Cadence Release - 2001 Software Version Update

Contents

Introduction

The following items are lodged with the Computer Operators in CU Engineering Department.  Please note that the Operators are unable to provide technical backup, and have simply agreed to administer loans of media to legitimate users.

If you need to borrow items in order to update your system, please contact them as follows:-


Abstract from covering letters from EUROPRACTICE_SSS

Dear Colleague,

EUROPRACTICE/Cadence 2001 Release

With this letter, we (the EUROPRACTICE Software Support Service) are sending you the EUROPRACTICE/Cadence 2001 release, as a software update under maintenance. Each EUROPRACTICE Package which can be purchased by a member institution, has components from several different Cadence releases so the name "2001" is not a Cadence name. However, we are in the process of changing the names of some of the Packages to match Cadence's current conventions (Systems becomes PSD and Alta becomes SLD).

An initial distribution is being made to EUROPRACTICE/Cadence licensees according to their software holding at March 2001. The table below shows which physical deliverables will be shipped for each software holding

  
LDV(1) Box  IC Box   PSD(2) Box   SLD(3) Box
ASIC Package
Yes Yes - -
Systems (PSD) Package
Yes - Yes -
IC Package
Yes Yes - -
Combined IC & Systems (PSD) Package Yes Yes Yes -
Alta (SLD) Package
- - - Yes
(1) Logic Design and Verification
(2) PCB Systems Division
(3) System Level Design (formerly Alta)

At most one of each type of box will be shipped to each end-user site. In addition, licences and e-mail installation files, based in a similar way on software holdings at that same date, will be sent by e-mail.

The contents of each type of box will be as follows:

LDV Box

IC Box

PSD Box

SLD Box

Ambit SPR 4.0

IC 4.45 + QSR1

PE13.6

VCC 2.0+ISR (2)

Solaris 7
HP-UX 11.0
Windows NT 4

Solaris 7
HP-UX 11.0

Solaris 7
HP-UX 10.20/11.0
Windows NT 4 (1)

Solaris 7
Windows NT 4

LDV 3.1

DSMSE 5.3 + QSR2

 

SPW 4.6

Solaris 7
HP-UX 10.20/11.0
Windows NT 4(1)

Solaris 7
HP-UX 11.0

 

Solaris 7
HP-UX 10.20

FCheck 2.3

DSM DP 3.4D

Solaris 7
HP-UX 10.20/11.0

Solaris 7
HP-UX 11.0

 

IC Craftsman 5.0

  Solaris 7
HP-UX 10.20/11.0
 
 

Assura 2.0

 

Solaris 7


(1) Subset of tools supported on Windows NT
(2) Incremental Software Roll-up

Each box will contain software for all of the platforms listed above. If you do not currently use some of these platforms, please keep the media safely in case you need them in the future.

Media Contents

The LDV 2.1 media contain the logic simulators (Verilog-XL, Leapfrog, NC Verilog/VHDL), together with analysis tools for logic designers (e.g. HDL style, Code Coverage, Equivalence Checking).

The SPR 4.0 (Synthesis, Place and Route) media contain the BuildGates family of logic synthesis tools and the new Physically Knowledgeable Synthesis capability (PKS).

The FCheck 2.3 media contain new Formal Checking software for logic designs.

The IC 4.45 media with the QSR1 patch contain the Design Framework II-based software (Composer, Analog Artist, Virtuoso layout and Diva verification).

The DSMSE 5.3 media with the QSR2 patch contain the Deep Submicron place and route tools (Silicon Ensemble and Gate Ensemble) and the Pearl Static Timing analyser.

The DSM DP 3.4D media contain the Design Planner software. This forms the floorplanning stage of the timing-driven flow for hierarchical, semi-custom designs. You do not need to install this package if your institution does not require this particular functionality.

The IC Craftsman 5.0 media provide Device Level Placement and Routing functionality, together with top-level chip-assernbly routing (replacing the old Block Ensemble routing). You do not need to install this package if your institution does not require this particular functionality.

The Assura 2.0 media contain Cadence's new generation of IC physical verification tools. This software is currently available only on Sun/Solaris 2. It should also only be installed by DRACULA Package licensees.

The PE13.6 media contain PCB/MCM design tools from the Concept/Allegro family (Concept, Verilog, Leapfrog, Logic/Analog/Mixed-Signal Workbench, Allegro, SigNoise and EMC).

The VCC 2.0 (Virtual Component Co-Design) media contain tlhe new "platform-based" design software.

The SPW 4.6 media contain tools for algorithmic design of communications, multimedia and image- and signal-processing applications.

Note: When making a DRACULA-only installation, the licensed EUROPRACTICE tools all come from the IC 4.45 media and there is no need to install from any other media-sets.

When making an ASIC-only installation, the DSM SE, DSM DP and IC Craftsman media sets are not needed.

Comparison with the 1999/2000 EUROPRACTICE/Cadence Release

LDV 3.1 stream contains the Advanced Analysis Environment with HDL code analysis, code coverage monitoring and equivalence checking; VHDL 93 support for simulation; improved OMI support.

The SPR 4.0 synthesis tools now include PKS (physically-knowledgable synthesis), which incorporates placement and global routing into the synthesis flow, for improved timing closure.

FCheck 2.3 is a new formal verification tool which allows a logic design in synthesisable HDL to be validated against a set of queries which characterise the desired behaviour.

The IC 4.45 family of tools has NC-Verilog integrated for the first time; includes extensions to the Spectre and Spectre RF sirnulators; has enhancements to the layout accelerators (ROD, compactor, Virtuoso-XL) and has usability improvements to Analog Artist but Place and Route with Cell Ensemble is no longer available in IC 4.45.

The DSMSE 5.3 stream includes new signal and design integrity facilities; a new tirning-driven design strategy; placement facilities for test cells; power analysis; an updated version of HyperExtract and a new abstract generator.

The DSM DP 3.4D tools provide improved block placement and pin optirnisation algorithms; delay calculation through Pearl; support for LEF/DEF 5.3, which can describe a wider range of deep-subrnicron effects and better interworking with Silicon Ensemble.

IC Craftsman 5.0 now has better estimation and control of R/C properties of nets (and timing of critical nets); improved facilities for shielding, power routing and routing net bundles; new placement, routing and editing facilities for device-level design.

In PSD 13.6, part of the EUROPRACTICE/Systems Package, Concept HDL-style tools are now available for mixed-signal design, as well as for pure analogue and pure digital design. The PSD 13.6 media also now include the SPECCTRA 9.0 software.

Assura 2.0 is part of the EUROPRACTICE/DRACULA Package. It contains a new generation of physical verification tools (DRC, Extraction, ERC) with efficiency improvements over the older tools, particularly for designs with physical hierarchy.

With VCC 2.0, designers can explore the performance consequences of different mappings of the behavioural blocks of their system onto a set of architectural resources (HDL into logic, software onto processors, etc.), until a mapping which meets their requirements is found. Links to implementation can then be followed.

SPW 4.6 includes support for polymorphic modelling; Links to Spectre RF and the NC Simulator; enhanced library support (e.g. wideband CDMA, wireless LAN, 3G, Bluetooth demo.); improved GSM Verification Environment and Multimedia Design Kit; better OMI export (e.g. to VCC) but Visual Architect is no longer supported in SPW 4.6.

The definitive list of modules in each of the EUROPRACTICE Packages in this release can be found on our Web-site, by starting at the home page at URL

http://www.te.rl.ac.uk/europractice/

and following the links to the relevant EUROPRACTICE/Cadence pages.

Platform Support

To be compatible with the largest number of tools across the IC, Systems and Alta flows, one of the following operating system revisions should be used:

Please note that some of the LDV 3.1 and PSD 13.6 tools, as well as VCC are now also supported under Windows NT 4.

Yours faithfully,

(Signed)

Dr. J. A. G. Morris

EUROPRACTICE/Cadence Technical Package Manager.

(CHECK) A definitive list of modules in this release can be found at the EUROPRACTICE Software Services web site.

EUROPRACTICE Software Services can be contacted by email at: europractice_sss@rl.ac.uk


Deliverables

EUROPRACTICE/Cadence 2001 Software Release

1 IC BOX (IC 4.45/DSMSE 5.3/DSM DP 3.4D/ICC 5.0/Assura 2.0)

Shipment for: University of Cambridge (EUROPRACTICE No. A35780)

Shipment Type: Software Version Update

Shipment Reference: CDS/06176300

The full set of components needed to install and run the EUROPRACTICE/Cadence 2001 IC Software Release are as follows:

All necessary Cadence CDROMs should be included in this shipment.

SPARC/Solaris 2 HPPA/HP-UX
IC 4.45 CDROM Kit Enclosed Enclosed
IC 4.45 QSR1 CDROM Kit Enclosed Enclosed
IC 4.45 QSR1 Install File (ASIC Package) On Web On Web
IC 4.45 QSR1 Install File (IC Package) On Web On Web
IC 4.45 QSR1 Install File (DRAC Package) - -
DSMSE 5.3 CDROM Kit Enclosed Enclosed
DSMSE 5.3 QSR2 CDROM Kit. Enclosed Enclosed
DSMSE 5.3 QSR2 Install File (IC/Comb pkgs) On Web On Web
DSM DP 3.4D CDROM Kit Enclosed Enclosed
IC Craftsman 5.0 CDROM Kit Enclosed Enclosed
IC Craftsman 5.0 Install File (IC/Comb pkgs) On Web On Web
Assura 2.0 CDROM Kit Enclosed
Assura 2.0 Install File (Dracula Pkg) -
Licence file(s) On Web On Web

EUROPRACTICE/CADENCE 2001

2 SYSTEMS (PSD) BOX (PSD 13.6)

Shipment for: University of Cambridge (EUROPRACTICE No. A35780)

Shipment Type: Y2K Update

Shipment Reference: CDS/06176300

To install and run the full EUROPRACTICE/Cadence 2001 PSD Software Release you will need the following components:

The expected contents of the present shipment are shown below. 

  SPARC/Solaris 2 HPPA/HP-UX Windows/NT
PSD 13.6 CDROM Kit Enclosed Enclosed Enclosed
PSD 13.6 Install File On web On web  
Licence file(s) On web On web On web

EUROPRACTICE/CADENCE 2001

3 LDV BOX (LDV 3.1/SPR 4.0/FCheck 2.3)

Shipment for: University of Cambridge (EUROPRACTICE No. A35780)

Shipment Type: Software Version Update

Shipment Reference: CDS/06176300

To install and run this software, you will need the following components:

All necessary Cadence CDROMs should be included in this shipment. 

  SPARC/Solaris 2 HP-UX 10.20 HP-UX 11.0 Windows NT
LDV 3.1 CDROM Kit Enclosed Enclosed Enclosed Enclosed
LDV 3.1 Install File On Web On Web On Web  
SPR 4.0 CDROM Kit Enclosed   Enclosed  
SPR 4.0 Install File
(ASIC /Sys.(PSD) Pkgs
On Web   On Web  
SPR 4.0 Install File
(IC/Comb Packages)
On Web   On Web  
FCheck 2.3 CDROM Kit Enclosed Enclosed Enclosed  
FCheck 2.3 Install File On Web  On Web  On Web  
Licence file(s) On web On web On Web On Web

EUROPRACTICE/CADENCE 2001

4 SLD BOX (SPW 4.6/VCC 2.0)

Shipment for: University of Cambridge (EUROPRACTICE No. A35780)

Shipment Type: Software Version Update

Shipment Reference: CDS/06176300

To install and run this software, you will need the following components:

The expected contents of the present shipment are shown below.

   SPARC/Solaris 2 HPPA/HP-UX   Windows/NT
SPW 4.6 CDROM Kit   Enclosed Enclosed  
SPW 4.6 Install File   On Web On Web -
VCC 2.0 CDROM Kit   Enclosed   Enclosed
VCC 2.0 ISR CDROM Kit Enclosed   Enclosed
VCC 2.0 Install File   On Web   -
Licence file(s)   On Web On Web On Web

Further Notes

Obtaining Support

We would like to remind you that the conditions of the EUROPRACTICE Agreement, which your institution has signed, do not allow you to contact Cadence directly for support and do not currently include the right for individual institutions to have access to Cadence's Web-based support service, SourceLink.

Instead, all enquiries should be addressed us (the EUROPRACTICE Software Support Service) through one of the contact points given in the letterhead. We have access to Cadence's technical support and SourceLink on your behalf. Normally, we will obtain patches to fix the specific bugs which you have experienced rather than distributing additional QSRs which attempt to fix all possible problems.

Please see "Obtaining Supplementary Installation Information" for up-to-date guidance on software installation.

EUROPRACTICE/Cadence Technical Package Manager.


D M Holburn        Last Updated: 09 October 2001