cyrus@pprg.unm.edu (Tait Cyrus) (04/06/89)
I am currently looking into which CAD package would be best for our environment (university environment). I would very much like your comments, suggestions as to which package(s) you recommend we use here at the University of New Mexico. Just to let you know what environment we currently have: Package: Cericor (now owned by HP --- arghh!!) Machine: Sun 3 (B/W) Function(s): digital schematic capture & digital simulations Comments: not supported on Suns any longer (i.e. obsolete) Package: GDT/LSIM (Silicon Compiler Systems) Machine: Sun 3 (B/W & Color) Function(s): VLSI design/simulation Below are a few things which I think are important (there are, I am sure, others). 1) We need a package or packages that do the following: - schematic capture for both digital and analog designs - digital simulations - analog simulations - PCB tools - auto place - auto route - VLSI design - analog simulations 2) It would be nice if the following could also be done: - thermal analysis - mechanical analysis (vibrational analysis) - mechanical design 3) A COMPLETE library (both digital and analog) 3) Since this is a university environment, the package(s) MUST be easy to use. That is to say, you should NOT have to attend a week long class before being able to use them. 4) Single vendor that provides everything. - Single point of contact (good) - Guaranteed compatibility between packages (?maybe?) (good) - mediocre packages because vendor does not concentrate on single "function" but instead tries to be good at everything (bad) 5) Multiple vendors providing bits and pieces. - multiple points of contact (good/bad) - incompatible formats with other vendors databases (bad) - vendor specializes on doing one thing and they have a VERY good package (good) 6) The price has to be right (?FREE?) or has a GOOD university program. 7) Runs on "standard" high performance platform. We have lots of Suns and Vaxen. Few IBM/RT's, no SGIs and Apollos (Forget IBM/PCs because they are not fast enough). 8) Runs fast (i.e. would be nice if it ran on Sun-SPARC or Dec-MIPS). 9) Does NOT require a lot of resources (i.e. does not require a large amount of swap space and/or disk space for design files). general question: - would it be better to get a bunch of desk-tops to run CAD on or would you be better off buying a bunch of X-terminals and having a BIG machine running everything? Thanks for any/all suggestions/comments on the above (or anything that I did not mention above). I will post a summary if I get enough responses. Note: Vendor replies welcome. --- W. Tait Cyrus (505) 277-0806 e-mail: cyrus@pprg.unm.edu University of New Mexico Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering Parallel Processing Research Group Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131