Simulator Adds Assertion IP And Native SystemVerilog Support

June 23, 2005

The latest release of the VCS verification environment sports new capabilities that help users find more bugs more quickly, with up to a fivefold increase in verification speed (see the figure). Key new features include a new assertion IP library and na

David Maliniak

The latest release of the VCS verification environment sports new capabilities that help users find more bugs more quickly, with up to a fivefold increase in verification speed (see the figure). Key new features include a new assertion IP library and native testbench support for SystemVerilog.

The VCS assertion IP library contains a set of checkers that can be used with VCS or with Synopsys' Magellan formal-analysis tool. The IP library lets users perform functional checks during simulation, identify and report protocol violations, and capture assertion-coverage data. Designers also can use the library with Magellan to prove complex design properties.

Included with the library is IP for a range of interface and protocol standards, including PCI and PCI-X 2.0, AMBA 2 AHB and APB, 802.11a-g, SMIA, DDR2, OCP 2.0, and LPC. Also new to VCS 2005.06 is native support for the IEEE P1800 SystemVerilog testbench. VCS users can create verification environments using SystemVerilog's object-oriented, constrained-random stimulus and functional coverage capabilities.

VCS 2005.06 is expected to ship in the third quarter. Pricing starts at $25,480 for a one-year subscription license.

Synopsys www.synopsys.com

About the Author

David Maliniak | MWRF Executive Editor

In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.