Running the Model Tech Simulator on your PC


System Requirements

The Model Tech simulator requires a Pentium or 486-66(or higher) processor, 16 Mb memory, 20 Mb of disk space, Win-95 or WinNT, and a CDROM. It runs fine on a 60 Mhz Pentium. The display should be set to at least 800 x 600; the more resolution, the better.

Installing the Software

You will need to get the Model Tech Simulator CDROM and hardware key from Bob Reese at the ERC. This will require a $200 deposit in the form of a check made out to MSU; the check will not be cashed unless you fail to return the hardware key at the end of the semester.

To install the software, follow the directions on the Model Tech CD (there is a 'readme' file on the CD that gives you explicit directions). Make sure you install the program to a directory named 'vsystem' as suggested by the installation software. This should add a "Model Tech -> V-system" choice to your "Start" program bar.

The Model Tech Simulator documentation is on the CD in the form of ".pdf' files which can be read by the Adobe document reader which is also on the CD. During the installation process you have the option of installing the Adobe document reader.

Plug the the hardware key into the parallal port. Do not use your parallel port as a port for a tape drive unit when the hardware key is plugged in!!! It can damage the key. You can print through the parallel port while the hardware key is installed with no problem.

Getting the Simulation Assignment

The simulation assignment will usually be given in the form of a .ZIP archive which contains two directories; 'src' and 'obj'. Unpack the .ZIP archive for the EE4713 assignment into any directory of your choice. In the 'src' directory, you should see a file called 'vsystem.ini' . Open this file with an editor; you should see some pathnames which refer to the 'vsystem' directories. Edit these pathnames to reflect where the 'vsystem' directories have been installed on your machine.

Running Vsystem

Start up the 'V-system' software. Once the V-System main window is up, use the 'File -> Directory' command to set the current directory to the 'src' directory (should see 'dlxsimple, 'utils', etc.) as subdirectories. You should see a message which says something like "Setting current project file to .../vhdl/src/vsystem.ini".

Compiling VHDL Code

To compile a file you have changed in the 'dlxsimple' directory, choose the 'File -> Compile VHDL' command. When the 'Compile VHDL Source' window appears, set the 'Target Library' to 'dlxsimple', choose the file you wish to compile via the file selector, then click on the 'compile' button. You should see compiler messages appear in the main Vsystem window.

If you get the error 'Could not open library work", then you did not set the 'Target Libary' to 'dlxsimple'.

Compile all files which you have changed, then click on the 'done' button.

Simulating your VHDL

To simulate, type: 

  vsim -lib dlxsimple
in the Vsystem command window, then choose the VHDL configuration you wish to load. You can also type in the name of the configuration: 
  vsim -lib dlxsimple cfg_acid_test
Once the simulator window is up, type: 

   do wave.do
to execute the command file that puts the waveforms you wish to see in the waveform window. To run the simulation for a specified period of time use the 'run' command, e.g.: 
   run 1000 ns
This will run the simulator for 1000 ns; you should see the waveforms update in the 'wave' window. Type 'quit' to exit the simulator.