Computer Hardware Design (ECE 4623/5623 by Dr. Monte Tull) Installation Guide for Digital Hardware Design Entry and Verification Tools (Prepared by: Yogesh Varna, Hardware Design Trainer) The design assignments in this class require students to install two software tools by Xilinx and Mentor Graphics. These tools Xilinx ISE Design Suite and Mentor Graphics ModelSim are used for hardware design entry (using VHDL) and design verification respectively. The students have a choice of installing these tools with free of charge ISE Web Pack and ModelSim XE licenses that are obtainable directly from the vendors OR Complete ISE Design Suite and ModelSim SE license that are obtained by Dr. Tull and can be checked out from on-campus license servers. The class assignments can be completed using any types of license and the choice of license would not make any difference in design environment. However, the full featured licenses usage requires the computer to be connected to campus network directly or using VPN. Additionally, the IT services lab s computers on the second floor of Carson Engineering Center also have these software tools installed. Installing Xilinx ISE Design Suite 1. Xilinx has a single installer for full or Web Pack editions that can be obtained from the Xilinx website at http://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.htm (Figure 1) 2. Allow the Xilinx download manager to download the Full Installer for Windows file (size 2.96 GB) on your computer as shown in Figure 2. 3. Allow the Xilinx download manager to download the Full Installer for Windows file. 4. After the download is finished, browse to the download folder and uncompress the downloaded tar file using an archiver. (freeware 7zip available at http://www.7-zip.org/ ) 5. Run xsetup.exe to start installation process and follow the prompts. (Figure 3)
Figure 1: Obtaining Xilinx ISE Figure 2: Download Full Installer
6. In the ISE installer select wanted options (Full/Web Pack), also select all other installation options including Acquire a Web Pack License and continue installation... Figure 3 Figure 3: Xilinx xsetup.exe Installer Figure 4: License Generator Window Pops Open Towards the end of Installation
Obtaining Free of Charge Xilinx Web Pack License 7. After verifying the Local System information in the License Generator Window Pop-up, Continue to ISE website for generating free of charge Web Pack license as in Figure 4 8. On Xilinx website you will need to log in (Requires creation of a Xilinx log-in account ) 9. Verify your info (required upon each log-in to Xilinx) and proceed to License Generator Web Page to generate a ISE Design Suite Web Pack license as shown in Figure 5 Figure 5: Select ISE Design Suite Web Pack License on Xilinx License Generator Page
10. The license will be emailed to you as shown in Figure 6 Figure 6: Successful ISE Design Suite Web Pack License Generation Pop-up 11. Download the Web Pack license (Xilinx.lic) file from email and continue back on ISE License Generator/Manager Pop-up window (in Figure 7) 12. As shown in Figure 7, copy the downloaded license file (Xilinx.lic) by clicking Copy License button.
Figure 7: Copy downloaded ISE Design Suite Web Pack License to local Xilinx Directory Using Xilinx ISE Design Suite (Complete) License from License Server 13. In order to use the full featured ISE Design Suite license acquired by the Dr. Tull and hosted at the license server, open the Start Menu > All Programs > Xilinx ISE Design Suite 12.2 > Accessories > Manage Xilinx Licenses and enter license server information as 2100@129.15.34.42 in both XILINXD_LICENSE_FILE and LM_LICENSE_FILE fields and set in (OK any prompts) as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8: Entering License Server Information in Xilinx License Manager 14. Test the ISE installation using Start Menu > All Programs > Xilinx ISE Design Suite 12.2 > ISE Design Tools > (32 bit) Project Navigator 15. This completes the Xilinx ISE Design Suite installation procedure.
Installing Mentor Graphics ModelSim XE (free of charge Xilinx Edition) 16. Xilinx provides a free of charge Xilinx Edition of ModelSim (XE) simulator for timing simulation, which can be downloaded from the same Xilinx download page as above (shown in Figure 9 ). NOTICE that the ModelSim XE is available only on ISE version 12.1 tab on Xilinx download site. 17. Download and extract the ModelSim Windows MXE installer (mxe_3_6_5c size 337 MB), and run setup.exe in MXE folder. Figure 9: Download ModelSim XE from Xilinx Website 18. Ignore/close the prompt about official Windows Vista support. 19. Select the MXE Starter (free) Edition 20. Select VHDL FULL installation
21. Select YES on prompt to Add ModelSim to Path 22. Click YES on Complete License Request prompt 23. Upon completion (finish) a new web browser window will take you to license request page, click Continue and log-in using previously created Xilinx username and password 24. Verify the email ID and Submit license request information. (close/ignore pop-up prompt) 25. Download and save license.dat file from email and follow instructions for using Licensing Wizard program 26. Run Start Menu > All Programs > ModelSim XE III 6.5c > Licensing Wizard and browse to the downloaded license.dat file and continue. 27. Allow Licensing Wizard to modify Path variable. (YES) 28. Run ModelSim to verify the license is properly installed. 29. This concludes installation of the ModelSim XE. Installing Mentor Graphics ModelSim SE (Full Standard Edition) 30. Download installer for the ModelSim SE 6.6b from Mentor Graphics webpage here: http://model.com/content/modelsim-se-high-performance-simulation-and-debug 31. We get to provide our bio-data and contact information again Yeay fun 32. From the ftp page, get modelsim-win32-6.6b-se.exe (size 227 MB) 33. Run the installer, follow the prompts, and allow file type (.vhd and.mpf) association. 34. Allow the installer to Add ModelSim to the path. 35. IMP select NO at the Install Hardware Security Key Driver prompt (No) 36. In the Licensing Wizard Window (will pop open) select Install a new license 37. Enter the location of the license file as 1717@129.15.34.42 and continue 38. Exit upon Success this concludes installation of the ModelSim SE 6.6b.
Configuring ISE to use ModelSim Simulator: 39. Any version of ISE Design Suite (Web Pack or Complete) can simulate designs using any version of ModelSim (XE/SE) 40. ISE Project Navigator uses ISE Simulator (ISIM) as the default timing simulator. 41. Two steps are required to make your project use the ModelSim (XE/SE) version. 42. Open ISE Design Suite > Project Navigator > Edit Menu > Preferences > ISE General group > Integrated Tools Tab > Model Tech Simulator field and verify that is points to: For ModelSim XE = C:\Modeltech_xe_starter\win32xoem\modelsim.exe OR For ModelSim SE 6.6b = C:\modeltech_6.6b\win32\modelsim.exe In above two paths replace C: with your installation drive letter and click apply, OK. 43. The design project must also be set to utilize the desired simulator, which can be done at the time of design project creation, or later by modifying the design project s properties (Project Navigator > Hierarchy > right click on Device Name > Select Design Properties > Select Desired Simulator w/vhdl) 44. The ModelSim Logo shows up in the Design Panel (on Simulation tab) 45. This concludes setting up of all design entry and verification tools required for Dr. Tull s Computer Hardware Design class Have Fun Designing Digital Hardware!!!