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Copyright

All the contents of this document are protected by the copyright law. They may not be disclosed to third parties or copied or duplicated in any form without the written consent of NanoXplore.

Introduction

This document is intended to guide users of NanoXplore NXmap software through all the steps involved in the design flow and the options available to perform floorplanning exploration. This document is an addition to the NXmap User manual which focus exclusively on the NXmap graphical interface.

Package description

The provided NXmap archive contains the following directories:

  • bin       folder contains binary files for each supported Linux distribution

  • doc      folder contains documentation files in pdf format

  • example folder contains several examples of different projects with design sources in VHDL

  • lib64 folder contains dynamic libraries and Python modules for each supported Linux distribution and associated Python version

  • share folder contains additional files (vhdl libraries, simulation libraries, etc...)

Installation

To install NXmap, the user needs to unpack nxmap-VERSION.tar.gz file into the installation directory (e.g. /opt/NanoXplore) using the following command:

$> tar xzf nxmap-VERSION.tar.gz -C /opt/NanoXplore

To set the license, it is required to export the following shell variable:

$> export LM_LICENSE_FILE=27000@servername

Where servername is the hostname of the server running the license daemon and 27000 is the port the daemon listens to.

Run Nxmap

To run nxmap, use the following command:

$> /opt/NanoXplore/nxmap/VERSION/bin/nxmap

NXmap graphical exploration

Main window

Launching NXmap opens the main window of the tool within the graphical interface (following figure).

This new interface at start is organized around:

  • a horizontal Menu presenting rolling options managed by File, Tools, Export, View & Help buttons

  • a horizontal Toolbar which allows to export several options from the menu to have direct access through a dedicated graphical icon

Menu

  • a horizontal menu presenting rolling options managed by File, Tools, Export, View & Help buttons

  • a horizontal toolbar organized through several categories Synthesize, Place & Route flow steps

  • a python console showing script instruction equivalencies for nxmap commands

  • a log console printing command and flow execution

Launching NXmap opens the main window of the tool within the graphical interface (following figure).

File rolling menu disposes classic actions for management of the current project:

  • New project → action also possible through a dedicated New project clic button in the main window

  • Open project → action also possible through a dedicated Load project clic button in the main window

  • Close project

  • Edit project

  • Save project

  • Export bitstream

  • Export placement constraint

  • Quit

Toolbar

through six categories of widgets:

  • File :

  • Tools

  • Display

  • Zoom

  • Scroll

  • Docks

  • Docks widgets are dedicated to graphical exploration & edition of the floorplan: Interpreter, Dashboard, Selection & Regions

  • Interpreter widget allows to write and execute python methods in command lines

  • Dashboard widget shows a reduction of the global floorplan view to easily zoom in and out of the design

  • Selection widget opens a pop up tab in which is reported all elements bound by Select nets, Select instances, Select Edges & Select paths commands with associated filter options

Select paths provides STA information on the selected paths

Select instances provides:

Hierarchy level, Region and Module information

Source file and TILE/CGB location

Input/output net name

Configuration information

Dynamic setSite management is available at Place 1/5 step through Locking button

  • Regions widget

Shows all Regions and Modules with utilization details

Creates/Resizes/Deletes Region dynamically

Assigns Module to a new Region dynamically

Clipboards and generates python file with all Region/Module/SetSIte/(DSP/RAM) Location

  • Information given by NXmap can be copy/paste from the GUI

  • Command updates

Select paths improvements:

Longest/Shortest path selection

New clock domain selection

Detail STA report on selected path

  • Floorplanning overview (Prepared):

Refresh fabric element dispatch after Region/Module modification in order to visualized new floorplanning

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