New models

• Motorola MPC7455
  • Next generation of the MPC7450, pin and function compatible with it.
  • Includes bug fixes of the MPC7450.
  • Boot code development package is given in source form.
  • Includes Makefile and link script for the GNU tool set.
  
  
• ARC Tangent-A5
  • Implemented on one of the DeskPOD FPGA adapter boards.
  • Full support for hardware-software co-verification using the ARC JTAG port.

New Adapter Boards

• Xilinx Virtex2 adapter board
  • Support for all Xilinx Virtex2 members included in the FF1152 BGA package (xc2v3000, xc2v4000, xc2v6000 and xc2v8000).
  • Three modes for FPGA programming:
    JTAG, serial-slave (non-volatile memory) and selectMAP (parallel loading over the network).
  • Configuration files are generated automatically from Xilinx place-and-route program.
  • Equipped with connectors for additional external hardware
  • Pre defined connector for user's JTAG port.

Enhancements to existing models

• Motorola MPC74XX
  • Altivec support for MPC74XX processors.
  • Integration with VxWorks and Tornado
    See the section in "Interface to Third Party Tools"
  
  
• IBM PPC750CX
  • Integration with VxWorks and Tornado
    See the section in "Interface to Third Party Tools"
  
  
• MIPS R7000
  • Integration with VxWorks and Tornado
    See the section in "Interface to Third Party Tools"

Interface to Third Party Tools

• vxWorks networking support for MIPS and PowerPC processors.
  Equipped with all the necessary device drivers to boot VxWorks and attach it to Tornado over a real network interface.
  Also included UART device driver.

GNU Cross Debugger - GDB

• Stub implemented as a software library
  GDB stub is now one common library for all PowerPC processors. It is easier to port it for any new PowerPC processor.
  Simulation modules adapts themselves to user's simulation frequency. Single simulation module support all the frequency. Scaling option of the 'vcompile' utility is not supported any more.
  

WORKSTATION

• PLI
  • mem_auto_load command.
    This command automatically uploads SREC format to the DeskPOD memories with no need for creating MEMH from SREC format.
    The corresponding memory for the code is detected automatically.
    There is no need for dividing object to ROM and RAM - it is done automatically, by address detection.
  • Support for asynchronous signals handling by Simpod's PLI.
  
  
• HDL simulation
  • Additional environment variable SIMPOD_BOX_ID In case of several boxes connected to one simpodd, SIMPOD_BOX_ID can be set to control which box, the simulation will use.
  • Fixed bug that caused simulation crash when DeskPOD was not available.
  
  
• spglink
  • added log file to facilitate tracking of GDB low level instructions.
  
  
• s2ver
  • Single output file with multiple sections
    A single memh formatted file will be created now, even in the case that the S-Record file has non-contiguous sections.
  
  
• simpodd
  • Solved license bug that stopped from manual license file copy.
  
  
• monitor
  • FPGA loading command
    This new command works on the new FPGA adapter boards. It programs the FPGA and configures DeskPOD accordingly. At the end of this process DeskPOD model name changes to the one that was loaded from the FPGA.
    Major advantages: FPGA model sharing over multiple DeskPOD units, relief from the JTAG cable loading.
  
  
• xcompile
  • compile - Simpod model compilation tool now opened to the user.
    From model describing files - it creates DeskPOD format files, downloaded to the box at boot time, fully defining model characteristics. Currently it is used for compilation of models for FPGAs, where model characteristics may change frequently.
  
  
• pad2model script
  • Converts Xilinx place-and-route reports to DeskPOD configuration files
    
  
  

Literature

• Application Notes
  • Why is my Hw/Sw Co-Verification Slow?
    A detail analysis of bottlenecks in Hw/Sw Co-Verification process
  • Integrating VxWorks in a Simulated environment
    A short description of the integration process of VxWorks to a Hw/Sw Co-verification based on DeskPOD.

Trademarks:

Simpod and DeskPOD are trademarks of Simpod Inc.
Third party trademarks or brand names are the property of their owners.