Swift Model Support (Preliminary)

Copyright 2003-2024 Stephen Williams

NOTE: SWIFT support does not work yet, these are provisional instructions, intended to show what’s supposed to happen when I get it working.

Icarus Verilog support for SWIFT models is based on the LMTV interface module from Synopsys. This module is normally distributed along with the SWIFT models proper. This module can be linked with Icarus Verilog via the cadpli compatibility object. (See cadpli.txt.)

  • Preliminaries

First, you need the LMC_HOME environment variable set to point to the installed directory for your SWIFT software. This setup is documented in your SWIFT model documentation.

  • Compilation

When compiling your Verilog design to include a SWIFT model, you need to include wrappers for the model you intend to use. You may choose to use ncverilog or verilogxl compatible wrappers, they work the same. Locate your smartmodel directory, and include it in your command file like so:

+libdir+.../smartmodel/sol/wrappers/verilogxl

The wrappers directory includes Verilog modules that wrap your SWIFT module, and with this +libdir+ statement in your command file, the Icarus Verilog compiler will be able to locate these wrappers. The wrappers in turn invoke the $lm_model system tasks that are the LMTV support for your model.

NOTE: This example uses the solaris directory of VerilogXL support files as a source of wrappers. The files of interest, however, are written in Verilog and are identical for all supported platforms, so long as you choose the verilogxl or ncverilog files.

  • Execution

After your simulation is compiled, run the simulation with the vvp command, like this:

% vvp -mcadpli a.out -cadpli=$LMC_HOME/lib/x86_linux.lib/swiftpli.so:swift_boot

What this command line means is:

-mcadpli
   Include the cadpli compatibility module

a.out
   This is your compiled vvp file

-cadpli=$LMC_HOME/lib/x86_linux.lib/swiftpli.so:swift_boot
   This tells the cadpli module to load the swiftpli.so
   shared object, and boot it. This is code that comes with
   your SWIFT modules, and provides the generic SWIFT
   capabilities (lm_* system tasks) needed by the module
   itself.

Once you start the vvp command, the SWIFT infrastructure will be initialized as part of the simulation setup, and all should work normally from here.