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Modelsim Installation Tutorial |
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ModelSim is a well known simulator in EDA industry. ModelSim is provided by Mentor Graphics Inc. It supports multiple languages including VHDL, Verilog, SystemC and SystemVerilog. There are difference families of ModelSim are available. A comparison chart between different versions can be found at ModelSim website.
There are some free/evaluation versions of ModelSim are available. You could download it from Xilinx or Altera websites. To download ModelSim XE (from Xilinx) check out links page of this site. The major difference between ModelSim XE (starter or free version) and ModelSim PE (one of the licensed versions) is performance. ModelSim XE reaches 30% performance of ModelSim PE when the number of executable lines does not exceeds 10,000 lines. If it exceeds more then 10,000 executable lines than only 1 % of PE performance will be achieved by XE version.
Here Performance denotes the speed of simulation. Executable lines means the lines which user can set break points or the lines which simulator can step while debugging. Other lines are will not be counted. Some other restrictions are also applicable. Installation and license setup procedure are described in the following section for XE version.
- Download the setup file from the above link; after unzip it double click setup file, select free version and follow the instructions. During library selection select Full Verilog or Full VHDL depending on your need. But either case you will be able to simulate both HDLs. Then you get a window with following message "Would you like the ModelSim executable directory added to your path........" for this question press yes. At end of the installation you will get a message “complete the license request process following setup?” select ‘yes’ if you have internet access. If you press 'no' skip steps 2 and 3.
 ModelSim library selection
- When you press ‘yes’, it will lead you to Xilinx website. Create an account then go back license request page(if you cannot go back to the license request page; go to Start->All Programs->Modelsim XE III->Submit License Request), click continue and enter the login and password which you have created already.
- Update the fields and submit the form then you will receive an e-mail with license file. Download it in the PC.
- If you do not have internet access, after installing the software go to Start->All programs->ModelSim XE III->License Request Instructions. Read it file carefully, update that same txt file and send it to motioned (mxe_license @ xilinx.com) e-mail address. Then you will receive an e-mail with license file. Bring it to the PC where you want to run the ModelSim XE)
- Now you have to setup the license for the proper operation of ModelSim. Go to Start->All Programs->ModelSim XE III->Licensing Wizard. In the new window press continue and locate the license then click ‘ok’. Then license setup wizard prompt a message starts with “The LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable needs to added. The following line should be added to your environmen…..” click ‘yes’ and finally press ‘ok’.
 Add modelsim to path
- Again you should go to Licensing Wizard, locate the license again finally you will get a message “A perpetual license was found”.
- Now ModelSim ready to simulate your designs.
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