Virtual Platform

The Value of Virtual Platforms

Virtual prototyping technology enables the creation of a software model of a complete embedded platform that can fully mirror the functionality of an embedded system. These virtual platforms combine high-speed processor instruction-set simulators and high-level, transaction-level models (TLM) of the hardware building blocks, to provide a high-level hardware model to the software developer. This promotes continuous hardware/software integration, instead of waiting to bring hardware and software together near the end of the silicon development.

Virtual platforms improve software development productivity by allowing unlimited observability and controllability of the target hardware, and through predictable and repeatable execution of debug scenarios. Virtual platforms allow developers to boot operating systems, create applications and multimedia codecs and develop low-level drivers.

Synopsys provides a complete solution of models, tools and services for developing and running virtual platforms. The key components are

• DesignWare System-Level Library: A collection of transaction-level models (TLMs) written in SystemC (IEEE 1666) and used as the building blocks for virtual platforms
• Innovator: A powerful, fully integrated tool for developing, running and debugging virtual platforms
• Services: A comprehensive set of consulting and design services for helping customers build and use virtual platforms

Availability

Virtual Platforms are available for more then 50 pre-assembled platforms, including several from the following manufacturers:
    - Freescale
    - Marvell
    - Texas Instruments