How to know if questa is correctly installed in my linux system?

[ocraM]

I installed quartus in my ubuntu 22.04 system by following this tutorial, so downloading the installer from here and executing the setup.sh script.

Now I'm learning how to create testbenchs and I compiled a file with a simple 16bit adder and its testbench. After configuring the test bench according to the image below:

And compiling, I got:

Error: Error: Can't launch Questa Intel FPGA Simulation software -- make sure the software is properly installed and the environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE or MGLS_LICENSE_FILE points to the correct license file.

I noticed, However, that questa is present in my system:

$ ls ~/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/
devdata  ip  licenses  logs  nios2eds  niosv  quartus  questa_fse  riscfree  uninstall

Does setup.sh install questa? If not, how should I install it?

[RichardTanSY_Altera]

Have you setup a license for Questa? Questa Intel FPGA Starter Edition require a no-cost license to launch it.

Check the user guide below.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683472/24-3/and-software-license.html

Regards,

Richard Tan

[RichardTanSY_Altera]

Hi,

Are you able to resolve the issue?

Are you able to launch the Questa software standalone?

Regards,

Richard Tan

[ocraM]

,Sorry for the late reply. My problem persists.

I downloaded a license file and put it at /usr/local/flexlm/licenses/LR-<NUMBER>_License.dat

Following this tutorial my license file has now the form (I scrambled letters and numbers from the original license in order to not expose anything that could be problematic. They were generated with a random string generator):

# Intel Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File
# Issued 18 December 2024
# Upgrade to these products will no longer be available after the Maintenance Expiration  
# date unless licenses are renewed.  
# Floating Server License
# Primary Machine Name-Telescope
# Primary Machine ID-NIC ID 123456789ABC
# Redundant Server 2-N/A
# Redundant Server 3-N/A
# Product License Summary:
# 3 Questa*-Intel® FPGA Starter Edition (License: SW-QUESTA), 1 Seat(s)
# - Maintenance Expiration of 2025.12
# - License Expires 18-Dec-2025
################################################################################ 
SERVER hivemind 123456789ABC <port number>
VENDOR alterad /home/marco/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/quartus/linux64/alterad
USE_SERVER
################################################################################
# FEATURE START 
# This is license file for Questasim*-Intel FPGA Starter Edition 
# Number of seat licenses is 1 
# License Expires 18-Dec-2025 
INCREMENT intelqsimstarter mgcld 2025.12 18-dec-2025 1 \
    SOMELETTERSANDNUMBERS VENDOR_STRING=7GJEYZK7 ISSUER=Intel SN=346185330 \
    SIGN2="WV6H SGEH Y87O 72J3 ZAXE 27EY 853M XSVK MTCK SU7H B6B4 TE8P JBD2 \
    BGF5 Z9NS CYHM DYKC GEC2 8Y9Z AOZY 8WJH JHHA H5UM 95ZJ QYBB 4YKD UMF1 \
    DYKC GEC2 8Y9Z GEC2"

# FEATURE END 
################################################################################
# End of Intel Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File. Issued 12/18/2024

 I also added the LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable to my .desktop file:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Version=0.9.4
Name=Quartus (Quartus Prime 23.1std) Lite Edition
Comment=Quartus (Quartus Prime 23.1std)
Icon=/home/marco/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/quartus/adm/quartusii.png
Exec= env LM_LICENSE_FILE=/usr/local/flexlm/licenses/LR-209063_License.dat /home/marco/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/quartus/bin/quartus --64bit
Terminal=false
Path=/home/marco/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std

 However, when compiling I still get the same error:

What am I doing wrong?

Also, I tried finding some questa executable but anything below 23.1std/questa_fse/bin didn't seem to be what I was looking for

[ocraM]

On modelsim.tcl file I found something like:

            #First detect if correct version of tool is in the users path
            if [ catch {exec $vsim_cmd -version} version_str] {
                set emsg "Can't launch $tool Simulation software -- make sure the software is properly installed and the environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE or MGLS_LICENSE_FILE points to the correct license file."
                nl_postmsg error "Error: $emsg"
                error "$emsg" "" "issued_nl_message"
            } else

 Then after digging a bit:

marco@hivemind:~/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std$ export LM_LICENSE_FILE=/usr/local/flexlm/licenses/LR-209063_License.dat 
marco@hivemind:~/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std$ ./questa_fse/bin/vsim 
Unable to checkout a license. Make sure your license file environment variable (SALT_LICENSE_SERVER, MGLS_LICENSE_FILE, LM_LICENSE_FILE)
is set correctly and then run 'lmutil lmdiag' to diagnose the problem.
Unable to checkout a license.  Vsim is closing.
** Error: Invalid license environment. Application closing.

I will keep digging tomorrow

[RichardTanSY_Altera]

You do not have the saltd daemon set up in your floating license.

Install the saltd daemon and add the VENDOR line to include the path to the saltd daemon.

5.4.4.1. Setting up a License File in the License Server:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683472/24-3/set-up-a-license-file-in-the-license-server.html

To download the latest daemon software, visit the Flexlm License Daemons for Intel FPGA Software web page.

Regards,

Richard Tan

[ocraM]

First I tried installing FlexLM License Daemon v11.19.6.0 for Intel FPGA software at /opt/flexlm. I got three binaries from that: alterad, lmgrd and lmutil.

Running lmutil lmdiag returns:

lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2024 Flexera. All Rights Reserved.
FlexNet diagnostics on Mon 12/23/2024 19:27

-----------------------------------------------------
License file: /usr/local/flexlm/licenses/LR-209063_License.dat
-----------------------------------------------------

Then I tried downloading FLeLM License Daemon v11.19.5.0 for Siemens ModelSim/Questa Intel FPGA Software but executing the binary simply giver me the image attached.

This package does not seem to be available for Ubuntu. Am I trying to install the correct thing? Is that the saltd daemon? Is it installable for Ubuntu at all?

[ocraM]

After

sudo ln -s /lib/ld-linux.so.2 /lib64/ld-lsb-x86-64.so.3

The instaler worked, although I'm not sure if this lib is exactly the same stuff.

Now running /opt/lmutil lmdiag returns

lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2024 Flexera. All Rights Reserved.
FlexNet diagnostics on Mon 12/23/2024 19:51

-----------------------------------------------------
License file: /usr/local/flexlm/licenses/LR-209063_License.dat
-----------------------------------------------------

But running ~/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/questa_fse/linux_x86_64/lmutil lmdiag returns

bash: /home/marco/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/questa_fse/linux_x86_64/lmutil: Accessing a corrupted shared library

I still get

Error: Error: Can't launch Questa Intel FPGA Simulation software -- make sure the software is properly installed and the environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE or MGLS_LICENSE_FILE points to the correct license file.

From my compilation testbench. From the difference in the error messages I have a feeling that quartus is not even complaining about the license file being misconfigured but it's simply not finding it.

The modified part of the license file now reads:

# - License Expires 18-Dec-2025
################################################################################ 
SERVER hivemind F4A4750520B7 <port-number>
VENDOR alterad /home/marco/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/quartus/linux64/alterad
VENDOR saltd /opt/Siemens/LicenseServer/saltd
USE_SERVER
################################################################################
# FEATURE START 

Is that correct?

 

[ocraM]

I think I was able to advance a little bit more. The service file:

[Unit]
Description=Magical service. Makes things work and such and such
After=network.target

[Service]
Environment="LM_LICENSE_FILE=/usr/local/flexlm/licenses/LR-209063_License.dat"
WorkingDirectory=/opt/flexlm
Type=forking
ExecStart=/bin/bash -c "/opt/flexlm/lmgrd"
Restart=on-failure
User=marco
Group=marco
StandardOutput=journal

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Does what I need. The forking component is essential for it to work. Of course, the environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE also. I'm not sure if the other options are essential but after trying several combinations this is the one that worked and I'm a bit tired to improve the file.

I have one last question: when I launch, I get the screen shown in image:

On the lower bottom there is an error message and the testbench does not proceed. Indeed, I'm expecting to see a test regarding a component called Adder16. I have no idea how it should look like.

Is the error message some software configuration problem or is it a problem with the testbench? Should I close this question since saltd seems to work and open another one?

[RichardTanSY_Altera · Accepted solution]

Check the error message and see what it complain about.

The "#Error error loading design" seems to indicate that the Questa is unable to find the design files.

Check if the path to the file being loaded is incorrect, or the path contains a space character, or the file does not exist.

Check the line 12 in the ...msim_gate_vhdl.do file and see what is it about.

Do you run a full compilation in the Quartus prior to launch the Questa to run gate level simulation?

Regards,

Richard Tan

[RichardTanSY_Altera]

Hi,

Do you have any further inquiry regarding this case?

Regards,

Richard Tan

[RichardTanSY_Altera]

We noticed that we haven't received a response from you regarding the latest previous question/reply/answer, and will now transitioning your inquiry to our community support. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate your understanding.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. Please login to ‘https://supporttickets.intel.com’, view details of the desire request, and post a feed/response within the next 15 days to allow me to continue to support you. After 15 days, this thread will be transitioned to community support.

The community users will be able to help you on your follow-up questions.

Thank you for reaching out to us!

Best Regards,

Richard Tan

[ocraM]

Thanks for the help and I apologise for the late reply.

I have been able to solve most of the testbench problems althought I'm not exactly sure where the problem was. It was definitely not in the questa installation anymore though, because questa is working fine now.

I had to remake the whole project from scratch, which is not a problem since it was mostly in the beginning.
Then added the testbench file and compiled. Now it shows my signals as desired