To start a UVM Testbench, the run_test() method has to be called from the static part of the Testbench i.e called from an initial block in the top module of the Testbench.
module axi_top;
axi_interface intf(); // interface instance
axi_slave_dut dut() // dut instance
…
...
...
initial begin
uvm_config_db#(virtual axi_interface)::set(uvm_root::get(), "*", "intf", intf); // sets physical interface in uvm config database
run_test("axi_test");
end
...
...
...
endmodule
Once the run_test() method is called, it constructs the root component of the UVM environment & then triggers the UVM Phasing process. The run_test() method can be passed with a string argument, which in the above code is “axi_test”, to define the default type name which is used as the root node of the Testbench Hierarchy.
In addition, run_test() method also checks for a command line plusarg called UVM_TESTNAME and uses that plusarg string to lookup a factory registered uvm_component to override any default type name.
Hence to execute the “axi_test” using command line plusarg, we’ve to use the following command line:
% <simulator executable> +UVM_TESTNAME=axi_test
