A Non-Volatile Memory Emulation Tool and its Use in Analyzing eMMC-based Devices

Non-volatile memories are used extensively in embedded systems and other devices, like mobile phones, for storing user-related information, operating system and other software modules. Analyzing the behavior of a system based on non-volatile memories is not a trivial and reproducible task, since their content may be altered in an non-reversible state. The use of a real-time and accurate emulator is a viable approach since it allows repetitive system testing from a given state and the execution of various what-if scenarios, collection of statistical data and further analysis. In this work we present such an emulator for eMMC non-volatile memories based on NAND Flash technology, we highlight its architecture and we present experimental results that demonstrate its behavior and accuracy.