Virtual Platform Technology

When used in the design and development of modern mixed Hardware/Software systems, Virtual Platforms (VPs) have the following advantages:

1. A VP enables early software development which can start in advance of silicon, RTL simulation, or FPGA prototype availability.

2. A VP provides high controllability: physical hardware cannot usually be stopped at once and it cannot be completely and un-intrusively inspected. A VP, being a software program, can be fully managed and customized by the hardware designed to address its needs.

3. A VP provides full visibility: at any time, a user can get information regarding any part of the system (processor core, buses, peripherals, or environment models). The information can be analyzed and acted upon in any way by the end user.

4. A VP provides determinism: being able to reproduce intermittent problems or complex timing-related problems on physical hardware is difficult. A VP, instead, provides determinism in the form of repeatability of a test case where the user will get the exact same behavior over and over again.

5. A VP optimizes group interaction: VPs, representing the current status of the system being designed, can easily be shared across distributed teams; VPs also improve communication and interaction between hardware and software design teams.