| Who's Online | There are currently, 32 guest(s) and 1 member(s) that are online.
You are Anonymous user. You can register for free by clicking here | |
| Login | | Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As a registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name. | |
 | |
|
Verification Guild: Forums |
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
vhdlcohen
Industry Expert
Joined: Jan 05, 2004
Posts: 1046
Location: Los Angeles, CA
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:36 pm Post subject: Are EDA companies considering cloud computing for tools? |
 |
|
"Cloud computing is a way of computing, via the Internet, that broadly shares computer resources instead of using software or storage on a local PC."
I was wondering how many EDA are doing cloud computing today or are considering cloud computing. The big advantage is that models can be uploaded and run on several virtual machines in the cloud, thus speeding the simulation significantly. Another advantage (or maybe disadvantage for EDA companies) is that the same license can be used at different times for companies that are spread at different times zones, such as India and the USA.
MSFT and Amazon are into cloud computing, but they are not the only ones. That's the way to go in the future.
_________________
Ben Cohen http://www.systemverilog.us/
* SystemVerilog Assertions Handbook, 2nd Edition, 2010
* A Pragmatic Approach to VMM Adoption
* Using PSL/SUGAR ... 2nd Edition
* Real Chip Design and Verification
* Cmpt Design by Example
* VHDL books |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
EdA
Senior
Joined: Jan 06, 2004
Posts: 58
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:30 am Post subject: Anyone remember VeriFarm |
|
|
It's been tried before, albeit with a non-mainstream tool.
See: http://vcomp.sourceforge.net
From what I remember, companies were not high on the idea of sending their design to points unknown for simulation.
/Ed |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
glb
Senior
Joined: Feb 02, 2005
Posts: 114
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Xilinx used to have an applet that let you synthesis code remotely. Upload code, and get an report back via email.
Not sure if cloud computing equates with faster execution. Ultimately the cloud is composed a zillion machines sitting on the internet. Where do the machines come from? Does the EDA company buy them, or lease 'time' from everyday people willing to let them run a clock cycle or two of simulation every now and then?
For all I know, my simulator runs off the net right now. I can't tell if the processing is 100% on my machine or done remotely or vice versa. Could pull the plug and see I guess! It fetches a license already.. what other bits of info are flying around the office/city/country/world?
Most companies I've been with have their own little cloud of machines already, and developers don't really run tools and store data on their desktops.
Perhaps I might not understand exactly how the cloud is different from the internet, with client/server stuff happening already. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vhdlcohen
Industry Expert
Joined: Jan 05, 2004
Posts: 1046
Location: Los Angeles, CA
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| glb wrote: | | Not sure if cloud computing equates with faster execution. Ultimately the cloud is composed a zillion machines sitting on the internet. Where do the machines come from? Does the EDA company buy them, or lease 'time' from everyday people willing to let them run a clock cycle or two of simulation every now and then? |
My son is currently working on cloud computing applications. The zillion machines are leased by the user on a time / cpu usage basis. The beauty here is that a company that uses the clouds is free from the purchase/lease cost of the CPUs + maintenance and support. Amazon (and I believe MSFT and maybe IBM(?)) have clouds machine. | Quote: | | Most companies I've been with have their own little cloud of machines already, and developers don't really run tools and store data on their desktops. |
Is it an Internet internal cloud or is it an ssh into a remote machine? | Quote: | | Perhaps I might not understand exactly how the cloud is different from the internet, with client/server stuff happening already. |
The difference is that in a cloud the number of computers needed to do the processing is dynamic and automatic, based on setups. Thus, if the load is high, it is automatically distributed onto several machines. The interface to the user consists of Java scripts. Take a look at Google / Documents (need a Google email account) where you can create/edit WORD/Excel/PPT documents. They use clouds for the processing. | Quote: | | Companies were not high on the idea of sending their design to points unknown for simulation. |
Actually, data transfers can be done via encryption. https transfers are very secure, and that is not a concern. But other safeguards can also be added. For example, banking transfers are secure. In the commercial world, you'll see more and more companies moving toward cloud computing as it is far less expensive and more productive.
_________________
Ben Cohen http://www.systemverilog.us/
* SystemVerilog Assertions Handbook, 2nd Edition, 2010
* A Pragmatic Approach to VMM Adoption
* Using PSL/SUGAR ... 2nd Edition
* Real Chip Design and Verification
* Cmpt Design by Example
* VHDL books |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
EdA
Senior
Joined: Jan 06, 2004
Posts: 58
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: what is cloud computing |
|
|
I think cloud computing is when the licenses aren't on your company's servers and the simulation is running on a server that is not in a data center supported by your IT group.
Internally in my company we have hundreds of servers scattered around the globe and a license pool distributed. When we submit a regression it runs on a specific farm (due to I/O considerations) pulling licenses from the available license servers.
But with cloud computing you'd submit your job into the ether, where the servers and licenses are external to your company.
/Ed |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vhdlcohen
Industry Expert
Joined: Jan 05, 2004
Posts: 1046
Location: Los Angeles, CA
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: what is cloud computing |
|
|
| EdA wrote: | I think cloud computing is when the licenses aren't on your company's servers and the simulation is running on a server that is not in a data center supported by your IT group.
Internally in my company we have hundreds of servers scattered around the globe and a license pool distributed. When we submit a regression it runs on a specific farm (due to I/O considerations) pulling licenses from the available license servers.
But with cloud computing you'd submit your job into the ether, where the servers and licenses are external to your company.
/Ed |
You're correct, except that if your run demands more resources, it gets it automatically.
Below is an example of cloud computing with Google
http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/index.html
Below is an example of an application on cloud computing:
http://aviary.com/googleenterprise
| Quote: | Aviary is a suite of creative tools. There are currently six editors including image and audio editors.
Our applications run on your browser and allow you to store and access your work from any computer. With Aviary there is no expensive software to buy or maintain.
Use Aviary to create, modify and share your work- from graphic designs to audio files- easily and effectively.
Aviary integrates seamlessly with Google Apps to let your users share and edit documents directly from the Google Docs interface. |
From http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/open-for-business-google-apps.html
| Quote: | | Every day, thousands of businesses choose the cloud. More than 2 million businesses have adopted Google Apps over the last three years, eliminating the hassles associated with purchasing, installing and maintaining hardware and software themselves. |
The point: It is possible to run EDA tools on a cloud, such as the Google cloud. Licensing issues could be resolved. Whether vendors or customer would like the idea is a different story!
_________________
Ben Cohen http://www.systemverilog.us/
* SystemVerilog Assertions Handbook, 2nd Edition, 2010
* A Pragmatic Approach to VMM Adoption
* Using PSL/SUGAR ... 2nd Edition
* Real Chip Design and Verification
* Cmpt Design by Example
* VHDL books |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
glb
Senior
Joined: Feb 02, 2005
Posts: 114
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
| |
|
|
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Digest
Log in
