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In the semiconductor and electronic design industry, SystemVerilog is a combined Hardware Description Language and Hardware Verification Language based on extensions to Verilog.

History

SystemVerilog was created by the donation of the Superlog language to Accellera in 2002.^[1] The bulk of the verification functionality is based on the OpenVera language donated by Synopsys. In 2005, SystemVerilog was adopted as IEEE Standard 1800-2005 .[1]

Few of SystemVerilog's capabilities are unique, but it is significant that these capabilities are combined and offered within a single HDL. There is great value in a common HDL which handles all aspects of the design and verification flow: design description, functional simulation, property specification, and formal verification.

SystemVerilog is an extension of Verilog-2005; all features of that language are available in SystemVerilog. The remainder of this article discusses the features of SystemVerilog not present in Verilog-2005.

Design features

New data types

Enhanced variable types add new capability to Verilog's "reg" type:

logic [31:0] my_var;

Verilog-1995 and -2001 limit reg variables to behavioral statements such as RTL code. SystemVerilog extends the reg type so it can be driven by a single driver such as gate or module. SystemVerilog names this type "logic" to remind users that it has this extra capability and is not a hardware register. The names "logic" and "reg" are interchangeable. A signal with more than one driver needs to be declare a net type such as "wire" so SystemVerilog can resolve the final value.

Multidimensional packed arrays unify and extend Verilog's notion of "registers" and "memories":

logic [1:0][2:0] my_pack[32];

Classical Verilog permitted only one dimension to be declared to the left of the variable name. SystemVerilog permits any number of such "packed" dimensions. A variable of packed array type maps 1:1 onto an integer arithmetic quantity. In the example above, each element of my_pack may be used in expressions as a five-bit integer. The dimensions to the right of the name (32 in this case) are referred to as "unpacked" dimensions. As in Verilog-2001, any number of unpacked dimensions is permitted.

Enumerated data types allow numeric quantities to be assigned meaningful names. Variables declared to be of enumerated type cannot be assigned to variables of a different enumerated type without casting. This is not true of parameters, which were the preferred implementation technique for enumerated quantities in Verilog-2005:

typedef enum logic [2:0] {
   RED, GREEN, BLUE, CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW
} color_t;

color_t   my_color = GREEN;
initial $display("The color is %s", my_color.name());

As shown above, the designer can specify an underlying arithmetic type (logic [2:0] in this case) which is used to represent the enumeration value. The meta-values X and Z can be used here, possibly to represent illegal states. The built-in function name() returns an ASCII string for the current enumerated value.

New integer types: SystemVerilog defines byte, shortint, int and longint as two-state signed integral types having 8, 16, 32, and 64 bits respectively. A bit type is a variable-width two-state type that works much like logic. Two-state types lack the X and Z metavalues of classical Verilog; working with these types may result in faster simulation.

Structures and unions work much like they do in the C programming language. SystemVerilog enhancements include the packed attribute and the tagged attribute. The tagged attribute allows runtime tracking of which member(s) of a union are currently in use. The packed attribute causes the structure or union to be mapped 1:1 onto a packed array of bits. The contents of it occupy a continuous block of memory (with no gaps):

typedef struct packed {
    bit [10:0]  expo;
    bit         sign;
    bit [51:0]  mant;
} FP;

FP     zero = 64'b0;

Unique/priority if/case

These attributes enable a designer to specify certain restrictions on the evaluation of the case/if constructs. This is useful for hardware-design, as the size/speed of mapped hardware depends on whether the decision-logic tree must obey a particular precedence (priority), or if it can simply execute as an N-way multiplexor (parallel.) The unique attribute on a cascaded if or case statement indicates that exactly one branch or case item must execute; otherwise it is an error. The priority attribute on an if or case statement indicates that the choices must be evaluated in order, and that one branch must execute. Verilog designers often used proprietary pragmas (the de-facto // synopsys full_case parallel_case) in the specification of logic state-machines. However, as the pragma is not a formal part of the language, it has meaning only to synthesis-tools -- Careless use of pragmas can easily lead to unexpected functional mismatches between simulation-modeling and synthesized-hardware.

Procedural blocks

In addition to Verilog's always block, SystemVerilog offers new procedural blocks that convey better the intended design structure. EDA tools can verify that the behavior described is really that which was intended.

An always_comb block creates combinational logic. The simulator infers the sensitivity list from the contained statements:

always_comb begin
    tmp = b * b - 4 * a * c;
    no_root = (tmp < 0);
end

An always_ff block is meant to infer synchronous logic:

always_ff @(posedge clk)
    count <= count + 1;

An always_latch block is meant to infer a level-sensitive latch. Again, the sensitivity list is inferred from the code:

always_latch
    if (en) q <= d;

Interfaces

For small designs, the Verilog port compactly describes a module's connectivity with the surrounding environment. But major blocks within a large design hierarchy typically possess port counts in the thousands. Systemverilog introduces the interface concept, to both reduce the redundancy of portname declarations between connected-modules, as well as group and abstract related signals into a user-declared bundle.

Verification features

The following verification features are typically not synthesizable. Instead, they assist in the creation of extensible, flexible test benches.

New data types

The string data type represents a variable-length text string.

In addition to the static array used in design, SystemVerilog offers dynamic arrays, associative arrays and queues:

int da[];       // dynamic array
int ai[int];    // associative array, indexed by int
int as[string]; // associative array, indexed by string
int qa[$];      // queue

initial begin
    da = new[16]; // Allocate array with 16 elements
end

A dynamic array works much like an unpacked array, but it must be dynamically created as shown above. The array can be resized if needed. An associative array can be thought of as a binary search tree with a user-specified key type and data type. The key implies an ordering; the elements of an associative array can be read out in lexicographic order. Finally, a queue provides much of the functionality of the C++ STL deque type: elements can be added and removed from either end efficiently. These primitives allow the creation of complex data structures required for scoreboarding a large design.

Classes

SystemVerilog provides an object-oriented programming model.

SystemVerilog classes support a single-inheritance model. There is no facility that permits conformance of a class to multiple functional interfaces, such as the interface feature of Java. SystemVerilog classes can be type-parameterized, providing the basic function of C++ templates. However, function templates and template specialization are not supported.

The polymorphism features are similar to those of C++: the programmer may specifically write a virtual function to have a derived class gain control of the function.

Encapsulation and data hiding is accomplished using the local and protected keywords, which must be applied to any item that is to be hidden. By default, all class properties are public.

SystemVerilog class instances are created with the new keyword. A constructor denoted by function new can be defined. SystemVerilog supports garbage collection, so there is no facility to explicitly destroy class instances.

Example:

virtual class Memory;
    virtual function bit [31:0] read(bit [31:0] addr); endfunction
    virtual function void write(bit [31:0] addr, bit [31:0] data); endfunction
endclass

class SRAM #(parameter AWIDTH=10) extends Memory;
    bit [31:0] mem [1<<AWIDTH];

    virtual function bit [31:0] read(bit [31:0] addr);
        return mem[addr];
    endfunction

    virtual function void write(bit [31:0] addr, bit [31:0] data);
        mem[addr] = data;
    endfunction
endclass

Constrained random generation

Integer quantities, defined either in a class definition or as stand-alone variables in some lexical scope, can be assigned random values based on a set of constraints. This feature is useful for creating randomized scenarios for verification.

Within class definitions, the rand and randc modifiers signal variables that are to undergo randomization. randc specifies permutation-based randomization, where a variable will take on all possible values once before any value is repeated. Variables without modifiers are not randomized.

class eth_frame;
    rand bit [47:0] dest;
    rand bit [47:0] src;
    rand bit [15:0] type;
    rand byte       payload[];
    bit [31:0]      fcs;
    rand bit [31:0] fcs_corrupt;

    constraint basic {
        payload.size inside {[46:1500]};
    }

    constraint good_fr {
        fcs_corrupt == 0;
    }
endclass

In this example, the fcs field is not randomized; in practice it will be computed with a CRC generator, and the fcs_corrupt field used to corrupt it to inject FCS errors. The two constraints shown are applicable to conforming Ethernet frames. Constraints may be selectively enabled; this feature would be required in the example above to generate corrupt frames. Constraints may be arbitrarily complex, involving interrelationships among variables, implications, and iteration. The SystemVerilog constraint solver is required to find a solution if one exists, but makes no guarantees as to the time it will require to do so.

Assertions

SystemVerilog has its own assertion specification language, similar to Property Specification Language. Assertions are useful for verifying properties of a design that manifest themselves over time.

SystemVerilog assertions are built from sequences and properties. Properties are a superset of sequences; any sequence may be used as if it were a property, although this is not typically useful.

Sequences consist of boolean expressions augmented with temporal operators. The simplest temporal operator is the ## operator which performs a concatenation:

sequence S1;
@(posedge clk)
req ##1 gnt;
endsequence

This sequence matches if the gnt signal goes high one clock cycle after req goes high. Note that all sequence operations are synchronous to a clock.

Other sequential operators include repetition operators, as well as various conjunctions. These operators allow the designer to express complex relationships among design components.

An assertion works by continually attempting to evaluate a sequence or property. An assertion fails if the property fails. The sequence above will fail whenever req is low. To accurately express the requirement that gnt follow req a property is required:

property req_gnt;
@(posedge clk)
req |=> gnt;
endproperty

assert_req_gnt: assert property (req_gnt) else $error("req not followed by gnt.");

This example shows an implication operator |=>. The clause to the left of the implication is called the antecedent and the clause to the right is called the consequent. Evaluation of an implication starts through repeated attempts to evaluate the antecedent. When the antecedent succeeds, the consequent is attempted, and the success of the assertion depends on the success of the consequent. In this example, the consequent won't be attempted until req goes high, after which the property will fail if gnt is not high on the following clock.

In addition to assertions, SystemVerilog supports assumptions and coverage of properties. An assumption establishes a condition that a formal logic proving tool must assume to be true. An assertion specifies a property that must be proven true. In simulation, both assertions and assumptions are verified against test stimulus. Property coverage allows the verification engineer to verify that assertions are accurately monitoring the design.

Coverage

Coverage as applied to hardware verification languages refers to the collection of statistics based on sampling events within the simulation. Coverage is used to determine when the device under test (DUT) has been exposed to a sufficient variety of stimuli that there is a high confidence that the DUT is functioning correctly. Note that this differs from code coverage which instruments the design code to ensure that all lines of code in the design have been executed. Functional coverage ensures that all desired corner cases in the design space have been explored.

A SystemVerilog coverage group creates a database of "bins" that store a histogram of values of an associated variable. Cross coverage can also be defined, which creates a histogram representing the Cartesian cross-product of multiple variables.

A sampling event controls when a sample is taken. The sampling event can be a Verilog event, the entry or exit of a block of code, or a call to the sample method of the coverage group. Care is required to ensure that data are sampled only when meaningful.

e.g.:

class eth_frame;
   // Definitions as above
   covergroup cov;
      coverpoint dest {
          bins bcast[1] = {48'hFFFFFFFFFFFF};
          bins ucast[1] = default;
      }
      coverpoint type {
          bins length[16] = { [0:1535] };
          bins typed[16] = { [1536:32767] };
          bins other[1] = default;
      }
      psize: coverpoint payload.size {
          bins size[] = { 46, [47:63], 64, [65:511], [512:1023], [1024:1499], 1500 };
      }

      sz_x_t: cross type, psize;
   endgroup
endclass

In this example, the verification engineer is interested in the distribution of broadcast and unicast frames, the size/type field and the payload size. The ranges in the payload size coverpoint reflect the interesting corner cases, including minimum and maximum size frames.

Synchronization

A complex test environment consists of reusable verification components that must communicate with one another. Verilog's 'event' primitive allowed different blocks of procedural statements to trigger each other, but enforcing thread synchronization was up to the programmer's (clever) usage. SystemVerilog offers two primitives specifically for interthread synchronization: mailbox and semaphore. The mailbox is modeled as a FIFO. Optionally, the FIFO can be type-parameterized so that only objects of the specified type may be passed through it. Typically, objects are class instances representing transactions: elementary operations (e.g. sending a frame) that are executed by the verification components. The semaphore is modeled as a counting semaphore.

General Improvements to Classical Verilog

In addition to the new features above, Systemverilog enhances the usability of Verilog's existing language features. The following are some of these enhancements:

• The procedural assignment operator(s) (<=, =) can now operate directly on arrays.
• Port (inout, input, output) definitions are now expanded to support a wider variety of datatypes: struct, enum, real, and multi-dimensional types are supported.
• The for-loop construct now allows automatic variable declaration inside the for statement. And loop-control is improved by the continue and break statements.
• Systemverilog adds a do/while to the while construct.
• Constant variables, i.e. those designated as non-changing during runtime, can be designated by use of const.
• Variable initialization now handles arrays.
• The preprocessor has improved `define macro-substitution capabilities, specifically substitution within literal-strings (""), as well as concatenation of multiple macro-tokens into a single word.
• The fork/join construct has been expanded with join_none and join_any.
• Additions to the `timescale directive allow simulation timescale to be controlled more predictably in a large simulation environment, with each source-file using a local timescale.
• Task ports can now be declared ref. A reference allows the task body to modify upper level variables (but not nets) in realtime, since it is operating on the original variable itself, rather than a copied value. (Originally, inout/output port-declarations only returned the updated port-values at the moment the task exited.)
• Functions can now be declared void, which means it returns no value.
• Parameters can be declared any type, including user-defined typedefs.

Verification and Synthesis Software

In the design verification role, Systemverilog is widely used in the chip-design industry. The three largest EDA vendors (Cadence, Mentor, Synopsys) have incorporated Systemverilog into their mixed-language HDL-simulators. Although no simulator can yet claim support for the entire Systemverilog LRM, making testbench interoperability a challenge, efforts to promote cross-vendor compatibility are underway. In 2008, Cadence and Mentor released the Open Verification Methodology, an open-source class-library and usage-framework to facilitate the development of re-usable testbenches and canned verification-IP. Synopsys, which had been the first to publish a Systemverilog class-library (VMM), subsequently responded by opening its proprietary VMM to the general-public. Many third-party providers have announced or already released Systemverilog verification IP.

In the design synthesis role, i.e. transformation of a hardware-design description into a gate-netlist, Systemverilog adoption has been slow. Many design-teams have design flows which involve multiple tools from different vendors. Most design teams cannot migrate to Systemverilog RTL-design until their entire front-end tool suite (linters, formal verification, automated test structure generators) support a common language subset.

See also

Additional material

• Direct Programming Interface (DPI)

EDA Vendors supporting SystemVerilog

• Aldec
• Cadence Design Systems
• Eve
• Mentor Graphics
• Nusym Technology
• Synopsys

References

1. ^ Rich, D. “The evolution of SystemVerilog” IEEE Design and Test of Computers, July/August 2003

• Project VeriPage (1997-6-6). "Project VeriPage". 
• McGrath, Dylan (2005-11-09). "IEEE approves SystemVerilog, revision of Verilog", EE Times. Retrieved on 31 January 2007. 
• Gopi Krishna (2005-11-09). "SystemVerilog ,SVA,SV DPI Tutorials". 

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