
3-42
Computer Group Literature Center Web Site
Falcon ECC Memory Controller Chip Set
3
to its own set of DRAMs. The upper Falcon can log an error during a cycle
and the local Falcon not, or vice-versa. Or they can both log an error during
the same cycle and have the attributes of the errors differ.
Because of the above, software needs to monitor both the upper and lower
Falcon’s Error Logger and Error Address Registers. This includes
checking the elog bit from the upper Falcon and from the lower Falcon.
When the upper Falcon logs an error, it updates its attribute bits (escb,
embt, esbt, ERROR_SYNDROME, eblk0, eblk1, and
ERROR_ADDRESS) to match the results of the read cycle for its portion
of the DRAM array. When the lower Falcon logs an error, it updates its
attribute bits to match the results of the read cycle for its portion of the
DRAM array.
While the logging of errors by one Falcon in a pair does not affect the
logging of errors by the other, writing to the Error Logger Register control
bits affects both Falcons. This is of particular interest as regards the elog
bit. Writing a one to the elog bit clears the elog bit for both the upper and
lower Falcons. Because of this, software needs to check the status of both
upper and lower Error Logger and Error Address Registers before it clears
the elog bits. Otherwise, it could miss a logged error.
elog When set, elog indicates that a single- or a multiple-bit error has been
logged by its Falcon. If elog is set by a multiple-bit error, then no more
errors will be logged until software clears it. If elog is set by a single-bit
error, then no more single-bit errors will be logged until software clears it;
however if elog is set by a single-bit error and a multiple-bit error occurs,
the multiple-bit error will be logged and the single-bit error information
overwritten. elog can only be set by the logging of an error and cleared by
the writing of a one to itself or by power-up reset.
escb indicates the entity that was accessing DRAM at the last logging of
a single- or multiple-bit error by its Falcon. If escb is 1, it indicates that the
scrubber was accessing DRAM. If escb is 0, it indicates that the PowerPC
60x bus master was accessing DRAM.
esen When set, esen allows errors that occur during scrubs to be logged.
When cleared, esen does not allow errors that occur during scrubs to be
logged.