Re: [SI-LIST] : Hspice: Windows vs Unix

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From: Jim Freeman ([email protected])
Date: Wed Apr 11 2001 - 10:42:05 PDT


Hear!, Hear!

Jim Freeman

Kim Helliwell wrote:

> Anthony Davidson wrote:
> >
> > We are looking at Star-Hspice from Avanti! as a signal integrity analysis
> > tool to evaluate/analyze high speed interconnects. We have decided to
> > purchase some licenses but now we have to decide to buy a Windows version or
> > a Unix (Solaris, I believe) version.
> >
> > According to Avanti!, Windows Hspice is a subset of Unix Hspice. The
> > information I have is this:
> >
> > CMI is not supported on Windows. CMI is a development library allowing one
> > to create MOSFET models in C. This will prevent us from using any vendor's
> > MOSFET model that was generated with CMI, however, this may not be a problem
> > because most manufacturers use the BSIM3 model nowadays. Does anybody know
> > if BSIM3 models are better/worse than models generated with CMI? Will I be
> > limited in anyway by not having CMI?
> >
> > Avanti! says that some 3rd party output formats are only supported on Unix,
> > such as CadenceLink and MentorLink. Does anybody have any experiences they
> > can describe using such links? What do these links allow you to do?
> >
> > Finally, has anybody used Hspice on both Windows and Unix platforms? Would
> > you say that you prefer one platform over the other? Why?
> >
> > Any other comments would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for your help!!
> >
> > Anthony Davidson
>
> I cannot speak to the output formats issue, but I have some thoughts on
> the BSIM3 vs models installed with CMI. On one hand, BSIM3 is a
> standard, and BSIM4 may become one also as smaller geometries are
> achieved; will HSPICE support BSIM4, and if so, how soon? Do you know
> of vendor models you simply have to have, that can be installed with
> CMI? Is is possible that HSPICE already supports them? (HSPICE is
> famous for supporting a large number of MOSFET models, after all!)
> So you may simply be fine with the NT version.
>
> On the other hand, why limit your future possibilities? It sounds like
> NT would do exactly that. Is there some other consideration (such as
> cost) that make the Unix alternative unattractive? If you think there is,
> have you considered the cost of maintaining an NT network vs. a Unix network
> (assuming that you are not already bearing both costs now, that is!)
>
> Personally, given the choice, I would opt for the Unix solution every time,
> unless local company politics prevented (in which case, I would either not
> be there in the first place or be looking to leave ASAP!). In your circumstances,
> it's obviously the more flexible choice, and a smaller initial cost of an NT
> network is deceptive, since ongoing maintenance could easily eat up any
> apparent savings, in my opinion and observation. Talk to your IT guys about
> that!
>
> --
> Kim Helliwell
> Senior CAE Engineer
> Acuson Corporation
> Phone: 650 694 5030 FAX: 650 943 7260
>
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