Using Advanced Design System

To help you get started using ADS, this section includes some basic information along with useful tips for resolving problems that might occur after you have installed ADS.

Running Advanced Design System

Environment variables must be set before you can run ADS. To set the environment variables, see Configuring User Accounts.

Your FLEXnet license file must be properly configured and installed before you can run ADS. To set up your license file, follow the instructions in Setting Up Licenses for UNIX and Linux Installation.

To run ADS, open a terminal window and enter the command:

ads

Choose Help > Topics and Index > Quick Start for help on getting started with ADS.

Starting ADS in Verbose Mode (Debug Mode)

ADS 2006 Update can be started in verbose (debug) mode to display more information about what is occurring as ADS runs. This extra information can be very useful to debug a problem with ADS both at startup and in general operation. In verbose mode, ADS writes log files that can be used by Agilent EEsof EDA Technical Support to help track down any problems.

To start ADS in verbose mode, do the following:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type ads_verbose.

This will start ADS. You will see some messages indicating the location of two log files. Note the location of these files as indicated in the messages. The file names are as follows:

ads_daemon.log
ads_verbose.log

Note If ads_verbose is not found, you may need to set the HPEESOF_DIR and PATH environment variables.

Run ADS until the problem you are trying to debug occurs, then take a look at the ads_daemon.log and ads_verbose.log files for errors.

If you can't locate the trouble based on the contents of the log files, please contact Agilent EEsof EDA Technical Support. You will want to e-mail the log files to the support engineer working with you.

Using 32-bit Simulators on a 64-bit Operating System

On a 64-bit operating system, you can either use the default 64-bit simulators or you can use the 32-bit simulators. To use the 32-bit simulators on a 64-bit system, do one of the following:

• Set the EESOF_64BIT environment variable as follows:
  EESOF_64BIT=0

or

• Start ADS by opening a terminal window and entering the command:
  ads -32bit

If ADS Does Not Start

It is possible to install programs or options for which you have not purchased licenses. Although the icons and features will appear in the software, you cannot access the applications without a license. Contact your Agilent EEsof sales representative to obtain additional licenses.

If your ADS applications will not start:

• Make sure all of your licensing requirements are correctly set up, as explained in Setting Up Licenses for UNIX and Linux Installation.
• Using a text editor, open and review the install.log file in your installation directory to see if there are any apparent problems with the installation structure. (You can re-run Setup if necessary to re-install.)
• Try using the Agilent License Information Tool, which is available to check your environment variable settings, display your license.lic file, and show your license and server status. Refer to Using the Agilent License Information Tool.

If you cannot find the problem, run ADS in verbose (debug) mode and contact Technical Support to help pinpoint the problem. See Starting ADS in Verbose Mode (Debug Mode).

Common Licensing Problems

Following are solutions to common problems that occur regarding the FLEXnet licensing setup for ADS.

For details on using FLEXnet and lmtools, refer to the Macrovision website at:

http://www.macrovision.com/

Choose Products > FLEXnet

Where to Begin

If you are having trouble getting FLEXnet working, the best place to begin troubleshooting is the flex.log file. The flex.log file is typically located in $HPEESOF_DIR/licenses.

Read the flex.log file and look for error or warning messages.

If nothing shows up in the flex.log file, try setting the following environment variable, then start ADS:

C Shell ( /bin/csh)

setenv HPEESOF_DEBUG_MODE key

Bourne/Korn Shell (/bin/sh, /bin/ksh)

HPEESOF_DEBUG_MODE=key
export HPEESOF_DEBUG_MODE

Look for errors or warnings in the shell where you started ADS.

Common Errors and Solutions

Following are possible solutions to certain license-related error messages that occur.

ADS Does Not Run After Starting the License Server

If the following error message appears when you run ADS, additional license configuration may be needed:

No such feature exists
Feature: ads\_schematic
License path: 
$HPEESOF\_DIR/licenses/license.lic;$HPEESOF\_DIR/licenses/licenses.dat
FLEXlm error: -5,357

This error can appear if your license.lic file contains license bundles and you have not run the License Preference Tool to select a license bundle. You must select a license bundle using the License Preference Tool, so ADS will know to use it.

Inconsistent Encryption Code

This error occurs when the information on the INCREMENT lines in the license.lic file is corrupted. Check the license.lic file for the following:

1. Make sure that each line of the license.lic file is a single continuous line with each field separated by a single space.
2. If there are backslash characters ("\") line wrapping the lines, make sure that the backslash character is the absolute last character on its line. Even a space after the "\" will cause a problem.
3. Try removing the backslash characters and joining the INCREMENT lines, so that each INCREMENT line is a single continuous line with no line wrap.
4. If the license.lic file was transferred from DOS to UNIX or Linux, make sure to remove the control M's (^M) at the end of all the lines in the license.lic file. If spaces are added to the end of each line to eliminate the ^M's, the spaces must also be removed. The spaces turn out to be just as disruptive as the ^M's. The best way to remove the ^M's is using the vi editor and the following substitution command:
   :1,$ s/.$//g
5. Make sure that none of the original SERVER line hostid information has been changed. Make sure that none of the SERVER lines have been eliminated.

Invalid Host or Unable to Determine Machine ID

This can be caused by one of the following:

1. Make sure that the information on the SERVER line(s) in license.lic is correct.
2. If the licenses are node-locked, and you attempt to run ADS on a machine other than the machine the licenses are node-locked to, you will get a license error indicating invalid host. To check if this is the case, look at the $HPEESOF_DIR/licenses/license.lic file and check the INCREMENT lines. If each INCREMENT line ends in a machine hostid, then the licenses are node-locked to the machine whose id is shown. You can, however, export the display from the node-locked machine to another display.
3. If you are on an HP workstation, check the permissions of the /dev/lan0 file. This file must have read and write permissions for all:
   chmod 777 /dev/lan0
   The FLEXnet lmgrd and agileeosf vendor daemons use this file and must be able to read and write to this device.

Invalid System Clock Time

FLEXnet detects when systems have had their dates set more than 24 hours back, and prevents users from using expired licenses by setting the clock back. It works by looking for any files in "/" or "/etc" that have a date more than 24 hours in the future.
Use the command ls -lat in "/" and "/etc" to find the offending file(s). The date of the offending file(s) can be corrected by using the touch command:

touch <filename>

If the file is a link, the link must be removed and then recreated. If the link itself is dated ok, check the date of the actual file or directory it points to. The pointed to file must also have a valid date.

A Feature is Not Enabled

FLEXnet codewords have both enable and expiration dates. If the codeword enable date is in the future with respect to the current machine date, then this error will occur.

First check the date on the computer. If it is not today's date, correct it. The date can be set using the date command:

For example, to set the date on a UNIX system to 23 Sept, 2004 at 13:30, the command would be:

date 0923133004

If this still does not correct the problem, or if the date is correct, then request new codewords with an enable date set to today's date.

Cannot Connect to License Server

If you see a flex.log file with the following errors:

(lmgrd) Started agileesofd
(agileesofd) Vendor daemon can't talk to lmgrd (cannot connect to
license server) port 27000
(lmgrd) Vendor daemon died with status 241
(lmgrd) Since this is an unknown status, lmgrd will
(lmgrd) attempt to re-start the vendor daemon.
(lmgrd) REStarted agileesofd (internet tcp_port xxxx)

Make sure that the lmgrd and agileesofd daemon are the correct version (current version is 11.4.1). The lmgrd daemon should have the same or higher version number as agileesofd. You can check version numbers as follows:

cd $HPEESOF_DIR/licenses
./bin/lmgrd -v
./vendors/agileesofd -v

Make sure that the workstation is connected to a network or that the network connector on the workstation is properly terminated. FLEXnet will not work if the network connection is down or if the network services are not starting properly. Check all physical network connections to make sure that they are okay and look for errors during machine boot up. On HP  700 workstations, look at the /etc/rc.log file for errors.

Make sure that the agileesofd is being started successfully by lmgrd. If agileesofd cannot be started from the path specified on the VENDOR line in the license.lic file, this error will occur. Also make sure that the agileesofd file has execute permissions:

cd $HPEESOF_DIR/licenses/vendors
chmod 755 agileesofd

Address Already in Use

The tcp port number specified on the SERVER line in the license.lic file is in use by another process. Try the following: Kill any stranded lmgrd processes. Remove the
/ usr/tmp/.flexnet/lmgrd.xxxx file that contains the tcp port you want to use. You can remove the entire /usr/tmp/.flexnet directory if you are the only one using lmgrd on this machine, then restart lmgrd. If you still have a problem, try using a different tcp port number on the SERVER line in license.lic and then restart lmgrd.

Here is an example of properly configured SERVER lines:

SERVER joshua 2072EFE45 27000
SERVER isaiah 20472A3D3 27000
SERVER jonah 2052C6416 27000

Printing and Plotting

Printing and plotting from ADS on UNIX is accomplished by establishing the desired print setup and then choosing File > Print. The Print Setup and related dialog boxes enable you to:

• Select a printer/plotter other than the default
• Install additional printers or plotters
• Set the print resolution (dpi)
• Scale the output

When you select a printer/plotter, you can also change the following default printer/plotter-specific options:

• Page Size
• Source (Paper Tray)
• Duplexing (Double-sided)
• Orientation (Portrait or Landscape)
• Color (Black and White or Color)

When you choose File > Print, you can select from the following additional options:

• Choose to send output to a printer/plotter or print to file
• Scale the output to fit to the page
• Select a file format (if printing to file)
• Specify the number of copies

Your print setup is saved in $HOME/.Xprinterdefaults. If you do not have a local copy of this file, or the file .Xpdefaults (from a previous release), the default file is read from the $HPEESOF_DIR/xprinter directory. When you change your print setup, the changes are saved (as new defaults) to $HOME/.Xprinterdefaults.

Note If you do have a file .Xpdefaults (from a previous release), the settings of this file are copied to the new filename to serve as the starting point for your print setup. Both files are valid, depending on which release of ADS you are using. The old file is maintained for running an earlier version of ADS, but the new file is used when you run ADS 1.5 (or later).

Setting Up a Printer

The Print Setup dialog box enables you to setup and manage your printer options. To access the Print Setup dialog box,

1. Choose File > Print Setup. The Print Setup dialog box appears.
   
   For detailed information on using the Print Setup dialog box, refer to the following table.
   

   Using the Print Setup Dialog box

   Option	Description
   Printer	Use this section of the Print Setup dialog box to define and manage your printers.
   Name:	Select a printer from the Name drop-down list. If the printer you want to use is not available in the list, click the Printer Management button. For more information, refer to Managing Printers.
   Printer Management	If you want to add, replace, or remove a printer, click the Printer Management button to access the Printer Management dialog box. For more information, refer to Managing Printers
   Model Info:	This section displays the selected printer model information.
   Resolution (dpi):	This option enables you to set the print quality (resolution) in dots per inch (dpi).
   Scale Factor (%):	This option enables you to set a scaling factor that defines the percentage of normal size by which to enlarge or reduce the document on the page. Default is 100%.
   Paper	Use this section of the Print Setup dialog box to define the paper settings.
   Size:	Use the Size drop-down menu to select the paper size. Default is Letter. Note that paper sizes can vary depending on the paper manufacturer. If you own a printer that provides a specific paper size that you are not familiar with, consult your printer manual for information on the paper size options available. The more common American paper sizes are listed below in inches (Width vs. Height). Letter = 8.50" (W) x 11.00" (H) Executive = 7.25" (W) x 10.55" (H) Legal = 8.50" (W) x 14.00" (H) Tabloid = 17.00" (W) x 11.00" (H) Ledger = 11.00" (W) x 17.00" (H) Consult the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for standard A through D-sizes as well as RA and SRA-sizes.
   Source:	Use the Source drop-down menu to select the tray that has the paper you want to use. Default is the Upper tray.
   Duplexing:	The Duplexing drop-down menu enables you to print on both sides of the paper. The options available are: -None - No duplexing, the document will only print on one side of the paper. -Flip on Short Edge - This option prints on both sides of each sheet and flips the page along the short edge of the paper. - Flip on Long Edge - This option prints on both sides of each sheet of paper and flips the page along the long edge of the paper. The default Duplexing option is None.
   Orientation	Use this section of the Print Setup dialog box to define the orientation of your printed page.
   Portrait	Click this option if you want your output printed in portrait orientation mode. Portrait is taller than it is wide when you view the text right-side up. Default is activated.
   Landscape	Click this option if you want your output printed in landscape orientation mode. Landscape is wider than it is tall when you view the text right-side up. Default is deactivated.
   Color	Use this section of the Print Setup dialog box to define your color settings.
   Black and White	Click this option if you want your output in black and white. Default is activated unless the system detects support for color printer. If this is the case, the system will default to the color option.
   Color	Click this option if you want your output in color. Default is deactivated unless the system detects support for color printer. If this is the case, the system will default to the color option.

Managing Printers

The Printer Management dialog box enables you to manage an individual printer or group of printers. To access the Printer Management dialog box,

1. Choose File > Print Setup. The Print Setup dialog box appears.
2. Click the Printer Management button in the Print Setup dialog box. The Printer Management dialog box appears.
   
   For detailed information on using the Printer Management dialog box, refer to the following table.
   

   Using the Printer Management Dialog Box

   Options	Description
   Installed Printers	The Installed Printers field displays a list of all currently installed printers.
   Printer Drivers	Use the Printer Drivers drop-down list to select a printer driver.
   Defined Ports	Use the Defined Ports drop-down menu to select a defined port.
   Ports	To define a new printer port and/or replace or remove an existing printer port, click the Ports button to access the Ports dialog box. For more information on the Ports dialog box, refer to Defining Printer Ports.
   Add	To install a new printer, select a printer driver and a defined port, then click the Add button. The new printer appears in the Installed Printers list.
   Replace	To replace an existing printer, click the printer you want to replace in the Installed Printers list. Then select a new printer driver and a new defined port. Click the Replace button to replace the printer. The new printer appears in place of the old printer in the Installed Printers list.
   Remove	To remove an existing printer or group of printers, click the printer(s) you want to remove in the Installed Printers list and then click the remove button. A confirmation dialog box appears asking if you really want to remove the printer. Click OK to confirm or Cancel to abort the removal process. If you click OK, the printer(s) no longer appears in the Installed Printers list.
   Help	Click the Help button to access the online context sensitive help.
   Close	Click the Close button to dismiss the Printer Management dialog box and accept the changes. Settings will be saved upon exit.

Defining Printer Ports

The Ports dialog box enables you to define new printer ports and/or replace or remove existing printer ports. To access the Ports dialog box,

1. Choose File > Print Setup. The Print Setup dialog box appears.
2. Click the Printer Management button. The Printer Management dialog box appears.
3. Click the Ports button. The Ports dialog box appears.
   
   For detailed information on using the Ports dialog box, refer to the following table.
   

   Using the Ports Dialog Box

   Option	Description
   Ports	The Ports field displays a list of ports. Port names can be any names you choose with the exception of FILE: which is a reserved port name.
   Edit Port	The Edit Port field is used to enter a new port. After you have entered the port definition, click the Add/Replace button.
   Add/Replace	Click the Add/Replace button to update the Ports list with contents of Edit Port field.
   Remove	If you want to remove a port from the Ports list, click the port name in the Ports list to activate the Remove button. Click the Remove button to remove the selected port.
   Import from Spooler	Click the Import from Spooler button to generate a list of ports (based on your printcap file). Note that this option is only guaranteed to operate on HP-UX platforms. It may operate on other platforms; however, the third party utility that provides this feature does not guarantee it.
   Help	Click the Help button to access the online context sensitive help.
   Close	Click the Close button to dismiss the Ports dialog box and accept the changes. Settings will be saved upon exit.

Printing to a Printer, Plotter, or File

The Print dialog box enables you to output your information to a supported printer, plotter, or specified file. To access the Print dialog box,

1. Choose File > Print. The Print dialog box appears.
   

   Note Alternatively, you can click the Print The Current Design button in the toolbar of a Schematic or Layout window to access the Print dialog box. The Print this window button in the Data Display uses the same user interface.

   For detailed information on using the Print dialog box, refer to the following table.

Using the Print Dialog Box

Printing to a File

The Print to File dialog box enables you to define a destination path and file name and then output your information to the specified file. To use the Print to File dialog box,

1. Choose File > Print. The Print dialog box appears.
   
2. Select the Print to File option in the Printer section of the Print dialog box. Notice that when you select the Print to File option, the Print to File section is activated enabling you to select a file format.
3. Use the File Format drop-down list to select the desired file format. Options include JPEG, GIF, PDF, Bitmap, and HP-GL/2.
4. Click OK in the Print dialog box. The Print to File dialog box appears.
   
5. Enter the file name for your output in the Selection field.
6. Click the OK button to output the file.

Using IC-CAP 2004 with ADS

ADS 2006A and ADS 2006 Update includes a program named iccapinterface that enables IC-CAP 2004 to launch the ADS simulator. To enable IC-CAP to link to the ADS simulator, do the following:

1. Change the following entry in your IC-CAP usersimulators file from:
   hpeesofsim hpeesofsim $ICCAP_ROOT/bin/hpeesofsim_start "" CAN_PIPE
   to
   hpeesfosim hpeesofsim $ADS_DIR/bin/iccapinterface "" CAN_PIPE
2. Make sure the environment variable HPEESOF_DIR is set to point at the ADS installation directory. IC-CAP 2004 will resolve the reference to ADS_DIR in the usersimulators file based on the HPEESOF_DIR value.

Agilent EEsof Technical Support

Agilent EEsof worldwide technical support is available Monday through Friday. The toll-free North America hotline is open 6:00 am to 5:00 pm PT. Throughout Europe, the localized Online Technical Support Centers are open during business hours, typically 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, local time; throughout Asia, the localized Customer Response Centers are open during business hours, typically 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, local time.

The e-mail addresses for the various regions are listed below. However, for both the regional e-mail addresses and local telephone numbers for more than 25 countries, please refer to the Agilent EEsof Web site at

http://www.agilent.com/find/eesof-supportcontact

North America

Phone: 1 800 47 EEsof (473-3763) - Fax: 707-577-3511
e-mail: eesof_support@agilent.com

Europe: e-mail: eesof-europe_support@agilent.com
Japan: e-mail: eesof-japan_support@agilent.com
Korea: e-mail: eesof_korea@agilent.com
Asia: e-mail: eesof-asia_support@agilent.com