EE/CS295 - Instructions for Using MTI's V-System Simulator

Description:

Model Technology ( MTI ) Offers a Full Feature VHDL Simulator. Included with this Product is a User's Manual that has a self-directed tutorial along with the command descriptions. Copies of the manual are available to temporarily borrow from me. Since the manual can be in short supply I've prepared these useful notes on using vsystem. Note that this not a complete list of V-System(tm) commands. Vsim has a rich command language that I've left to the manual to cover.

Commands

vlib [-dos] directory_name

Creates a VHDL Library

vmap [-c] [-del] [library_name] [path_name]

Defines a Mapping Between a VHDL Logical Library and a Physical UNIX Directory by Modifying the vsystem.ini file.

-c

Copies the Default vsystem.ini file from the Installation to the Current Directory

-del

Deletes the Mapping Specified by [library_name]

[library_name]

Specifies the Logical Name of the Library to be Mapped

[path_name]

Specifies the Path of the Directory to Which the Library is to be Mapped. If Omitted, Displays Current Mapping for [library_name]

vdir [-l] [-lib path] [primary]

Lists the Contents of a Library

vcom [options] files

Analyze ( compile ) the VHDL design in files and add it to the spec ified library or library work by default. Options:

-s

Do not load standard

-nowarn #

Do not flag warnings for the warning number specified.

-work path

Specify library WORK

-line #

Specify starting line number

-source

Print the VHDL source line with error messages

-nocheck

Disables run-time range checks

-nodebug

Do not put symbolic debugging information into library

-no1164

Disables optimization for the std_logic_1164 package

-novital fname

Disables optimization for VITAL function fname (all VITAL functions if fname is 'all')

-explicit

Resolve resolution conflicts in favor of explicit functions

-93

Enable support for 1076-93

-87

Disable support for 1076-93

-quiet

Disable 'loading' messages'

vmake

Uses UNIX make program to maintain VHDL Libraries. Prints a makefile to standard output.

vsim [options]

Invoke the VHDL Simulator. Options:

-c | -i

• -c Run in Command Line Mode.
• -i Run Interactively
• Must be First Argument.

-lib

Specifies VHDL Library to Search for Designs; Work is Default

-g

Specifies a value for a generic on a top level entity

-restore |-nocompress|

Restores State of Simulation Using a File Created with the Checkpoint Command.

-sdfmin/typ/max region=

Read in an SDF ( Standard Delay File ) and Apply Delay Values to a Design Model's Generics

• Select One of Minimum/Typical/Maximum Delay Values
• Region Specifies a Level in the Design Hierarchy

  eg. If your Testbench instantiates a design with a label U1 the region is specified /U1

• sdf_filename specifies the SDF that Applies to Region

-sdfnowarn

Disable Waring Messages from SDF Reader

-t

Specify Time Units

-title title

Specify Window Title

Specifies the Name of a Top Level Configuration to be Simulated

Specifies the Name of an Entity to be Simulated

Specifies the Name of an Architecture to be Simulated

-view

Specifies a Log File to Read. Allows you to View Results of Previous Simulation.

vdel [-lib path] [-verbose] primary [secondary]

Deletes a Design Unit from the Specified Library

TroubleShooting Aids

Common Problems and Techniques for Detecting and Correcting:

'vsystem.ini Not Found, Using..'

Note, this informational message is telling you that you are ( probably ) not using the customization file you need and V-System(tm) is good enough to run on the default built-in copy. Do not proceed. Normal operation of V-system(tm) requires a custom vsystem.ini file. If you've followed the lab set up directions provided you should have defined a shell environment variable $VSYSTEM to point to yours.

'Library Not Found'

V-System(tm) uses the vsystem.ini file to locate physical directories that contain VHDL libraries. Use the vmap command to display the currently recognized VHDL libraries and verify all of your library dependencies are satisfied. Use vlib and vmap to correct.

'Incorrect Library Format'

While the Directory structure for VHDL libraries has been stable MTI has recently made incompatable changes that require recompile of all VHDL in the current level. Furthermore, MTI recommends that changes in V-SYSTEM(tm) release level *always* trigger a complete recompile. Never try to mix VHDL libraries compiled in different levels of V-System.(tm) In general, this is good advice to follow for VHDL products.

'XXX not Found' During SDF Back Annotation.

Back Annotation involves the successful integration of two bodies of data that describe the design hierarchy - Your VHDL and Your SDF Delay File. If you receive error messages to the effect that design objects ( components, ports ) are not found you can compare v-systems view of your design to that in the SDF. View the SDF in a favorite text editor while using the following VSIM commmands in the command window.

environment |pathname|

Display or Change Current Signal Environment

show |pathname|

Lists Signals and Subregions Visible from the Current Signal Environment.

Use env subregion and show to traverse the design hierarchy comparing it to the SDF's design hierarchy looking for missing references or inconsistant views of the hierarchy.