Infrastructure requirements for a large-scale, multi-site VLSI development project

  • Authors:
  • G. P. Rodgers;I. G. Bendrihem;T. J. Bucelot;B. D. Burchett;J. C. Collins

  • Affiliations:
  • IBM Linux Technology Center, Nicholls, ACT, Australia;IBM Research Division, Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York;IBM Research Division, Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York;IBM Global Services, Austin, Texas;IBM Corporation, Austin, Texas

  • Venue:
  • IBM Journal of Research and Development
  • Year:
  • 2002

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Abstract

This paper describes the design infrastructure and environment that were established to support the multi-site design of the IBM POWER4 microprocessor. The Common Tools Environment was created to provide a consistent means for accessing design tools and initiating operating system variables from multiple sites in a site-independent manner. The AIX® operating system and the Common Tools Environment masked local, site-specific details of the design environment, allowing site-specific design practices, shared storage, and information system policies to be transparently maintained. The design datamanagement system, the importance of highly reliable wide- and local-area networks, and the establishment of automated network monitoring are discussed.