Why does vsim occasionally crash with ERROR CODE 4 when using Quartus Prime Lite (no license required)? How can I solve this problem?

[fpga]

• PROBLEM:
  • vsim occasionally crashes with error code 4.
• TRANSCRIPT:
  • FATAL ERROR: Unable to read lock file necessary for use of uncounted nodelocked license. Exiting.
• SOFTWARE VERSION:
  • ModelSim - Intel FPGA Starter Edition 10.5b.
  • Quartus-lite-18.0.0.614-linux.tar
• ENVIRONMENT:
  • Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS Server
  • x86_64 Architecture
  • Installed in /opt/intelFPGA_Lite/18.0/modelsim_ase
• From the Quartus Install Guide:

"Intel offers the entry-level Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition and ModelSim - Intel FPGA Starter Edition software. This software supports selected devices, provides limited feature support, and does not require license files."

[HRZ]

I am not suere about the installer of Quartus Lite but the installers of the Standard and Pro versions come with both Modelsim Free and Paid; you have to specifically install the Free version. Furthermore, Modelsim Free Edition has a line limit of 10,000; maybe you are running into that limit?

[AndyN]

By any chance, is it failing when you re-run it after a successful run? I've had issues with some Modelsim sub-processes not getting properly terminating when running on Linux (which then gives weird behavior when you then re-run).

Andy

[fpga]

Thanks for your responses,@HRZ​ @AndyN​ .

• The Modelsim install is the Intel FPGA Starter Edition v10.5b, and the projects are well less than the 10k line limit.
• It appears to fail at random, with exit code 4.
• Per the Modelsim user manual, exit code 4 is a license issue.
• This is consistent with the fatal error that shows up in the transcript.

[Sushmita]

Hi @fpga​ 

Even i am facing same issue. Did you find the solution for the above problem? If yes, please share the reason/ solution.

Thanks

[fpga]

HI. Yes. I ended up requesting a license and it solved the problem.