MAXSIM System Level Simulator

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MAXSIM System Level Simulator

• Suet-Fei Li
• Feb 1, 2000

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Background

• An internal system simulation tool of Conexant
  Sys.
• C Based object oriented approach allows
  co-simulation of different types of blocks in a
  heterogeneous architecture.
• Support multi-threaded application program.
• Provide an extensive library of cycle accurate
  models of DSP processors, ARM, Memory, busses,
  and peripheral components.
• Very fast.

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Simulator Basics

• C based object oriented design.
• Each Component model in MAXSIM is modeled as a
  class.
• The Component class is the superclass of all
  MAXSIM components.
• Component objects are created through an indirect
  factory mechanism, that allows the creation of
  components w/o knowledge of their types.
• Component instances are connected through
  standard pin and function call interfaces.

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• Provide APIs for
• Clock interface (support power down).
• Memory interface.
• Control signals interface.
• Bus interface.
• To add a new component to the system
• Provide a model.
• Write a C wrapper that confirms to the MAXISM
  API.

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Debugging

• MAXSIM debugger can be attached to each process

Arm940_0gt s 4
Arm940_1gt
countach0gt
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A Sample System--- CSM12
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Performance

• CSM12 system
• 2 ARMs
• 2 Countach (pipelines fully modeled)
• 2 MOCs (pipelines fully modeled)
• Memory blocks
• Peripherals.
• 40K instruction cycles per second
• ARM stand alone 2.5 Mips

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Summary

• MAXSIM is an industry strength system simulator
  that was used in real designs.
• Everything written in C, clean, readable, easy
  to learn.
• Support C and HDL co-simulation with Inter
  process communication.