227-0085-35L Projects & Seminars: Enabling Secure, Reliable and Fast Memory with Hands-On FPGA Experiments
| Semester | Spring Semester 2021 |
| Lecturers | O. Mutlu |
| Periodicity | every semester recurring course |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Comment | Only for Electrical Engineering and Information Technology BSc. The course unit can only be taken once. Repeated enrollment in a later semester is not creditable. |
Courses
| Number | Title | Hours | Lecturers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 227-0085-35 P | Projekte & Seminare: Enabling Secure, Reliable and Fast Memory with Hands-On FPGA Experiments
 Für den Zugang zum Angebot und zur Einschreibung loggen Sie sich hier ein (mit Ihrem n.ETHZ account): https://psapp.ee.ethz.ch/ Bitte beachten Sie, dass die Seite jeweils erst zwei Wochen vor Semesterbeginn zugänglich ist und im Verlauf des Semesters wieder abgeschaltet wird. Die Einschreibung ist nur von Freitag vor Semesterbeginn bis zum ersten Freitagmittag im Semester möglich. To access the offer and to enroll for courses log in (with your n.ethz account): https://psapp.ee.ethz.ch/ Please note that the P&S-site is accessible no earlier than two weeks before the start of the semester until four weeks after the start of the semester. Enrollment is only possible from Friday before the start of the semester until noon of the first Friday in the semester. Time: To be arranged with each student Location: various | 3 hrs | O. Mutlu |
Catalogue data
| Abstract | The category of "Laboratory Courses, Projects, Seminars" includes courses and laboratories in various formats designed to impart practical knowledge and skills. Moreover, these classes encourage independent experimentation and design, allow for explorative learning and teach the methodology of project work. |
| Learning objective | DRAM is predominantly used to build the main memory systems of modern computing devices. To improve the performance, reliability, and security of DRAM, it is critical to perform experimental characterization and analysis of existing cutting-edge DRAM chips. SoftMC is an FPGA-based DRAM testing infrastructure that enables the programmer to perform all low-level DRAM operations (i.e., DDR commands) in a cycle-accurate manner. SoftMC provides a simple and intuitive high-level programming interface (in C++) that completely hides the low-level details of the FPGA from programmers. Programmers implement test routines in C++, and the test routines automatically get translated into the low-level SoftMC memory controller operations in the FPGA. SoftMC developers write low-level hardware description language code to enable new and faster studies. In this P&S, you will have the chance to learn how DRAM is organized and operates in a low-level and gain practical experience in using SoftMC while developing SoftMC programs for new DRAM characterization studies related to performance, reliability and security. You may also improve the SoftMC infrastructure itself to enable new studies. And, who knows, you might discover new security vulnerabilities like RowHammer. This will be the right P&S for you if you are interested in DRAM technology and would like to learn more about it as well as FPGA technology and how it can be used for practical purposes such as understanding and mitigating RowHammer attacks, generating true random numbers, reducing memory latency, fingerprinting and identifying devices, and improving reliability. Prerequisites of the course: - Digital Design and Computer Architecture (or equivalent course) - Familiarity with FPGA programming - Interest in low-level hacking and memory - Interest in discovering why things do or do not work and solving problems The course is conducted in English. Course website: https://safari.ethz.ch/projects_and_seminars/doku.php?id=softmc |
Performance assessment
| Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again) | |
Performance assessment as a semester course | |
| ECTS credits | 3 credits |
| Examiners | O. Mutlu |
| Type | ungraded semester performance |
| Language of examination | English |
| Repetition | Repetition only possible after re-enrolling for the course unit. |
Learning materials
| No public learning materials available. | |
| Only public learning materials are listed. |
Groups
| No information on groups available. |
Restrictions
| General |  : Special students and auditors need a special permission from the lecturers |
| Places | Limited number of places. Special selection procedure. |
| Beginning of registration period | Registration possible from 19.02.2021 |
| Priority | Registration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group |
| Primary target group | Electrical Engin. + Information Technology BSc (228000) |
| Waiting list | until 12.03.2021 |
| End of registration period | Registration only possible until 05.03.2021 |
Offered in
| Programme | Section | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Bachelor | Projects & Seminars | W |  |