Virtual prototyping tool from Synopsys
for faster validation of SoC and software
Synopsys Inc. has made available of its Virtualizer tool
set as part of its next-generation virtual prototyping solution.
Synopsys explains that virtualizer addresses the increasing
development challenges associated with software-rich semiconductor
and electronic products by enabling companies to accelerate
both the development of virtual prototypes and the deployment
of these prototypes to software teams throughout the design
chain. Prototypes created with Virtualizer allow engineers
to accelerate software development schedules by up to nine
months, and deliver up to a 5X productivity boost over traditional
approaches to teams performing software development, hardware/software
integration, system-on-chip (SoC) verification and system
validation, claims Synopsys.
As per Synopsys, when combined with FPGA-based prototyping
such as Synopsys' HAPS systems, Virtualizer facilitates
faster SoC validation and software bring up at near real-time
performance.Virtualizer can be connected with RTL simulators
such as Synopsys' VCS and emulation platforms such as EVE's
ZeBu to use embedded software in hardware verification environments.
Software developers can integrate prototypes based on Virtualizer
with their existing debuggers and IDEs, retaining their
existing software tool investment. Virtualizer can be used
for system validation by networking multiple virtual prototypes
together with physical system simulation, testbenches and
virtual I/Os. With this broad range of integration capabilities,
Virtualizer is designed to support the entire electronics
supply chain.
"As designs increase in complexity and software content
to meet the demand for smart devices, companies need to
reduce the risk of embedded software project delays and
improve developer productivity," says Steve Balacco,
director, embedded software and tools practice, VDC Research.
"Synopsys delivers a virtual prototyping solution that
directly addresses the debug and analysis needs of embedded
software developers in semiconductor and electronic products
companies, while bridging the gap with hardware development
flows."
"Companies deploying virtual prototypes need to easily
integrate with existing software development tools,"
said Norbert Weiss, international sales and marketing manager
at Lauterbach. "The integration of Lauterbach's TRACE32
with Synopsys' Virtualizer enables development teams to
start software development earlier in a more productive
way, as well as expand these benefits from semiconductor
to electronic systems companies."
"With growing hardware complexity, it is critical
for verification engineers to start their work as early
as possible, and exercise the design with as much real system
software as possible," says Lauro Rizzatti, general
manager and marketing vice president of EVE. "The customer-proven
integration of Synopsys' leading virtual prototyping solution
and EVE ZeBu's fast emulation platform enables true software-driven
scenarios, extending verification coverage and confidence
and reducing verification schedules by up to six months."
"We are focused on helping our customers address their
top system-level design challenges: starting software development
earlier, accelerating hardware/software integration, and
performing full system validation and testing," says
John Koeter, vice president of marketing for IP & systems
at Synopsys. "Synopsys' complete virtual prototyping
solution - which includes Virtualizer, an extensive model
library, services and support - enables our customers to
start software design up to 12 months before first silicon
is available. In addition, VDKs cost-effectively enable
the development and integration of software throughout the
design chain, from IP to SoCs to full systems. At a time
of exploding software content at all levels of electronics,
Virtualizer enables semiconductor and systems companies
to start their software tasks earlier and avoid the risk
of surprises late in the development cycle."
Availability: Virtualizer is available immediately.
Virtualizer Development Kits (VDKs), which incorporate a
subset of Virtualizer features specifically targeted for
end use cases by software and hardware developers, are also
available immediately.
For more information visit: www.synopsys.com
