Arm Fast Models are accurate, flexible programmer’s view models of Arm IP. They are used to build a virtual platform, either standalone, or as part of Hybrid Simulation environment within EDA partner environments. Use the virtual platform for software development and verification throughout the development process, even long before any real hardware is available.
You can connect the Arm Development Studio debugger to your virtual platform and interact with it as if were real hardware.
You should have Arm Development Studio installed and your license configured. Refer to the Arm Development Studio install guide for more information.
You should also have Arm Fast Models installed and your license configured. Refer to the Arm Fast Models install guide for more information.
If you do not have access to Arm Fast Models, you can still learn how to connect to a custom virtual platform, using the same FVP as supplied with Development Studio (bin
directory) instead.
A number of ready made example systems are provided with Arm Fast Models, including all of the Fixed Virtual Platform (FVP) examples.
Use the supplied FVP_MPS2_Cortex-M3
Fast Models example, which is installed in the
FastModelsPortfolio_<version>\examples\LISA\FVP_MPS2\Build_Cortex-M3
directory of your Fast Models installation.
In Arm Fast Models System Canvas
, use File
> Load project
, and navigate to the FVP_MPS2_Cortex-M3.sgproj
project as above. Click Build
.
In the Arm Development Studio IDE
menu, select File
> New
> Other
> Configuration Database
> Configuration Database
, and give it a meaningful name. This creates a project folder where the debugger stores all user-made configurations.
Then select File
> New
> Other
> Configuration Database
> Model Configuration
, which will be the actual configuration to create. When prompted, select the above Configuration Database
to store in. Click Next
.
You will be prompted to ask which debug interface to use, Iris
or CADI
. Iris
is the default and recommended interface. Click Next
.
You are then prompted to either launch the model, or browse for an already running model:
If this is selected, click Next
, and browse for the Fast Model executable. The debugger will append necessary command options to enable debug. This is the most straight forward option, and recommended for first time users.
If this is selected, you must previously have launched the Fast Model either from the command line, else via System Canvas
> Run
dialog, with -I
option to start the Iris server in the model. If no port number (--port-number
) is specified, recommend adding -p
to output the port number used.
If this is selected (where the virtual platform is running on a different machine on the network), you must previously have launched the Fast Model either from the command line, else via System Canvas
> Run
dialog, with -I -A
options to start the Iris server in the model and allow remote access. If no port number (--port-number
) is specified, recommend adding -p
to output the port number used. You will be prompted for the server address (the machine running the virtual platform) and port number.
Regardless of how you connect to the model, a .mdf
file will be created. Specify an appropriate manufacturer and platform name, and click Import.
If not previously imported, use File
> Import...
> Arm Development Studio
> Examples and Programming Libraries
, and browse for startup_Cortex-M3_AC6
(use the text filter box to easily locate this).
Although this project is pre-configured to be debugged with the FVP supplied with Arm Development Studio, you shall instead debug on the newly built FVP.
Select File
> New
> Model Connection
, and give it a meaningful name. It is recommended to associate with the specific project (startup_Cortex-M3_AC6
).
Select the model configuration you created above (the text filter can assist if many targets defined), and click Finish.
You can again select to launch a new instance of the model (recommended) or connect to an already running model.
No further configuration needed.
If this is selected, you must launch the Fast Model either from the command line, else via System Canvas
> Run
dialog, with -I
option to start the Iris server in the model. If no port number (--port-number
) is specified, recommend adding -p
to output the port number used.
Specify the connection address as localhost:<port>
If this is selected (where the virtual platform is running on a different machine on the network), you must launch the Fast Model either from the command line, else via System Canvas
> Run
dialog, with -I -A
options to start the Iris server in the model and allow remote access. If no port number (--port-number
) is specified, recommend adding -p
to output the port number used. You will be prompted for the server address (the machine running the virtual platform) and port number.
Specify the connection address as hostname:<port>
Navigate to the Files
tab, and browse (within Workspace) to the startup_Cortex-M3_AC6.axf
pre-built image. Then, in the Debugger
tab, select Debug from entry point
.
If connecting to an already running model with a loaded image (-a <image>
), select Load symbols from file
from the Files
tab. In this scenario, in the Debugger
tab, select Connect Only
.
Click Debug
to connect to the virtual platform, and commence your debug session.