Learn Verilog by Example

In verilog a random number can be generated by using the $random keyword but that works only for simulation purposes and cannot be implemented. So when we need a random number for implementation i.e. in hardware it can be achieved using an LFSR (Liner Feedback Shift Register). An LFSR is simply a shift register with some of its bits (known as taps) XOR'd with themselves to create a feedback term. When implementing an LFSR it's width and it's repeatability must be kept under consideration .An N-bit LFSR will be able to generate (2**N) - 1 random bits before it starts repeating. For example a 30 bit LFSR will have 1073741823 random states before repeating, so for most practical purposes this can be considered true random. In an LFSR the MSB will always be the feedback point also the main thing to take care of while coding an LFSR is to know which bits are the taps (to be selected for XOR ). This is confusing as the taps are different for different size registers. For e...