Microarchitecture verification by compositional model checking

Abstract

Compositional model checking is used to verify a processor microarchitecture containing most of the features of a modern microprocessor, including branch prediction, speculative execution, out-of-order execution and a load-store buffer supporting re-ordering and load for­warding. We observe that the proof methodology scales well, in that the incremental proof cost of each feature is low. The proof is also quite concise with respect to proofs of similar microarchitecture models using other methods.