TOPICS

Course materials
LearnChase course materials are renowned for being the most comprehensive and user friendly available. Their style, content and coverage is unique in the HDL training world, and has made them sought after resources in their own right. The materials include:
Fully indexed class notes creating a complete reference manual
Lab files comprising the complete SystemVerilog/OVM source files and scripts
LearnChase OVM Golden Reference Guide
Structure and content
Introduction to OVM
Course structure • motivation • principles of coverage-driven verification • benefits • transaction level modelling • overview of AVM and URM • the OVM kit• test bench organisation • OVM class summary • overview of key OVM features
Getting Started with OVM
Test bench structure • ovm_env and ovm_test • field automation macros • basic reporting • transaction classes • generating a randomized sequence • driver class • linking to the DUT • virtual interfaces • running a test • Lab – a simple test bench
Monitors and Reporting
Creating a monitor • the OVM printer • reports and actions • configuring the OVM report handler • ovm_analysis_port / export • connecting analysis ports and exports • ovm_subscriber• tlm_analysis_fifo • Lab – Monitor with analysis ports
Checkers and Scoreboards
The role of assertions • structural versus protocol assertions • reference models • monitor operation • sampling signal values • scoreboards and the ovm_scoreboard class • OVM built-in comparators • specifying match rules • redirecting reports • log files • Lab – implementing a checker
Functional Coverage
Separating data gathering from coverage analysis • property-based coverage • property variables and actions • covergroup and coverpoint • cross coverage • binning • analysis subscriber • coverage on internal states of DUT • Lab – creating a coverage collector
Random Stimulus Generation
Constrained random stimulus • packing OVM class fields • emulating ROM with instruction driver • creating sequences manually • controlling the constraint solver • serial I/O example • overriding generated sequence items • Lab – constraints and random stimulus
Configuring the Testbench
Using component names to represent hierarchy • locating and identifying component instances by name • using the OVM factory • registering fields with factory • overriding factory defaults • using the factory with parameterized components • setting and getting configuration details • virtual interface wrappers • configuring multiple tests • configuration with command-line arguments • stopping a test • OVM objection class • Lab – testbench configuration and overriding the factory
Agent Architecture
“Agent” architecture and its relationship with other verification methodologies • class monitors and drivers • standard agent architecture • ovm_agent • sequence library and default OVM sequences • communication between sequencer and driver • connecting and configuring agent • Lab – building a simple agent with sequencer
Sequences
Sequencer and sequences – the ovm_sequence class • creating custom sequences • sequence macros and the body task • sequence phases • configuring sequences • complex sequences • introduction to virtual sequences virtual sequencers • Lab – creating and extending user-defined sequences
Hierarchical Testbench Components
TLM interfaces and ports • implementing an export• using tlm_fifo analysis ports • coverage-based test controllers • error injection • child process control
Supplementary Subjects
More on Sequences
Using sequence callback methods • getting response from sequence driver • grabbing control of sequences • concurrent sequence control • multi-layer sequences using inheritance • multi-layer sequences and sequencers
Callbacks
Callback uses • OVM Callback class • Inserting callbacks into a component • Defining callback functions • Registering callback objects with components
Classes – OOP Primer/Review
Object-Oriented Programming • class • object • method • constructor • extends • inheritance • overriding • virtual method • up-cast • parameterised class
Related courses
Comprehensive SystemVerilog
Modular SystemVerilog (in-house delivery only)
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