摘要 |
Watchdog instructions embedded within the actual microcode that is executed by the processor. Accordingly, as the processor reads and executes the microcode, the processor occasionally encounters the watchdog instruction. Each time the processor executes the watchdog instruction, the processor generates a watchdog signal. A watchdog signal detection circuit detects the presence of the periodic signal. If the watchdog signal has not occurred when expected, then some instability has likely occurred. Accordingly, the watchdog signal detection circuit causes some corrective action to be taken when a watchdog signal is not detected when expected. Such corrective action may include, for example, rebooting the system or resetting one or more modules of the system. The inclusion of the watchdog instruction within the microcode increases the chance that the watchdog signal will be an accurate predictor of system stability.
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