reading >2GB tran.tran files

Hi,

We're using IC51.41 (latest USR6), configured with latest MMSIM71.
Once in a while, a simulation goes beyond 2GB (tran.tran file for
example). The Artist environment is unable to read a file this
large. There are ways to setup spectre to splice the file in
manageable pieces before the fact. But does anyone know how to read
the large file after the fact? I am not aware of 64bit icfb/ADE
environment in the IC5 stream.... I think IC6X has 64bit option, but
I don't wish to cdb2oa my entire schematic hierarchy .. any ideas?

thanks
Nicolas

 

Hi Nicolas,

I had the same problem simulating a PLL. The only solution I've found
was importing spectre simulation data to Matlab.
I wrote a tutorial on this topic here: http://cmos.fe.up.pt/wiki/public/tutorials/matlabcadence

Regards,
Américo

 

Américo Dias wrote, on 08/24/09 15:10:

This is covered in sourcelink solution 11264780. Here's what it says:

====================================================================

*Error_Message:

File too large: "input.raw/tran.tran"

*Problem:

You are using MMSIM 6.1, 6.2, 7.0 or higher and are running a long transient
simulation. In previous versions of spectre, the tran.tran file was broken up
into 2 Gig files. In these MMSIM versions, one large file is created.

You cannot read this large file using IC 5.1.41 awd or wavescan.

*Solution:

In IC 6.1 we have added support for native large files and that also means that
MMSIM can now write them. However, IC 5.1.41 cannot read these files.

The default in MMSIM 6.X and higher is to write the large files. To view the
file, you will need to use the IC 6.1 waveform tool ViVA.

To use MMSIM 6.X and higher with IC 5.1.41, you MUST set these variables:

For Spectre writing PSF data:

setenv PSF_WRITE_CHUNK_MODE_ON true

For UltraSim writing PSF data:

setenv PSF_LARGE_FILE_ON false

If you do not set these variables, MMSIM may write a file which cannot be read
in IC 5.1.41.
====================================================================

Regards,

Andrew.

 

Hi Nicolas,

WavesCan is enable to read files > 2G.
You might have 2 options to read your file once it was generated and >
2G.
1. If your file is in PSF format and you have access to the VIVA
Software/License, then VIVA can read your file with no size
limitation.
2. If your file is in SST2 format, then you can read it using
simVision. Simvision can't read psf I'm afraid.

Personally, I stick at SST2 which is the default since IC 5.1.41 USR3.
I then use Simvision to read any tran file which > 2G. Simvision has
no size limitation as far as I'm aware. The only problem with
simVision is the Calculator, it is very basic.

sst2 is supported in Spectre, SpectreRF and could be read from matlab
using the cds_srr command.

Regards,
Riad.

 

Hi Nicolas,
WavesCan is unable to read files > 2G. You might have 2 options to
read your file once it was generated and > 2G.
1. If your file is in PSF format and you have access to the VIVA
Software/License, then VIVA can read your file with no size
limitation.
2. If your file is in SST2 format, then you can read it using
simVision. Simvision can't read psf I'm afraid.
Personally, I stick at SST2 which is the default since IC 5.1.41 USR3.
I then use Simvision to read any tran file which > 2G. Simvision has
no size limitation as far as I'm aware. The only problem with
simVision is the Calculator, it is very basic. sst2 is supported in
Spectre, SpectreRF and could be read from Matlab using the cds_srr
command.

Regards,
Riad.

 

Riad KACED wrote, on 08/24/09 18:08:

As I said, IC5141 wavescan is quite able to read large data results, provided
you've set the environment variable to tell the simulator to use the old
"chunking" method which split the results into multiple files rather than one
big file.

Large SST2 files aren't a problem - assuming you don't run out of memory!

Regards,

Andrew.

 

I would like to thank everyone who got back to me with superb answers!
I forgot to mention that I was bound to psfbin (unfortunately).
I ended up having success reading the large file in IC614 without a
hitch.
We use psfbin because its metadata is not too hard to comprehend and
we play tricks on the data (run in montecarlo batch style, then split
into separate corners). That saves the overhead time of loading MMSIM
everytime ...
We'd have to re-invent this methodology with sst2, but haven't tried
to do so yet!