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Simulation Runs

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After you complete your design, you extract it, correct errors, and save the design for simulation input. You must correct all the errors reported during extraction before you simulate your design.

SE performs the following steps during the simulation process.

1. Run Directory Initialization: When a simulation is run on the Cadence system, all inputs and outputs of the simulation process are contained in a single directory. This directory is called the Simulation Run Directory (or run directory). The first step in the simulation process is to ensure required files exist in this directory.
2. Netlisting: Netlisting is the process of converting the connectivity of a design into a textual description suitable as input to a design analysis tool. Netlisting is the most complex step in integrating your simulator into the Cadence system. Netlisters frequently perform name mapping. Part of the SE functionality automatically translates between these names as needed by the application.
3. Simulation Input Translation: To enable the designer to specify the same names in the design and the input to the simulator (stimulus and commands), the control file is translated before it is provided as input to the simulator. Any names that were mapped to a different name during the netlisting process are then substituted with the name used for the netlist.
4. Running the Simulator: Once the input for the simulator has been prepared, the simulator is run. After the simulation completes, the simulator output needs to be prepared for user analysis. The simulation output is in textual format.
5. Simulator Output Translation: The simulator text output also requires translation. The names in the output file referencing the design are the same ones that appeared in the netlist. These may not be the same names as those entered in the design; therefore, the names need to be converted back to the names the designer entered.

Related Topics

Initializing the Simulation Environment

Specifying Simulation Environment Options

Running a Simulation from the Schematic

Remote Simulation

Running an Interactive Simulation

Types of Simulations in Command-Line Mode

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