| Virtual dev-board runs Linux on multi-threaded MIPS cores |
Feb. 06, 2006
Virtio has announced a version of its "Virtual Platform" product aimed at simulating MIPS Technologies's new 34K multi-threaded processor cores. Virtio's VPMM-SC runs on a PC, providing a virtual target and test-bed for application developers evaluating the 34K architecture, or awaiting custom hardware designs based on 34K cores, Virtio says.
Virtio says its VPMM-SC Virtual Platform uses "a combination of C-code, graphical modeling, and transaction-based modeling" to replicate "the full functionality" of the MIPS Malta development board. It offers a choice between "instruction-accurate" and "cycle-accurate" CPU models, and can run "standard operating systems such as Linux," along with "binary code files" targeting the Malta board, the company says.
In addition to new multi-threaded 34K cores, the VPMM-SC can emulate MIPS's older 4KE and 24K cores as well. The product also supports integration with "essential software development tools such as Green Hills MULTI and GDB debuggers," Virtio says.
Additionally, the product offers a number of useful debugging tactics not available in hardware debuggers, such as modifying internal register and buffer states, and simultaneous control of multiple processors, Virtio claims. These capabilities are especially useful in debugging multi-threaded applications, according to the company.
Virtio CTO Filip Thoen stated, "The 34K cores introduce multi-threading to embedded systems. The successful adoption of this new technology requires that system designers can evaluate in-depth the impact and benefits. The VPMM-SC Virtual Platform allows software developers to quickly reconfigure the MIPS32 34K cores in a variety of different multi-threading configurations, and evaluate their system impact."
MIPS Technologies's VP of marketing, Jack Browne, added, "System designers and software developers can easily access and evaluate the benefits of the 34K core by running complete system software loads."
Availability
Virtio's VPMM-SC is shipping now, priced at $2,000. A Platform Development Kit version is also available, priced at $10,000, as is an evaluation version, available with registration.
The VPMM-SC follows up Virtio's original VPMM (Virtual Platform for MIPS Malta), which the company launched in late 2002.
MIPS introduced its 34K core family this morning, at the IEEE's ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuits Conference) in San Francisco.
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