When the SystemVerilog hardware description language (HDL) came onto the scene
a few years ago, it promised true openness and interoperability. Here, crowed
the hype, was an HDL that would enable designers to build testbenches and capture
them in verification IP (VIP) that could be reused time and again. Further,
these verification testbenches and IP would be portable across platforms and
distributed environments from various EDA vendors.
But the reality hasn't matched the
hype, and SystemVerilog users have
found themselves hurling invective at the
EDA vendors, whose verification methodologies haven't enabled the kind of
portability they promised. Finally, at least
two major EDA vendors have decided
that enough's enough.
Cadence Design Systems and Mentor Graphics will roll out the Open Verification
Methodology (OVM), a joint tool-independent methodology for designers and verification
engineers that promotes data portability and interoperability (see
the figure). Within it are established interoperability mechanisms for VIP,
transaction-level and RTL models, and full integration with other languages
commonly used in production flows. The OVM will also include a robust class
library and be available in source code format.
Cadence and Mentor have contributed both technology and resources to develop
the foundation of the methodology and the libraries. The methodology will be
made available under a standard open-source license, Apache License, Version
2.0. It's also backward-compatible with both companies' existing SystemVerilog
verification methodologies.
"We both had a lot of common customers that were systems-oriented that
wanted to go from block to system," said
Dennis Brophy, director of strategic development for Mentor Graphics' Design Verification and Test Division.
With plans for a third-quarter rollout
to early adopters as well as a production release in the fourth quarter, the
companies still have work to do. More
functionality will be added next year, for
one thing. For another, decisions must
be made on how to administer outside
contributions.
Cadence Design Systems
www.cadence.com
Mentor Graphics
www.mentor.com