REFLECTIONS ON THE PENTIUM DIVISION BUG

We review the field of result-checking and suggest that it be extended to a methodology for enforcing hardware/software reliability. We ther eby formulate a vision for ''self-monitoring'' hardware/software whose reliability is augmented through embedded suites of run-time correctn ess checkers. In particular, we suggest that embedded checkers and cor rectors may be employed to safeguard against arithmetic errors such as that which has bedeviled the Intel Pentium Microprocessor. We specify checkers and correctors suitable for monitoring the multiplication an d division functionalities of an arbitrary arithmetic processor and se amlessly correcting erroneous output which may occur for any reason du ring the lifetime of the chip.