New DesignWare System-Level Library Models - Synopsys

Synopsys has announced the immediate availability of 30 new titles in the DesignWare System-Level Library, and going to showcase them at the upcoming Power Architecture Conference, in Munich and Paris, May 2008. The Library models are written in SystemC to work in any IEEE 1666 (SystemC)-compliant simulation environment. The new members of DesignWare System-Level Library include high-performance TLMs (Transaction Level Models) for MIPS, PowerPC and DesignWare IP.

TLM are the basic building blocks required to build virtual platforms for early software development, hardware/software co-design, architectural exploration and system verification. The DesignWare System-Level Library is a comprehensive portfolio of tool-independent, standards-based TLMs, a primary reason that IBM selected the product for distribution of its SystemC-based PowerPC models. as stated by Mike McGinnis, IBM’s program director for PowerPC licensing,:

Synopsys’ market position in the IP space made the DesignWare System- Level Library a natural choice to distribute our processor models… Open standards are crucial to enable growth of a broader system-level ecosystem, and our mutual customers will benefit from the tool-independence of our SystemC models.

The DesignWare System-Level Library now features more than 80 TLMs. New high-performance models of the PowerPC 405, 440, and 460 and MIPS 4Kc complement the Library’s existing models of ARM processors. In addition, TLMs for Synopsys’ DesignWare PCI Express 2.0 and Gigabit Ethernet Media Access Controller (GMAC) join other DesignWare IP, such as USB 2.0 HS OTG, SATA AHCI and AMBA interconnect components, in the Library. Several peripheral components include Virtual I/O capability, which allows communication over the host Ethernet or USB connection of the computer executing the virtual platform. Also included are pre-assembled models of complete PowerPC and MIPS 4Kc platforms which can be used as reference designs for driver development or as a starting point for building larger virtual platforms.

John Koeter,  Synopsys, said:

IBM’s choice of the DesignWare System-Level Library as a distribution vehicle for their PowerPC models builds additional value into the Library and we look forward to including models from more partners in the future… With the upcoming ratification of the SystemC TLM-2.0 standard and our DesignWare System-Level Library’s compliance with TLM-2.0, we can help to ensure model interoperability for the creation of virtual platforms to accelerate software development. It makes adopting Synopsys’ broad array of popular IP titles a safe investment for our customers.

More info: http://www.synopsys.com/designware