Fatal: (vsim-160) /mgc_common_axi.sv(2438): Null foreign function pointer encountered when calling 'axi_initialise_SystemVerilog'

Description

This error message may be seen when you run a Quartus® II software verion 15.0 and later, generated HPS Qsys design in Modelsim 10.3d:

# ** Fatal: (vsim-160) ./../hw_system_tb/simulation/submodules/mgc_common_axi.sv(2438): Null foreign function pointer encountered when calling 'axi_initialise_SystemVerilog'

#    Time: 0 ps  Iteration: 0  Process: /hw_system_tb/hw_system_inst/hps/fpga_interfaces/f2h_axi_slave_inst/axi/#INITIAL#2454 File: ./../hw_system_tb/simulation/submodules/mgc_common_axi.sv
# FATAL ERROR while loading design
# Error loading design

Resolution

To solve this problem:

1. Launch vsim from a dos or linux command prompt (not within the Vsim GUI)
2. Use the  "mvchome"  argument to piont to the correct library location

For example:  vsim -mvchome $QUARTUS_ROOTDIR/../ip/altera/mentor_vip_ae/common

For more detail see the Mentor® Verification IP Altera® Edition AMBA AXI3TM/AXI4TM User Guides 

This problem is scheduled to be fixed in a future release of the Quartus Prime software.