Trying to simulate FFT IP via Quartus Prime Lite Edition and ModelSim-Altera :(

[bob_rf]

Hello Friends,

It appears that the FFT IP 'available' in Quartus Prime Lite (18.1) actually costs ~$8k.  I discovered that it is available from ARROW, Mouser, et al. for this price, after my simulation attempts with ModelSim-Altera returned Error: (vsim-3033).

** Error: (vsim-3033) ......  Instantiation of 'auk_dspip_r22sdf_top' failed. The design unit was not found.

This error was seen for each instantiation of the FFT IP(s) in my firmware design.  Looking back over in the Quartus Prime Lite tool, I see my design almost fully compiles, passing Synthesis, Place & Route, Assembler, Timing Analysis, but then fails at the EDA Netlist Writer causing the compilation to fail.  The following errors are reported:

204012 Can't generate netlist output files because the file "C:..................." is an OpenCore Plus time-limited file.  Remove the unlicensed cores...

204009 Can't generate netlist output files because the license for encrypted file "C:................" is not available.

Obviously I need to have a license to use the FFT IP/core, but here is my question.  I have seen in some other forums and links where it is stated that the core can be evaluated so long as the USB programmer cable is continually inserted to the platform board (inconvenient - pay money to remove).  If I can program the encrypted core to a platform before paying $$$$, is it possible for me to obtain simulation results as well (before paying $$$$)?

***If it is possible to simulate this FFT (altera_fft_ii) IP from the IP catalog seen in Quartus Prime Lite, before buying it or paying any money, please let me know some good detailed instructions on how I can accomplish this simulation. *** 

Regards,
bob_rf

[bob_rf]

Additionally, I have examined the following links (in my effort to simulate the FFT IP): 

Unable to simulate designs comprising FFT (ModelSim Intel FPGA Starter Edition 10.5b and 10.6d) - Intel Communities

AN 320: Using Intel® FPGA IP Evaluation Mode (d2pgu9s4sfmw1s.cloudfront.net)

The first link, from the forum, has an explanation about 'compilation order' of certain FFT IP files, but it is not clear how to accomplish changing the file order.  I tried it a couple of different ways, such as in Project Navigator (in Quartus IDE) but I was not able to change the file order, let alone know if this is even an overall valid solution.

As for the second link, regarding IP Evaluation Mode, I checked in Quartus under Assignments -> Settings -> Compilation Process Settings ->  More Settings 
Under More Settings, for Intel FPGA IP Evaluation Mode, I made sure the Setting: was 'Enable'.  This was the default setting, as well.  

I am still looking for a way to simulate this FFT IP before purchasing a license.

[RichardTanSY_Intel]

Hi @bob_rf 

You may checkout this KDB to solve the error

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/programmable/articles/000085676.html

The Intel FPGA IP Evaluation Mode is the right way to go as it allows you to evaluate these licensed Intel FPGA IP cores in simulation and hardware.

https://www.intel.cn/content/dam/www/programmable/us/en/pdfs/literature/an/an320.pdf

Best Regards,
Richard Tan

p/s: If any answer from the community or Intel support are helpful, please feel free to give Kudos. 

[bob_rf]

RichardTanSY_Intel,

Thank you for replying here.  

Regarding the first link you included with your message.. I had found this link during my troubleshooting.  Advice from the link:
"To avoid this error, disable the EDA simulation tool in your project by opening the Settings dialog box from the Quartus II Assignments menu. Select the category EDA Tool Settings and the subcategory Simulation. On the Simulation page of the Settings dialog box, change the Tool name option to <None>."

It sounds like the suggestion here is to totally disable the simulation, you know, to get the error to go away.  The error that comes up when I am trying to simulate... What am I missing here?
I tried this method before and it did not work.  I follow these instructions again and I still get the same error code (vsim-3033) I listed above when trying to run a simulation in ModelSim.

Also the second link included here is busted/broken.  "Oops" (from the page).  Might have to do with it being a .cn link (Intel China?).  I do have the .pdf for this downloaded and I have referenced it.  Is there a specific section you would have me see and follow instructions on?

I did make sure the Quartus tool was set Enabled for Evaluation Mode.  This appears to be the default setting.  (see above picture from my Quartus Prime Lite tool)

It does not seem to make a difference in allowing the design to compile, i.e. it still cannot compile.  The failure occurs at EDA Netlist Writer step (with the previously mentioned errors).

Let me know if you can think of any other advice for getting a simulation to run in evaluation mode.

Regards,
Robert

[ShengN_Intel]

Hi bob_rf,

Looks like modelsim can't find the "auk_dspip_r22sdf_top" module for simulation.

Try opening <your fft ip folder>/synthesis file and including the .qip file into quartus.

This included all submodules of FFT IP into quartus and do compilation again.

Probably can resolve the error.

Best regards,
Sheng

[bob_rf]

Sheng,

Thank you for reaching out to me here and for your suggestion.

I checked if I had made sure to add the .qip file(s) for using the FFT IP in my design.

I am not sure if the snapshots I included will be easy to read on your side - the purpose of attaching these is to show the .qip files look present under the Files section of Project Navigator, as well as the Hierarchy section.  Simultaneously it can be seen that the EDA Netlist Writer step of compilation is incomplete, and an error such as 204009 can be seen in the terminal window.  

For the record, "Intel FPGA IP Evaluation Mode" is set to Enabled.

Let me know what other problem you think it could be for me.  Again, thanks for your suggestion.

Regards,
Robert 

[ShengN_Intel]

Hi bob_rf,

Try deleting the db and incremental_db folder and running compilation again with EDA simulation tool disabled (Tool name option to <None>).

Best regards,
Sheng

[ShengN_Intel]

Hi bob_rf,

As for modelsim, the design also comes with example test bench and TCL files to run simulation in Modelsim for reference. 

To run the simulation, do the following:

1. Unzip the files

2. Change the Modelsim directory to the "\fft0\simulation\mentor" folder

3. Type "source msim_setup.tcl"

4. Type "ld" to compile

5. Type "do wave.do" to populate the waveform

6. Type "run -all" to start the simulation

You may refer to the video link below for further details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eviC0jP90ZA 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0X5KMVt4F8 

Best regards,

Sheng

[bob_rf]

Hi Sheng,

This is a reply to your two most-previous posts to me.  

Regarding your earlier post about removing db and increment db folders, while ensuring settings -> simulation tool -> set to none:

This looks to have worked and allowed the project to be compiled.

Regarding your second/later post to me about using ModelSim, I followed your steps and was able to run the .tcl file and generate the FFT ports which can be added to the waveform window.

As you can see from the picture, this is definitely progress from the vsim 3033 error I was stuck on.

I have a couple of questions:
*Is it possible to simulate my overall design, in Evaluation Mode, which uses the FFT IP?  Or am I only able to simulate 1 instance of the FFT IP at a time, and only this 1 instance (not other design elements of a project)? 
*I have used search engines and searched through directories on my work computer, but I am not sure where the "example test bench" you mentioned (for FFT IP) is included or available for download.  I was able to run the .tcl script you mentioned because I found one by the same name in my instantiation of the FFT IP, but I could never find the folder to unzip which you mentioned.  Can you tell me where I can find this example test bench file?  

Also, I need to make sure when I call the .tcl file that the testbench will supply the simulation inputs.  Is there an extra step or edit I need to make to the .tcl file to supply the input simulation data?

Regards,
Robert

[ShengN_Intel]

Hi bob_rf,

You may refer to the video links below for further details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eviC0jP90ZA 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0X5KMVt4F8 

Go to Tools/Generate Simulator Setup Script for IP... to produce combined qsys and ip simulation scripts.

**Note: This feature is available in the Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition software for all devices.
              This feature is available in the Intel Quartus Prime Standard Edition software for only Intel Arria 10 devices.

Follow video to create do file as below. Your testbench can be included in do file.

--- Quote Start ---

# set QSYS_SIMDIR <script generation output directory>
# #
# # Source the generated IP simulation script.
# source $QSYS_SIMDIR/mentor/msim_setup.tcl
# #
# # Set any compilation options you require (this is unusual).
# set USER_DEFINED_COMPILE_OPTIONS <compilation options>
# set USER_DEFINED_VHDL_COMPILE_OPTIONS <compilation options for VHDL>
# set USER_DEFINED_VERILOG_COMPILE_OPTIONS <compilation options for Verilog>
# #
# # Call command to compile the Quartus EDA simulation library.
# dev_com
# #
# # Call command to compile the Quartus-generated IP simulation files.
# com
# #
# # Add commands to compile all design files and testbench files, including
# # the top level. (These are all the files required for simulation other
# # than the files compiled by the Quartus-generated IP simulation script)
# #
# vlog <compilation options> <design and testbench files>
# #
# # Set the top-level simulation or testbench module/entity name, which is
# # used by the elab command to elaborate the top level.
# #
# set TOP_LEVEL_NAME <simulation top>
# #
# # Set any elaboration options you require.
# set USER_DEFINED_ELAB_OPTIONS <elaboration options>
# #
# # Call command to elaborate your design and testbench.
# elab
# #
# # Run the simulation.
# run -a
# #
# # Report success to the shell.
# exit -code 0

--- Quote End ---

Modelsim native link still fails even after no error compilation?

Best regards,

Sheng