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CHAPTER 13
INTEGRATION TOOLS
The integration tool set for the Pentium II processor system designs includes an In-Target
Probe (ITP) for program execution control, register/memory/IO access and breakpoint
control. This tool provides functionality commonly associated with debuggers and emulators.
The ITP uses on-chip debug features of the Pentium II processor to provide program
execution control. Use of the ITP will not affect the high speed operations of the processor
signals, ensuring the system can operate at full speed with the ITP attached.
This document describes the ITP as well as a number of technical issues that must be taken
into account when including the ITP and logic analyzer interconnect tools in a debug
strategy. Although the tool description that follows is specific to early tools available from
Intel, similar tools may also be provided in the future by third-party vendors. Thus, the tools
mentioned should not be considered as Intel's tools, but as debug tools in the generic sense.
In general, the information in this chapter may be used as a basis for including integration
tools in a Pentium II processor system design.
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13.1. IN-TARGET PROBE (ITP) FOR THE PENTIUM
II
PROCESSOR
An In-Target Probe (ITP) for the Pentium II processor is a debug tool which allows access to
on-chip debug features via a small port on the system board called the debug port. The ITP
communicates to the processor through the debug port using a combination of hardware and
software. The software is a Microsoft Windows* 3.1 application running on a host PC. The
hardware consists of a PCI board in the host PC connected to the signals which make up the
Pentium II processor's debug interface. Due to the nature of the ITP, the processor may be
controlled without affecting any high speed signals. This ensures that the system can operate
at full speed with the ITP attached. Intel will use an ITP for internal debug and system
validation and recommends that all Pentium II processor-based system designs include a
debug port.
13.1.1. Primary Function
The primary function of an ITP is to provide a control and query interface for multiple
processors. With an ITP, one can control program execution and have the ability to access
processor registers, system memory and I/O. Thus, one can start and stop program execution
using a variety of breakpoints, single-step the program at the assembly code level, as well as
read and write registers, memory and I/O. The on-chip debug features are controlled from a
Windows 3.1 software application running on a Pentium or Pentium Pro processor-based PC
with a PCI card slot. (See Figure 13-1.)
13-1
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