.. -*- Mode: rst -*-
.. role:: ul
.. role:: cb
.. role:: sc
.. role:: fboxtt
.. Acronyms & names.
.. |GNU| replace:: :sc:`gnu`
.. |LGPL| replace:: :sc:`lgpl`
.. |GPL| replace:: :sc:`gpl`
.. |UPMC| replace:: :sc:`upmc`
.. |Bull| replace:: :sc:`Bull`
.. |Cadence| replace:: :sc:`Cadence`
.. |Si2| replace:: :sc:`Si2`
.. |LEFDEF| replace:: :sc:`lefdef`
.. |Flute| replace:: :sc:`Flute`
.. |MacOS| replace:: :sc:`MacOS`
.. |RHEL6| replace:: :sc:`rhel6`
.. |RHEL7| replace:: :sc:`rhel7`
.. |SL6| replace:: :sc:`Scientific Linux 6`
.. |SL7| replace:: :sc:`Scientific Linux 7`
.. |Scientific Linux| replace:: :sc:`Scientific Linux`
.. |RedHat| replace:: :sc:`RedHat`
.. |Fedora| replace:: :sc:`Fedora`
.. |FC13| replace:: :sc:`fc13`
.. |Debian| replace:: :sc:`Debian`
.. |Ubuntu| replace:: :sc:`Ubuntu`
.. |LEMON| replace:: :sc:`lemon`
.. |Coin-Or| replace:: :sc:`coin-or`
.. |Alexandre| replace:: :sc:`Alexandre`
.. |Belloeil| replace:: :sc:`Belloeil`
.. |Chaput| replace:: :sc:`Chaput`
.. |Chu| replace:: :sc:`Chu`
.. |Clement| replace:: :sc:`Clement`
.. |Dupuis| replace:: :sc:`Dupuis`
.. |Escassut| replace:: :sc:`Escassut`
.. |Gouvine| replace:: :sc:`Gouvine`
.. |Masson| replace:: :sc:`Masson`
.. |Sroka| replace:: :sc:`Sroka`
.. |Yifei| replace:: :sc:`Yifei`
.. |ANSI| replace:: :sc:`ansi`
.. |MIPS| replace:: :sc:`mips`
.. |Am2901| replace:: :sc:`Am2901`
.. |Hurricane| replace:: :sc:`Hurricane`
.. |HurricaneAMS| replace:: :sc:`HurricaneAMS`
.. |Alliance| replace:: :sc:`Alliance`
.. |Yosys| replace:: :sc:`Yosys`
.. |GenLib| replace:: :sc:`GenLib`
.. |Nero| replace:: :sc:`Nero`
.. |Druc| replace:: :cb:`Druc`
.. |Coloquinte| replace:: :sc:`Coloquinte`
.. |Coriolis| replace:: :sc:`Coriolis`
.. |Coriolis1| replace:: :sc:`Coriolis 1`
.. |Coriolis2| replace:: :sc:`Coriolis 2`
.. |VLSISAPD| replace:: :sc:`vlsisapd`
.. |CRLcore| replace:: :sc:`CRLcore`
.. |Cyclop| replace:: :sc:`Cyclop`
.. |Nimbus| replace:: :sc:`Nimbus`
.. |hMetis| replace:: :sc:`hMetis`
.. |Mauka| replace:: :sc:`Mauka`
.. |Etesian| replace:: :sc:`Etesian`
.. |Knik| replace:: :sc:`Knik`
.. |Katabatic| replace:: :sc:`Katabatic`
.. |Kite| replace:: :sc:`Kite`
.. |Stratus| replace:: :sc:`Stratus`
.. |Stratus1| replace:: :sc:`Stratus1`
.. |Stratus2| replace:: :sc:`Stratus2`
.. |Unicorn| replace:: :sc:`Unicorn`
.. |ccb| replace:: :cb:`ccb`
.. |cgt| replace:: :cb:`cgt`
.. |Chams| replace:: :sc:`Chams`
.. |OpenChams| replace:: :sc:`OpenChams`
.. |Pharos| replace:: :cb:`Pharos`
.. |API| replace:: :sc:`api`
.. |STL| replace:: :sc:`stl`
.. |XML| replace:: :sc:`xml`
.. |pdf| replace:: :sc:`pdf`
.. |UTF-8| replace:: :sc:`utf-8`
.. |Python| replace:: :sc:`Python`
.. |Linux| replace:: :sc:`Linux`
.. |MacPorts| replace:: :sc:`MacPorts`
.. |devtoolset2| replace:: :cb:`devtoolset2`
.. |boost| replace:: :cb:`boost`
.. |Qt| replace:: :sc:`qt`
.. |tty| replace:: :cb:`tty`
.. |svn| replace:: :cb:`svn`
.. |git| replace:: :cb:`git`
.. |rpm| replace:: :cb:`rpm`
.. |gdb| replace:: :cb:`gdb`
.. |KeyUp| replace:: :fboxtt:`Up`
.. |KeyDown| replace:: :fboxtt:`Down`
.. |KeyLeft| replace:: :fboxtt:`Left`
.. |KeyRight| replace:: :fboxtt:`Right`
.. |KeyF| replace:: :fboxtt:`f`
.. |KeyL| replace:: :fboxtt:`l`
.. |KeyG| replace:: :fboxtt:`g`
.. |KeyZ| replace:: :fboxtt:`z`
.. |KeyM| replace:: :fboxtt:`m`
.. |KeyI| replace:: :fboxtt:`i`
.. |KeyK| replace:: :fboxtt:`k`
.. |KeyP| replace:: :fboxtt:`p`
.. |KeyO| replace:: :fboxtt:`o`
.. |KeyW| replace:: :fboxtt:`w`
.. |KeyQ| replace:: :fboxtt:`q`
.. |KeyCapK| replace:: :fboxtt:`K`
.. |KeyCapS| replace:: :fboxtt:`S`
.. |Plus| replace:: :fboxtt:`+`
.. |KeyESC| replace:: :fboxtt:`ESC`
.. |CTRL| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL`
.. |CTRL_L| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+L`
.. |CTRL_I| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+I`
.. |CTRL_P| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+P`
.. |CTRL_O| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+O`
.. |CTRL_W| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+W`
.. |CTRL_Q| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+Q`
.. |CTRL_Down| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+Down`
.. |CTRL_Up| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+Up`
.. |CTRL_Left| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+Left`
.. |CTRL_Right| replace:: :fboxtt:`CTRL+Right`
.. URLs
.. _FGR: http://vlsicad.eecs.umich.edu/BK/FGR/
.. _Box Router: http://www.cerc.utexas.edu/~thyeros/boxrouter/boxrouter.htm
.. _hMETIS: http://glaros.dtc.umn.edu/gkhome/views/metis
.. _Knik Thesis: http://www-soc.lip6.fr/en/users/damiendupuis/PhD/
.. _Coin Or Home: http://www.coin-or.org/index.html
.. _RapidJSON: http://miloyip.github.io/rapidjson/
.. _coriolis2-1.0.2049-1.slsoc6.i686.rpm: http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0/coriolis2-1.0.2049-1.slsoc6.i686.rpm
.. _coriolis2-1.0.2049-1.slsoc6.x86_64.rpm: http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0/coriolis2-1.0.2049-1.slsoc6.x86_64.rpm
.. _coriolis2-1.0.2049-1.fc16.i686.rpm: http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0/coriolis2-1.0.2049-1.fc16.i686.rpm
.. _coriolis2-1.0.2049-1.fc16.x86_64.rpm: http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0/coriolis2-1.0.2049-1.fc16.x86_64.rpm
.. _coriolis2_1.0-2049-1_.i386.rpm (10.04): http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0/Ubuntu/10.04/coriolis2_1.0-2049-1_i386.rpm
.. _coriolis2_1.0-2049-1_.amd64.rpm (10.04): http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0/Ubuntu/10.04/coriolis2_1.0-2049-1_i386.rpm
.. _coriolis2_1.0-2049-1_.i386.rpm (12.04): http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0/Ubuntu/12.04/coriolis2_1.0-2049-1_i386.rpm
.. _coriolis2_1.0-2049-1_.amd64.rpm (12.04): http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0/Ubuntu/12.04/coriolis2_1.0-2049-1_i386.rpm
.. Standard CAO/VLSI Concepts.
.. |netlist| replace:: *netlist*
.. |netlists| replace:: *netlists*
.. |layout| replace:: *layout*
.. |layouts| replace:: *layouts*
.. |CMOS| replace:: :sc:`cmos`
.. |VHDL| replace:: :sc:`vhdl`
.. |NWELL| replace:: :sc:`nwell`
.. |POWER| replace:: :sc:`power`
.. |GROUND| replace:: :sc:`ground`
.. MBK Concepts
.. |MBK| replace:: :sc:`mbk`
.. |LOFIG| replace:: :cb:`Lofig`
.. |PHFIG| replace:: :cb:`Phfig`
.. |SxLib| replace:: :sc:`SxLib`
.. Hurricane Concepts.
.. |hypernet| replace:: *hypernet*
.. |hypernets| replace:: *hypernets*
.. |Cell| replace:: *Cell*
.. |Rings| replace:: *Rings*
.. |QuadTrees| replace:: *QuadTrees*
.. |Collections| replace:: *Collections*
.. |ap| replace:: :cb:`ap`
.. |vst| replace:: :cb:`vst`
.. |kgr| replace:: :cb:`kgr`
.. |dot_conf| replace:: :cb:`.conf`
|medskip|
=====================
Coriolis User's Guide
=====================
|medskip|
.. raw:: html
.. contents::
|newpage|
Credits & License
=================
.. raw:: html
Hurricane
Rémy Escassut &
Christian Masson
Etesian
Gabriel Gouvine
Stratus
Sophie Belloeil
Knik
Damien Dupuis
Kite,
Unicorn
Jean-Paul Chaput
.. raw:: latex
\begin{center}\begin{minipage}[t]{.8\textwidth}
\noindent\DUrole{sc}{Hurricane} \dotfill Rémy \DUrole{sc}{Escassut} \&
Christian \DUrole{sc}{Masson} \\
\noindent\DUrole{sc}{Etesian} \dotfill Gabriel \DUrole{sc}{Gouvine} \\
\noindent\DUrole{sc}{Stratus} \dotfill Sophie \DUrole{sc}{Belloeil} \\
\noindent\DUrole{sc}{Knik} \dotfill Damien \DUrole{sc}{Dupuis} \\
\noindent\DUrole{sc}{Kite},
\DUrole{sc}{Unicorn} \dotfill Jean-Paul \DUrole{sc}{Chaput} \\
\end{minipage}\end{center}
|medskip|
The |Hurricane| data-base is copyright© |Bull| 2000-2016 and is
released under the terms of the |LGPL| license. All other tools are
copyright© |UPMC| 2008-2016 and released under the |GPL|
license.
Others important contributors to |Coriolis| are Christophe |Alexandre|,
Hugo |Clement|, Marek |Sroka| and Wu |Yifei|.
The |Knik| router makes use of the |Flute| software, which is
copyright© Chris C. N. |Chu| from the Iowa State University
(http://home.eng.iastate.edu/~cnchu/).
|newpage|
Release Notes
=============
Release 1.0.1475
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first preliminary release of the |Coriolis2| framework.
This release mainly ships the global router |Knik| and the detailed router
|Kite|. Together they aim to replace the |Alliance| |Nero| router.
Unlike |Nero|, |Kite| is based on an innovating routing modeling and ad-hoc
algorithm. Although it is released under |GPL| license, the source code
will be avalaible later.
|medskip|
|noindent| Contents of this release:
1. A graphical user interface (viewer only).
2. The |Knik| global router.
3. The |Kite| detailed router.
|noindent| Supported input/output formats:
* |Alliance| |vst| (netlist) & |ap| (physical) formats.
* Even if there are some references to the |Cadence| |LEFDEF| format, its
support is not included because it depends on a library only available
to |Si2| affiliated members.
Release 1.0.1963
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Release 1963 is alpha. All the tools from |Coriolis1| have been ported into
this release.
|noindent| Contents of this release:
#. The |Stratus| netlist capture language (|GenLib| replacement).
#. The |Mauka| placer (still contains bugs).
#. A graphical user interface (viewer only).
#. The |Knik| global router.
#. The |Kite| detailed router.
#. Partially implemented python support for configuration files
(alternative to |XML|).
#. A documentation (imcomplete/obsoleted in |Hurricane|'s case).
Release 1.0.2049
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Release `2049` is Alpha.
|noindent| Changes of this release:
#. The |Hurricane| documentation is now accurate. Documentation
for the Cell viewer and |CRLcore| has been added.
#. More extensive Python support for all the components of
|Coriolis|.
#. Configuration is now completly migrated under Python.
|XML| loaders can still be useds for compatibilty.
#. The |cgt| main has been rewritten in Python.
Release v2.0.1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#. Migrated the repository from |svn| to |git|, and release complete sources.
As a consequence, we drop the distribution packaging support and give
public read-only access to the repository.
#. Deep rewrite of the |Katabatic| database and |Kite| detailed router,
achieve a speedup factor greater than 20...
Release v2.1
~~~~~~~~~~~~
#. Replace the old simulated annealing placer |Mauka| by the analytical placer
|Etesian| and its legalization and detailed placement tools.
#. Added a Blif format parser to process circuits generated by the Yosys and ABC
logic synthetizers.
#. The multiples user defined configuration files are now grouped under
a common hidden (dot) directory ``.coriolis2`` and the file extension
is back from ``.conf`` to ``.py``.
.. #. Under |RHEL7| / |SL7|, there is a known bug in the graphical visualizer.
.. When shifting to the left, the right-half part of the screen gets
.. badly redrawn. Uses |CTRL_L| to refresh. It will be corrected as soon
.. as possible.
**Release v2.2**
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#. Added JSON import/export of the whole Hurricane DataBase. Two save mode
are supported: *Cell* mode (standalone) or *Blob* mode, which dump the
whole design down and including the standard cells.
|newpage|
Installation
============
.. note::
As the sources are being released, the binary packaging is dropped.
You still may find older version here: http://asim.lip6.fr/pub/coriolis/2.0 .
In a nutshell, building source consist in pulling the |git| repository then
running the |ccb| installer.
Main building prerequisites:
* cmake
* C++11-capable compiler
* RapidJSON_
* python2.7
* boost
* libxml2
* bzip2
* yacc & lex
* Qt 4 or Qt 5
Building documentation prerequisites:
* doxygen
* latex
* latex2html
* python-docutils (for reStructuredText)
Optional libraries:
* `Lemon `_ (used by the detailed placer)
* LEF/DEF (from `SI2 `_)
The |Coloquinte| component requires the |LEMON| component from |Coin-Or| (`Coin Or Home`_).
A repository of |Coin-Or| packages backported from |Fedora| 21 is available here:
* |SL6|: `ftp://pub/linux/distributions/slsoc/slsoc/soc/addons/i386/RPMS `_
* |SL7|: `ftp://pub/linux/distributions/slsoc/soc/7/addons/x86_64/RPMS `_
For other distributions, refer to their own packaging system.
|newpage|
Fixed Directory Tree
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In order to simplificate the work of the |ccb| installer, the source, build
and installation tree is fixed. To successfully compile |Coriolis| you must
follow it exactly. The tree is relative to the home directory of the user
building it (noted :fboxtt:`~/` or :fboxtt:`$HOME/`). Only the source
directory needs to be manually created by the user, all others will be
automatically created either by |ccb| or the build system.
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Sources** |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | Sources root | | ~/coriolis-2.x/src |
| | **under git** | | ~/coriolis-2.x/src/coriolis |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Architecture Dependant Build** |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | Linux, SL 7, 64 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Linux.el7_64/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | Linux, SL 6, 32 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Linux.slsoc6x/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | Linux, SL 6, 64 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Linux.slsoc6x_64/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | Linux, Fedora, 64 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Linux.fc_64/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | Linux, Fedora, 32 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Linux.fc/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | FreeBSD 8, 32 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/FreeBSD.8x.i386/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | FreeBSD 8, 64 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/FreeBSD.8x.amd64/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | Windows 7, 32 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Cygwin.W7/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | Windows 7, 64 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Cygwin.W7_64/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | Windows 8.x, 32 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Cygwin.W8/Release.Shared/build/ |
| | Windows 8.x, 64 bits | | ~/coriolis-2.x/Cygwin.W8_64/Release.Shared/build/ |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Architecture Dependant Install** |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Linux, SL 6, 32 bits | ~/coriolis-2.x/Linux.slsoc6x/Release.Shared/install/ |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **FHS Compliant Structure under Install** |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | Binaries | | .../install/bin |
| | Libraries (Python) | | .../install/lib |
| | Include by tool | | .../install/include/coriolis2// |
| | Configuration files | | .../install/etc/coriolis2/ |
| | Doc, by tool | | .../install/share/doc/coriolis2/en/html/ |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
.. note:: *Alternate build types:* the ``Release.Shared`` means an optimized build
with shared libraries. But there are also available ``Static`` instead of ``Shared``
and ``Debug`` instead of ``Release`` and any combination of them.
``Static`` do not work because I don't know yet to mix statically linked binaries
and Python modules (which must be dynamic).
|newpage|
Building Coriolis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First step is to install the prerequisites. Currently, only RapidJSON_: ::
dummy@lepka:~$ mkdir -p ~/coriolis-2.x/src/support
dummy@lepka:~$ cd ~/coriolis-2.x/src/support
dummy@lepka:~$ git clone http://github.com/miloyip/rapidjson
The second step is to create the source directory and pull the |git| repository: ::
dummy@lepka:~$ mkdir -p ~/coriolis-2.x/src
dummy@lepka:~$ cd ~/coriolis-2.x/src
dummy@lepka:~$ git clone https://www-soc.lip6.fr/git/coriolis.git
Third and final step, build & install: ::
dummy@lepka:src$ ./bootstrap/ccp.py --project=support \
--project=coriolis \
--make="-j4 install"
dummy@lepka:src$ ./bootstrap/ccb.py --project=support \
--project=coriolis \
--doc --make="-j1 install"
We need to separate to perform a separate installation of the documentation because it
do not support to be generated with a parallel build. So we compile & install in a first
stage in ``-j4`` (or whatever) then we generate the documentation in ``-j1``
Under |RHEL6| or clones, you must build using the |devtoolset2|: ::
dummy@lepka:src$ ./bootstrap/ccp.py --project=coriolis \
--devtoolset-2 --make="-j4 install"
If you want to uses Qt 5 instead of Qt 4, you may add the ``--qt5`` argument.
The complete list of |ccb| functionalities can be accessed with the ``--help`` argument.
It also may be run in graphical mode (``--gui``).
Building the Devel Branch
-------------------------
In the |Coriolis| |git| repository, two branches are present:
* The :cb:`master` branch, which contains the latest stable version. This is the
one used by default if you follow the above instructions.
* The :cb:`devel` branch, which obviously contains the latest commits from the
development team. To use it instead of the :cb:`master` one, do the following
command just after the first step: ::
dummy@lepka:~$ git checkout devel
dummy@lepka:src$ ./bootstrap/ccp.py --project=coriolis \
--make="-j4 install" --debug
Be aware that it may requires newer versions of the dependencies and may introduce
incompatibilites with the stable version.
In the (unlikely) event of a crash of |cgt|, as it is a |Python| script, the right
command to run |gdb| on it is: ::
dummy@lepka:work$ gdb python core.XXXX
|newpage|
Additionnal Requirement under |MacOS|
-------------------------------------
|Coriolis| make uses of the :cb:`boost::python` module, but the |macports| |boost|
seems unable to work with the |Python| bundled with |MacOS|. So you have to install
both of them from |macports|: ::
dummy@macos:~$ port install boost +python27
dummy@macos:~$ port select python python27
dummy@macos:-$ export DYLD_FRAMEWORK_PATH=/opt/local/Library/Frameworks
The last two lines tell |MacOS| to use the |Python| from |macports| and *not* from
the system.
Then proceed with the generic install instructions.
Packaging Coriolis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Packager should not uses |ccb|, instead ``bootstrap/Makefile.package`` is provided
to emulate a top-level ``autotool`` makefile. Just copy it in the root of the
|Coriolis| git repository (``~/corriolis-2.x/src/coriolis/``) and build.
Sligthly outaded packaging configuration files can also be found under ``bootstrap/``:
* ``bootstrap/coriolis2.spec.in`` for |rpm| based distributions.
* ``bootstrap/debian`` for |Debian| based distributions.
Hooking up into |Alliance|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|Coriolis| relies on |Alliance| for the cell libraries. So after installing or
packaging, you must configure it so that it can found those libraries.
This is done by editing the one variable :cb:`cellsTop` in the |Alliance| helper
(see `Alliance Helper`_). This variable must point to the directory of the
cells libraries. In a typical installation, this is generally
:cb:`/usr/share/alliance/cells`.
Setting up the Environment (coriolisEnv.py)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To simplify the tedious task of configuring your environment, a helper is provided
in the ``bootstrap`` source directory (also installed in the directory
``.../install/etc/coriolis2/``) : ::
~/coriolis-2.x/src/coriolis/bootstrap/coriolisEnv.py
Use it like this: ::
dummy@lepka:~> eval `~/coriolis-2.x/src/coriolis/bootstrap/coriolisEnv.py`
.. note:: **Do not call that script in your environement initialisation.**
When used under |RHEL6| or clones, it needs to be run in the |devtoolset2|
environement. The script then launch a new shell, which may cause an
infinite loop if it's called again in, say :cb:`~/.bashrc`.
Instead you may want to create an alias: ::
alias c2r='eval "`~/coriolis-2.x/src/coriolis/bootstrap/coriolisEnv.py`"'
|newpage|
Documentation
=============
The general index of the documentation for the various parts of Coriolis
are avalaibles here `Coriolis Tools Documentation`_.
.. note:: **Python Documentation:**
Most of the documentation is related to the C++ API and implemetation of
the tools. However, the |Python| bindings have been created so they
mimic *as closely as possible* the C++ interface, so the documentation
applies to both languages with only minor syntactic changes.
General Software Architecture
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|Coriolis| has been build with respect of the classical paradigm that the
computational instensive parts have been written in C++, and almost
everything else in |Python|. To build the |Python| interface we used
two methods:
* For self-contained modules :cb:`boost::python` (mainly in :cb:`vlsisapd`).
* For all modules based on |Hurricane|, we created our own wrappers due
to very specific requirements such as shared functions between modules
or C++/|Python| secure bi-directional object deletion.
|CoriolisSoftSchema|
Coriolis Configuration & Initialisation
=======================================
All configuration & initialization files are Python scripts, despite their
|dot_conf| extention. From a syntactic point of view, there is no difference
between the system-wide configuration files and the user's configuration,
they may use the same Python helpers.
|medskip|
Configuration is done in two stages:
#. Selecting the symbolic technology.
#. Loading the complete configuration for the given technology.
First Stage: Symbolic Technology Selection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|noindent|
The initialization process is done by executing, in order, the following
file(s):
+-------+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Order | Meaning | File |
+=======+==================================+==============================================+
| **1** | The system setting | :cb:`/etc/coriolis2/techno.conf` |
+-------+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| **2** | The user's global setting | :cb:`${HOME}/.coriolis2/techno.py` |
+-------+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| **3** | The user's local setting | :cb:`/.coriolis2/techno.py` |
+-------+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
Thoses files must provides only two variables, the name of the symbolic technology
and the one of the real technology. For example: ::
# -*- Mode:Python -*-
symbolicTechno = 'cmos'
realTechno = 'hcmos9'
Second Stage: Technology Configuration Loading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|noindent|
The :cb:`TECHNO` variable is set by the first stage and it's the name of the
symbolic technology. A directory of that name, with all the configuration files,
must exists in the configuration directory. In addition to the technology-specific
directories, a :cb:`common/` directory is there to provides a trunk for all the
identical datas across the various technologies. The initialization process is done
by executing, in order, the following file(s):
+-------+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Order | Meaning | File |
+=======+==================================+==============================================+
| **1** | The system initialization | :cb:`/etc/coriolis2//.conf` |
+-------+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| **2** | The user's global initialization | :cb:`${HOME}/.coriolis2/settings.py` |
+-------+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| **3** | The user's local initialization | :cb:`/.coriolis2/settings.py` |
+-------+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
.. note:: *The loading policy is not hard-coded.* It is implemented
at Python level in :cb:`/etc/coriolis2/coriolisInit.py`, and thus may be easily be
amended to whatever site policy.
The truly mandatory requirement is the existence of :cb:`coriolisInit.py`
which *must* contain a :cb:`coriolisConfigure()` function with no argument.
Configuration Helpers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To ease the writing of configuration files, a set of small helpers
is available. They allow to setup the configuration parameters through
simple assembly of tuples. The helpers are installed under the directory: ::
/etc/coriolis2/
Where :cb:`/` is the root of the installation.
|newpage|
.. _Alliance Helper:
|Alliance| Helper
-----------------
The configuration file must provide a :cb:`allianceConfig` tuple of
the form: ::
cellsTop = '/usr/share/alliance/cells/'
allianceConfig = \
( ( 'SYMBOLIC_TECHNOLOGY', helpers.sysConfDir+'/technology.symbolic.xml' )
, ( 'REAL_TECHNOLOGY' , helpers.sysConfDir+'/technology.cmos130.s2r.xml')
, ( 'DISPLAY' , helpers.sysConfDir+'/display.xml' )
, ( 'CATALOG' , 'CATAL')
, ( 'WORKING_LIBRARY' , '.')
, ( 'SYSTEM_LIBRARY' , ( (cellsTop+'sxlib' , Environment.Append)
, (cellsTop+'dp_sxlib', Environment.Append)
, (cellsTop+'ramlib' , Environment.Append)
, (cellsTop+'romlib' , Environment.Append)
, (cellsTop+'rflib' , Environment.Append)
, (cellsTop+'rf2lib' , Environment.Append)
, (cellsTop+'pxlib' , Environment.Append) ) )
, ( 'SCALE_X' , 100)
, ( 'IN_LO' , 'vst')
, ( 'IN_PH' , 'ap')
, ( 'OUT_LO' , 'vst')
, ( 'OUT_PH' , 'ap')
, ( 'POWER' , 'vdd')
, ( 'GROUND' , 'vss')
, ( 'CLOCK' , '^ck.*')
, ( 'BLOCKAGE' , '^blockageNet*')
)
|noindent| The example above shows the system configuration file, with all the
available settings. Some important remarks about thoses settings:
* In it's configuration file, the user do not need to redefine all the settings,
just the one he wants to change. In most of the cases, the ``SYSTEM_LIBRARY``,
the ``WORKING_LIBRARY`` and the special net names (at this point there is not
much alternatives for the others settings).
* ``SYSTEM_LIBRARY`` setting: Setting up the library search path.
Each library entry in the tuple will be added to the search path according
to the second parameter:
* :cb:`Environment::Append`: append to the search path.
* :cb:`Environment::Prepend`: insert in head of the search path.
* :cb:`Environment::Replace`: look for a library of the same name and replace
it, whithout changing the search path order. If no library of that name
already exists, it is appended.
A library is identified by it's name, this name is the last component of the
path name. For instance: ``/soc/alliance/sxlib`` will be named ``sxlib``.
Implementing the |Alliance| specification, when looking for a |Cell| ``name``,
the system will browse sequentially trought the library list and returns
the first |Cell| whose name match.
* For ``POWER``, ``GROUND``, ``CLOCK`` and ``BLOCKAGE`` net names, a regular
expression (|GNU| regexp) is expected.
* The ``helpers.sysConfDir`` variable is supplied by the helpers, it is the
directory in which the system-wide configuration files are locateds.
For a standard installation it would be: ``/soc/coriolis2``.
.. * Trick and naming convention about ``SYMBOLIC_TECHNOLOGY``, ``REAL_TECHNOLOGY``
.. and ``DISPLAY``. In the previous releases, thoses files where to read by
.. XML parsers, and still do if you triggers the XML compatibility mode.
.. But now, they have Python conterparts. In the configuration files, you
.. still have to name them as XML files, the Python file name will be
.. deduced from this one with thoses two translation rules:
..
.. #. In the filename, all dots, except for the last (the file extention),
.. are replaced by underscores.
..
.. #. The ``.xml`` extention is substituted by a ``.conf``.
..
.. For the symbolic technology, it would give: ::
..
.. /soc/coriolis2/technology.symbolic.xml
.. --> /soc/coriolis2/technology_symbolic.conf
A typical user's configuration file would be: ::
import os
homeDir = os.getenv('HOME')
allianceConfig = \
( ('WORKING_LIBRARY' , homeDir+'/worklib')
, ('SYSTEM_LIBRARY' , ( (homeDir+'/mylib', Environment.Append) ) )
, ('POWER' , 'vdd.*')
, ('GROUND' , 'vss.*')
)
Tools Configuration Helpers
---------------------------
All the tools uses the same helper to load their configuration (a.k.a.
*Configuration Helper*). Currently the following configuration system-wide
configuration files are defined:
* :cb:`misc.conf`: commons settings or not belonging specifically to a tool.
* :cb:`etesian.conf`: for the |Etesian| tool.
* :cb:`kite.conf`: for the |Kite| tool.
* :cb:`stratus1.conf`: for the |stratus1| tool.
Here is the contents of :cb:`etesian.conf`: ::
# Etesian parameters.
parametersTable = \
( ('etesian.aspectRatio' , TypePercentage, 100 , { 'min':10, 'max':1000 } )
, ('etesian.spaceMargin' , TypePercentage, 5 )
, ('etesian.uniformDensity' , TypeBool , False )
, ('etesian.routingDriven' , TypeBool , False )
, ("etesian.effort" , TypeEnumerate , 2
, { 'values':( ("Fast" , 1)
, ("Standard", 2)
, ("High" , 3)
, ("Extreme" , 4) ) }
)
, ("etesian.graphics" , TypeEnumerate , 2
, { 'values':( ("Show every step" , 1)
, ("Show lower bound" , 2)
, ("Show result only" , 3) ) }
)
)
layoutTable = \
( (TypeTab , 'Etesian', 'etesian')
, (TypeTitle , 'Placement area')
, (TypeOption, "etesian.aspectRatio" , "Aspect Ratio, X/Y (%)", 0 )
, (TypeOption, "etesian.spaceMargin" , "Space Margin" , 1 )
, (TypeRule ,)
, (TypeTitle , 'Etesian - Placer')
, (TypeOption, "etesian.uniformDensity", "Uniform density" , 0 )
, (TypeOption, "etesian.routingDriven" , "Routing driven" , 0 )
, (TypeOption, "etesian.effort" , "Placement effort" , 1 )
, (TypeOption, "etesian.graphics" , "Placement view" , 1 )
, (TypeRule ,)
)
Taxonomy of the file:
* It must contains, at least, the two tables:
* ``parametersTable``, defines & initialise the configuration variables.
* ``layoutTables``, defines how the various parameters will be displayed
in the configuration window (`The Settings Tab`_).
* The ``parametersTable``, is a tuple (list) of tuples. Each entry in the list
describe a configuration parameter. In it's simplest form, it's a quadruplet
:cb:`(TypeOption, 'paramId', ParameterType, DefaultValue)` with:
#. ``TypeOption``, tells that this tuple describe a parameter.
#. ``paramId``, the identifier of the parameter. Identifiers are defined
by the tools. The list of parameters is detailed in each tool section.
#. ``ParameterType``, the kind of parameter. Could be:
* ``TypeBool``, boolean.
* ``TypeInt``, signed integer.
* ``TypeEnumerate``, enumerated type, needs extra entry.
* ``TypePercentage``, percentage, expressed between 0 and 100.
* ``TypeDouble``, float.
* ``TypeString``, character string.
#. ``DefaultValue``, the default value for that parameter.
Hacking the Configuration Files
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Asides from the symbols that gets used by the configuration helpers like
:cb:`allianceConfig` or :cb:`parametersTable`, you can put pretty much anything
in :cb:`/.coriolis2/settings.py` (that is, written in |Python|).
For example: ::
# -*- Mode:Python -*-
defaultStyle = 'Alliance.Classic [black]'
# Regular Coriolis configuration.
parametersTable = \
( ('misc.catchCore' , TypeBool , False )
, ('misc.info' , TypeBool , False )
, ('misc.paranoid' , TypeBool , False )
, ('misc.bug' , TypeBool , False )
, ('misc.logMode' , TypeBool , True )
, ('misc.verboseLevel1' , TypeBool , False )
, ('misc.verboseLevel2' , TypeBool , True )
, ('misc.traceLevel' , TypeInt , 1000 )
)
# Some ordinary Python script...
import os
print ' o Cleaning up ClockTree previous run.'
for fileName in os.listdir('.'):
if fileName.endswith('.ap') or (fileName.find('_clocked.') >= 0):
print ' - <%s>' % fileName
os.unlink(fileName)
See `Python Interface to Coriolis`_ for more details those capabilities.
CGT - The Graphical Interface
=============================
The |Coriolis| graphical interface is split up into two windows.
* The **Viewer**, with the following features:
* Basic load/save capabilities.
* Display the current working cell. Could be empty if the design
is not yet placed.
* Execute Stratus Scripts.
* Menu to run the tools (placement, routage).
Features are detailed in `Viewer & Tools`_.
|ViewerSnapShot_1|
* The **Controller**, which allows:
* Tweak what is displayer by the *Viewer*. Through the *Look*,
*Filter* and *Layers&Gos* tabs.
* Browse the |netlist| with eponym tab.
* Show the list of selected objects (if any) with *selection*
* Walk through the Database, the Cell or the Selection with *Inspector*.
This is an advanced feature, reserved for experimented users.
* The tab *Settings* which give access to all the settings.
They are closely related to Configuration & Initialisation.
|ControllerSnapShot_1|
.. _Viewer & Tools:
Viewer & Tools
==============
|Stratus| Netlist Capture
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|Stratus| is the replacement for |GenLib| procedural netlist capture language.
It is designed as a set of |Python| classes, and comes with it's own documentation
(`Stratus Documentation`_)
The |Hurricane| Data-Base
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The |Alliance| flow is based on the |MBK| data-base, which has one data-structure
for each view. That is, |LOFIG| for the *logical* view and |PHFIG| for the *physical*
view. The place and route tools were responsible for maintaining (or not) the
coherency between views. Reflecting this weak coupling between views, each one
was stored in a separate file with a specific format. The *logical* view is stored
in a |vst| file in |VHDL| format and the *physical* in an |ap| file in an ad-hoc format.
The |Coriolis| flow is based on the |Hurricane| data-base, which has a unified
structure for *logical* and *physical* view. That data structure is the |Cell| object.
The |Cell| can have any state between pure netlist and completly placed and
routed design. Although the memory representation of the views has deeply
changed we still use the |Alliance| files format, but they now really represent
views of the same object. The point is that one must be very careful about
view coherency when going to and from |Coriolis|.
As for the second release, |Coriolis| can be used only for three purposes :
* **Placing a design**, in which case the |netlist| view must be present.
* **Routing a design**, in that case the |netlist|
view and the |layout| view must be present and |layout| view must contain
a placement. Both views must have the same name. When saving the routed design,
it is advised to change the design name otherwise the original unrouted placement
in the |layout| view will be overwritten.
* **Viewing a design**, the |netlist| view must be present, if a |layout|
view is present it still must have the same name but it can be in any
state.
Synthetizing and loading a design
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|Coriolis| supports several file formats. It can load all file format
from the |Alliance| toolchain (.ap for layout, behavioural and structural vhdl .vbe and .vst),
BLIF netlist format as well as benchmark formats from the ISPD contests.
It can be compiled with LEF/DEF support, although it requires acceptance of the SI2 license
and may not be compiled in your version of the software.
Synthesis under Yosys
---------------------
You can create a BLIF file from the |Yosys| synthetizer, which can be imported under Coriolis.
Most libraries are specified as a .lib liberty file and a .lef LEF file.
|Yosys| opens most .lib files with minor modifications, but LEF support in Coriolis relies on SI2.
If Coriolis hasn't been compiled against it, the library is given in |Alliance| .ap format.
`Some free libraries `_ already provide both .ap and .lib files.
Once you have installed a common library under |Yosys| and Coriolis, just synthetize your design
with |Yosys| and import it (as Blif without the extension) under Coriolis to perform place&route.
Synthesis under Alliance
------------------------
|Alliance| is an older toolchain but has been extensively used for years. Coriolis can import
and write Alliance designs and libraries directly.
Etesian -- Placer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The |Etesian| placer is a state of the art (as of 2015) analytical placer. It is
within ``5%`` of other placers' solutions, but is normally a bit worse than ePlace.
This |Coriolis| tool is actually an encapsulation of |Coloquinte| which *is* the placer.
.. note:: *Instance Uniquification Unsupported:* a same logical instance cannot have
two different placements. So, either you manually make a clone of it or you
supply a placement for it. We need to implement uniquification in the
|Hurricane| database.
|noindent|
**Hierarchical Placement**
The placement area is defined by the top cell abutment box.
When placing a complete hierarchy, the abutment boxes of the cells (models) other than
the top cell are sets identical to the one of the top cell and their instances are
all placed at position ``(0,0,ID)``. That is, all the abutments boxes, whatever the
hierarchical level, defines the same area (they are exactly superposed).
We choose this scheme because the placer will see all the instances as virtually
flattened, so they can be placed anywhere inside the top-cell abutment box.
|Etesian-1|
|noindent|
**Computing the Placement Area**
The placement area is computed using the ``etesian.aspectRatio`` and ``etesian.spaceMargin``
parameters only if the top-cell has an empty abutment box. If the top-cell abutment
box has to be set, then it is propagated to all the instances models recursively.
|noindent|
**Reseting the Placement**
Once a placement has been done, the placer cannot reset it (will be implemented
later). To perform a new placement, you must restart |cgt|. In addition, if you
have saved the placement on disk, you must erase any :cb:`.ap` file, which are
automatically reloaded along with the netlist (:cb:`.vst`).
|noindent|
**Limitations**
Etesian supports standard cells and fixed macros. As for the Coriolis 2.1 version,
it doesn't support movable macros, and you must place every macro beforehand.
Timing and routability analysis are not included either, and the returned placement
may be unroutable.
|newpage|
Etesian Configuration Parameters
--------------------------------
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| Parameter Identifier | Type | Default |
+===================================+==================+============================+
| **Etesian Parameters** |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``etesian.aspectRatio`` | TypePercentage | :cb:`100` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Define the height on width ``H/W`` aspect |
| | ratio, can be comprised between 10 and 1000 |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``etesian.spaceMargin`` | TypePercentage | :cb:`5` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The extra white space added to the total area |
| | of the standard cells |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``etesian.uniformDensity`` | TypeBool | :cb:`False` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Whether the cells will be spread envenly |
| | across the area or allowed to form denser |
| | clusters |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``etesian.effort`` | TypeInt | :cb:`2` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Sets the balance between the speed of the |
| | placer and the solution quality |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``etesian.routingDriven`` | TypeBool | :cb:`False` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Whether the tool will try routing iterations |
| | and whitespace allocation to improve |
| | routability; to be implemented |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``etesian.graphics`` | TypeInt | :cb:`2` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | How often the display will be refreshed |
| | More refreshing slows the placer. |
| | |
| | * ``1`` shows both upper and lower bounds |
| | * ``2`` only shows lower bound results |
| | * ``3`` only shows the final results |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
Knik -- Global Router
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The quality of |Knik| global routing solutions are equivalent to those of FGR_ 1.0.
For an in-depth description of |Knik| algorithms, you may download the thesis of
D. |Dupuis| avalaible from here~: `Knik Thesis`_.
The global router is (not yet) deterministic. To circumvent this limitation,
a global routing *solution* can be saved to disk and reloaded for later uses.
A global routing is saved into a file with the same name as the design and a
|kgr| extention. It is in `Box Router`_ output format.
|noindent| Menus:
* |menu_P&R| |rightarrow| |menu_StepByStep| |rightarrow| |menu_KiteSaveGlobalRouting|.
* |menu_P&R| |rightarrow| |menu_StepByStep| |rightarrow| |menu_KiteLoadGlobalRouting|.
Kite -- Detailed Router
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|Kite| no longer suffers from the limitations of |Nero|. It can route big designs
as its runtime and memory footprint is almost linear (with respect to the number
of gates). It has successfully routed design of more than `150K` gates.
|medskip|
|noindent| However, this first release comes with the temporary the following
restrictions:
* Works only with |SxLib| standard cell gauge.
* Works always with 4 routing metal layers (`M2` through `M5`).
* Do not allow (take into account) pre-routed wires on signals
other than |POWER| or |GROUND|.
.. note::
**Slow Layer Assignment.** Most of the time, the layer assignment stage is
fast (less than a dozen seconds), but in some instances it can take more
than a dozen *minutes*. This is a known bug and will be corrected in later
releases.
After each run, |Kite| displays a set of *completion ratios* which must all
be equal to `100%` if the detailed routing has been successfull.
In the event of a failure, on a saturated design, you may decrease the
`edge saturation ratio` (argument `--edge`) to balance more evenly the design
saturation. That is, the maximum saturation decrease at the price of a wider
saturated area and increased wirelength. This is the saturation of the
*global* router |Knik|, and you may increase/decrease by steps of ``5%``,
which represent one track. The maximum capacity of the |SxLib| gauge is
10 tracks in two layers, that makes 20 tracks by |Knik| edge.
Routing a design is done in four ordered steps:
#. Detailed pre-route |menu_P&R| |rightarrow| |menu_StepByStep| |rightarrow| |menu_KiteDetailedPreRoute|.
#. Global routing |menu_P&R| |rightarrow| |menu_StepByStep| |rightarrow| |menu_KiteGlobalRoute|.
#. Detailed routing |menu_P&R| |rightarrow| |menu_StepByStep| |rightarrow| |menu_KiteDetailedRoute|.
#. Finalize routing |menu_P&R| |rightarrow| |menu_StepByStep| |rightarrow| |menu_KiteFinalizeRoute|.
It is possible to supply to the router a complete wiring for some nets that the user's
wants to be routed according to a specific topology. The supplied topology must respect
the building rules of the |Katabatic| database (contacts must be, terminals, turns, h-tee
& v-tee only). During the first step :fboxtt:`Detailed Pre-Route` the router will solve
overlaps between the segments, without making any dogleg. If no pre-routed topologies
are present, this step may be ommited. Any net routed at this step is then fixed and
become unmovable for the later stages.
After the detailed routing step the |Kite| data-structure is still active
(the Hurricane wiring is decorated). The finalize step performs the removal of
the |Kite| data-structure, and it is not advisable to save the design before
that step.
You may visualize the density (saturation) of either |Knik| (on edges) or
|Kite| (on GCells) until the routing is finalized. Special layers appears
to that effect in the `The Layers&Go Tab`_.
Kite Configuration Parameters
-----------------------------
As |Knik| is only called through |Kite|, it's parameters also have
the :cb:`kite.` prefix.
The |Katabatic| parameters control the layer assignment step.
All the defaults value given below are from the default |Alliance| technology
(:cb:`cmos` and :cb:`SxLib` cell gauge/routing gauge).
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| Parameter Identifier | Type | Default |
+===================================+==================+============================+
| **Katabatic Parameters** |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``katabatic.topRoutingLayer`` | TypeString | :cb:`METAL5` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Define the highest metal layer that will be |
| | used for routing (inclusive). |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``katabatic.globalLengthThreshold``| TypeInt | :cb:`1450` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | This parameter is used by a layer assignment |
| | method which is no longer used (did not give |
| | good results) |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``katabatic.saturateRatio`` | TypePercentage | :cb:`80` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | If ``M(x)`` density is above this ratio, |
| | move up feedthru global segments up from |
| | depth ``x`` to ``x+2`` |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``katabatic.saturateRp`` | TypeInt | :cb:`8` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | If a GCell contains more terminals |
| | (:cb:`RoutingPad`) than that number, force a |
| | move up of the connecting segments to those |
| | in excess |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| **Knik Parameters** |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``kite.hTracksReservedLocal`` | TypeInt | :cb:`3` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | To take account the tracks needed *inside* a |
| | GCell to build the *local* routing, decrease |
| | the capacity of the edges of the global |
| | router. Horizontal and vertical locally |
| | reserved capacity can be distinguished for |
| | more accuracy. |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``kite.vTracksReservedLocal`` | TypeInt | :cb:`3` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | cf. ``kite.hTracksReservedLocal`` |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| **Kite Parameters** |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``kite.eventsLimit`` | TypeInt | :cb:`4000002` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The maximum number of segment displacements, |
| | this is a last ditch safety against infinite |
| | loop. It's perhaps a little too low for big |
| | designs |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``kite.ripupCost`` | TypeInt | :cb:`3` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Differential introduced between two ripup |
| | cost to avoid a loop between two ripped up |
| | segments |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``kite.strapRipupLimit`` | TypeInt | :cb:`16` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Maximum number of ripup for *strap* segments |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``kite.localRipupLimit`` | TypeInt | :cb:`9` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Maximum number of ripup for *local* segments |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``kite.globalRipupLimit`` | TypeInt | :cb:`5` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Maximum number of ripup for *global* segments,|
| | when this limit is reached, triggers topologic|
| | modification |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``kite.longGlobalRipupLimit`` | TypeInt | :cb:`5` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Maximum number of ripup for *long global* |
| | segments, when this limit is reached, triggers|
| | topological modification |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
.. _Python Scripts in Cgt:
Executing Python Scripts in Cgt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Python/Stratus scripts can be executed either in text or graphical mode.
.. note:: **How Cgt Locates Python Scripts:**
|cgt| uses the Python ``import`` mechanism to load Python scripts.
So you must give the name of your script whitout ``.py`` extention and
it must be reachable through the ``PYTHONPATH``. You may uses the
dotted module notation.
A Python/Stratus script must contains a function called ``ScriptMain()``
with one optional argument, the graphical editor into which it may be
running (will be set to ``None`` in text mode). The Python interface to
the editor (type: :cb:`CellViewer`) is limited to basic capabilities
only.
Any script given on the command line will be run immediatly *after* the
initializations and *before* any other argument is processed.
For more explanation on Python scripts see `Python Interface to Coriolis`_.
Printing & Snapshots
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Printing or saving into a |pdf| is fairly simple, just uses the **File -> Print**
menu or the |CTRL_P| shortcut to open the dialog box.
The print functionality uses exactly the same rendering mechanism as for the
screen, beeing almost *WYSIWYG*. Thus, to obtain the best results it is advisable
to select the ``Coriolis.Printer`` look (in the *Controller*), which uses a
white background and much suited for high resolutions ``32x32`` pixels patterns
There is also two mode of printing selectable through the *Controller*
**Settings -> Misc -> Printer/Snapshot Mode**:
=============== ================= =====================================================
Mode DPI (approx.) Intended Usage
--------------- ----------------- -----------------------------------------------------
**Cell Mode** 150 For single ``Cell`` printing or very small designs.
Patterns will be bigger and more readable.
**Design Mode** 300 For designs (mostly commposed of wires and cells
outlines).
=============== ================= =====================================================
.. note:: *The pdf file size*
Be aware that the generated |pdf| files are indeed only pixmaps.
So they can grew very large if you select paper format above ``A2``
or similar.
|noindent|
Saving into an image is subject to the same remarks as for |pdf|.
Memento of Shortcuts in Graphic Mode
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The main application binary is |cgt|.
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| Category | Keys | Action |
+===============+===================+===========================================================+
| **Moves** | | |KeyUp|, | Shift the view in the according direction |
| | |KeyDown| | |
| | | |KeyLeft|, | |
| | |KeyRight| | |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Fit** | |KeyF| | Fit to the Cell abutment box |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Refresh** | |CTRL_L| | Triggers a complete display redraw |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Goto** | |KeyG| | *apperture* is the minimum side of the area |
| | | displayed around the point to go to. It's an |
| | | alternative way of setting the zoom level |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Zoom** | |KeyZ|, | Respectively zoom by a 2 factor and *unzoom* |
| | |KeyM| | by a 2 factor |
| +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| | | |BigMouse| | You can perform a zoom to an area. |
| | | Area Zoom | Define the zoom area by *holding down the left |
| | | mouse button* while moving the mouse. |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Selection** | | |BigMouse| | You can select displayed objects under an area. |
| | | Area Selection | Define the selection area by *holding down the |
| | | right mouse button* while moving the mouse. |
| +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| | | |BigMouse| | You can toggle the selection of one object under |
| | | Toggle Selection| the mouse position by pressing |CTRL| and |
| | | pressing down *the right mouse button*. A popup |
| | | list of what's under the position shows up into |
| | | which you can toggle the selection state of one |
| | | item. |
| +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| | |KeyCapS| | Toggle the selection visibility |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Controller**| |CTRL_I| | Show/hide the controller window. |
| | | |
| | | It's the Swiss Army Knife of the viewer. |
| | | From it, you can fine-control the display and |
| | | inspect almost everything in your design. |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Rulers** | |KeyK|, | One stroke on |KeyK| enters the ruler mode, in |
| | |KeyESC| | which you can draw one ruler. You can exit the |
| | | ruler mode by pressing |KeyESC|. Once in ruler |
| | | mode, the first click on the *left mouse button* |
| | | sets the ruler's starting point and the second |
| | | click the ruler's end point. The second click |
| | | exits automatically the ruler mode. |
| +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| | |KeyCapK| | Clears all the drawn rulers |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Print** | |CTRL_P| | Currently rather crude. It's a direct copy of |
| | | what's displayed in pixels. So the resulting |
| | | picture will be a little blurred due to |
| | | anti-aliasing mechanism. |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Open/Close**| |CTRL_O| | Opens a new design. The design name must be |
| | | given without path or extention. |
| +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| | |CTRL_W| | Close the current viewer window, but do not quit |
| | | the application. |
| +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| | |CTRL_Q| | `CTRL+Q` quit the application |
| | | (closing all windows). |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| **Hierarchy** | |CTRL_Down| | Go one hierarchy level down. That is, if there |
| | | is an *instance* under the cursor position, load |
| | | it's *model* Cell in place of the current one. |
| +-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| | |CTRL_Up| | Go one hierarchy level up. if we have entered |
| | | the current model through |CTRL_Down| |
| | | reload the previous model (the one |
| | | in which this model is instanciated). |
+---------------+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
Cgt Command Line Options
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Appart from the obvious ``--text`` options, all can be used for text and graphical mode.
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Arguments | Meaning |
+=============================+================================================+
| `-t|--text` | Instruct |cgt| to run in text mode. |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `-L|--log-mode` | Disable the uses of |ANSI| escape sequence on |
| | the |tty|. Useful when the output is |
| | redirected to a file. |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `-c |--cell=` | The name of the design to load, without |
| | leading path or extention. |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `-g|--load-global` | Reload a global routing solution from disk. |
| | The file containing the solution must be named |
| | `.kgr`. |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `--save-global` | Save the global routing solution, into a file |
| | named `.kgr`. |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `-e |--edge=` | Change the edge capacity for the global |
| | router, between 0 and 1 (|Knik|). |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `-G|--global-route` | Run the global router (|Knik|). |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `-R|--detailed-route` | Run the detailed router (|Kite|). |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `-s|--save-design=` | The design into which the routed layout will |
| | be saved. It is strongly recommanded to choose |
| | a different name from the source (unrouted) |
| | design. |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `--events-limit=` | The maximal number of events after which the |
| | router will stops. This is mainly a failsafe |
| | against looping. The limit is sets to 4 |
| | millions of iteration which should suffice to |
| | any design of `100K`. gates. For bigger |
| | designs you may wants to increase this limit. |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| `--stratus-script=` | Run the Python/Stratus script ``module``. |
| | See `Python Scripts in Cgt`_. |
+-----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
Some Examples :
* Run both global and detailed router, then save the routed design : ::
> cgt -v -t -G -R --cell=design --save-design=design_kite
* Load a previous global solution, run the detailed router, then save the
routed design : ::
> cgt -v -t --load-global -R --cell=design --save-design=design_kite
* Run the global router, then save the global routing solution : ::
> cgt -v -t -G --save-global --cell=design
Miscellaneous Settings
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| Parameter Identifier | Type | Default |
+=======================================+==================+============================+
| **Verbosity/Log Parameters** |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``misc.info`` | TypeBool | :cb:`False` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Enable display of *info* level message |
| | (:cb:`cinfo` stream) |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``misc.bug`` | TypeBool | :cb:`False` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Enable display of *bug* level message |
| | (:cb:`cbug` stream), messages can be a little |
| | scarry |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``misc.logMode`` | TypeBool | :cb:`False` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | If enabled, assume that the output device |
| | is not a ``tty`` and suppress any escaped |
| | sequences |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``misc.verboseLevel1`` | TypeBool | :cb:`True` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | First level of verbosity, disable level 2 |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``misc.verboseLevel2`` | TypeBool | :cb:`False` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Second level of verbosity |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| **Development/Debug Parameters** |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``misc.traceLevel`` | TypeInt | :cb:`0` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | Display trace information *below* that level |
| | (:cb:`ltrace` stream) |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| ``misc.catchCore`` | TypeBool | :cb:`False` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | By default, |cgt| do not dump core. |
| | To generate one set this flag to :cb:`True` |
+---------------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|newpage|
.. _The Controller:
The Controller
==============
The *Controller* window is composed of seven tabs:
#. `The Look Tab`_ to select the display style.
#. `The Filter Tab`_ the hierarchical levels to be displayed, the look of
rubbers and the dimension units.
#. `The Layers&Go Tab`_ to selectively hide/display layers.
#. `The Netlist Tab`_ to browse through the |netlist|. Works in association
with the *Selection* tab.
#. `The Selection Tab`_ allow to view all the currently selected elements.
#. `The Inspector Tab`_ browse through either the DataBase, the Cell or
the current selection.
#. `The Settings Tab`_ access all the tool's configuration settings.
.. _The Look Tab:
The Look Tab
~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can select how the layout will be displayed. There is a special one
``Printer.Coriolis`` specifically designed for `Printing & Snapshots`_.
You should select it prior to calling the print or snapshot dialog boxes.
|ControllerLook_1|
.. _The Filter Tab:
The Filter Tab
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The filter tab let you select what hierarchical levels of your design will be
displayed. Hierarchy level are numbered top-down: the level 0 correspond to
the top-level cell, the level one to the instances of the top-level Cell and
so on.
There are also check boxes to enable/disable the processing of Terminal Cell,
Master Cells and Compnents. The processing of Terminal Cell (hierarchy leaf
cells) is disabled by default when you load a hierarchical design and enabled
when you load a single Cell.
You can choose what kind of form to give to the rubbers and the type of
unit used to display coordinates.
.. note:: *What are Rubbers:* |Hurricane| uses *Rubbers* to materialize
physical gaps in net topology. That is, if some wires are missing to
connect two or more parts of net, a *rubber* will be drawn between them
to signal the gap.
For example, after the detailed routing no *rubbers* should remains.
They have been made *very* visibles as big violet lines...
|ControllerFilter_1|
.. _The Layers&Go Tab:
The Layers&Go Tab
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Control the individual display of all *layers* and *Gos*.
* *Layers* correspond to a true physical layer. From a |Hurricane| point of
view they are all the *BasicLayers* (could be matched to GDSII).
* *Gos* stands from *Graphical Objects*, they are drawings that have no
physical existence but are added by the various tools to display extra
information. One good exemple is the density map of the detailed router,
to easily locate congested areas.
For each layer/Go there are two check boxes:
* The normal one triggers the display.
* The red-outlined allows objects of that layer to be selectable or not.
|ControllerLayersGos_1|
.. _The Netlist Tab:
The Netlist Tab
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The *Netlist* tab shows the list of nets... By default the tab is not
*synched* with the displayed Cell. To see the nets you must check the
**Sync Netlist** checkbox. You can narrow the set of displayed nets by
using the filter pattern (supports regular expressions).
An very useful feature is to enable the **Sync Selection**, which will
automatically select all the components of the selected net(s). You can
select multiple nets. In the figure the net ``auxsc35`` is selected and
is highlited in the *Viewer*.
|ControllerNetlist_1|
|ViewerNetlist_1|
.. _The Selection Tab:
The Selection Tab
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The *Selection* tab list all the components currently selecteds. They
can be filtered thanks to the filter pattern.
Used in conjunction with the *Netlist* **Sync Selection** you will all see
all the components part of *net*.
In this list, you can toggle individually the selection of component by
pressing the ``t`` key. When unselected in this way a component is not
removed from the the selection list but instead displayed in red italic.
To see where a component is you may make it blink by repeatedly press
the ``t`` key...
|ControllerSelection_1|
.. _The Inspector Tab:
The Inspector Tab
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This tab is very useful, but mostly for |Coriolis| developpers. It allows
to browse through the live DataBase. The *Inspector* provide three entry points:
* **DataBase**: Starts from the whole |Hurricane| DataBase.
* **Cell**: Inspect the currently loaded Cell.
* **Selection**: Inspect the object currently highlited in the *Selection* tab.
Once an entry point has been activated, you may recursively expore all
it's fields using the right/left arrows.
.. note:: *Do not put your fingers in the socket:* when inspecting
anything, do not modify the DataBase. If any object under inspection
is deleted, you will crash the application...
.. note:: *Implementation Detail:* the inspector support is done with
``Slot``, ``Record`` and ``getString()``.
|ControllerInspector_1|
|ControllerInspector_2|
|ControllerInspector_3|
.. _The Settings Tab:
The Settings Tab
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here comes the description of the *Settings* tab.
|ControllerSettings_1|
.. _Python Interface to Coriolis:
Python Interface for |Hurricane| / |Coriolis|
=============================================
The (almost) complete interface of |Hurricane| is exported as a |Python| module
and some part of the other components of |Coriolis| (each one in a separate
module). The interface has been made to mirror as closely as possible the
C++ one, so the C++ doxygen documentation could be used to write code with
either languages.
`Summary of the C++ Documentation `_
A script could be run directly in text mode from the command line or through
the graphical interface (see `Python Scripts in Cgt`_).
Asides for this requirement, the python script can contain anything valid
in |Python|, so don't hesitate to use any package or extention.
Small example of Python/Stratus script: ::
from Hurricane import *
from Stratus import *
def doSomething ():
# ...
return
def ScriptMain ( **kw ):
editor = None
if kw.has_key('editor') and kw['editor']:
editor = kw['editor']
stratus.setEditor( editor )
doSomething()
return
if __name__ == "__main__" :
kw = {}
success = ScriptMain( **kw )
shellSuccess = 0
if not success: shellSuccess = 1
sys.exit( shellSuccess )
ScriptMain ()
This typical script can be executed in two ways:
#. Run directly as a |Python| script, thanks to the ::
if __name__ == "__main__" :
part (this is standart |Python|). It is a simple adapter that will
calls :cb:`ScriptMain()`.
#. Through |cgt|, either in text or graphical mode. In that case, the
:cb:`ScriptMain()` is directly called trough a sub-interpreter.
The arguments of the script are passed through the ``**kw`` dictionnary.
+----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| \*\*kw Dictionnary |
+----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Parameter Key/Name | Contents type |
+======================+===============================================+
| ``'cell'`` | A Hurricane cell on which to work. Depending |
| | on the context, it may be ``None``. |
| | For example, when run from |cgt|, it the cell |
| | currently loaded in the viewer, if any. |
+----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| ``'editor'`` | The viewer from which the script is run, when |
| | lauched through |cgt|. |
+----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
Plugins
=======
Plugins are |Python| scripts specially crafted to integrate with |cgt|.
Their entry point is a :cb:`ScriptMain()` method as described in
`Python Interface to Coriolis`_. They can be called by user scripts
through this method.
Chip Placement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Automatically perform the placement of a complete chip. This plugin, as well
as the other P&R tools expect a specific top-level hierarchy for the design.
The top-level hierarchy must contains the instances of all the I/O pads and
**exactly one** instance of the chip's core model.
|ChipStructure-1|
The designer must provide a configuration file that define the rules for the
placement of the top-level hierarchy (that is, the pads and the core).
This file must be named after the chip's name, by appending ``_chip.py``
(obviously, it is a |Python| file). For instance if the chip netlist file
is called ``amd2901_crl.vst``, then the configuration file must be named
``amd2901_crl_chip.vst``.
Example of chip placement configuration file (for ``AM2901``): ::
chip = \
{ 'pads.south' : [ 'p_a3' , 'p_a2' , 'p_a1' , 'p_r0'
, 'p_vddick0', 'p_vssick0', 'p_a0' , 'p_i6'
, 'p_i8' , 'p_i7' , 'p_r3' ]
, 'pads.east' : [ 'p_zero' , 'p_i0' , 'p_i1' , 'p_i2'
, 'p_vddeck0', 'p_vsseck0', 'p_q3' , 'p_b0'
, 'p_b1' , 'p_b2' , 'p_b3' ]
, 'pads.north' : [ 'p_noe' , 'p_y3' , 'p_y2' , 'p_y1'
, 'p_y0' , 'p_vddeck1', 'p_vsseck1', 'p_np'
, 'p_ovr' , 'p_cout' , 'p_ng' ]
, 'pads.west' : [ 'p_cin' , 'p_i4' , 'p_i5' , 'p_i3'
, 'p_ck' , 'p_d0' , 'p_d1' , 'p_d2'
, 'p_d3' , 'p_q0' , 'p_f3' ]
, 'core.size' : ( 1500, 1500 )
, 'chip.size' : ( 3000, 3000 )
, 'chip.clockTree' : True
}
The file must contain *one dictionnary* named ``chip``.
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| Chip Dictionnary |
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| Parameter Key/Name | Value/Contents type |
+======================+=======================================================+
| ``'pad.south'`` | Ordered list (left to right) of pad instances names |
| | to put on the south side of the chip |
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ``'pad.east'`` | Ordered list (down to up) of pad instances names |
| | to put on the east side of the chip |
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ``'pad.north'`` | Ordered list (left to right) of pad instances names |
| | to put on the north side of the chip |
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ``'pad.west'`` | Ordered list (down to up) of pad instances names |
| | to put on the west side of the chip |
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ``'core.size'`` | The size of the core (to be used by the placer) |
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ``'chip.size'`` | The size of the whole chip. The sides must be great |
| | enough to accomodate all the pads |
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ``'chip.clockTree'`` | Whether to generate a clock tree or not. This calls |
| | the ClockTree plugin |
+----------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
Configuration parameters, defaults are defined in ``etc/coriolis2//plugins.conf``.
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| Parameter Identifier | Type | Default |
+===================================+==================+============================+
| **Chip Plugin Parameters** |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.block.rails.count`` | TypeInt | :cb:`5` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The minimum number of rails around the core |
| | block. Must be odd and suppérior to 5. |
| | One rail for the clock and at least two pairs |
| | of power/grounds |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.block.rails.hWidth`` | TypeInt | :cb:`12` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The horizontal with of the rails |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.block.rails.vWidth`` | TypeInt | :cb:`12` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The vertical with of the rails |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.block.rails.hSpacing`` | TypeInt | :cb:`6` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The spacing, *edge to edge* of two adjacent |
| | horizontal rails |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.block.rails.vSpacing`` | TypeInt | :cb:`6` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The spacing, *edge to edge* of two adjacent |
| | vertical rails |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.pad.pck`` | TypeString | :cb:`pck_px` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The model name of the pad connected to the |
| | chip external clock |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.pad.pvddeck`` | TypeString | :cb:`pvddeck_px` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The model name of the pad connected to the |
| | ``vdde`` (external power) and suppling it to |
| | the core |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.pad.pvsseck`` | TypeString | :cb:`pvsseck_px` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The model name of the pad connected to the |
| | ``vsse`` (external ground) and suppling it to |
| | the core |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.pad.pvddick`` | TypeString | :cb:`pvddick_px` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The model name of the pad connected to the |
| | ``vddi`` (internal power) and suppling it to |
| | the core |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``chip.pad.pvssick`` | TypeString | :cb:`pvssick_px` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The model name of the pad connected to the |
| | ``vssi`` (internal ground) and suppling it to |
| | the core |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
.. note::
If no clock tree is generated, then the clock rail is *not* created.
So even if the requested number of rails ``chip.block.rails.count`` is, say 5,
only four rails (2* ``power``, 2* ``ground``) will be generateds.
Clock Tree
~~~~~~~~~~
Insert a clock tree into a block. The clock tree uses the H strategy.
The clock net is splitted into sub-nets, one for each branch of the
tree.
* On **chips** design, the sub-nets are createds in the model of the
core block (then trans-hierarchically flattened to be shown at
chip level).
* On **blocks**, the sub nets are created directly in the top block.
* The sub-nets are named according to a simple geometrical scheme.
A common prefix ``ck_htree``, then one postfix by level telling
on which quarter of plane the sub-clock is located:
#. ``_bl``: bottom left plane quarter.
#. ``_br``: bottom right plane quarter.
#. ``_tl``: top left plane quarter.
#. ``_tr``: top right plane quarter.
We can have ``ck_htree_bl``, ``ck_htree_bl_bl``, ``ch_htree_bl_tl`` and so on.
The clock tree plugin works in four steps:
#. Build the clock tree: creates the top-block abutment box, compute the
levels of H tree neededs and place the clock buffers.
#. Once the clock buffers are placed, calls the placer (|etesian|) to place
the ordinary standart cells, whithout disturbing clock H-tree buffers.
#. At this point we know the exact positions of all the DFFs, so we can
connect them to the nearest H-tree leaf clock signal.
#. Leaf clock signals that are not connecteds to any DFFs are removed.
Netlist reorganisation:
* Obviously the top block or chip core model netlist is modificated to
contains all the clock sub-nets. The interface is *not* changed.
* If the top block contains instances of other models *and* those models
contains DFFs that get re-connecteds to the clock sub-nets (from the
top level). Change both the model netlist and interface to propagate
the relevant clock sub-nets to the instanciated model. The new model
with the added clock signal is renamed with a ``_clocked`` suffix.
For example, the sub-block model ``ram.vst`` will become ``ram_clocked.vst``.
.. note::
If you are to re-run the clock tree plugin on a netlist, be careful
to erase any previously generated ``_clocked`` file (both netlist and
layout: ``rm *.clocked.{ap,vst}``). And restart |cgt| to clear it's
memory cache.
Configuration parameters, defaults are defined in ``etc/coriolis2//plugins.conf``.
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
| Parameter Identifier | Type | Default |
+===================================+==================+============================+
| **ClockTree Plugin Parameters** |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``clockTree.minimumSide`` | TypeInt | :cb:`300` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The minimum size below which the clock tree |
| | will stop to perform quadri-partitions |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``clockTree.buffer`` | TypeString | :cb:`buf_x2` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The buffer model to use to drive sub-nets |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
|``clockTree.placerEngine`` | TypeString | :cb:`Etesian` |
| +------------------+----------------------------+
| | The placer to use. Other value is ``Mauka`` |
| | the simulated annealing placer which will go |
| | into retirement very soon |
+-----------------------------------+------------------+----------------------------+
Recursive-Save (RSave)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perform a recursive top down save of all the models from the top cell
loaded in |cgt|. Force a write of any non-terminal model. This plugin is used
by the clock tree plugin after the netlist clock sub-nets creation.
A Simple Example: AM2901
========================
To illustrate the capabilities of |Coriolis| tools and |Python| scripting, a small
example, derived from the |Alliance| :cb:`AM2901` is supplied.
This example contains only the synthetized netlists and the :cb:`doChip.py` script
which perform the whole P&R of the design.
You can generate the chip using one of the following method:
#. **Command line mode:** directly run the script: ::
dummy@lepka:AM2901$ ./doChip -V --cell=amd2901
#. **Graphic mode:** launch |cgt|, load chip netlist ``amd2901`` (the top cell)
then run the |Python| script :cb:`doChip.py`.
.. note::
Between two consecutive run, be sure to erase the netlist/layout generateds: ::
dummy@lepka:AM2901$ rm *_clocked*.vst *.ap
| | |