CVA6 synthesis

[hhhsiang]

Is there an existing CVA6 bug for this?

• I have searched the existing bug issues

Bug Description

I'm looking to synthesize the CVA6 core and perform gate-level simulation. According to the guidelines, the following command is recommended for synthesis: make -C pd/synth cva6_synth FOUNDRY_PATH=/your/techno/basepath/ TECH_NAME=yourTechnoName TARGET_LIBRARY_FILES="yourLib1.db\ yourLib2.db" PERIOD=10 NAND2_AREA=650 TARGET=cv64a6_imafdc_sv39 ADDITIONAL_SEARCH_PATH="others/libs/paths/one\ others/libs/paths/two" However, upon inspecting the Makefile in /cva6/pd/synth/, I noticed a # Deprecated comment above the cva6_synth entry. Does this mean that the cva6_synth command is outdated? Is there a different command recommended for synthesizing the CVA6 now?

[ibooga]

I'm curious about this as well. I would like to perform synthesis and layout, ideally with the cv32a60x

[Gchauvon]

We are synthesizing the cv32a65x in Continuous integration with the rm_synth target in the Makefile.
Therefore we are not updating nor supporting the "old" cva6_synth target.

However you can still use the the cva6_synth target. It will call the cva6_synth.tcl and run a synthesis with Synopsis DC_Shell. Maybe some variables and/or path are outdated, but you can adjust this script to your liking

[ibooga]

Great, thanks for the advice.

An additional question, if I may.

Are there any examples of a (verified?) cva6 that have been brought close to tape out that provide GDS2 files or something similar? It would be nice to have a frame of reference while synthesizing and verifying my variations.

Thank you for your help, cheers

[Gchauvon]

There have been cva6 that have been put to silicon. However I do not have anything to share to you.

[hhhsiang]

Hi @Gchauvon, I noticed your comment about no longer updating or supporting the "old" cva6_synth target. Does that mean you will not synthesize cva6 core and run gate simulation anymore? Given that the cva6 core is a 64-bit CPU, distinct from the 32-bit cv32a65x, does this indicate that the cv64a6 core will not be maintained in the future? Thanks for clarifying!

[Gchauvon]

The 64 bits version is maintained. There are non-regression tests that are run in CI on the cv64a6_imafdc_sv39 target.
However core verification is dedicated to the cv32a65x target. Thales CI only do synthesis and gate simulation for the cv32a65x target today.