EDA on Unix/Sparc and Win95/Intel platforms: does compatibility exist?

Abstract

The constantly improving price/performance of the mass market PC is making this platform difficult to ignore when considering choices for student EDA software environments. At MSU, our traditional EDA environment has been based upon UNIX/SunSparc workstations. However the computation power of the average student home PC now routinely equals or exceeds the average workstation in our educational facilities. Also, funding pressures are beginning to force a choice between maintaining either full-featured EDA software licenses or up-to-date workstations, but not both. We are currently making an effort to identify EDA vendors and tool suites which run on both UNIX/SunSparc and Win95/Intel platforms. Our aim is to make the full-featured tool suites (not student editions) available to students who wish to run the tools on their home PCs. Thus far we are using three tool suites which have fit these requirements: Model Tech V-System/VHDL simulator, Avanti HSPICE, and Viewlogic Workview Office. Maintaining dual Unix/Win95 versions of tools are a challenge, but student response has been enthusiastic.