Intel Verification Engineer Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

PCIe linkup involves several stages for establishing communication between devices.

• Initialization of the link layer

• Negotiation of link width and speed

• Training sequence to optimize signal quality

• Establishment of a data link layer connection

• Configuration of the transaction layer

• Exchange of transaction layer packets

• Completion of the linkup process

Ensure data integrity through proper communication protocols and error checking mechanisms.

• Use reliable communication protocols such as TCP/IP or UART

• Implement error checking mechanisms such as CRC or checksums

• Perform thorough testing and validation of the communication interface

• Ensure proper synchronization between HW and SW

• Implement retry mechanisms in case of communication failures

FIFO full condition occurs when the FIFO buffer is completely filled with data.

• Occurs when the number of items in the FIFO buffer reaches its maximum capacity

• Further writes to the FIFO buffer are blocked until some data is read out

• Can lead to data loss if not managed properly