DVClub Boston, Q1 2009

Chris Kappler, Achilles Test Systems

Insights and Lessons Learned Verifying the QoS Engine of an Innovative Network Processor

Bio

Christopher Kappler is CEO at Achilles Test Systems. Achilles Test Systems, Inc. provides consulting services and products that maximize the value of customer tools and methodologies by summarizing tool and simulation outputs in collaborative dashboards. Prior to Achilles Test Systems, Christopher worked at Cisco Systems and was the lead architect of the QoS Engine used in Cisco's Quantum Flow Processor. He was instrumental in its conception, architecture, development and successful release. Prior to that, Christopher lead an architectural group at Hammerhead Networks which was acquired by Cisco in 2002. Since 1992, he has worked on ASIC, EDA, and embedded software projects at companies such as C-Port, Meta Systems, Mitsubishi, UB Networks and Sun Labs. Christopher has a Ph.D. from Syracuse University in Computer Systems Engineering, where he was a GAANN Fellow. His MS and BS degrees are also from Syracuse.

Abstract

This talk presents the author's key lessons learned during his employ at a leading network equipment manufacturer. The talk covers verification principles that enable a team to create and execute orders of magnitude more meaningful tests than had been previously possible, and why this philosophy is applicable to achieving first-pass success on many modern SoCs. The talk is a high level overview of the lessons learned from automated test generation, automated test scoring, applying SystemC to QoS, CPU farm management schemes, and test and result organization strategies for multiple model types.