Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Carl Cavanagh

Steven A Sivier

Carl B Frankel

James P Freyensee

A distributed simulation system may include a plurality of nodes arranged to perform a simulation of a system under test. The plurality of nodes are configured to communicate simulation commands and signal values for the system under test using message packets transmitted between the plurality of nodes. At least one of the plurality of nodes is configured to log the message packets in one or more log files during the simulation.

Message packet logging in a distributed simulation system

A system for applying distributed software simulation techniques to hardware emulation may include a first hardware emulator mounted on a first expansion board at a first host, and a second hardware emulator mounted on a second expansion board at a second host. The first hardware emulator may be configured to emulate a first portion of a system under test, and the second hardware emulator may be configured to emulate a second portion of the system under test, and the first and second hardware emulators may coordinate an emulation of the system under test using one or more messages, i.e., a coordination of an emulation of the system under test may be accomplished using communications between the first and second hardware emulators.

Applying distributed simulation techniques to hardware emulation

In one embodiment, a distributed simulation system may include a first node configured to participate in a simulation and a second node configured to transmit a hot pull command designating the first node. The first node does not participate in the simulation responsive to the hot pull command. In another embodiment, A distributed simulation system may include a first node configured to participate in a simulation and a second node configured to transmit a hot plug command designating the first node. The first node does not participate in the simulation prior to the hot plug command. Additionally, the first node begins participation in the simulation responsive to the hot plug command.

Hot plug and hot pull system simulation

A system for interfacing hardware emulation to software simulation environments may include a simulation node configured to simulate a first portion of a system under test and a hardware emulation node configured to emulate a second portion of the system under test. The hardware emulation node may also be configured to exchange simulation information (such as representations of signal values obtained as output from the emulated portion of the system under test) with the simulation node. The hardware emulation node may contain a field programmable gate array devices (FPGA) configured to perform the hardware emulation. The FPGA may be mounted on an expansion board, such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) board.

Interfacing hardware emulation to distributed simulation environments

A distributed simulation system is provided in which timesteps may be divided into a first phase (referred to as the zero time phase herein) and a second phase (referred to as the real time phase herein). In the first phase, each distributed simulation node in the system may process one or more received commands without causing the simulator to evaluate the model in that distributed simulation node. In the second phase, each distributed simulation node may cause the simulator to evaluate the model in response to a command supplying one or more signal values to the model. In one embodiment, the second phase may iterate the evaluation of the model for each command received which supplies signal values. Each iteration may optionally include transmitting a command including the output signal values produced by the model during that iteration.

Distributed simulation system having phases of a timestep

A distributed simulation system includes a plurality of nodes. Each node is configured to simulate a portion of a system under test. The simulation is performed as a series of timesteps. The transition between timesteps is synchronized in the plurality of nodes. In one implementation, the distributed simulation system includes a hub which is configured to synchronize the transition between timesteps in the plurality of nodes. For example, in one embodiment, the hub may receive commands from each of the plurality of nodes. If each command indicates that the corresponding node is capable of completing the timestep, the hub transmits a command to each node indicating that the timestep is complete. The nodes may begin processing the next timestep in response to the command. In other embodiments, a hub may not be included.

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Oakland, CA, United States of America

Carl Cavanagh