Installation
Download the intel-simics-package-manager-(version) and simics-6-packages-(version) files for your host type, and then follow these steps.
On Windows*, the Simics simulator requires that the Microsoft* Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio* 2015 is installed on the host. If this is not the case, download it from Microsoft and install it before starting the Simics simulator installation.
Install the Simics Package Manager.
- On Windows, run the Simics Package Manager installer file: intel-simics-package-manager-(version)-win64.exe.
- On Linux*, unpack the tar file to a suitable location: intel-simics-package-manager-(version)-linux64.tar.gz.
To perform the installation using the Simics Package Manager graphical user interface:
These instructions apply to the Simics Package Manager 1.7.2 and later:
- Start the Simics Package Manager:
- On Windows, you are prompted to run the Simics Package Manager at the end of the installation. If you didn't get the prompt or skipped that step, run the program from the Windows Start menu.
- On Linux, run the ispm-gui application from inside the unpacked directory.
Note If the application fails to start on older Linux versions, you may have to start the application with the --no-sandbox option, as ispm-gui --no-sandbox.
- The first time you run the Simics Package Manager, specify the Simics software installation location on your local machine.
- On Windows, it is recommended to use the default location.
- In the Simics Package Manager, go to Platforms > Install from Repository. (By default, the Simics Package Manager opens to this view.)
- Select Browse for Bundle.
- Locate the simics-6-packages-(version) file that you downloaded and select it.
- Select Create Project. This installs the Simics software and creates a default Simics project in a default location.
To perform the installation using the command-line interface of the Simics Package Manager:
- Determine where you want to install the software, where you want to save your Simics projects, and what to call the first Simics project.
- On a Linux host, the Simics software would typically be installed to a location like /opt/simics. Multiple Simics simulator packages will be installed side-by-side in this location.
- The projects would typically be stored in the user's home directory, in a location like $HOME/simics-projects/. Each project will be a subdirectory in this location.
- Make sure you standing in the directory that contains the downloaded bundle file.
- Run the command:
(unpacked-ispm-directory)/ispm packages --install-bundle simics-6-packages-(version).ispm --install-dir (install-location-for-Simics) --create-project (location-for-projects)/(first-project-name)
After installation is complete, to begin using the software, see the Get Started Guide.
Enable the Use of Virtualization
When simulating Intel® architecture targets on an Intel host, the processor models can use Intel® Virtualization Technology for Intel® 64 and IA-32 architectures (Intel® VT-x) to run instructions directly on the host. If an Intel target is being simulated and virtualization is not being used, a note displays on startup indicating that performance could be improved.
To enable the use of virtualization on Windows hosts:
- To start a terminal in your project from the Simics Package Manager, go to the Project Manager view.
- Select your project, and then select the >_ button (Open in terminal).
- In the terminal, enter the following Windows CMD command: bin\vmp-kernel-load.bat
(Windows prompts you for admin privileges as part of running the script.)
To enable the use of virtualization on Linux hosts:
- To start a terminal in your project from the Simics Package Manager, go to the Project Manager view.
- Select your project, and then select the >_ button (Open in terminal).
- Issue the command: bin/vmp-kernel-install
If needed, the script will prompt you for sudo privilege.
Update to a New Version
- Go to the Simics simulator download page.
- From the version menu, select the most recent version (it should be selected by default).
- If the Simics Package Manager version listed is newer than the one you installed, download and install it first.
- Download the new simics-6-packages-(version) file.
- Start the Simics Package Manager, just like you did when installing the Simics simulator for the first time.
- Go to Platforms > Install from Repository. (By default, the Simics Package Manager opens to this view.)
- Select Browse for Bundle.
- Locate the new simics-6-packages-(version) file that you downloaded, and then select it.
- Select the menu arrow on the Finish button. Select Continue in Advanced Mode.
- To update your Simics projects to use the new version, go to the Project Manager.
- Select a project.
- Select Manage Packages to associate the newly installed Simics packages with the project.
Note You can have several versions of the same Simics package installed at the same time. Each Simics project uses a specific set of packages and versions. This allows different sets of package versions to be used at the same time from different projects. Thus, known-good setups can remain stable even as new package versions are added to the Simics installation.
Additional Resources
Simics Simulator Public Release
Simics Simulator History and Features