Arria® 10 Transceiver PHY User Guide

ID 683617
Date 4/01/2024
Public
Document Table of Contents

2.10. Simulating the Transceiver Native PHY IP Core

Use simulation to verify the Native PHY transceiver functionality. The Quartus® Prime software supports register transfer level (RTL) and gate-level simulation in both ModelSim® - Intel FPGA Edition and third-party simulators. You run simulations using your Quartus Prime project files.

The following simulation flows are available:

  • NativeLink—This flow simplifies simulation by allowing you to start a simulation from the Quartus Prime software. This flow automatically creates a simulation script and compiles design files, IP simulation model files, and Intel simulation library models.
    Note: The Quartus Prime Pro Edition software does not support NativeLink RTL simulation
  • Scripting IP Simulation—In this flow you perform the following actions:
    1. Run the ip-setup-simulation utility to generate a single simulation script that compiles simulation files for all the underlying IPs in your design. This script needs to be regenerated whenever you upgrade or modify IPs in the design.
    2. You create a top-level simulation script for compiling your testbench files and simulating the testbench. It sources the script generated in the first action. You do not have to modify this script even if you upgrade or modify the IPs in your design.
  • Custom Flow—This flow allows you to customize simulation for more complex requirements. You can use this flow to compile design files, IP simulation model files, and Intel simulation library models manually.

You can simulate the following netlist:

  • The RTL functional netlist—This netlist provides cycle-accurate simulation using Verilog HDL, SystemVerilog, and VHDL design source code. Intel and third-party EDA vendors provide the simulation models.

Prerequisites to Simulation

Before you can simulate your design, you must have successfully passed Quartus Prime Analysis and Synthesis.