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uVision Target Simulation of Custom chip

Hello,

I am aiming to develop a custom system based on ARM Cortex-M3 core. This chip will contain some CMSDK default peripherals, but also custom peripherals not present in CMSDK.

How can I simulate the behavior of these peripherals when debugging with Keil uVision since I have no physical target hardware yet?

Thanks in advance.

Parents
  • Hi ViniciusG,

    You are on the right track, the Fast Model product would allow you to take the FVP_MPS2 platform and add a component to it.

    I am trying to download the evaluation version here https://developer.arm.com/products/system-design/fast-models just to get in touch with the tool but the link is not working.

    Can you describe what is failing when you try to download the eval version?

    Can you try with this more direct link: https://silver.arm.com/browse/FE000-KT-00001 ?

    I would also like to ask about the model creation. Is there any reference or guide on how to create models for System Canvas? I have already some IP's written in Verilog, if there is a way to use these as inputs for System Canvas that would be great.

    Fast Models are transaction level models, they would not support models written at RTL level in Verilog, and we don't provide tools to wrap these. There are some hybrid solutions from other EDA vendors that may be able to do this, but I don't know the details. But they probably would not provide the MPS2 platform directly.

    Assuming your component is not too complex, you can rewrite a functional description of it in LISA+ or SystemC/TLM and add it to your FVP_MPS2 model directly.

    Regards,

    Simon

Reply
  • Hi ViniciusG,

    You are on the right track, the Fast Model product would allow you to take the FVP_MPS2 platform and add a component to it.

    I am trying to download the evaluation version here https://developer.arm.com/products/system-design/fast-models just to get in touch with the tool but the link is not working.

    Can you describe what is failing when you try to download the eval version?

    Can you try with this more direct link: https://silver.arm.com/browse/FE000-KT-00001 ?

    I would also like to ask about the model creation. Is there any reference or guide on how to create models for System Canvas? I have already some IP's written in Verilog, if there is a way to use these as inputs for System Canvas that would be great.

    Fast Models are transaction level models, they would not support models written at RTL level in Verilog, and we don't provide tools to wrap these. There are some hybrid solutions from other EDA vendors that may be able to do this, but I don't know the details. But they probably would not provide the MPS2 platform directly.

    Assuming your component is not too complex, you can rewrite a functional description of it in LISA+ or SystemC/TLM and add it to your FVP_MPS2 model directly.

    Regards,

    Simon

Children
  • Hi Simon,

    Can you describe what is failing when you try to download the eval version?

    I used to get an error page when clicking on "Evaluate for Windows", but now it started to work somehow. I am downloading it now. Thank you!

    I am just wondering about the licenses. It's not clear enough for me yet if just the MDK-Pro license is sufficient for writing new components and simulate them with Keil uVision...

  • Hi Vinicius,

    I am just wondering about the licenses. It's not clear enough for me yet if just the MDK-Pro license is sufficient for writing new components and simulate them with Keil uVision...

    No, you will need a Fast Models license to create the custom model and to run it afterwards, the MDK-Pro license won't include this.

    You will be able to run this model within U-Vision: http://www.keil.com/support/man/docs/fstmdls/fstmdls_debug_cfg.htm

    Regards,

    Simon

  • Hi Simon,

    Since another license is needed for Fast Models, could I simulate the custom platform in uVision with just a MDK Essencial license instead of the Professional one?

    BR,

    Vinícius.

  • Hi Vinicius,

    as I said in my first answer to you in paragraph 2), you can use the built-in uVision simulator as well. The simulator works in every MDK edition (also MDK Essential), even in MDK-Lite with a 32K application code size limit. 

    Regards,

    Hans

  • But, if I got it right, the built-in uVision simulator won't be able to simulate my custom hardware, is that correct?

    That's why I asked about the creation of my own custom simulator, and the possibility of using this simulator in uVision with the MDK Essential license. Just to be sure if I am restricted to the Professional license option.

  • But, if I got it right, the built-in uVision simulator won't be able to simulate my custom hardware, is that correct?

    No, as I said in my first answer, the uVision simulator can be extended via AGSI interface (see http://www.keil.com/appnotes/docs/apnt_196.asp) to simulate your custom hardware/peripherals. The application note shows how to do that and provides a Microsoft Visual Studio example project.

    That's why I asked about the creation of my own custom simulator, and the possibility of using this simulator in uVision with the MDK Essential license. Just to be sure if I am restricted to the Professional license option

    The MDK professional license is only needed for the Fixed Virtual Platform (Fast Models) simulator. Please see our compare MDK editions table (http://www2.keil.com/mdk5/selector) for more details. All MDK editions support the uVision simulator and the possibility to extend it via AGSI interface. The MDK Lite only supports up to 32K application code.