VSIA demos online spec compliance

VSIA demos online spec compliance
By Michael Santarini, EE Times
January 30, 2001 (7:04 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20010130S0119

SAN MATEO, Calif. — The Virtual Socket Interface Alliance (VSIA) previewed its Web-based tool at DesignCon 2001, a tool which promises to aid IP vendors in verifying that their cores comply with VSIA specifications. And officials said the organization is considering merging Synopsys and Mentor OpenMore core rating system with the new online tool, scheduled for official release in June.

VSIA's Larry Cooke demonstrated how, beginning in February, VSIA members can access the compliance forms on VSIA's Web site and use the Wizard-like interface to step through the VSIA compliance form.

Cooke said the organization is looking for a handful of IP vendors to beta-test the online compliance tool, which it expects to officially launch to all VSIA members this June.

The announcement was accompanied by a panel that discussed the value of qualifying cores to VS IA specifications and urged users to demand compliance with VSIA's specifications.

ARM's Ian Phillips, along with inSilicon's Robert Nalesnik and Infineon's Holger Neumann, explained to an audience of vendors and users their experiences in alpha- and beta-testing the VSIA specification document.

Phillips, who in 1999 was the first test pilot for the compliance document, said the early version had a list of problems, but indeed ARM found several areas in which the document helped to improve its deliverables package.

Nalesnik and Neumann said their respective companies reviewed beta versions of the compliance document, and both found it very helpful in organizing their deliverables package.

"Our big customers are starting to demand that we are VSIA compliant," said Nalesnik.

All three vendors said that wide adoption of the specifications will benefit both vendors and users and make it easier for users to make one-to-one comparisons when shopping for cores.

VSIA, Mentor and Synopsys o fficials also said they are currently discussing the possibility of merging Mentor and Synopsys' OpenMore core rating system into the online VSIA compliance effort.

The combined solution would assign stars based on a given core's level of compliance with VSIA and OpenMore requirements.

VSIA officials said before they agree to the merged effort, however, they want to make sure that none of the requirements from the OpenMore will favor any one tool vendor's suite or methodology over another.