EVE’s ZeBu-Server supports smart debug methodology

SAN JOSE, USA: EVE, the leader in hardware/software co-verification, today announced a powerful debug environment that comes standard with its new ZeBu-Server, a scalable emulation system capable of handling up to one-billion application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) gates.

ZeBu-Server comes equipped with a wide array of tools that enables debugging at multiple levels of abstraction, because debugging a complex failure in a system-on-chip (SoC) design requires deterministically re-executing billions of clock cycles repeatedly until the problem is identified. The ZeBu Smart Debug technology and methodology makes the most effective use of those cycles, allowing "debug convergence" as quickly as possible.

Its debug features include three types of probes –– static, flexible and dynamic –– and static and dynamic triggers on sequential and combinational signals. ZeBu-Server offers support for SystemVerilog Assertions (SVAs), monitors and checkers implemented via dpi-based transactors, and save and restore capabilities.

A complete waveform generation of sequential and combinational signals at the register transfer level (RTL) is available, as well as interactive set/get, force/release all internal signals at run-time without requiring recompilation.

This debug technology, when paired with a "Smart Debug" methodology, enables easy identification of even the most complex corner-case bugs by quickly filtering billions of cycles of raw data into relevant debug information.

"It’s essential that a debug strategy make the most effective use of those cycles, allowing debug convergence as quickly as possible," says Lauro Rizzatti, EVE’s vice president of worldwide marketing.

"The ZeBu debug technology and Smart Debug methodology were deployed on a 50-million gate SoC design and identified a deeply buried bug that occurred sometime after six-billion cycles in 30 minutes. With a traditional emulation system, it took about 12 hours to achieve the same results."

ZeBu-Server can be used for all SoC verification needs across the entire development cycle, from hardware verification, hardware/software integration to embedded software validation. ZeBu-Server is priced at less than a penny per gate for large configurations.

Nine of the top 10 semiconductor companies use ZeBu (Zero Bugs) emulation platforms in their verification flow. These platforms are used for SoC hardware verification and software development to shorten time to tapeout, improve product quality and eliminate costly respins, while shortening software development time ahead of silicon.