How to select verification IP

Finally, designers need to ensure that their VIP vendor can support them at the critical time they need it, like tape-out. This means that the vendor must have the extensive, expert resources necessary to handle this support, as well as a proven track record of delivering it.

There's no question that designers are requiring increasing amounts of Verification IP and that this trend is only expected to continue. However, if designers don't take it upon themselves to examine their VIP vendor as seriously as they do their silicon IP or design tools, the VIP they acquire may end up hurting them more than it helps.

Ed Bard is director of marketing for DesignWare IP libraries at Synopsys.