Nios® V Processor: Lockstep Implementation User Guide

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ID 833274
Date 4/17/2025
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. About the Nios® V Processor Lockstep 2. Overview 3. Controlling the Nios® V Processor Lockstep 4. Programming Model 5. Signals, Interfaces, and Build Parameters 6. Using Nios® V Processor Lock Step A. Document Revision History for the Nios® V Processor: Lockstep Implementation User Guide B. Appendix
1. About the Nios® V Processor Lockstep x
1.1. Nios® V Processor Lockstep Features
2. Overview x
2.1. Introduction 2.2. Main Principles 2.3. Operating Modes 2.4. Resets 2.5. LOGS Information
2.2. Main Principles x
2.2.1. System Phases 2.2.2. System States 2.2.3. Safety Mechanisms
2.2.2. System States x
2.2.2.1. Transitioning between System States
2.2.3. Safety Mechanisms x
2.2.3.1. Self-Checking Comparator 2.2.3.2. Timeout Timer 2.2.3.3. Reset and Enable Counters 2.2.3.4. Specialized Safety Mechanism
2.3. Operating Modes x
2.3.1. NORMAL and SILENT Modes
2.4. Resets x
2.4.1. Resetting CORE 2.4.2. Resetting OPTIONS 2.4.3. Resetting LOGS 2.4.4. Resetting Time Diversity Register and Comparator Blind Window
2.5. LOGS Information x
2.5.1. ALARMS 2.5.2. CONTEXT 2.5.3. STATISTICS 2.5.4. Reset LOGS
2.5.1. ALARMS x
2.5.1.1. Configuring Alarm Severity
3. Controlling the Nios® V Processor Lockstep x
3.1. Configuration Interface 3.2. Controlling the Elective Features
3.2. Controlling the Elective Features x
3.2.1. Applying Timeout and Comparator Blind Window 3.2.2. Injecting Fault 3.2.3. Downloading the CPU Software 3.2.4. Debugging the CPU Software using SILENT Mode 3.2.5. Resetting the CPU upon Fault Detection
3.2.1. Applying Timeout and Comparator Blind Window x
3.2.1.1. Timeout 3.2.1.2. Comparator Blind Window 3.2.1.3. Calculating the Blind Window and Timeout Period
3.2.2. Injecting Fault x
3.2.2.1. Root Fault Injection 3.2.2.2. Alarm Fault Injection
3.2.4. Debugging the CPU Software using SILENT Mode x
3.2.4.1. Entering SILENT Mode 3.2.4.2. SILENT Mode Limitation 3.2.4.3. Exiting SILENT Mode
3.2.5. Resetting the CPU upon Fault Detection x
3.2.5.1. Basic Reset Control 3.2.5.2. Extended Reset Control
3.2.5.2. Extended Reset Control x
3.2.5.2.1. Automatic CPUs Reset Request 3.2.5.2.2. Manual CPUs Reset Request
4. Programming Model x
4.1. Memory Map 4.2. Configuring fRSmartComp during Run-time 4.3. Unlocking and Locking Registers 4.4. Detailed Register Description
4.1. Memory Map x
4.1.1. Memory Map—Part 1 4.1.2. Memory Map—Part 2 4.1.3. Memory Map—Part 3
4.4. Detailed Register Description x
4.4.1. CPUs’ Reset Control Register - DCLSM_CPURC 4.4.2. DCLSM Basic Control Register - DCLSM_CTRL 4.4.3. DCLSM Blind Window Control Register - DCLSM_BWCR 4.4.4. All Alarms’ Prior Alarms’ Fault Injection Register - ERRCTRL_ALL_ALARMS_PRIOR_AFI 4.4.5. INTREQ Configuration Register - ERRCTRL_INTREQ_CONF 4.4.6. Timeout Deadline and Status Register - ERRCTRL_TIMEOUT 4.4.7. Timeout Acknowledgment Register - ERRCTRL_TIMEOUT_ACK 4.4.8. Enable Key fRSmartComp Control Register - ERRCTRL_ENABLE_KEY 4.4.9. Root Fault Injection Control register - ERRCTRL_ROOT_INJ 4.4.10. Alarm Fault Injection Control register - ERRCTRL_ALARM_INJ 4.4.11. Event Mask Configuration register - ERRCTRL_MASKA and ERRCTRL_MASKB 4.4.12. Alarm Routing Configuration register - ERRCTRL_ROUTA and ERRCTRL_ROUTB 4.4.13. Error Controller PGO LOG Reset Control register - ERRCTRL_PGOLOGRST 4.4.14. PGO0 and PGO4 Configuration registers - ERRCTRL_PGO0 and ERRCTRL_PGO4 4.4.15. FN_MODEIN Control Register - ERRCTRL_FNMODEIN 4.4.16. FN_MODEOUT register - ERRCTRL_FNMODEOUT 4.4.17. All Alarms After Fault Injection - ERRCTRL_FNGIALARMS 4.4.18. Error Controller Context Register - ERRCTRL_FNGICTXT4 4.4.19. CMP Mismatch CONTEXT Registers - ERRCTRL_FNGICMPCTXT0 … ERRCTRL_FNGICMPCTXT3 4.4.20. STATISTICS registers: ERRCTRL_FNGISTAT0 and ERRCTRL_FNGISTAT4 4.4.21. State register - ERRCTRL_FNPERIPHGI4
5. Signals, Interfaces, and Build Parameters x
5.1. Configuration Interface 5.2. System Interface 5.3. Extended Reset Interface 5.4. IP Parameters
6. Using Nios® V Processor Lock Step x
6.1. Instantiating Lockstep-Enabled Processor 6.2. Connecting Signals and Interfaces 6.3. Compiling Design 6.4. Implementing Startup Procedure 6.5. Applying Optional Injection for Validation 6.6. Detecting Faults 6.7. Handling Faults (Safety Use Case)
6.2. Connecting Signals and Interfaces x
6.2.1. Connecting Clock and Reset 6.2.2. Connecting Configuration Interface 6.2.3. Connecting System Interface
6.2.1. Connecting Clock and Reset x
6.2.1.1. Clock 6.2.1.2. Reset
6.2.1.2. Reset x
6.2.1.2.1. Basic Reset Control 6.2.1.2.2. Extended Reset Control
6.2.3. Connecting System Interface x
6.2.3.1. Silent Mode Interface 6.2.3.2. Interrupt Request (INTREQ) 6.2.3.3. ALARMS Interfaces
6.7. Handling Faults (Safety Use Case) x
6.7.1. UC_01: Standard Fail Safe or No Availability 6.7.2. UC_02: False Positive Avoidance 6.7.3. UC_03: Timeout on System Reset or After Fault Detection 6.7.4. UC_04: Fail Safe after Fault Discrimination 6.7.5. UC_05: Fail Safe after Fault Discrimination and Functional Downgrade
1. About the Nios® V Processor Lockstep
2. Overview
3. Controlling the Nios® V Processor Lockstep
4. Programming Model
5. Signals, Interfaces, and Build Parameters
6. Using Nios® V Processor Lock Step
A. Document Revision History for the Nios® V Processor: Lockstep Implementation User Guide
B. Appendix

1. About the Nios® V Processor Lockstep

Updated for:
Intel® Quartus® Prime Design Suite 25.1
The Nios® V Processor Lockstep feature utilizes fRSmartComp technology to implement a smart comparator in register transfer level (RTL). Altera utilizes the Dual-Core Lock Step (DCLS) safety architecture to implement the smart comparator. This approach allows for the integration of the technology into the Nios® V/g processor, allowing for the design of fail-safe applications.
Table 1.  The Benefits of Safety Use Cases and Comparing Standard DCLS with Lockstep
Use Case Type Uses Case Application Benefit Standard DCLS LockStep
Standard Fail-safe Fail-safe √ √
Smart False Positive Avoidance Improved Availability -  
Fail-safe after Fault Discrimination - √
Fail Safe after Fault Discrimination and Functional Downgrade - √
Timeout on System Reset and Detection Improved Robustness - √
Figure 1. Block Diagram of Nios® V Processor Lockstep System

A system supervisor controls the fRSmartComp by managing its configuration and system interface. The system supervisor determines when to activate a safe state or implement other measures to address failures at the system level. The system supervisor can be the host Nios® V processor CPU or an external manager. The Lockstep feature acts as passive diagnostic logic, providing safety features.


Section Content
Nios V Processor Lockstep Features

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