_on) begin
if (mon_use[aw_id[e]] && mon_addr[aw_id[e]] == aw_addr[e]) begin
rsp = EXOKAY;
$display("mem e%0d: exclusive write id=%0d at 0x%0h: the monitor matched, EXOKAY", cycle, aw_id[e], aw_addr[e]);
end else begin
do_write = 0;
$display("mem e%0d: exclusive write id=%0d at 0x%0h: no monitor, OKAY and nothing written", cycle, aw_id[e], aw_addr[e]);
end
end
while (!ended && n <= aw_len[e]) begin
a = beat_addr(aw_addr[e], aw_len[e], aw_size[e], burst_used(aw_burst[e]), n);
lanes = beat_lanes(aw_addr[e], aw_len[e], aw_size[e], burst_used(aw_burst[e]), n, BUS);
word = (a / BUS) * BUS;
if (a >= err_above) rsp = SLVERR;
else if (do_write && posted && slot >= 0) begin
p_data[slot][n] = w_data[w_head]; p_strb[slot][n] = w_strb[w_head];
end else if (do_write) begin
for (int l = 0; l < BUS; l++)
if ((w_strb[w_head][l] || ignore_strobes) && word + l < DEPTH) begin
mem[word + l] = w_data[w_head][8*l +: 8];
if (trace) $display("mem e%0d: beat %0d writes 0x%02h to 0x%0h (lane %0d)", cycle, n, w_data[w_head][8*l +: 8], word + l, l);
end
end
ended = w_last[w_head]; // a burst ends at its WLAST, whatever AWLEN said
w_head = (w_head + 1) % WQ; w_count = w_count - 1;
n = n + 1;
end
while (!ended) begin // beats past AWLEN (a broken manager) are dropped
ended = w_last[w_head];
w_head = (w_head + 1) % WQ; w_count = w_count - 1;
end
// A write clears every monitor that watches a byte it touched.
if (do_write)
for (int i = 0; i < (1 << ID_W); i++)
if (mon_use[i] && mon_addr[i] < aw_addr[e] + total && aw_addr[e] < mon_addr[i] + mon_bytes[i]) mon_use[i] = 0;
if (slot >= 0) begin
b_use[slot] = 1; b_id[slot] = aw_id[e]; b_rsp[slot] = rsp; b_seq[slot] = seq; seq = seq + 1;
b_at[slot] = cycle + latency_of(aw_addr[e], wr_latency);
if (posted && do_write) begin
p_pending[slot] = 1; p_addr[slot] = aw_addr[e]; p_len[slot] = n - 1; p_size[slot] = aw_size[e]; p_burst[slot] = aw_burst[e];
end
end
endtask
// A posted write reaches the memory when its response goes out.
task automatic apply_posted(input int i);
int unsigned a, word;
for (int n = 0; n <= p_len[i]; n++) begin
a = beat_addr(p_addr[i], p_len[i], p_size[i], burst_used(p_burst[i]), n);
word = (a / BUS) * BUS;
if (a < err_above)
for (int l = 0; l < BUS; l++)
if ((p_strb[i][n][l] || ignore_strobes) && word + l < DEPTH) begin
mem[word + l] = p_data[i][n][8*l +: 8];
if (trace) $display("mem e%0d: posted beat %0d writes 0x%02h to 0x%0h (lane %0d)", cycle, n, p_data[i][n][8*l +: 8], word + l, l);
end
end
p_pending[i] = 0;
endtask
int pick, extra;
always @(posedge aclk) begin
cycle = cycle + 1;
if (!aresetn) begin
aw_head = 0; aw_tail = 0; aw_count = 0; w_head = 0; w_tail = 0; w_count = 0; w_bursts = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) begin b_use[i] = 0; r_use[i] = 0; end
b_driving = 0; r_driving = 0; r_cur = -1;
awready <= 0; wready <= 0; arready <= 0; bvalid <= 0; rvalid <= 0;
end else begin
// -- AW: take a request while there is room --
if (awvalid && awready) begin
aw_id[aw_tail] = awid; aw_addr[aw_tail] = awaddr; aw_len[aw_tail] = awlen; aw_size[aw_tail] = awsize;
aw_burst[aw_tail] = awburst; aw_lock[aw_tail] = awlock;
aw_tail = (aw_tail + 1) % N; aw_count = aw_count + 1;
end
// -- W: take a beat while there is room --
if (wvalid && wready) begin
w_data[w_tail] = wdata; w_strb[w_tail] = wstrb; w_last[w_tail] = wlast;
w_tail = (w_tail + 1) % WQ; w_count = w_count + 1;
if (wlast) w_bursts = w_bursts + 1;
end
// -- a complete burst with its request: write it and schedule B --
if (aw_count > 0 && w_bursts > 0) begin
write_burst(aw_head);
aw_head = (aw_head + 1) % N; aw_count = aw_count - 1; w_bursts = w_bursts - 1;
early_done = 0;
end else if (early_b && !early_done && w_count > 0 && w_bursts == 0) begin
// The broken twin: a response as soon as the first write beat arrived, before WLAST and,
// when the data came first, before the address.
pick = free_b();
if (pick >= 0) begin
b_use[pick] = 1; b_id[pick] = (aw_count > 0) ? aw_id[aw_head] : awid; b_rsp[pick] = OKAY; b_seq[pick] = seq; seq = seq + 1; b_at[pick] = cycle;
early_done = 1;
end
end
// -- B: finish a handshake, then put the next response on the wires --
if (b_driving && bready) b_driving = 0;
if (!b_driving) begin
pick = pick_b();
if (pick >= 0) begin
if (p_pending[pick]) apply_posted(pick);
b_driving = 1; bid <= b_id[pick]; bresp <= b_rsp[pick]; b_use[pick] = 0;
end
end
bvalid <= b_driving;
// -- AR: take a request while there is room --
if (arvalid && arready) begin
pick = free_r();
if (pick >= 0) begin
r_use[pick] = 1; r_id[pick] = arid; r_addr[pick] = araddr; r_len[pick] = arlen; r_size[pick] = arsize; r_burst[pick] = arburst;
r_lock[pick] = arlock; r_beat[pick] = 0; r_seq[pick] = seq; seq = seq + 1; r_served[pick] = -1;
r_at[pick] = cycle + latency_of(araddr, rd_latency);
if (arlock && excl_on) begin
mon_use[arid] = 1; mon_addr[arid] = araddr; mon_bytes[arid] = (1 << arsize) * (arlen + 1);
$display("mem e%0d: exclusive read id=%0d at 0x%0h: monitor set", cycle, arid, araddr);
end
end
end
// -- R: finish a handshake, then put the next beat on the wires --
if (r_driving && !rready && drop_hold) rdata <= rdata + 1; // the broken twin: data not held
if (r_driving && rready) begin
r_driving = 0;
if (r_beat[r_cur] > r_len[r_cur]) begin r_use[r_cur] = 0; r_cur = -1; end
else if (interleave) r_cur = -1;
end
if (!r_driving) begin
pick = (r_cur >= 0) ? r_cur : pick_r();
if (pick >= 0) begin
r_cur = pick; r_driving = 1; r_served[pick] = cycle;
extra = r_beat[pick];
rid <= r_id[pick];
rdata <= read_word(beat_addr(r_addr[pick], r_len[pick], r_size[pick], burst_used(r_burst[pick]), extra));
rresp <= (beat_addr(r_addr[pick], r_len[pick], r_size[pick], burst_used(r_burst[pick]), extra) >= err_above) ? SLVERR
: ((r_lock[pick] && excl_on) ? EXOKAY : OKAY);
rlast <= (extra == r_len[pick]);
r_beat[pick] = extra + 1;
end
end
rvalid <= r_driving;
awready <= (aw_count < N - 1);
wready <= (w_count < WQ - 2);
arready <= 1;
end
end
endmodule
Read included file: axi_checker.sv
`timescale 1ns/1ns
// axi_checker.sv: the rules of an AXI4 interface, checked at every rising edge (read-only).
// Each broken rule is named with the channel and the edge where it was seen:
// reset a VALID is 1 while reset is active;
// hold a VALID dropped before its READY: the offer was withdrawn;
// stable a channel's payload changed while its offer waited;
// known a payload is x while its VALID is 1;
// len a FIXED or WRAP burst longer than 16 beats;
// wrap a WRAP burst whose length is not 2, 4, 8 or 16 beats or whose address is not aligned;
// boundary a burst that crosses a 4 KB boundary;
// size a transfer wider than the data bus;
// strobe a write strobe on a lane the beat does not address;
// wlast WLAST on the wrong beat (not AWLEN), or missing after it;
// rlast RLAST on the wrong beat of the oldest read with that ID, or missing after it;
// border BVALID before any outstanding write has its last beat, or before its AW;
// bid, rid a response ID with no outstanding request of that ID;
// exokay EXOKAY for a request that was not exclusive;
// exclusive an exclusive request whose bytes are not a power of two up to 128, or not aligned to them.
// The rules no checker can see on the wires (VALID must not wait for READY; same-ID responses
// in the order of their requests) are checked by the data the tasks compare (lessons P2.2, P2.10).
module axi_checker #(parameter int DATA_W = 32, parameter int ID_W = 4) (
input logic aclk,
input logic aresetn,
input logic [ID_W-1:0] awid,
input logic [31:0] awaddr,
input logic [7:0] awlen,
input logic [2:0] awsize,
input logic [1:0] awburst,
input logic awlock,
input logic awvalid,
input logic awready,
input logic [DATA_W-1:0] wdata,
input logic [DATA_W/8-1:0] wstrb,
input logic wlast,
input logic wvalid,
input logic wready,
input logic [ID_W-1:0] bid,
input logic [1:0] bresp,
input logic bvalid,
input logic bready,
input logic [ID_W-1:0] arid,
input logic [31:0] araddr,
input logic [7:0] arlen,
input logic [2:0] arsize,
input logic [1:0] arburst,
input logic arlock,
input logic arvalid,
input logic arready,
input logic [ID_W-1:0] rid,
input logic [DATA_W-1:0] rdata,
input logic [1:0] rresp,
input logic rlast,
input logic rvalid,
input logic rready
);
import axi_pkg::*;
localparam int BUS = DATA_W / 8;
localparam int Q = 64;
int cycle = -1, writes = 0, reads = 0, stalls = 0, broken = 0;
logic [DATA_W-1:0] used;
function void report(input string rule, input string what);
broken++;
$display("RULE %s broken at edge %0d: %s", rule, cycle, what);
endfunction
// Previous values of every channel, for hold and stable.
logic p_awv = 0, p_awr = 0, p_wv = 0, p_wr = 0, p_bv = 0, p_br = 0, p_arv = 0, p_arr = 0, p_rv = 0, p_rr = 0;
logic [31:0] p_awaddr, p_araddr;
logic [7:0] p_awlen, p_arlen;
logic [2:0] p_awsize, p_arsize;
logic [1:0] p_awburst, p_arburst, p_bresp, p_rresp;
logic [ID_W-1:0] p_awid, p_arid, p_bid, p_rid;
logic [DATA_W-1:0] p_wdata, p_rdata;
logic [BUS-1:0] p_wstrb;
logic p_wlast, p_rlast, p_awlock, p_arlock;
// Write requests in order (AXI4 write data follows the order of the addresses).
int unsigned q_addr [0:Q-1];
int q_len [0:Q-1];
logic [2:0] q_size [0:Q-1];
logic [1:0] q_burst [0:Q-1];
int aw_n = 0; // requests accepted
int wb_n = 0; // write bursts started
int wb_done = 0; // write bursts ended (WLAST seen)
int w_beat = 0; // beats so far in the current burst
int b_n = 0; // responses given
// Beats recorded for bursts that ran ahead of their AW: strobes and count, checked when AW arrives.
logic [BUS-1:0] rec_strb [0:Q-1][0:255];
int rec_beats [0:Q-1];
logic rec_open [0:Q-1];
// Outstanding requests per ID, and the read requests per ID in order.
int aw_out [0:(1<<ID_W)-1], ar_out [0:(1<<ID_W)-1], aw_excl [0:(1<<ID_W)-1], ar_excl [0:(1<<ID_W)-1];
int rq_len [0:(1<<ID_W)-1][0:15];
int rq_head [0:(1<<ID_W)-1], rq_tail [0:(1<<ID_W)-1], r_beat [0:(1<<ID_W)-1];
initial for (int i = 0; i < (1 << ID_W); i++) begin aw_out[i] = 0; ar_out[i] = 0; aw_excl[i] = 0; ar_excl[i] = 0; rq_head[i] = 0; rq_tail[i] = 0; r_beat[i] = 0; end
initial for (int i = 0; i < Q; i++) begin rec_beats[i] = 0; rec_open[i] = 0; end
function automatic bit pow2_le128(input int unsigned n);
return (n == 1 || n == 2 || n == 4 || n == 8 || n == 16 || n == 32 || n == 64 || n == 128);
endfunction
task automatic check_request(input string ch, input int unsigned addr, input int len, input logic [2:0] size, input logic [1:0] burst, input logic lock);
int unsigned bytes = (1 << size) * (len + 1);
if ((burst == FIXED || burst == WRAP) && len > 15) report("len", $sformatf("%s: a %s burst of %0d beats (16 at most)", ch, burst_name(burst), len + 1));
if (burst == WRAP && !(len == 1 || len == 3 || len == 7 || len == 15)) report("wrap", $sformatf("%s: a WRAP burst of %0d beats (2, 4, 8 or 16)", ch, len + 1));
if (burst == WRAP && (addr % (1 << size)) != 0) report("wrap", $sformatf("%s: WRAP burst at 0x%0h is not aligned to its %0d-byte transfers", ch, addr, 1 << size));
if (burst == 2'b11) report("len", $sformatf("%s: burst type 2'b11 is reserved", ch));
if ((1 << size) > BUS) report("size", $sformatf("%s: %0d-byte transfers on a %0d-byte bus", ch, 1 << size, BUS));
if (crosses_4k(addr, len, size, burst)) report("boundary", $sformatf("%s: burst at 0x%0h, %0d beats of %0d bytes, crosses a 4 KB boundary", ch, addr, len + 1, 1 << size));
if (lock && (!pow2_le128(bytes) || (addr % bytes) != 0)) report("exclusive", $sformatf("%s: exclusive access of %0d bytes at 0x%0h (a power of two up to 128, aligned)", ch, bytes, addr));
endtask
task automatic check_strobe(input int k, input int n, input logic [BUS-1:0] strb);
logic [63:0] allowed = beat_strb(q_addr[k % Q], q_len[k % Q], q_size[k % Q], q_burst[k % Q], n, BUS);
if ((strb & ~allowed[BUS-1:0]) != 0)
report("strobe", $sformatf("W beat %0d of write %0d: strobe %b on lanes outside %b", n, k, strb, allowed[BUS-1:0]));
endtask
always @(posedge aclk) begin
cycle++;
if (!aresetn) begin
if (awvalid === 1 || wvalid === 1 || arvalid === 1) report("reset", "a manager VALID is 1 during reset");
if (bvalid === 1 || rvalid === 1) report("reset", "a subordinate VALID is 1 during reset");
end else begin
// hold, stable and known, per channel
if (p_awv && !p_awr && awvalid !== 1) report("hold", "AWVALID dropped before AWREADY");
if (p_awv && !p_awr && awvalid === 1 && (awaddr !== p_awaddr || awlen !== p_awlen || awsize !== p_awsize || awburst !== p_awburst || awid !== p_awid || awlock !== p_awlock)) report("stable", "AW payload changed while the request waited");
if (p_wv && !p_wr && wvalid !== 1) report("hold", "WVALID dropped before WREADY");
if (p_wv && !p_wr && wvalid === 1 && (wdata !== p_wdata || wstrb !== p_wstrb || wlast !== p_wlast)) report("stable", "W payload changed while the beat waited");
if (p_bv && !p_br && bvalid !== 1) report("hold", "BVALID dropped before BREADY");
if (p_bv && !p_br && bvalid === 1 && (bresp !== p_bresp || bid !== p_bid)) report("stable", "B payload changed while the response waited");
if (p_arv && !p_arr && arvalid !== 1) report("hold", "ARVALID dropped before ARREADY");
if (p_arv && !p_arr && arvalid === 1 && (araddr !== p_araddr || arlen !== p_arlen || arsize !== p_arsize || arburst !== p_arburst || arid !== p_arid || arlock !== p_arlock)) report("stable", "AR payload changed while the request waited");
if (p_rv && !p_rr && rvalid !== 1) report("hold", "RVALID dropped before RREADY");
if (p_rv && !p_rr && rvalid === 1 && (rdata !== p_rdata || rresp !== p_rresp || rid !== p_rid || rlast !== p_rlast)) report("stable", "R payload changed while the beat waited");
if (awvalid === 1 && ($isunknown(awaddr) || $isunknown(awlen) || $isunknown(awsize) || $isunknown(awburst) || $isunknown(awid))) report("known", "AW payload is x while AWVALID is 1");
if (wvalid === 1 && ($isunknown(wstrb) || $isunknown(wlast))) report("known", "W strobe or last is x while WVALID is 1");
else if (wvalid === 1) begin
used = '0;
for (int l = 0; l < BUS; l++) if (wstrb[l] === 1) used[8*l +: 8] = 8'hff;
if ($isunknown(wdata & used)) report("known", "W data is x on a strobed lane while WVALID is 1");
end
if (arvalid === 1 && ($isunknown(araddr) || $isunknown(arlen) || $isunknown(arsize) || $isunknown(arburst) || $isunknown(arid))) report("known", "AR payload is x while ARVALID is 1");
if (bvalid === 1 && ($isunknown(bresp) || $isunknown(bid))) report("known", "B payload is x while BVALID is 1");
if (rvalid === 1 && ($isunknown(rresp) || $isunknown(rid) || $isunknown(rlast))) report("known", "R payload is x while RVALID is 1");
if ((awvalid === 1 && awready !== 1) || (wvalid === 1 && wready !== 1) || (arvalid === 1 && arready !== 1) ||
(bvalid === 1 && bready !== 1) || (rvalid === 1 && rready !== 1)) stalls++;
// AW accepted
if (awvalid === 1 && awready === 1) begin
check_request("AW", awaddr, awlen, awsize, awburst, awlock);
q_addr[aw_n % Q] = awaddr; q_len[aw_n % Q] = awlen; q_size[aw_n % Q] = awsize; q_burst[aw_n % Q] = awburst;
aw_out[awid]++; if (awlock) aw_excl[awid]++;
// beats of this write that arrived before its address: check them now
if (rec_beats[aw_n % Q] > 0) begin
for (int n = 0; n < rec_beats[aw_n % Q]; n++) check_strobe(aw_n, n, rec_strb[aw_n % Q][n]);
if (!rec_open[aw_n % Q] && rec_beats[aw_n % Q] != awlen + 1)
report("wlast", $sformatf("write %0d sent %0d beats before its AW said AWLEN=%0d", aw_n, rec_beats[aw_n % Q], awlen));
if (!rec_open[aw_n % Q]) rec_beats[aw_n % Q] = 0;
end
aw_n++;
end
// W beat accepted
if (wvalid === 1 && wready === 1) begin
if (w_beat == 0) begin wb_n++; rec_beats[(wb_n - 1) % Q] = 0; rec_open[(wb_n - 1) % Q] = 1; end
if (wb_n <= aw_n) begin
check_strobe(wb_n - 1, w_beat, wstrb);
if (wlast === 1 && w_beat != q_len[(wb_n - 1) % Q]) report("wlast", $sformatf("WLAST on beat %0d of write %0d, AWLEN=%0d", w_beat, wb_n - 1, q_len[(wb_n - 1) % Q]));
if (wlast !== 1 && w_beat == q_len[(wb_n - 1) % Q]) report("wlast", $sformatf("beat %0d of write %0d is AWLEN=%0d but WLAST is 0", w_beat, wb_n - 1, q_len[(wb_n - 1) % Q]));
end else begin
rec_strb[(wb_n - 1) % Q][w_beat] = wstrb;
end
rec_beats[(wb_n - 1) % Q] = w_beat + 1;
w_beat++;
if (wlast === 1) begin w_beat = 0; wb_done++; rec_open[(wb_n - 1) % Q] = 0; if (wb_n <= aw_n) rec_beats[(wb_n - 1) % Q] = 0; end
end
// B offered or accepted
if (bvalid === 1 && !p_bv) begin
if (b_n >= aw_n && b_n >= wb_done) report("border", "BVALID with no write to answer: neither an AW nor a WLAST is outstanding");
else if (b_n >= wb_done) report("border", "BVALID before the last beat of the write it answers");
else if (b_n >= aw_n) report("border", "BVALID before the AW of the write it answers was accepted");
end
if (bvalid === 1 && bready === 1) begin
if (aw_out[bid] == 0) report("bid", $sformatf("B with id %0d, which has no outstanding write", bid));
else begin
aw_out[bid]--; writes++;
if (bresp === EXOKAY && aw_excl[bid] == 0) report("exokay", $sformatf("EXOKAY for write id %0d, which was not exclusive", bid));
if (aw_excl[bid] > 0 && aw_excl[bid] > aw_out[bid]) aw_excl[bid] = aw_out[bid];
end
b_n++;
end
// AR accepted
if (arvalid === 1 && arready === 1) begin
check_request("AR", araddr, arlen, arsize, arburst, arlock);
rq_len[arid][rq_tail[arid]] = arlen; rq_tail[arid] = (rq_tail[arid] + 1) % 16;
ar_out[arid]++; if (arlock) ar_excl[arid]++;
end
// R beat accepted
if (rvalid === 1 && rready === 1) begin
if (ar_out[rid] == 0) report("rid", $sformatf("R with id %0d, which has no outstanding read", rid));
else begin
if (rlast === 1 && r_beat[rid] != rq_len[rid][rq_head[rid]])
report("rlast", $sformatf("RLAST on beat %0d of the oldest read with id %0d, whose ARLEN is %0d", r_beat[rid], rid, rq_len[rid][rq_head[rid]]));
if (rlast !== 1 && r_beat[rid] == rq_len[rid][rq_head[rid]])
report("rlast", $sformatf("beat %0d of the oldest read with id %0d is its ARLEN but RLAST is 0", r_beat[rid], rid));
if (rresp === EXOKAY && ar_excl[rid] == 0) report("exokay", $sformatf("EXOKAY for read id %0d, which was not exclusive", rid));
r_beat[rid]++;
if (rlast === 1) begin
r_beat[rid] = 0; rq_head[rid] = (rq_head[rid] + 1) % 16; ar_out[rid]--; reads++;
if (ar_excl[rid] > ar_out[rid]) ar_excl[rid] = ar_out[rid];
end
end
end
end
p_awv = (awvalid === 1); p_awr = (awready === 1); p_wv = (wvalid === 1); p_wr = (wready === 1);
p_bv = (bvalid === 1); p_br = (bready === 1); p_arv = (arvalid === 1); p_arr = (arready === 1);
p_rv = (rvalid === 1); p_rr = (rready === 1);
p_awaddr = awaddr; p_awlen = awlen; p_awsize = awsize; p_awburst = awburst; p_awid = awid; p_awlock = awlock;
p_wdata = wdata; p_wstrb = wstrb; p_wlast = wlast; p_bresp = bresp; p_bid = bid;
p_araddr = araddr; p_arlen = arlen; p_arsize = arsize; p_arburst = arburst; p_arid = arid; p_arlock = arlock;
p_rdata = rdata; p_rresp = rresp; p_rid = rid; p_rlast = rlast;
end
final $display("checker: %0d writes, %0d reads, %0d stalled edges, %0d rules broken", writes, reads, stalls, broken);
endmodule
Read included file: axi_tasks.svh
// axi_tasks.svh: the manager side of the bench, as tasks for the stimulus (read-only).
// Data for a write burst goes in wd[0], wd[1], ... (one entry per beat, the lowest byte at the
// lowest address); the data of a read comes back in rd[0], rd[1], ... with its responses in rr[].
// Every task prints the beat log: one line per handshake, with the edge where it happened.
// `cycle` counts rising edges from 0.
int cycle = -1;
always @(posedge aclk) cycle = cycle + 1;
logic [63:0] wd [0:255];
logic [63:0] rd [0:255];
logic [1:0] rr [0:255];
logic [63:0] rdq [0:15][0:255]; // read data per ID, for reads collected out of order
logic [1:0] rrq [0:15][0:255];
int rdn [0:15]; // beats received per ID
logic [1:0] last_bresp = 0;
int last_beats = 0;
// What the task is driving right now, for the waveform scenes: the address and lanes of the beat.
int unsigned beat_a = 0;
logic [7:0] beat_m = 0;
// quiet = 1 silences the beat log (a predict item can then ask for a dump line instead).
bit quiet = 0;
// Strobe override: when strb_force is 1, every write beat uses strb_val as it is.
bit strb_force = 0;
logic [7:0] strb_val = 8'hff;
// Outstanding read requests per ID, so the tasks know the lanes of the beats that come back.
int unsigned arq_addr [0:15][0:7];
int arq_len [0:15][0:7];
logic [2:0] arq_size [0:15][0:7];
logic [1:0] arq_burst [0:15][0:7];
int arq_head [0:15], arq_tail [0:15];
initial for (int i = 0; i < 16; i++) begin arq_head[i] = 0; arq_tail[i] = 0; rdn[i] = 0; end
// READY patterns for the response channels: bit (cycle % 16) of the pattern drives the signal.
bit rpat_on = 0, bpat_on = 0;
logic [15:0] rpat = 16'hffff, bpat = 16'hffff;
always @(posedge aclk) begin
#1;
if (rpat_on) rready = rpat[cycle % 16];
if (bpat_on) bready = bpat[cycle % 16];
end
// A text waveform for the lesson's trace blocks: with watch = 1, one line per rising edge with the
// values sampled at that edge (cycle k of a trace is what edge k sees).
bit watch = 0;
int wave_edge = -1;
always @(posedge aclk) begin
wave_edge = wave_edge + 1;
if (watch) $display("wave e%0d: aw=%b%b w=%b%b b=%b%b ar=%b%b r=%b%b awaddr=%h wdata=%h wstrb=%b wlast=%b bid=%h bresp=%b araddr=%h rid=%h rdata=%h rresp=%b rlast=%b",
wave_edge, awvalid, awready, wvalid, wready, bvalid, bready, arvalid, arready, rvalid, rready,
awaddr, wdata, wstrb, wlast, bid, bresp, araddr, rid, rdata, rresp, rlast);
end
// Drive RREADY (ch = 0) or BREADY (ch = 1) from a 16-bit pattern; 16'hffff restores always ready.
task automatic ready_pattern(input int ch, input logic [15:0] pat);
if (ch == 0) begin rpat = pat; rpat_on = 1; rready = pat[cycle % 16]; end
else begin bpat = pat; bpat_on = 1; bready = pat[cycle % 16]; end
endtask
// The write address channel: offer the request and hold it until it is taken.
task automatic aw_issue(input logic [ID_W-1:0] id, input int unsigned addr, input int len, input logic [2:0] size,
input logic [1:0] burst, input logic lock = 0);
awid = id; awaddr = addr; awlen = len[7:0]; awsize = size; awburst = burst; awlock = lock; awvalid = 1;
do @(posedge aclk); while (!awready);
#1 if (!quiet) $display("e%0d AW id=%0d addr=0x%0h len=%0d size=%0d %0s%0s", cycle, id, addr, len, size, burst_name(burst), lock ? " exclusive" : "");
awvalid = 0; awaddr = 'x; awlen = 'x; awsize = 'x; awburst = 'x; awid = 'x; awlock = 0;
endtask
// The write data channel: the beats of one burst from wd[first..], each placed in its lanes.
task automatic w_burst(input int unsigned addr, input int len, input logic [2:0] size, input logic [1:0] burst, input int first = 0);
logic [15:0] lanes;
for (int n = 0; n <= len; n++) begin
lanes = beat_lanes(addr, len, size, burst, n, BUS_BYTES);
beat_a = beat_addr(addr, len, size, burst, n);
beat_m = strb_force ? strb_val : beat_strb(addr, len, size, burst, n, BUS_BYTES);
wdata = wd[first + n] << (8 * lanes[7:0]);
wstrb = beat_m[BUS_BYTES-1:0];
wlast = (n == len);
wvalid = 1;
do @(posedge aclk); while (!wready);
#1 if (!quiet) $display("e%0d W beat %0d data=0x%0h strb=%b last=%0d addr 0x%0h lanes %0d-%0d", cycle, n, wdata, wstrb, wlast, beat_a, lanes[7:0], lanes[15:8]);
end
wvalid = 0; wdata = 'x; wstrb = 'x; wlast = 0; beat_m = 0;
endtask
// Wait for the write response of one transaction with this ID.
task automatic b_wait(input logic [ID_W-1:0] id);
do @(posedge aclk); while (!(bvalid && bready && bid == id));
last_bresp = bresp; // sampled at the edge, before the subordinate moves on
#1 if (!quiet) $display("e%0d B id=%0d %0s", cycle, id, resp_name(last_bresp));
endtask
// A complete write. order 0 offers the address, then the first beat one cycle later whether or
// not the address has been taken yet (a manager must never make WVALID wait for AWREADY); 1 offers
// the beats first and the address after beat 0; 2 offers the address and beat 0 in the same cycle.
// Returns after B, with the response in last_bresp.
task automatic axi_write(input logic [ID_W-1:0] id, input int unsigned addr, input int len, input logic [2:0] size,
input logic [1:0] burst, input int order = 0, input logic lock = 0);
case (order)
1: fork
w_burst(addr, len, size, burst);
begin @(posedge aclk); #1 aw_issue(id, addr, len, size, burst, lock); end
join
2: fork
aw_issue(id, addr, len, size, burst, lock);
w_burst(addr, len, size, burst);
join
default: fork
aw_issue(id, addr, len, size, burst, lock);
begin @(posedge aclk); #1 w_burst(addr, len, size, burst); end
join
endcase
b_wait(id);
endtask
// The read address channel: offer the request and remember it for the beats that come back.
task automatic ar_issue(input logic [ID_W-1:0] id, input int unsigned addr, input int len, input logic [2:0] size,
input logic [1:0] burst, input logic lock = 0);
arq_addr[id][arq_tail[id]] = addr; arq_len[id][arq_tail[id]] = len; arq_size[id][arq_tail[id]] = size;
arq_burst[id][arq_tail[id]] = burst; arq_tail[id] = (arq_tail[id] + 1) % 8;
arid = id; araddr = addr; arlen = len[7:0]; arsize = size; arburst = burst; arlock = lock; arvalid = 1;
do @(posedge aclk); while (!arready);
#1 if (!quiet) $display("e%0d AR id=%0d addr=0x%0h len=%0d size=%0d %0s%0s", cycle, id, addr, len, size, burst_name(burst), lock ? " exclusive" : "");
arvalid = 0; araddr = 'x; arlen = 'x; arsize = 'x; arburst = 'x; arid = 'x; arlock = 0;
endtask
// Collect read beats until n transactions have ended (their RLAST). Each beat lands in rdq[rid][k]
// with only the bytes of the transfer (lane-shifted down), and rd[] holds the last transaction.
task automatic r_collect(input int n);
int done = 0, h;
logic [15:0] lanes;
logic [63:0] bytes;
logic [ID_W-1:0] id;
logic [DATA_W-1:0] data;
logic [1:0] resp;
logic last;
while (done < n) begin
do @(posedge aclk); while (!(rvalid && rready));
id = rid; data = rdata; resp = rresp; last = rlast; // sampled at the edge, before the subordinate moves on
h = arq_head[id];
lanes = beat_lanes(arq_addr[id][h], arq_len[id][h], arq_size[id][h], arq_burst[id][h], rdn[id], BUS_BYTES);
beat_a = beat_addr(arq_addr[id][h], arq_len[id][h], arq_size[id][h], arq_burst[id][h], rdn[id]);
beat_m = beat_strb(arq_addr[id][h], arq_len[id][h], arq_size[id][h], arq_burst[id][h], rdn[id], BUS_BYTES);
bytes = (data >> (8 * lanes[7:0])) & ((64'h1 << (8 * (lanes[15:8] - lanes[7:0] + 1))) - 1);
rdq[id][rdn[id]] = bytes; rrq[id][rdn[id]] = resp;
#1 if (!quiet) $display("e%0d R id=%0d beat %0d data=0x%0h %0s%0s addr 0x%0h lanes %0d-%0d", cycle, id, rdn[id], bytes, resp_name(resp),
last ? " last" : "", beat_a, lanes[7:0], lanes[15:8]);
rdn[id] = rdn[id] + 1;
if (last) begin
for (int k = 0; k < rdn[id]; k++) begin rd[k] = rdq[id][k]; rr[k] = rrq[id][k]; end
last_beats = rdn[id]; rdn[id] = 0; arq_head[id] = (h + 1) % 8; done = done + 1;
end
end
beat_m = 0;
endtask
// A complete read: AR, then every beat, into rd[] and rr[].
task automatic axi_read(input logic [ID_W-1:0] id, input int unsigned addr, input int len, input logic [2:0] size,
input logic [1:0] burst, input logic lock = 0);
ar_issue(id, addr, len, size, burst, lock);
r_collect(1);
endtask
// The table of a burst before it runs: the address, lanes and strobe of every beat.
task automatic beat_table(input int unsigned addr, input int len, input logic [2:0] size, input logic [1:0] burst);
logic [15:0] lanes;
logic [63:0] s;
int unsigned a;
$display("burst at 0x%0h: %0d beat%0s of %0d byte%0s, %0s, bus %0d bytes", addr, len + 1, len ? "s" : "", 1 << size, size ? "s" : "",
burst_name(burst), BUS_BYTES);
$display(" beat address lanes strobe");
for (int n = 0; n <= len; n++) begin
lanes = beat_lanes(addr, len, size, burst, n, BUS_BYTES);
s = beat_strb(addr, len, size, burst, n, BUS_BYTES);
a = beat_addr(addr, len, size, burst, n);
$display(" %4d 0x%05h %0d-%0d %b", n, a[19:0], lanes[7:0], lanes[15:8], s[BUS_BYTES-1:0]);
end
if (crosses_4k(addr, len, size, burst)) $display(" this burst crosses a 4 KB boundary");
endtask
// One byte of the memory that owns an address (the fabric's second memory above 0x8000).
function automatic logic [7:0] mem_byte(input int unsigned a);
`ifdef AXI_MEM1
if (a >= 32'h8000) return `AXI_MEM1.mem[a];
`endif
return `AXI_MEM.mem[a];
endfunction
task automatic set_byte(input int unsigned a, input logic [7:0] v);
`ifdef AXI_MEM1
if (a >= 32'h8000) `AXI_MEM1.mem[a] = v;
else `AXI_MEM.mem[a] = v;
`else
`AXI_MEM.mem[a] = v;
`endif
endtask
// The memory, n bytes from addr, one bus word per group.
task automatic dump(input int unsigned addr, input int n);
string line;
int unsigned a = (addr / 16) * 16;
while (a < addr + n) begin
line = $sformatf("0x%05h ", a[19:0]);
for (int i = 0; i < 16; i++) begin
if (i % BUS_BYTES == 0) line = {line, " "};
line = {line, $sformatf(" %02h", mem_byte(a + i))};
end
$display("%s", line);
a = a + 16;
end
endtask
// Fill n bytes from addr with first, first+1, ... so untouched bytes stay recognisable.
task automatic mem_fill(input int unsigned addr, input int n, input logic [7:0] first = 8'h00);
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) set_byte(addr + i, first + i[7:0]);
endtask
// Drive nothing for n cycles.
task automatic idle(input int n);
repeat (n) @(posedge aclk);
#1;
endtask
Check yourself
Remember
- A write is one AW transfer, AWLEN + 1 W transfers with WLAST on the final one, and one B transfer with the write's ID.
- Address and data are independent: either may come first, or both in the same cycle; a subordinate may wait for one, never for each before the other.
- Write data carries no ID in AXI4 and is never interleaved: beats belong to addresses in order, and their count must match AWLEN exactly.
- BVALID may rise only after the last beat and the address have been accepted, and never waits for BREADY; one response per write.
- An interconnect holds a beat that arrives before its address, so a manager that sends data first must be ready to stall.
Practice
- The write dependencies Verify ยท Hard