Need help simulating an NCO core (Label is unrelated)

[EdSeger]

Background:

I am doing support for an existing project that uses the NCO IP
I am trying to simulate that NCO IP
Running Quartus Prime Standard 18.1
Modelsim 2019.4
FPGA: 5CEBA4F17C7

The original authors of this system created the NCO called "nco_af"
The NCO IP is in a separate folder called nco_af
In this folder is a simulation/mentor folder
The platform designer created this dir under the NCO folder
It has this tcl script: msim_setup.tcl
This script has 2 parts, the top part (commented out) has what would be a
modelsim .do script, the second part is the compilation of the NCO IP parts
I did what the tcl script suggested and created a mentor.do script from the top part of the tcl script
I started modelsim 

cd into the mentor dir and do mentor.do from modelsim
  everything compiled,
  the elab started,
  a wave window came up then MS crashed

starting over
a modelsim.ini was created!!!
the libs for the sim are in the mentor dir
the same thing happened
the transcript window disappears and MS crashes
I was able to get the transcript saved to a file
there is a bunch of these:

Too few port connections for '<protected>'. Expected <protected>, found <protected>.
Protected: /nco_af/nco_ii_0/ux000/<protected> File: nco_af/simulation/submodules/mentor/asj_altqmcpipe.v Line: 38

it looks like the internals of the NCI IP are having a version issues
apparently there is a problem with these being simulated

These asj_ files are encrypted verilog...

THEN

I found this great support forum entry:
https://community.intel.com/t5/FPGA-Intellectual-Property/NCO-Simulation-help/m-p/224126

The suggestion was that I had to generate a simulation model for the NCO core
I followed the suggestions the author posted in the Nco_Steps.doc attachment
I get the same issue: modelsim is trying to use encrypted .v files
there were no "simulation models" vhdl files (I picked VHDL for simulation)
The msim_setup.tcl that quartus generated is using the encrypted .v files ?!?!?

THEN

I created a test NCO using the IP generator (not qsys)

I selected generate simulation in VHDL
It generated all the same support files as the existing qsys-generated NCO
the simulation fails the same way

Question:

How do I generate the VHDL simulation models for this IP?

Thanks

Ed

[Shuo_Zhang]

Hi,

Please use the Modelsim version that is supported by the Quartus Prime Standard 18.1 to simulate the IPs generated by Quartus Prime Standard 18.1

Thanks.

[EdSeger]

That version is not going to sim the encrypted verilog.  I need to know how to generate the simulation models...

Thanks,

Ed

[Shuo_Zhang]

Hi Ed,

The simulation process you described is the right process, there is no matter on simulating the IP with the Verilog or with the VHDL, both should work.

You are also right that some IP modules are encrypted, only when the Modelsim version is supported by the Quartus version, these models can be decrypted.

When you use the Quartus Prime Pro 18.1 to generate the NCO IP, we suggest you use the Modelsim SE 10.4d or the ModelSim-Intel FPGA Edition for simulation.

[EdSeger]

Thanks for the clarification.

Using your suggestions, what version of quartus would I need to generate simulatable modules that work with modelsim 2019.4?  One of the things I want to do is bring this project up to the latest quartus and this might be another reason to do this.  Also, if I build the project with a 2024 quartus, what modelsim version would I need? 

How do I determine what quartus verison goes with what modelsim version?

Thanks,

Ed

[Shuo_Zhang]

Hi Ed,

Please check such information from the Release Notes of each Quartus version. You can download the Release Notes from the official Web site where you generally download the Quartus software.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/software-kit/665987/intel-quartus-prime-standard-edition-design-software-version-18-1-for-windows.html

Now no Quartus version can well support the Modelsim 2019.4, I suggest you use the Quartus Prime Standard 21.1, it can support the Modelsim SE 2020.4 which is close to the Modelsim version you currently using.

[EdSeger]

I did some research using the release notes you suggested and this is what I came up with:

QTS       modelsim version

24.2      Siemens* EDA Questa* Advanced Simulator 2023.4
21.1      2020.4 SE
20.1      10.4d 32-bit
19.1      10.4d 32-bit
18.1      10.4d 32-bit

I dont know yet if I can run SE or the advanced simulator, I am working with Siemens support on this.  Im going to give the MS 10.4d a try like you suggested.

Thanks,

Ed Seger

[Shuo_Zhang]

Hi Ed,

If you don't have other questions, shall we close this ticket?

Thanks.

Best Regards,

Shuo

[EdSeger]

Shuo,

It is going to take along time to resolve this because I need to find a modelsim version that is no longer offered and the version of questa we have is not compatible with the latest quartus so I would say to close the ticket.  I think I understand what has to happen to get this to work.

Thanks,

Ed Seger