I3C Protocol Exerciser
&Analyzer

Management Component Transport Protocol (MCTP) is a DMTF standard that provides a message-passing transport layer for platform management communications. Running MCTP over I3C (MCTP-I3C, DSP0233) enables low-cost, low-power platform management for server BMC subsystems, replacing dedicated SMBus/I2C management channels.

The PGY-I3C-EX-PD provides complete MCTP over I3C decode including message type identification, endpoint addressing, packet assembly across multi-packet messages, and error detection. An optional MCTP exerciser generates MCTP traffic over the I3C physical layer for endpoint validation.

• MCTP baseline message types: Control, NVMe-MI, PLDM, SPDM
• Multi-packet message reassembly and sequence tracking
• MCTP over I3C transport binding per DMTF DSP0233
• Endpoint discovery and routing table display

NVM Express Management Interface (NVMe-MI) defines a management interface for NVMe subsystems. When transported over I3C, NVMe-MI enables out-of-band management of storage devices - including health monitoring, firmware update, and configuration - without requiring a separate management network or PCIe link.

The PGY-I3C-EX-PD decodes NVMe-MI commands and responses over I3C, displaying command type, controller ID, response status, and payload data in the protocol listing view. The exerciser can generate NVMe-MI transactions for DUT validation.

• Full NVMe-MI command decode: Controller Health Status, Read NVMe-MI DS, Configuration Get/Set and Admin command support
• NVMe-MI over SMBus/MCTP tunneling decode
• Exerciser: generate NVMe-MI management commands over I3C transport

Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) is a DMTF standard that enables authentication, attestation, and secure session establishment between platform components. SPDM over I3C is increasingly used in server platforms to verify the identity and firmware integrity of attached devices, from storage controllers to accelerators.

The analyzer decodes SPDM message exchanges over I3C/MCTP transport - displaying GET_VERSION, GET_CAPABILITIES, NEGOTIATE_ALGORITHMS, GET_DIGESTS, GET_CERTIFICATE, CHALLENGE, and MEASUREMENTS sequences in the protocol listing with full payload decode.

• SPDM v1.0, v1.1, v1.2 message decode
• Certificate chain extraction and certificate field parsing
• Measurement block decode for firmware attestation verification
• Session establishment and key exchange decode

Platform Level Data Model (PLDM) is a DMTF standard that standardizes data formats for platform management information including sensors, FRU data, firmware update, and BIOS/UEFI configuration. PLDM over MCTP over I3C creates a complete, unified management stack on the two-wire bus.

The PGY-I3C-EX-PD decodes PLDM messages across all defined message types, enabling engineers to verify that firmware update sequences, sensor polling, and event notification flows are correctly implemented by the DUT.

• PLDM base messaging control and discovery commands

The PGY-I3C-EX-PD is a comprehensive I3C exerciser and protocol analyzer designed for engineers developing and validating devices against the MIPI I3C v1.2 specifications. Combining Controller and Target emulation, real-time traffic capture, decode, and a fully integrated Conformance Test Suite, it delivers everything needed for functional validation, debug, and compliance testing - in a single standalone instrument with no external tools required.

• Protocol support: MIPI I3C v1.0, v1.1, v1.1.1, and v1.2
• Transfer modes: SDR, HDR-DDR, HDR-TSP, HDR-TSL, HDR-BT
• Emulation: Primary Controller and Target roles
• CTS: 44 Controller + 56 Target automated test cases
• Standalone operation - no external instruments or software dependencies
• Fully integrated GUI for exerciser, analyzer, CTS, and reporting workflows

The MCTP CTS validates that a DUT correctly implements the MCTP specification (DMTF DSP0236) and the MCTP over I3C transport binding (DMTF DSP0233). Tests cover endpoint discovery, message routing, fragmentation and reassembly, error handling, and timing requirements.

• Automated MCTP endpoint discovery and enumeration tests
• Message fragmentation, reassembly, and sequence number validation
• MCTP control command compliance: Set/Get Endpoint ID, Get Message Type Support
• Transport binding compliance for I3C per DSP0233
• Error injection and negative testing for robustness validation
• Structured test report generation with pass/fail/warning classification

The NVMe-MI CTS validates compliance with the NVMe Management Interface specification. Tests are organized across the NVMe-MI command set to verify correct command handling, response format, status codes, and error behavior in the DUT.

• NVMe-MI Controller Health Status Poll (CHSP) command tests
• Read NVMe-MI Data Structure tests: Controller List, Controller Information, Opt Supp Cmd List
• NVMe-MI Configuration Get and Set command validation
• VPD Read/Write command tests
• Error response validation: invalid commands, out-of-range parameters
• Timing and response latency compliance tests

The SPDM CTS validates DMTF SPDM specification compliance across the full authentication and attestation flow. Tests are sequenced to mirror real device interaction flows - from capability negotiation through certificate exchange to measurement retrieval and session establishment.

• Version negotiation tests: GET_VERSION / VERSION exchange validation
• Capability negotiation: GET_CAPABILITIES / CAPABILITIES compliance
• Algorithm negotiation: NEGOTIATE_ALGORITHMS coverage across required suites
• Certificate chain validation: GET_DIGESTS, GET_CERTIFICATE, chain format tests
• Authentication tests: CHALLENGE / CHALLENGE_AUTH with multiple hash algorithms
• Measurement tests: GET_MEASUREMENTS for firmware attestation compliance
• Negative tests: invalid request handling, replay attack detection

PGY-I3C-EXPD enables deep validation and debug of HDR Bulk Transfer (HDR-BT) mode, delivering high-throughput, efficient, and reliable data communication over I3C.

• HDR-BT frame decoding and visualization
• Burst-level analytics (length, gaps, efficiency)
• Protocol-aware triggering for HDR events
• Timing correlation between SDR and HDR modes
• High-speed capture without data loss
• Error and anomaly detection in burst transfers

PGY-I3C-EXPD enables validation and debug of emerging multi-lane I3C architectures, delivering higher bandwidth, parallel data transfer visibility, and future-ready compliance support.

• Multi-lane data capture and decoding
• Lane-wise and aggregated data analysis
• Cross-lane timing correlation
• High-speed buffering for large data bursts
• Protocol-aware triggering across lanes