PROGRAMMABLE ERROR ACTIONS FOR A CACHE IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM

摘要

A data processing system (10) and method of operation has a processor (30) coupled to a cache (26). Cache control circuitry (38) is coupled to the cache and performs error detection. A user programmable error action control register (48) stores a control value for selecting a type of error action to be taken when a cache error is detected. A first value of the control value permits handling of a cache error that is transparent to the processor, and a second value permits handling of the cache error by taking an exception that is visible to the processor. Various alternate actions to a detected error, including error correction or cache line invalidation, may be taken in response to other values of the control value.