Digital Implementation Blogs

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.

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^® Liberate^TM 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.