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ARM SystemC Cycle Models now available

Jason Andrews
Jason Andrews
November 22, 2016
3 minute read time.

New SystemC Models

ARM has released new SystemC Cycle Models on ARM IP Exchange. This marks the first time cycle accurate models are available from ARM for SystemC simulation. Along with the new models, a number of example systems are available on ARM System Exchange. Users now have the choice of using SoC Designer or SystemC for creating virtual prototypes. This also provides EDA partners who provide simulation and virtual prototyping based on SystemC another option for ARM models.

Cycle Models are compiled directly from ARM RTL and retain complete functional and cycle accuracy. This enables users to confidently make architecture decisions, optimize performance or develop bare metal software. Cycle Models are used for IP evaluation, system architecture, performance optimization, and software development.

Improving Model Availability and Choice

One of the key Cycle Model improvements made in 2016 has been model availability. Recently, I summarized the difference of attending ARM Techcon before and after joining ARM. During 2016, more models were made available to ARM partners much sooner in the design process. This makes it possible to use models and virtual prototyping tools during the IP evaluation phase of a project to understand behavior and performance of IP. Cycle Models aim to meet the requirements needed to analyze the combination of hardware and software.

Requirements for pre-silicon performance analysis and benchmarking
Cycle accurate simulation
Access to models of candidate IP
Ability to generate multiple configurations of candidate IP
Tools to quickly assemble multiple systems for exploration
Ability to run and debug software
Analysis tools to understand performance and make decisions based on results

SystemC Models

SystemC models are the second major improvement for 2016. ARM is committed to providing models to both silicon and systems partners for virtual prototyping. Cycle Models are important to ARM partners for a number of reasons. They provide an easier way to work with ARM IP and are flexible enough to work in a variety of simulation environments.

The following SystemC Cycle Models are now available on ARM IP Exchange:

  • CoreLink CCI-500
  • CoreLink CCI-550
  • CoreLink GIC-500
  • CoreLink NIC-400
  • Cortex-A32
  • Cortex-A35
  • Cortex-A53
  • Cortex-M0+
  • Cortex-M7
  • Cortex-M23
  • Cortex-M33
  • Cortex-R8
  • Cortex-R52

ARM IP Exchange also has a new Request Model menu item to request models which are not currently available.

SoC Designer 9.0.0

SoC Designer version 9.0.0 is now available on ARM IP Exchange and supports the latest ARM Fast Models, version 10.2.

Cycle Model Studio 9.0.0

Cycle Model Studio version 9.0.0 is also available on ARM IP Exchange.

With this release the Cycle Model Compiler includes partial SystemVerilog Interfaces support. For details about supported and unsupported SystemVerilog Interface related features please refer to Cycle Model Compiler User Manual.

Licensing Changes

One very important note: Carbon licenses will not work with this release and new ARM licenses are required.

As part of the transition of Cycle Model products from Carbon to ARM, all Cycle Model products have transitioned from using the carbond license daemon to the armlmd license daemon. This change applies to Cycle Model Studio, SoC Designer, and all Cycle Models for SoC Designer and SystemC. This transition aligns Cycle Model products with other ARM software development tools, simplifying the license generation process and management of licenses.

More information on licensing changes

Branding Changes

All products have updated branding as part of the transition from Carbon to ARM. No functional changes are expected, but products look different from previous versions. The installation file names and some documentation file names have also changed.

Summary

Improved model availability for Cycle Models means more partners can take advantage of models earlier in the design cycle. The addition of SystemC models has given users more choice for simulation and virtual prototyping products.

We have some exciting updates to share related to ARM Cycle Models.

Anonymous
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