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AbhaRawat
AbhaRawat
27 Aug 2020
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Library Characterization Tidbits: Accelerating Signoff with Liberate - Installation and Licensing - Part 1

Hello there!

Last week, I was installing a software to create some video demos. Although I followed all the instructions and everything was running smoothly, at some point, the software installation failed. I was clueless about what to do to ensure that this tool was installed and configured properly to enable me to evaluate its true potential. Have you ever been in a similar situation?

This incident prompted me to write this mini-series to provide answers to the various queries that customers ask frequently. In each edition, I’ll invite an expert to share their views and suggestions.

Rajni Dhiman, Lead Support AE at Cadence

To start the mini-series, I welcome Rajni Dhiman, Lead Support AE at Cadence. In this blog, she will share insights into the queries related to installation, configuration, and licensing of the Cadence® LiberateTM Characterization solution. Read this blog till the end to know answers about the legitimate source from where you should download and install Cadence tools. We also touch upon the licenses that are available to choose from and what would be the easiest way to configure the procured licenses.

If you have not subscribed to the Library Characterization Tidbits series yet, submit your email ID in the Subscriptions box and click SUBSCRIBE NOW. I am requesting you to do this because in the current blog and a few subsequent ones, you will get answers to basic queries about the Liberate characterization solution.

So, let’s get started! 

 

 Abha: How can I download and install the Liberate characterization portfolio tools?

Rajni: The Liberate characterization portfolio tools are packaged in the LIBERATE release. To download the latest version of this release, login to the Cadence Downloads website. Then, click the LINUX tab and select the required LIBERATExxx release. LIBERATE192 is the latest release.

Additionally, you can use Cadence InstallScape. This tool can also be downloaded from the Cadence Download website and be used for installing various software releases in a single step. To know more about how to install and use it, refer to the following articles posted on the Cadence Support portal:

  • How to install any Cadence tool using Installscape
  • The InstallScape Demo (Video)

 

 Abha: How can I install and configure the license server?

Rajni: The following two articles will provide you with the details about installing and configuring the license server:

  • How to manually install and start the License Manager on Linux?
  • Installation of License Server Utilities (Video)​​​

 

Abha: What licenses do I need to run the Liberate characterization portfolio tools?

Rajni:  For efficient use of the Liberate characterization portfolio solution, you can choose the required licenses based on the following schemes:

  • À La Carte licenses
  • Token licenses

The choice of licenses depends on the designer's intent, as depicted in the following diagram:

The following table showcases the wide range of licenses that are available and when to choose which one, depending on the designer's intent for characterization:

Product Number

License Feature

Application Enabled

When to Choose

ALT110

Liberate_Server

Liberate

Nominal and statistical characterization for Standard cells, I/O and Custom cells

ALT111

Liberate_Client

ALT210

Variety_Server

Liberate Variety

ALT211

Variety_Client

ALT410

Liberate_MX_Server

Liberate MX

Memory blocks (SRAM, ROM, Register Files, CAM, and so on)

ALT411

Liberate_MX_Client

ALT610

Liberate_LV_Server

Liberate LV

Library validation and quality analysis

ALT611

Liberate_LV_Client

ALT810

Liberate_AMS_Server

Liberate AMS

Analog Mixed Signal blocks like ADC, DAC, PLL, Interface IP, SerDes, DDR, and so on

ALT811 or ALT812

Liberate_AMS_Client

ALT910

Liberate_Unified_Cell

Comprehensive Characterization Solution for standard cells

For characterization, variation modeling, and library validation at  advanced node technologies, such as, 16nm, 10nm, and 7nm; a simplified licensing scheme with flexible tokens

3500

Spectre_char_opt

Spectre®, Spectre APS, and Spectre APS EM

Spectre simulator licenses to be used within Liberate for characterization only; no standalone simulation capability

90006

Multi-Mode Simulation tokens

Spectre Multi-mode Simulation

Simulator for use with Liberate MX or Liberate AMS to enable access to Spectre APS and Spectre XPS

91600

Spectre_XPS

Spectre XPS

A FastSPICE simulator for Liberate MX and Liberate AMS

You need a minimum of one Liberate server and ten Liberate client licenses. The Liberate server license is required to launch one corner characterization (liberate char.tcl). This license remains occupied till the characterization finishes. When a Liberate server starts, it checks out the Liberate_Server license.

Liberate then tries to check out N Liberate_Client licenses, where N is the number of threads specified with the following command: char_library -thread N

 

 Abha: How can I set up the license and Liberate path in the user’s environment?

Rajni: For the CSH or TCSH shell:

setenv   ALTOSHOME   <installation_directory_path>
set path = ($ALTOSHOME/bin $path)
setenv ALTOS_64  1 (To invoke 64-bit tool binary)
setenv TMPDIR <full path directory>
setenv LM_LICENSE_FILE <port>@<licsrvr>:$LM_LICENSE_FILE

For the BASH shell:

export  ALTOSHOME = <installation_directory_path>
export  PATH=$ALTOSHOME/bin:$PATH
export  ALTOS_64= 1
export  TMPDIR=/tmp/<username>/liberate_%N%U/
export  LM_LICENSE_FILE=<port>@<licsrvr>:$LM_LICENSE_FILE

You would also need to set the LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable correctly to get the Liberate characterization solution licenses. If you are not aware about what value should replace <port>@<licsrvr>, check with your IT or CAD team.

 

This is it for now. We will bring you the answers to a few more related questions in the next edition. So, stay tuned. Thanks!

~Abha Rawat

 

Related Resources

  • Product Manuals for Liberate Characterization Portfolio

For more information on Cadence circuit design products and services, visit www.cadence.com. 

About Library Characterization Tidbits

Library Characterization Tidbits is a blog series aimed at providing insight into the useful software and documentation enhancements in the LIBERATE release. In addition, this series would broadcast the voices of different bloggers and experts, who would share their knowledge and experience about all the tools in Liberate Characterization Portfolio. To receive notifications about the new blogs in this series, click Subscribe and submit your email ID in the Subscriptions box.

  

Tags:
  • tidbits |
  • Liberate AMS |
  • Spectre XPS |
  • Liberate LV |
  • licenses |
  • tokens |
  • Liberate Variety |
  • Liberate MX |
  • licensing schemes |
  • Spectre |
  • digital implementation |
  • Library Characterization Tidbit |
  • Digital Implementation |
  • Characterization Solution |
  • Liberate |
  • Liberate Characterization Portfolio |
  • A La Carte |