Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) Initiative Releases High Performance Models of Advanced MIPS Technologies Processors

Models of MIPS™ 74KTM Processor and 1004KTM Multicore Processor Developed Under MIPS-Verified™ Program

THAME, England-- February 17, 2010 --The Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) initiative (www.OVPworld.org), has released new models of MIPS Technologies, Inc. processor cores and continues its move to becoming the de facto source of fast models. The MIPS 74K and 1004K processors are the most advanced cores from MIPS, with the 1004K being a multi-core, multi-threaded processor, with up to 4 cores and 2 threads per core. MIPS has verified the functionality of these models under the MIPS-Verified program. These models work with the OVP simulator, OVPsim, where they have shown exceptionally fast performance of hundreds of millions of instructions per second.

Embedded software complexity is increasing rapidly, especially with multicore and multi-threaded processors like the MIPS 1004K being utilized for embedded systems. This complexity, and associated problems with software schedules and bugs, drives users to start development earlier in the project. Early simulation of software with OVP technology provides benefits of both increased productivity and increased quality.

All OVP processor models are instruction accurate, and very fast, focused on enabling embedded software developers, especially those building hardware-dependent software such as firmware and bare metal applications, the tools they need for a more robust development environment. Virtual platforms utilizing these OVP processor models can be created with the OVP peripheral and platform models, or the processor models can be integrated into SystemC/TLM-2.0 based virtual platforms using the TLM-2.0 interface available with all OVP processor models.

“Bringing simulation to software development is a natural step to an earlier start to software development, and better debugging and analysis of multicore software. Bringing low cost simulation tools and free, fast models of state of the art processors such as the MIPS 74K and 1004K is why we founded Open Virtual Platforms,” said Simon Davidmann, president and CEO, Imperas and founding director of the OVP initiative. “OVP now has the full range of MIPS32® cores available as fast models. OVP is rapidly becoming the de facto place to source fast models.”

Open Virtual Platforms (www.OVPworld.org)

OVP includes the OVPsim simulator, libraries of models and APIs for developing new models. OVPsim executes platforms, including multicore platforms, at hundreds of millions of instructions per second, providing the speed that software developers require for simulation of embedded systems. Model libraries include everything from individual processor models (from ARC, ARM, MIPS and OpenCores) and component models to more complex platforms, such as ARM IntegratorCP and MIPS Malta development boards for running Linux. All OVP processor models include a SystemC/TLM-2.0 interface for easy integration in those virtual platform environments. OVP APIs enable the embedded software community to develop models of processors, behavioral components and peripherals, and to connect these together into virtual platforms that run the final target system software binaries unchanged. Since its founding in early 2008, over 2100 people have registered on the OVP website.

About the OVP Initiative (www.OVPworld.org)

The OVP initiative was founded with a donation, by Imperas, of approximately $4 million of simulation infrastructure. The goal of organization is to help the industry to build an effective multi-core development infrastructure through the use and adoption of open virtual platform technology. The website serves as a portal for OVP members covering details about the technology, providing a discussion forum for the community, and links to download each component. The technology has the support of electronic design automation (EDA) companies, end users and intellectual property (IP) providers. Detailed quotations regarding OVP are available from http://www.ovpworld.org/newsblog/?p=42.

About Imperas (www.imperas.com)

Imperas provides methodologies, technologies and products to enable the efficient and effective verification of software functionality and software performance for embedded systems. Its products enable software functional verification, performance profiling, and analysis for embedded software operating on multiprocessor MPSoCs. With an engineering base in the United Kingdom, Imperas distributes its products to customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.imperas.com.

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