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author | Joel Sherrill <joel.sherrill@OARcorp.com> | 2008-06-02 16:09:56 +0000 |
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committer | Joel Sherrill <joel.sherrill@OARcorp.com> | 2008-06-02 16:09:56 +0000 |
commit | 42cf7c7c41d4871fa9877a5ccfeb2dc8bad6d8e2 (patch) | |
tree | 59e235045615fd6f8f010ea3d4f41b636b92229a /doc/cpu_supplement/general.t | |
parent | Update copyright. (diff) | |
download | rtems-42cf7c7c41d4871fa9877a5ccfeb2dc8bad6d8e2.tar.bz2 |
2008-06-02 Joel Sherrill <joel.sherrill@oarcorp.com>
* cpu_supplement/.cvsignore, cpu_supplement/Makefile.am,
cpu_supplement/arm.t, cpu_supplement/bfin.t,
cpu_supplement/cpu_supplement.texi, cpu_supplement/i386.t,
cpu_supplement/m68k.t, cpu_supplement/mips.t,
cpu_supplement/powerpc.t, cpu_supplement/preface.texi,
cpu_supplement/sh.t: Remove duplicated text from each CPU specific
chapter. This text was necessary when each CPU was a separate manual
but now only needs to be one place and that is in an introductory
chapter.
* cpu_supplement/general.t: New file.
Diffstat (limited to 'doc/cpu_supplement/general.t')
-rw-r--r-- | doc/cpu_supplement/general.t | 342 |
1 files changed, 342 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/doc/cpu_supplement/general.t b/doc/cpu_supplement/general.t new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..c4f277d27f --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/cpu_supplement/general.t @@ -0,0 +1,342 @@ +@c +@c COPYRIGHT (c) 1988-2002. +@c On-Line Applications Research Corporation (OAR). +@c All rights reserved. +@c +@c $Id$ +@c + +@ifinfo +@end ifinfo +@chapter Port Specific Information + +This chaper provides a general description of the type of +architecture specific information which is in each of +the architecture specific chapters that follow. The outline +of this chapter is identical to that of the architecture +specific chapters. + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this +introductory section will provide an overview of the +architecture + +@subheading Architecture Documents + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this +section will provide pointers on where to obtain +documentation. + +@c +@c +@c +@section CPU Model Dependent Features + +Microprocessors are generally classified into families with a variety of +CPU models or implementations within that family. Within a processor +family, there is a high level of binary compatibility. This family +may be based on either an architectural specification or on maintaining +compatibility with a popular processor. Recent microprocessor families +such as the SPARC or PowerPC are based on an architectural specification +which is independent or any particular CPU model or implementation. +Older families such as the M68xxx and the iX86 evolved as the manufacturer +strived to produce higher performance processor models which maintained +binary compatibility with older models. + +RTEMS takes advantage of the similarity of the various models within a +CPU family. Although the models do vary in significant ways, the high +level of compatibility makes it possible to share the bulk of the CPU +dependent executive code across the entire family. Each processor family +supported by RTEMS has a list of features which vary between CPU models +within a family. For example, the most common model dependent feature +regardless of CPU family is the presence or absence of a floating point +unit or coprocessor. When defining the list of features present on a +particular CPU model, one simply notes that floating point hardware +is or is not present and defines a single constant appropriately. +Conditional compilation is utilized to include the appropriate source +code for this CPU model's feature set. It is important to note that +this means that RTEMS is thus compiled using the appropriate feature set +and compilation flags optimal for this CPU model used. The alternative +would be to generate a binary which would execute on all family members +using only the features which were always present. + +The set of CPU model feature macros are defined in the file +@code{cpukit/score/cpu/CPU/rtems/score/cpu.h} based upon the GNU tools +multilib variant that is appropriate for the particular CPU model defined +on the compilation command line. + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this section presents +the set of features which vary across various implementations of the +architecture that may be of importance to RTEMS application developers. + +The subsections will vary amongst the target architecture chapters as +the specific features may vary. However, each port will include a few +common features such as the CPU Model Name and presence of a hardware +Floating Point Unit. The common features are described here. + +@subsection CPU Model Name + +The macro @code{CPU_MODEL_NAME} is a string which designates +the name of this CPU model. For example, for the MC68020 +processor model from the m68k architecture, this macro +is set to the string "mc68020". + +@subsection Floating Point Unit + +In most architectures, the presence of a floating point unit is an option. +It does not matter whether the hardware floating point support is +incorporated on-chip or is an external coprocessor as long as it +appears an FPU per the ISA. However, if a hardware FPU is not present, +it is possible that the floating point emulation library for this +CPU is not reentrant and thus context switched by RTEMS. + +RTEMS provides two feature macros to indicate the FPU configuration: + +@itemize @bullet + +@item CPU_HARDWARE_FP +is set to TRUE to indicate that a hardware FPU is present. + +@item CPU_SOFTWARE_FP +is set to TRUE to indicate that a hardware FPU is not present and that +the FP software emulation will be context switched. + +@end itemize + +@c +@c +@c +@section Calling Conventions + +Each high-level language compiler generates subroutine entry and exit +code based upon a set of rules known as the compiler's calling convention. +These rules address the following issues: + +@itemize @bullet +@item register preservation and usage +@item parameter passing +@item call and return mechanism +@end itemize + +A compiler's calling convention is of importance when +interfacing to subroutines written in another language either +assembly or high-level. Even when the high-level language and +target processor are the same, different compilers may use +different calling conventions. As a result, calling conventions +are both processor and compiler dependent. + +@subsection Calling Mechanism + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this subsection will +describe the instruction(s) used to perform a @i{normal} subroutine +invocation. All RTEMS directives are invoked as @i{normal} C language +functions so it is important to the user application to understand the +call and return mechanism. + +@subsection Register Usage + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this subsection will +detail the set of registers which are @b{NOT} preserved across subroutine +invocations. The registers which are not preserved are assumed to be +available for use as scratch registers. Therefore, the contents of these +registers should not be assumed upon return from any RTEMS directive. + +In some architectures, there may be a set of registers made available +automatically as a side-effect of the subroutine invocation +mechanism. + +@subsection Parameter Passing + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this subsection will +describe the mechanism by which the parameters or arguments are passed +by the caller to a subroutine. In some architectures, all parameters +are passed on the stack while in others some are passed in registers. + +@subsection User-Provided Routines + +All user-provided routines invoked by RTEMS, such as +user extensions, device drivers, and MPCI routines, must also +adhere to these calling conventions. + +@c +@c +@c +@section Memory Model + +A processor may support any combination of memory +models ranging from pure physical addressing to complex demand +paged virtual memory systems. RTEMS supports a flat memory +model which ranges contiguously over the processor's allowable +address space. RTEMS does not support segmentation or virtual +memory of any kind. The appropriate memory model for RTEMS +provided by the targeted processor and related characteristics +of that model are described in this chapter. + +@subsection Flat Memory Model + +Most RTEMS target processors can be initialized to support a flat address +space. Although the size of addresses varies between architectures, on +most RTEMS targets, an address is 32-bits wide which defines addresses +ranging from 0x00000000 to 0xFFFFFFFF (4 gigabytes). Each address is +represented by a 32-bit value and is byte addressable. The address may be +used to reference a single byte, word (2-bytes), or long word (4 bytes). +Memory accesses within this address space may be performed in little or +big endian fashion. + +On smaller CPU architectures supported by RTEMS, the address space +may only be 20 or 24 bits wide. + +If the CPU model has support for virtual memory or segmentation, it is +the responsibility of the Board Support Package (BSP) to initialize the +MMU hardware to perform address translations which correspond to flat +memory model. + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this subsection will +describe any architecture characteristics that differ from this general +description. + +@c +@c +@c +@section Interrupt Processing + +Different types of processors respond to the occurrence of an interrupt +in its own unique fashion. In addition, each processor type provides +a control mechanism to allow for the proper handling of an interrupt. +The processor dependent response to the interrupt modifies the current +execution state and results in a change in the execution stream. Most +processors require that an interrupt handler utilize some special control +mechanisms to return to the normal processing stream. Although RTEMS +hides many of the processor dependent details of interrupt processing, +it is important to understand how the RTEMS interrupt manager is mapped +onto the processor's unique architecture. + +RTEMS supports a dedicated interrupt stack for all architectures. +On architectures with hardware support for a dedicated interrupt stack, +it will be initialized such that when an interrupt occurs, the processor +automatically switches to this dedicated stack. On architectures without +hardware support for a dedicated interrupt stack which is separate from +those of the tasks, RTEMS will support switching to a dedicated stack +for interrupt processing. + +Without a dedicated interrupt stack, every task in +the system MUST have enough stack space to accommodate the worst +case stack usage of that particular task and the interrupt +service routines COMBINED. By supporting a dedicated interrupt +stack, RTEMS significantly lowers the stack requirements for +each task. + +A nested interrupt is processed similarly with the exception that since +the CPU is already executing on the interrupt stack, there is no need +to switch to the interrupt stack. + +In some configurations, RTEMS allocates the interrupt stack from the +Workspace Area. The amount of memory allocated for the interrupt stack +is user configured and based upon the @code{confdefs.h} parameter +@code{CONFIGURE_INTERRUPT_STACK_SIZE}. This parameter is described +in detail in the Configuring a System chapter of the User's Guide. +On configurations in which RTEMS allocates the interrupt stack, during +the initialization process, RTEMS will also install its interrupt stack. +In other configurations, the interrupt stack is allocated and installed +by the Board Support Package (BSP). + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this section discesses +the interrupt response and control mechanisms of the architecture as +they pertain to RTEMS. + +@subsection Vectoring of an Interrupt Handler + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this subsection will +describe the architecture specific details of the interrupt vectoring +process. In particular, it should include a description of the +Interrupt Stack Frame (ISF). + +@subsection Interrupt Levels + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this subsection will +describe how the interrupt levels available on this particular architecture +are mapped onto the 255 reserved in the task mode. The interrupt level +value of zero (0) should always mean that interrupts are enabled. + +Any use of an interrupt level that is is not undefined on a particular +architecture may result in behavior that is unpredictable. + +@subsection Disabling of Interrupts by RTEMS + +During the execution of directive calls, critical sections of code may +be executed. When these sections are encountered, RTEMS disables all +external interrupts before the execution of this section and restores +them to the previous level upon completion of the section. RTEMS has +been optimized to ensure that interrupts are disabled for the shortest +number of instructions possible. Since the precise number of instructions +and their execution time varies based upon target CPU family, CPU model, +board memory speed, compiler version, and optimization level, it is +not practical to provide the precise number for all possible RTEMS +configurations. + +Historically, the measurements were made by hand analyzing and counting +the execution time of instruction sequences during interrupt disable +critical sections. For reference purposes, on a 16 Mhz Motorola +MC68020, the maximum interrupt disable period was typically approximately +ten (10) to thirteen (13) microseconds. This architecture was memory bound +and had a slow bit scan instruction. In contrast, during the same +period a 14 Mhz SPARC would have a worst case disable time of approximately +two (2) to three (3) microseconds because it had a single cycle bit scan +instruction and used fewer cycles for memory accesses. + +If you are interested in knowing the worst case execution time for +a particular version of RTEMS, please contact OAR Corporation and +we will be happy to product the results as a consulting service. + +Non-maskable interrupts (NMI) cannot be disabled, and +ISRs which execute at this level MUST NEVER issue RTEMS system +calls. If a directive is invoked, unpredictable results may +occur due to the inability of RTEMS to protect its critical +sections. However, ISRs that make no system calls may safely +execute as non-maskable interrupts. + + +@c +@c +@c +@section Default Fatal Error Processing + +Upon detection of a fatal error by either the application or RTEMS during +initialization the @code{rtems_fatal_error_occurred} directive supplied +by the Fatal Error Manager is invoked. The Fatal Error Manager will +invoke the user-supplied fatal error handlers. If no user-supplied +handlers are configured or all of them return without taking action to +shutdown the processor or reset, a default fatal error handler is invoked. + +Most of the action performed as part of processing the fatal error are +described in detail in the Fatal Error Manager chapter in the User's +Guide. However, the if no user provided extension or BSP specific fatal +error handler takes action, the final default action is to invoke a +CPU architecture specific function. Typically this function disables +interrupts and halts the processor. + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this describes the precise +operations of the default CPU specific fatal error handler. + +@c +@c +@c + +@section Board Support Packages + +An RTEMS Board Support Package (BSP) must be designed to support a +particular processor model and target board combination. + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this section will present +a discussion of architecture specific BSP issues. For more information +on developing a BSP, refer to BSP and Device Driver Development Guide +and the chapter titled Board Support Packages in the RTEMS +Applications User's Guide. + +@subsection System Reset + +An RTEMS based application is initiated or re-initiated when the processor +is reset or transfer is passed to it from a boot monitor or ROM monitor. + +In each of the architecture specific chapters, this subsection describes +the actions that the BSP must tak assuming the application gets control +when the microprocessor is reset. |