Debug and trace probe supports Synopsys ARC processors
Vitra-XS is the latest member of the Ashling probe family and is a debug and trace probe for embedded development with support for multiple target architectures including Synopsys ARC® processor powered systems.
Vitra-XS works with the Synopsys ARC MetaWare Development Toolkit, which is a complete development environment for embedded C/C++ development on ARC and includes an IDE, Compiler, Debugger and Analysis tools. Vitra-XS supports all Synopsys ARC EM, EV, HS, NPX and VPX processors with the ARC Real-Time Trace (RTT) module (8-bit or dual 8-bit ports). Vitra-XS support in the MetaWare Development Toolkit will be available from the 2023.6 release onwards.
“Vitra-XS supports real-time trace which provides some key advantages when it comes to debugging and validating embedded systems. Using trace, developers can easily see how execution arrived at a certain point, via a back-trace or instruction history, and can answer questions like, ’How did I end up in this function?’ and ‘Why did my code crash?’ Trace information can be captured non-intrusively meaning that the application’s real-time performance is not affected and allows developers to profile their code to find out where time is actually being spent and to determine if performance related timing requirements are being met,” said Hugh O’Keeffe, CEO of Ashling.
Some key features of the Vitra-XS debug and trace probe include:
- Unlimited trace capture and storage supported via high-speed, real-time streaming over SuperSpeed USB to host PC hard disk;
- On-board trace storage memory (up to 512 MB), which may be configured as a circular buffer to allow continuous trace capture up to a defined event (e.g., a breakpoint);
- Detects and automatically configures for the appropriate target voltage (from 1.2 V to 3.3 V);
- Automatic trace clock and data skew adjustment (“AUTOLOCK”) to ensure integrity of captured high-speed data. Vitra-XS automatically calibrates itself to the target’s trace data port;
- Parallel (up to 16-bits data and additional control) trace capture up to 400 MHz;
- 38-way Mictor target connector support;
- Optional Gigabit Ethernet interface and compact form factor.
“Software development schedules are often in the critical path in the design of embedded systems, so efficient tools for observing the behaviour of the software under test can dramatically affect time-to-market,” said John Koeter, Senior Vice President of Product Management and Strategy for IP at Synopsys. “The combination of Synopsys ARC processors and Ashling’s new Vitra-XS debug and trace probe gives software developers the visibility they need to rapidly resolve real-time software problems, increasing productivity to achieve project deadlines.”
