MCXplore: Automating the Validation Process of DRAM Memory Controller Designs

We present an automated framework for the validation of memory controllers (MCs) called MCXplore. In developing this framework, we construct formal models for memory requests and command interactions. MCXplore enables validation engineers to define their test plans precisely using temporal logic specifications. We use the NuSMV model-checker to generate counterexamples that serve as test templates. MCXplore uses these test templates to generate memory tests to validate the correctness properties of the MC. We show the effectiveness of MCXplore by validating various state-of-the-art MC features as well as hard-to-detect timing violations. We also provide a set of predefined test plans, and regression test suites that validate essential properties of modern MCs. MCXplore is an open-source framework to allow validation engineers and researchers to extend and use.