Error when running Power Analyzer with .vcd file in Quartus Prime Pro 24.2

[NoahHuguenin]

Good day, 

I am running some tests on power consumption for an Agilex 7 board on Quartus Prime Pro 24.2.

While running Power Analyzer without an input file is fine, when I introduce the .vcd file the software errors out and "quits unexpectedly".

More information about the error is collected below.

Is this a known issue, and if so, is there a known solution? 

Thank you and regards, Noah

This is the last message on the "Processing" tab in Quartus: 

Info(20170): Starting scan of VCD file ../verification/tb/sim/wlf2vcd.vcd (0 ns to End of File) for signal static probabilities and transition densities

This is what appears in the TCL command window: 

Error:ERROR: run_flow_command with specified flow 'compile' failed: "Internal Error".
Error: while executing
Error:"flng::run_flow_command -flow "compile" -end "power" -resume"

This is the Quartus problem report:

Problem Details
Error:

*** Fatal Error: Access Violation at 00007FFABF479416

Module: quartus_pow.exe

Stack Trace:

  Quartus          0x29415: PFIO_VCD_PARSER_EVENT_HANDLER::handle_upscope + 0x155 (POWER_PFIO)

  Quartus           0x543a: pfio_vcd_parser_yyparse + 0x3da (POWER_PFIO)

  Quartus           0x5041: pfio_vcd_invoke_parser + 0x71 (POWER_PFIO)

  Quartus          0x39ef6: PFIO_VCD_READER_MAIN::load_signal_statistics_from_vcd_files + 0x8f6 (POWER_PFIO)

  Quartus          0x9ae74: PAN_UTILITY_IMPL::load_putil_sa_data_from_file + 0x444 (POWER_PAN)

  Quartus          0x9b157: PAN_UTILITY_IMPL::load_sa_data + 0x77 (POWER_PAN)

  Quartus          0x14f2e: PAN_MAIN_IMPL2::run_flow + 0x28e (POWER_PAN)

  Quartus          0x6568d: pan_start + 0x1d (POWER_PAN)

  Quartus           0x4532: QPOW_FRAMEWORK::execute + 0xc2 (quartus_pow)

  Quartus          0x20fef: qexe_do_normal + 0x1af (comp_qexe)

  Quartus          0x299e3: qexe_run + 0x6a3 (comp_qexe)

  Quartus          0x2abd6: qexe_standard_main + 0x266 (comp_qexe)

  Quartus           0x560c: qpow_main + 0x6c (quartus_pow)

  Quartus          0x28418: msg_main_thread + 0x18 (ccl_msg)

  Quartus          0x295f2: msg_thread_wrapper + 0x82 (ccl_msg)

  Quartus          0x2b063: mem_thread_wrapper + 0x73 (ccl_mem)

  Quartus          0x261df: msg_exe_main + 0x17f (ccl_msg)

  Quartus           0x72cb: __scrt_common_main_seh + 0x10b (quartus_pow)

  Quartus          0x1257c: BaseThreadInitThunk + 0x1c (KERNEL32)

  Quartus          0x5af07: RtlUserThreadStart + 0x27 (ntdll)

End-trace

Executable: quartus
Comment:
None

System Information
Platform: windows64
OS name: Windows 11
OS version: 10.0.22631

Quartus Prime Information
Address bits: 64
Version: 24.2.0
Build: 40
Edition: Pro Edition 

[AqidAyman_Intel]

Hello,

May I know if you are willing to share the design file with me so that I can try to replicate this Internal Error?

Thank you for your understanding.

[NoahHuguenin]

These are the design files, including the .vcd generated during the simulation, and a .vcd converted from a .wlf file.

This project is generated from HLS Compiler, which could be relevant. The issue appeared in the context of a larger project but I tested this logical "and" functionality to have as simple a test as possible.

The Quartus project is inside \luinv.prj\quartus

When generating the same project for a Cyclone V board in Quartus Lite, Power Analysis does work, which is why I think the problem might not be related to HLS Compiler. 

Let me know if you have any updates or need more information. 

Regards, 

Noah

[AqidAyman_Intel]

Hi Noah,

Thank you so much for providing the design files. Let me try to look into your design first and update you back as soon as possible.

I appreciate your understanding.

Regards,

Aqid

[AqidAyman_Intel]

Hi Noah,

I can reproduce the internal error when running the Power Analyzer using the .vcd file you provided. I have escalated this issue to the internal team so they can investigate further.

I want to thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will update you on any information I get from them.

Regards,

Aqid

[NoahHuguenin]

Good day Aqid,

Thank you as well for looking into this!
Do let me know if you have any updates.

Regards,
Noah

[AqidAyman_Intel]

Hi Noah,

So far, they had no chance to look into this yet, but one thing to confirm with you, how was this .vcd file was generated?

Also, is using other .vcd file having the same results so far from your findings?

Regards,

Aqid

[NoahHuguenin]

Hello again, 

I tried two ways of generating it: 

1) During the msim_run.tcl simulation script, by using the following code: 

        [...]
   vcd file and_testbench.vcd
   vcd add -r /*

   run -all

   vcd flush

    [...]

2) Generating a .wlf file as is done by default in the msim_run.tcl generated by HLS Compiler, and then using the wlf2vcd tool in the Questasim command window. The .wlf file is set to be generated in the part of the code immediately preceding the code shown above:

     [...]

   set StdArithNoWarnings 1
   set USER_DEFINED_ELAB_OPTIONS "+nowarnTFMPC -dpioutoftheblue 1 -sv_lib $fname_svlib -nodpiexports -wlf ../../vsim.wlf -           voptargs=+acc"
   elab
   onfinish {stop}
   quietly set StdArithNoWarnings 1
   log -r *

     [...]

Regards,

Noah

[AqidAyman_Intel]

Hi Noah,

Thank you for the information shared. The internal team will have someone take a look on this by this week.

I will share more if got any more updates.

Regadrs,

Aqid

[AqidAyman_Intel · Accepted solution]

Hi Noah,

We have root caused the issue. A fix for this issue will be scheduled on the upcoming version.

As a workaround for this, please remove the following line from the QSF file and rerun the full flow:

set_instance_assignment -name PARTITION component_and_func -to "and_func:and_func_inst"

Thanks.

[NoahHuguenin]

Hello Aqid, 

Thank you and the internal team for the workaround provided! 

Regards, 
Noah

[AqidAyman_Intel]

Hi Noah,

Thank you too for bringing this to our attention in the first place!

With that, may I know if there is anything else you need?

Or can I close this thread?

Regards,

Aqid

[NoahHuguenin]

Hello!

Excuse me, I had not seen this reply. Yes, the thread can be closed!

Merry festivities and kind regards, 

Noah