Xpert

Xpert Benefits Early Hardware/Software Integration Verify embedded software as soon as RTL is available, prior to hardware prototype High Performance, Accurate Models Access to ARM-certified co-verification processor models Co-verification simulator models deliver orders of magnitude performance over full-functional PLI models Highest level of accuracy, over 99% accurate CPU RTL model Advanced Software Debugging Supports interactive debugging tools familiar to software engineers Increase debugging performance and efficiency with Instant Replay Performance Focused Memory Interfaces Provides responsive interactive debugging and fast simulation performance Maintains accuracy during interactive software debugging Integrated Simulation Platform Access to software simulation and RCC acceleration from a single environment for both hardware and software engineers Enables hardware and software team collaboration through common database with access to specific views

Verification Bottleneck
One of the most critical steps of embedded system design is the integration of software with hardware. The advent of system-on-a-chip (SoC) has created a need for new techniques that allow concurrent testing of the software and the chip in a simulation environment, before the actual silicon is fabricated.

Traditionally, this important step has been performed in a lab environment by constructing a hardware prototype and running the embedded system software on that prototype. Debugging was done using equipment such as in-circuit emulators (ICE), logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes. Integration and debugging late in the design cycle, when the pressure of the project schedule is the greatest, is a tedious, risky, and stressful task.

This situation created a need for a hard-ware/software co-verification solution to enable verification of embedded system software on a representation of the hardware design before prototypes are available.

This solution allows early testing of software and augments the verification done by hardware engineers, leading to shorter project schedules and increased confidence in a completed design.

Xpert for ARM Processors
Xpert™ for ARM processors is an integrated co-verification tool for designs utilizing ARM microprocessor cores and Axis' ReConfigurable Computing (RCC) platform for design verification. It provides simulation models and software debugging tools to isolate and fix even the most complex errors. Xpert for ARM processors provides the best balance of visibility, control, and performance for integrating software and hardware in an easy to use environment.

Models
Offered through partnership with ARM, Xpert for ARM processors utilizes ARM certified co-verification models and bus interface models to accurately model ARM7 and ARM9 cores. These models are verified to provide over 99% accuracy and run at much higher speeds than full-functional PLI models.

Interactive Software Debugging
Xpert for ARM processors runs cross-compiled software for the ARM instruction set and interfaces to software debugging tools with which software engineers are familiar. Interactive software debugging is provided using the ARM symbolic debugger, armsd, and the ARM debugger for Unix, adu. Both feature source-level debugging for C and assembly language with common debugging capabilities such as breakpoint, single-step, view and change memory and registers, stack trace and disassembly.

Memory Interfaces
Xpert for ARM processors uses two memory interfaces designed for co-verification. Software memory models are simple, flat memory models attached directly to the co-verification simulator and cannot be accessed from logic simulation. Software memory models provide the fastest access for code fetching and other data not required from logic simulation.

Xpert for ARM processors also provides direct access to memories in the logic simulator. These accesses are made with-out any simulation time advancing for fast data display and increased simulation accuracy.

Instant Replay
Xpert for ARM processors utilizes a unique two-step software debugging process called Instant Replay. Instant Replay allows simulation results to be recorded and later played back to inspect software execution using an interactive software debugger. During the replay no connection to logic simulation is required and software runs at the speed of the co-verification simulator.

Complete System
To stay one step above your competition, you need a single integrated system for logic simulation, acceleration, emulation and HW/SW co-verification with advanced software debugging for today's complex SoC designs. The combination of Xpert for ARM processors with the RCC technology provides the most advanced debugging tool for ARM designs.

Xpert Specifications
Xpert for ARM runs on Sun Solaris and Red Hat Linux and works with XoC™, Xtreme®, Xcite®, and Xsim®.

Supported ARM cores
AMBA7TDMI	ARM940T
ARM720T	ARM946E-S
ARM7TDMI	ARM966E-S
ARM7TDMI-S	ARM966E-S-DPR
ARM920T	ARM9EJ-S
ARM922T	ARM9E-S
ARM926EJ-S	ARM9TDMI

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