[SOLVED] Generating AXI4Lite BFM using Xilinx Coregen

Hi all,

I have a scenario in which I am designing an AXI4-Lite master. In order to test this it would be nice to have an AXI4 Lite BFM. My idea is to instantiate the AXI master in the BFM which would have the slaves. So I generated the AXI4-Lite BFM using Coregen.
Coregen --> AXI Infrastructure --> AXI Bus Functional Model (v2.1)

But I found only the following files are generated...
cdn_axi3_example_memory_model_test.v
cdn_axi3_example_tb.v
cdn_axi3_example_test.v
cdn_axi4_example_memory_model_test.v
cdn_axi4_example_tb.v
cdn_axi4_example_test.v
cdn_axi4_lite_example_memory_model_test.v
cdn_axi4_lite_example_tb.v
cdn_axi4_lite_example_test.v
cdn_axi4_streaming_example_tb.v
cdn_axi4_streaming_example_test.v
cdn_axi_test_level_api.v

Among the above the following are of interest to me...
cdn_axi4_lite_example_memory_model_test.v
cdn_axi4_lite_example_tb.v
cdn_axi4_lite_example_test.v

When I took a look into cdn_axi4_lite_example_tb.v, I found that instances of 'cdn_axi4_lite_master_bfm' and 'cdn_axi4_lite_slave_bfm'. Actually I was expecting Coregen to generate these two (the instiantiation of the master I would have repached by my own model).

My question is why were these not generated. Is it not part of the package or is a special license required?

Our server already has the license for ISE 14.4.

The info message on the AXI BFM @ Coregen says...
"The AXI BFM solution is an optional product that is purchased separate from the ISE software. Licensing is handled through the standard Xilinx licensing scheme. A new license feature, XILINX_AXI_BFM, is needed in addition to the standard ISE license features."

So is it because of the unavailability of the license feature XILINX_AXI_BFM that something like cdn_axi4_lite_slave_bfm.v or cdn_axi4_lite_master_bfm.v is not being generated?

How can I ensure that the Xilinx license we have doesn't have this feature?

Note: I already posted this in the Xilinx Forum and got no answer!

Are you saying that you did not get the verilog models from the tool? You will definitely not get those.
Just check whether encrypted copies are generated. I am not sure if you need a separate license for this.

dpaul said:

How can I ensure that the Xilinx license we have doesn't have this feature?

Click to expand...

Try opening the license manager and once it populates the available licenses you'll know exactly what is included. Otherwise you'll need to find the license file itself to see what is available.

Note: I already posted this in the Xilinx Forum and got no answer!

Click to expand...

Not surprising, I've noticed that a lot of questions don't get answered on that forum, unlike the Altera one.

- - - Updated - - -

sharath666 said:

Are you saying that you did not get the verilog models from the tool? You will definitely not get those.
Just check whether encrypted copies are generated. I am not sure if you need a separate license for this.

Click to expand...

Yes it requires a separate license. I ended up writing my own AXI4 BFMs just because of this. (which I can't post as it was done for work)

FYI there is a very old AXI4 BFM that was done in System Verilog you might be able to try if you are using a simulator other than ISIM.
http://syswip.com/axi4-lite-verification-ip

Thanks sarath666 & ads-ee!

@sarath666 - no there isn't any encrypted files generated.
@ads-ee - Problem is now clear, separate license is required.

btw - other than the AXI4 BFM @ Syswip, I have found another one available under GNU GPL. Will see how can I use them.

dpaul said:

btw - other than the AXI4 BFM @ Syswip, I have found another one available under GNU GPL. Will see how can I use them.

Click to expand...

To make this thread useful for others searching for an AXI4 BFM you could share the URL of the other GPL one you found. (I may have found that one, but deamed it very badly written, it may have also had errors).

I agree with you ads-ee. The Syswip one is the best one out there.

1> Best one -- http://syswip.com/axi4-lite-verification-ip

2> No docs -- http://code.google.com/p/axi-bfm/source/checkout

3> Loosely documented. Suitable for someone testing an AXI slave.
http://github.com/funningboy/uvm_axi

Note- At this point I have no information on the correctness of the codes available in the above links.

That was useful to see. I had found #2 previously, which I deemed pretty poorly coded. The 3rd I never found. So it might take a look at it.

Though there really isn't much incentive to look as I ended up designing my own master and slave BFMs.

On a side note, I am glad I never have to use the code from that link...