Nostradamus: Low-cost hardware-only error detection for processor cores

We propose a new, low-cost, hardware-only scheme to detect errors in superscalar, out-of-order processor cores. For each instruction decoded, Nostradamus compares what the instruction is expected to do against what the instruction actually does. We implement Nostradamus in RTL on top of a baseline superscalar, out-of-order core, and we experimentally evaluate its ability to detect injected errors. We also evaluate Nostradamus's area and power overheads. © 2014 EDAA.

Duke Scholars

Author Daniel J. Sorin Electrical and Computer Engineering