FPGA Design Verification with ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Use ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 for FPGA Design Verification
If you are a student, hobbyist, or beginner in FPGA design, you may be looking for a free and easy-to-use HDL simulator to verify your VHDL or Verilog code. One of the most popular and powerful HDL simulators in the industry is ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4, which is a free version of ModelSim from Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics). In this article, you will learn what ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 is, how to install it, how to use it, and what are some alternatives to it.
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What is ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 and why is it useful for FPGA design verification
ModelSim PE Student Edition is a functional verification software that allows you to simulate behavioral, RTL, and gate-level code written in VHDL or Verilog. It supports full mixed-language simulation, meaning that you can mix VHDL and Verilog files in one project without any compatibility issues. It also offers a graphical user interface (GUI) with a tool command language (TCL) interface, which makes it easy to create, run, and debug simulations.
ModelSim PE Student Edition is useful for FPGA design verification because it helps you to check the functionality and correctness of your design before implementing it on an FPGA device. It also helps you to find and fix errors, bugs, or glitches in your code that may cause unexpected behavior or performance issues. By using ModelSim PE Student Edition, you can improve the quality and reliability of your FPGA design and save time and money in the development process.
What are the features and benefits of ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4
ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 has many features and benefits that make it a great choice for FPGA design verification. Some of them are:
It supports both VHDL and Verilog languages, as well as SystemVerilog constructs for verification.
It has a native compiled, single kernel simulator technology that enables fast and accurate simulation results.
It has an intuitive debug environment that allows you to view and modify signals, variables, memories, registers, etc., in various formats such as waveform, list, source code, etc.
It has an advanced code coverage tool that measures how well your testbench covers your design under test (DUT) in terms of statement, branch, condition , expression, toggle, and finite state machine (FSM) coverage.
It has a comprehensive library of built-in verification components, such as bus functional models (BFMs), assertion checkers, monitors, scoreboards, etc., that can be used to create complex testbenches.
It has a flexible licensing scheme that allows you to use the software for free for one year, renewable every year, as long as you are a student or a hobbyist.
ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 is the latest version of the software, released in June 2020. It has some improvements and bug fixes over the previous versions, such as:
It supports the latest IEEE 1076-2019 VHDL standard, which includes new features such as interfaces, generics on packages, conditional expressions, etc.
It supports the latest IEEE 1800-2017 SystemVerilog standard, which includes new features such as interfaces with modports, let constructs, do-while loops, etc.
It supports the latest FPGA devices and development boards from Intel and Xilinx, such as Cyclone V, Arria 10, Stratix 10, Zynq UltraScale+, etc.
It has improved performance and stability for large and complex designs.
What are the drawbacks and limitations of ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4
ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 is not a perfect software, and it has some drawbacks and limitations that you should be aware of before using it. Some of them are:
It is not compatible with other versions of ModelSim or other HDL simulators from different vendors. You cannot use it to simulate designs that use libraries or components from other sources.
It has a limited capacity and functionality compared to the full or professional versions of ModelSim. For example, it can only simulate up to 10,000 executable lines of code per project, it does not support parallel simulation or optimization options, it does not support SystemC or VHDL-AMS languages, etc.
It is not intended for commercial or academic use. You cannot use it to develop or verify designs that are part of a course project, a research project, a product development, a service offering, or any other activity that generates revenue or involves intellectual property rights.
It does not come with any warranty or technical support from Siemens EDA. You are responsible for any issues or problems that may arise from using the software. You can only rely on the online documentation and the user community for help.
How to install ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4
If you want to install ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 on your computer, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the Siemens EDA website and register for a free account. You will need to provide some personal information, such as your name, email address, country, etc., and agree to the terms and conditions of use.
After registering, you will receive an email with a link to download the setup file and the license file for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4. The setup file is about 1 GB in size and the license file is about 1 KB in size.
Download both files to your computer and save them in a convenient location. Make sure that you do not rename or modify them in any way.
Run the setup file and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to select the destination folder for the installation, accept the license agreement, choose the components to install (such as VHDL or Verilog libraries), etc.
After the installation is complete, copy the license file to the installation directory (usually C:\modeltech64_10.4c). This will activate the software and allow you to use it for one year.
How to use ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 for FPGA design verification
To use ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 for FPGA design verification, you need to follow these steps:
Create a project and add VHDL or Verilog files. You can either use the GUI or the TCL interface to do this. To use the GUI, launch ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 from your Start menu or desktop shortcut and click on File > New > Project. To use the TCL interface , launch ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 from your command prompt and type vlib work to create a work library. Then, use vcom or vlog commands to compile your VHDL or Verilog files and add them to the work library.
Compile and simulate the design. You can either use the GUI or the TCL interface to do this. To use the GUI, click on Simulate > Start Simulation and select the top-level entity or module of your design. To use the TCL interface, type vsim to start the simulation.
Debug and analyze the simulation results. You can either use the GUI or the TCL interface to do this. To use the GUI, you can use various windows and menus to view and modify the simulation data, such as waveform, list, source code, memory, register, etc. You can also use commands such as run, step, force, watch, break, etc., to control the simulation flow. To use the TCL interface, you can use the same commands in the transcript window or in a script file.
Alternatives to ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4
If you are not satisfied with ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 or you want to try other HDL simulators for FPGA design verification, you have some alternatives to choose from. Some of them are:
Other free versions of ModelSim from Intel, Mentor Graphics, or InnoFour. These versions have similar features and limitations as ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4, but they may support different FPGA devices or development boards. For example, Intel offers ModelSim-Intel FPGA Starter Edition and ModelSim-Intel FPGA Edition for its FPGA products, Mentor Graphics offers ModelSim PE Evaluation Edition and ModelSim SE Evaluation Edition for its EDA products, and InnoFour offers ModelSim PE Student Edition for Europe for its customers in Europe.
Other free VHDL simulators such as GHDL, Icarus Verilog, or Xilinx Vivado Simulator. These simulators are open-source and cross-platform, meaning that you can run them on Windows, Linux, or Mac OS. They support VHDL or Verilog languages, but they may not have a GUI or a code coverage tool. They may also have different syntax or commands than ModelSim.
Other paid VHDL simulators such as Active-HDL, Riviera-PRO, or Aldec Simulator. These simulators are commercial and professional versions of HDL simulators that offer more features and functionality than ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4. They support VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, SystemC, VHDL-AMS languages, as well as mixed-language simulation, parallel simulation, optimization options, etc. They also come with warranty and technical support from their vendors. However, they are more expensive and require a license fee to use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 is a free and easy-to-use HDL simulator that allows you to verify your VHDL or Verilog code for FPGA design. It has many features and benefits that make it a great choice for students, hobbyists, or beginners in FPGA design verification. However, it also has some drawbacks and limitations that you should be aware of before using it. If you want to try other HDL simulators for FPGA design verification, you have some alternatives to choose from.
We hope that this article has helped you to learn more about ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 and how to use it for FPGA design verification. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact us via email. We would love to hear from you!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4:
What are the system requirements for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4?
The system requirements for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 are:
Operating system: Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit) or later
Processor: Intel Core i3 (64-bit) or equivalent
Memory: 8 GB RAM (minimum), 16 GB RAM (recommended)
Disk space: 3 GB (minimum), 10 GB (recommended)
Display: 1024 x 768 resolution (minimum), 1920 x 1080 resolution (recommended)
How long is the license valid for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4?
The license for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 is valid for one year from the date of activation. You can renew or extend the license every year for free as long as you are a student or a hobbyist.
How can I renew or extend the license for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4?
To renew or extend the license for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the Siemens EDA website and log in with your account.
Click on My Account > My Software and select ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 from the list of products.
Click on Renew License and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to provide some personal information, such as your name, email address, country, etc., and agree to the terms and conditions of use.
After renewing, you will receive an email with a link to download the new license file for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4.
Download the license file to your computer and save it in the installation directory (usually C:\modeltech64_10.4c). This will activate the software and allow you to use it for another year.
How can I get support or help for ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4?
ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 does not come with any warranty or technical support from Siemens EDA. However, you can get support or help from the following sources:
The online documentation that comes with the software. You can access it by clicking on Help > Contents in the GUI or by typing help in the TCL interface.
The user community that consists of other users of ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4. You can join the ModelSim Forum or the ModelSim Subreddit and ask questions, share tips, or exchange ideas with other users.
The third-party resources that provide tutorials, guides, or examples on how to use ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 for FPGA design verification. You can find some of them on YouTube, Medium, Instructables, etc.
Is it legal to use ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 for commercial purposes?
No, it is not legal to use ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 for commercial purposes. According to the license agreement, you can only use ModelSim PE Student Edition 10.4 for personal, non-commercial, non-academic, and non-research purposes. You cannot use it to develop or verify designs that are part of a course project, a research project, a product development, a service offering, or any other activity that generates revenue or involves intellectual property rights. If you want to use ModelSim for commercial purposes, you need to purchase a license for the full or professional versions of ModelSim from Siemens EDA.
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