Integrated link-based data recorder for semiconductor chip

摘要

Programmable data recorders are provided in a network semiconductor chip to monitor and record all or portions of data from various interfaces, including the input and output interfaces of network links interfacing the chip. A data recorder is provided for each network link. The data recorders store captured data in storage arrays. Data may be compressed and associated with time stamps to conserve space in the storage arrays. A data recorder manager in the chip may start and stop the data recorders at approximately the same time. The programmable mode of the data recorders determines which interfaces are monitored, the portion of data captured, and the format of the data in the storage arrays.

主权项

1. A method for capturing data in a network semiconductor chip, the network semiconductor chip interfacing a number of network links, the method comprising:
configuring a plurality of a number of data recorders in the network semiconductor chip, the number of data recorders equal to the number of network links, each data recorder associated with a network link, each data recorder for monitoring a plurality of data interfaces, the plurality of data interfaces including an input interface of the associated network link and an output interface of the associated network link, each data recorder having a programmable mode; enabling a data recorder manager in the network semiconductor chip, the data recorder manager in communication with the number of data recorders; recording, by the plurality of data recorders, a target portion of the data crossing a selected data interface, the target portion determined by the programmable mode of each of the plurality of data recorders; indicating, by the data recorder manager, to stop recording, the indicating in response to a triggering event; and stopping recording, substantially simultaneously by a plurality of the recording data recorders.