Forum Discussion
Modelsim error on altera_onchip_flash_block - Error: (vsim-3033): Instantiation of 'altera_onchip_flash_block' failed. The design unit was not found.
Hello.
I'm trying to simulate project with getting data from OnChipFlash.
I'm using the Lite edition of Quartus 17.0.2 and ModelSim - INTEL FPGA STARTER EDITION 10.5b.
I create testbench file to simulate the project. I start the simulation using "Tools -> Run Simulation Tool -> RTL Simulation".
When the simulation starts, I get following error on the ModelSim output:
** Error: (vsim-3033) c:/intelfpga_lite/16.1/projects/dac+nios_ltc1668+ad5791_fsm/db/ip/onchipflash/submodules/altera_onchip_flash.v(305): Instantiation of 'altera_onchip_flash_block' failed. The design unit was not found.
# Time: 0 ps Iteration: 0 Instance: /AC_main_tb/main_inst/sin_data/onchip_flash_0 File: c:/intelfpga_lite/16.1/projects/dac+nios_ltc1668+ad5791_fsm/db/ip/onchipflash/submodules/altera_onchip_flash.v
When I comments the OnChipFlash module everything works well, but without extracting data from flash.
File altera_onchip_flash_block.v do not opened, because is encrypted file.
I find similar post on forum:
I tried to perform the actions as written in the post above with the substitution of my names:
1) Open the qsys files, generate the simulation model, generate -> generate hdl
2) Open modesim, cd to directory where the msim_setup.tcl
source msim_setup.tcl
3) ld
4) open the msim_setup.tcl and modify the top level from "OnChipFlash" to "AC_meas_tb"
6) add the following lines under vlog in "alias com" section, at the end, in this order:
eval vlog $USER_DEFINED_VERILOG_COMPILE_OPTIONS $USER_DEFINED_COMPILE_OPTIONS "$QSYS_SIMDIR/main.v"
eval vlog $USER_DEFINED_VERILOG_COMPILE_OPTIONS $USER_DEFINED_COMPILE_OPTIONS "$QSYS_SIMDIR/AC_meas_tb.v"
7) ld again.
I get following error:
Error: (vlog-7) Failed to open design unit file "./..//main.v" in read mode.
# No such file or directory. (errno = ENOENT)
If I start simulation using "Tools -> Run Simulation Tool -> RTL Simulation" I get error Error: (vsim-3033) .....altera_onchip_flash.v(305): Instantiation of 'altera_onchip_flash_block' failed. The design unit was not found.
At this point, any help would be greatly appreciated, or workaround as well.
Thanks, Aleksey
You make the AC_meas_tb as the testbench. Can you check inside the AC_meas_tb.v files, what is your module name there? currently, the tools are complaining the testbench issue.
22 Replies
- KennyT_altera
Super Contributor
Looking into the error, can you check
$QSYS_SIMDIR/main.v
Whether this files exist in $QSYS_SIMDIR?
- AVovk
New Contributor
Thanks for answer.
You are right, the problem is with the paths.
I changed the lines as follows:
eval vlog $ USER_DEFINED_VERILOG_COMPILE_OPTIONS $ USER_DEFINED_COMPILE_OPTIONS "$ QSYS_SIMDIR /../../ main.v"
eval vlog $ USER_DEFINED_VERILOG_COMPILE_OPTIONS $ USER_DEFINED_COMPILE_OPTIONS "$ QSYS_SIMDIR /../../ AC_meas_tb.v"
Now all modules are compiled without errors after command:
source msim-setup.tcl,
ld,
but an error is thrown at the end:
# vsim -t ps -L work -L work_lib -L onchip_flash_0 -L altera_ver -L lpm_ver -L sgate_ver -L altera_mf_ver -L altera_lnsim_ver -L fiftyfivenm_ver AC_meas_tb
# Start time: 09:02:11 on Feb 27,2020
# ** Error: (vsim-3170) Could not find 'AC_meas_tb'.
# Searched libraries:
******
# Error loading design
# Error: Error loading design
# Pausing macro execution
# MACRO ./AC_meas_NIOS_run_msim_rtl_verilog.do PAUSED at line 24
I do not understand which "AC_meas_tb" the simulator does not find.
PS If I start RTL simalation from Qaurtus I get error "Error: (vsim-3033): Instantiation of 'altera_onchip_flash_block' failed".
- KennyT_altera
Super Contributor
You make the AC_meas_tb as the testbench. Can you check inside the AC_meas_tb.v files, what is your module name there? currently, the tools are complaining the testbench issue.
- AVovk
New Contributor
- KennyT_altera
Super Contributor
PS If I start RTL simalation from Qaurtus I get error "Error: (vsim-3033): Instantiation of 'altera_onchip_flash_block' failed".
do not use this method, this method is not for platform designer usage.
- AVovk
New Contributor
Do I understand you correctly that running a simulation through Quartus (Tools-> Run Simulation Tool-> RTL Simulation) is possible only if there are no IP components? As soon as the IP component is included in the project, the start of the simulation is possible only through manually editing a file "msim_setup.tсl and further execution of the LD command. The only way?
- KennyT_altera
Super Contributor
Yes, some of the IP component use platform designer format. If use megawizard/megafunction it is still fine.
Anyway, I look into your .v files, it
AC_main_tb which is not AC_meas_tb, you may need to change it.
- AVovk
New Contributor
Thanks a lot KennyT_Intel!
You are a very attentive, but I am not at all! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t notice the difference between MAES and MAIN in "AC_xxxx_tb", because they are so similar among a huge number of letters!
- KennyT_altera
Super Contributor
You are welcome! remember to help me select best asnwer ya ;)
- AVovk
New Contributor
KennyT_Intel, I ask you to answer one more question:
If I modify a file in the project, then to restart the simulation with the new data, I first stop the simulation "quit-sim" and recompile with the commands "source msim_setup.tcl" and "LD", but modelsim gives a lot of errors on each external module used by top-level file MAIN.v:
# Loading work.main
# ** Error: (vsim-3033) ./../../../main.v(198): Instantiation of 'receiving_from_PC' failed. The design unit was not found.
# Time: 0 ps Iteration: 0 Instance: /AC_meas_tb/main_inst File: ./../../../main.v
etc.
If I quit from ModelSim and start it again, do all operations described above, simulation start again normal.
How restart simulation without reopen ModelSim?
- KennyT_altera
Super Contributor
before your source the source msim_setup.tcl. Try to use restart command.
- AVovk
New Contributor
It didn’t help, the same error, after commands "restart -f -> source msim_setup.tcl -> ld":
# Loading work.main
# ** Error: (vsim-3033) ./../../../main.v(198): Instantiation of 'receiving_from_PC' failed. The design unit was not found.
# Time: 0 ps Iteration: 0 Instance: /AC_meas_tb/main_inst File: ./../../../main.v
etc.
- AVovk
New Contributor
Here is what I noticed.
1) When I start ModelSim from Quartus I get an error. Next, with the CD commands, I go to the msim_setup.tcl file, execute the source and ld commands. The simulation starts. Restarting the simulation fails with the above error.
2) When I start ModelSim from the Windows START menu, with the CD commands I go to the msim_setup.tcl file, I execute the source and ld commands, the simulation does not start, but ends with the same error as when restarting.
That is, the simulation only works when starting ModelSim from Quartus and then writing commands on its command line.
Why does the simulation not work when starting ModelSim from the START menu of Windows and how to restart the simulation all the same without reopening ModelSim?