CSE240: Intermediate Computer Systems
Spring 2001

Jeffrey A. Meunier
Computer Science and Engineering
University of Connecticut
jeffm@cse.uconn.edu

This is a course in the low level programming of microprocessor systems. The course will focus on the development of an emulator (virtual machine, or VM) for a modern RISC microprocessor using a high level programming language, and assembly language programming of the VM. Development of the VM will occur in stages, starting with the simple direct-execution (stream-based) model, gradually moving to a more realistic memory-mapped model, with cache and virtual memory, exception handlers, concurrent processes, asynchronous external devices, and networking.

The use of a VM instead of a real machine provides students the opportunity to study the device without having to use the actual hardware. This is beneficial for a number of reasons:

• Comparative features one would find on a different microprocessor can be tested, this includes different instructions, or a different number or use of registers.

• It is possible and easy to add features not found on the actual device. An example of this is a TCP/IP stack, which would allow networked mocroprocessors to be simulated.

• Parts of a system which are normally found in hardware can be studied by simulating them in software, such as cache memory.

• The microprocessor's realism can be developed gradually, which in turn allows the study of the microprocessor to occur in stages, without needing to consider the entire device all at once.

This course is intended to be taken concurrently with or following CSE241 Computer Organization.