ScanWorks® Platform for Embedded Instruments

I/O Instrumentation Technologies

Validating and testing serial input/output (I/O) buses and chip-to-chip links is expensive, difficult and often ineffective when the speeds of these buses reach and exceed 5 gigabits per second (Gbps). As bus speeds approach 5 Gbps, test pads for intrusive probe-based validation and test methodologies cannot be placed on these buses. Doing so would corrupt the signaling on the bus.

As a result, many chip vendors are now embedding validation and test instrumentation into their chips so that I/O buses can be validated and tested non-intrusively – without probes or a bed-of-nails fixtures. The embedded instruments can assert test patterns onto these buses so that tools can perform a variety of tests such as bit error rate tests (BERT), margining tests and others. When deployed in concert with other non-intrusive validation and test technologies, such as processor-controlled test (PCT), boundary-scan test and core instrumentation, chips, boards and systems can be thoroughly and cost-effectively validated, tested and debugged.

Intel® IBIST

Intel IBIST (Interconnect Built-In Self Test) is an embedded instrumentation technology that Intel is inserting into its next-generation chips and chipsets. SanWorks is the only platform in the industry with Intel IBIST tools for validating and testing high-speed serial buses such as Intel’s QuickPath Interconnect (QPI), PCI Express® (PCIe), Direct Memory Interface (DMI), and Double Data Rate 3rd Generation (DDR3).

Web page: Intel IBIST Toolkit for the ScanWorks Platform

Fact Sheet: “ScanWorks Intel IBIST QPI Validation Toolkit”

Avago IBIST

ScanWorks has I/O instrumentation tools for Avago Technologies’ Intel® Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) SerDes (serializer/deserializer) core which includes Intel IBIST and is suitable for ASICs in high-performance server applications.

News Release: “ASSET’s ScanWorks supports on-chip evaluation of Avago Technologies’ ASICs”

PLX® visionPAK

ScanWorks will support PLX® Technology’s on-chip visionPAK™ packet generator/system analyzer toolset for PCI Express switching devices.

News Release: “ASSET’s ScanWorks will support PLX Technology’s PCI Express switch family’s visionPAK diagnostic toolset”

For more information on any of the other technologies supported by the ScanWorks platform, click one of the following links:

• Boundary-Scan Test (JTAG)
• Processor-Controlled Test (PCT)
• Core Instrumentation

Ask us for the ROI you're likely to get when you validate and test high-speed I/O on your board designs.