X-Win32 Quick Start

Xwin32 is a Xwindows server for windows which provides the interface to remotely access the
resources of a network system usually a computer server.
Step1: Starting X-win32
When you start X-Win32 you will be greeted by the splash screen. It will then seem to disappear
without the program having started. The server actually is running and an icon will appear in the
notification area of the taskbar. See fig 1

Fig 1

X-win32 icon

Step2: Configure your connection

To connect to the cadence server you will need to configure a connection. Right click on the task
tray icon and select X-config. See fig 2

Fig 2
You will then get the X-config window as shown in fig3. From here you can configure how XWin32 behaves and looks

Fig 3
Step3: Connection setup information
For an easy connection setup, click on the Wizard button under New Connection. In the
name field type a name that you would like to call this connection. Lets use Lab1 as an example.
You should then select ssh from the type box. You can now click next.

Fig 4
Step4: Add a host
You should now enter the full name of a machine you wish to connect to. In our case, the name
of the host or server to connect to is cadence.ncat.edu (See fig 5). Click Next to go to the next
screen.

Fig 5

Step5: Add your login details

You now need to enter your login details. This is the name and password assigned to you for the
Lab. See fig 6

Fig 6
Click Next to go to the next screen.
Step6: The startup command
When you first connect you will need to run a command. Select Linux from the list given and
the Command text field will initialized automatically. See fig 7

Fig 7
Click finish. You now go back to the X-config screen. But now you will have a connection
session listed under My Connections under the connection name that was previously assigned
(Lab 1 for our example). See fig 8
Step7: Connecting
Now you are ready to connect to the cadence server and run some programs.

Fig 8
Highlight your session and click the Launch button to open a terminal window shown in fig 9

Fig 9
From here you can use the command line to start programs.
Step8: Launching programs
In the next section under Cadence Quick Start, you will be shown the terminal commands for
running cadence design tool.
Step9: Starting once configured
Once you have a connection/session stored you can go back to it from the X-Win32 icon in the
task tray. Simply right click, go to ' My Connections' and select the connection you want to use
(see fig 10). Alternatively, run X-Win32, go to the X-Config window, select connection name
and click Launch.
NB: If you move to another machine other than the previous machine used for initial setup, you
have to redo above steps to create a new connection.

Fig 10

Cadence Quick Start

Cadence Projects
What is a Cadence Project?
A Cadence project is really just a directory that is used as a repository for design libraries and as
a place to start your cadence session from. There are a couple of special files in the project
directory that will make the directory unique from project to project. These files are shown
below:
.cdsinit This is a file that cadence uses to load additional features into the environment. It uses
skill (application extension programming language internal to cadence) in order load these

features. Some technologies do not require any customization in the .cdsinit file, but one is
usually provided as a means to facilitate customization.
cds.lib This is a file that is used to include the libraries that are going to be used in your
cadence session. Typically this file will include standard cadence libraries (analogLib, basic), a
library provided by a foundry in a Process Design Kit (PDK), and any personal design libraries.
display.drf This is a file that contains display properties for all of the layers that are to be used
when performing IC layout with Cadence Virtuoso.
There can, of course, be other files in a project directory, but the ones listed above are necessary
for a typical Cadence session. Design libraries will be represented as other directories inside the
top-level project directory.

How to set up a Cadence Project

In most environments, setting up a cadence project consists of two steps: creating a directory,
and running a setup script.
1. Creating a Directory
When you log in, you will need to bring up a terminal for typing commands into by selecting
your connection name and clicking Launch (See step9 under X-Win32 Quick Start). To make a
directory, type the following command:
NB: To execute a command, your need to enter after typing command name.
$ mkdir newproject

Fig 1

Now, if you list the directory contents, you will see that the directory newproject exists:
$ ls
newproject

Fig 2
2. Setting up the Linux environment for Cadence
Typically, a setup script is run to prepare your project directory for running Cadence. There is
one PDK on the system from the foundry IBM which is IBM 0.18um RF CMOS process,
where 0.18um refer to the smallest gate dimension allowed on the MOSFET in the process.
First you need to change to the newproject directory:
$ cd newproject

Fig 3

Fig 4
From fig4, your present working directory changes to newproject
Then the environmental settings should be done by running a custom startup script for the
technology (we made is easy for you by simplifying it to a command):
Type script name + enter
$ cadence18_61v2

Fig 5
Environment set up to run IBM 0.18 RF
Type virtuoso

Fig 6

Again, list the contents of the directory, and you will see that the special files have been copied
to your new project directory:
$ ls
cds.lib display.drf and some other essential files

Fig 7
IMPORTANT: The runtime environment that was set up by the startup script is only good for
that specific terminal. Any time you wish to run cadence from a fresh terminal session, you will
have to source the startup script again.

Starting Cadence in your IBM project directory

As the feedback from the setup script indicates, it not only copied the files to your project
directory, it also set your runtime environment up to be able to start the Cadence IC tool. The
command virtuoso will starts cadence in Front-to-Back design mode which, as the name
indicates, will include everything necessary for schematic capture, simulation and layout of an
IC. The command virtuoso is typically used for front-end only sessions (schematic capture and
simulation).
Running the command virtuoso will bring up the following command window:
$ virtuoso

Fig 8
This window contains a log of the session and is also the window from which most design tasks
can be initiated. The rest of this document will refer to this window as the CDS.log window, or
CDS command window. Those who have used cadence for a number of years may refer to this
window as the CIW window.

Creating a simple schematic

Now that Cadence is running, you need to create your own personal library that you can create
your own designs in. In Cadence, a design is represented by different cellviews. For example, a
design cell can have a schematic view, layout view, and symbol view, as well as other views that
enable different types of simulation.

Creating a library
From the CDS command window click on IBM_PDKLibraryCreate menu pick. It will
bring up the following New Library dialog.

Fig 9

You need to supply the name of the library. The path to the library will be automatically created
to the project path from where you started cadence. Click Attach to an existing techfile on the
right side. The Technology File options are explained in the dialog, and in this case, we will to
attach the IBM library by selecting the cmrf7sf from the list in case we want to do layout in the
future. Click on OK, a new window shows the current library properties. Click OK, the library
has been created.

Fig 10

Fig 11

Creating a schematic
Once the library has been created, a new cellview for the schematic of the design needs to be
created. Open library manager by ToolsLibrary Manager. From the library manager window,
click on the FileNewCellview menu pick.

Fig 12
You will want to make sure the library name that you select is the new library that was just
created the other libraries will not be writable by standard users. Selecting Schematic L under
Application will automatically place schematic in for the View Name. Assign a name and click
OK

Fig 13
Once you click on OK, the Virtuoso Schematic Editor window will appear. The window provides
you with the tools and working area for designing your circuit.

Fig 14
Once the schematic window is opened, click Check and Save to save the schematic in your
first shot even there is nothing in this window. Otherwise, the schematic cell view would not be
created.

Cadence Process Design Kit Introduction

The IBM CMOS 7RF advanced process technology features 0.18 m lithography. The fine lines
and high densities characterizing this state-of-the-art silicon process can support leading-edge
microprocessors, communications and computer data-processing applications. CMOS 7RF uses
low-resistance copper wiring at all metal levels, enabling high wiring density with minimal
timing delays.
The library of cmrf7sf offers 6 metal layers. Actually, it also offers passive components such as
inductors, capacitors, and varactors, etc. The basic characteristic and the specifications are listed
in Table 1. You may use them for your circuit design.

Table 1. IBM CMOS 7RF Specifications

Lithography
0.18m
Voltage (Vdd)
1.8V
Standard NFET/PFET
Lmin
0.18m
Leff
0.11m / 0.14m
Vt
0.43V / -0.38V
TOX
3.5nm
Isolation
STI
Levels of Metal 6

Metallization
M1 pitch / thickness
MX pitch / thickness
Resistors
p+ diffusion
n+ diffusion
p+ polysilicon
p- diffusion
Tantalum nitride on M1
(K1)
HOW TO DRAW I-V CURVE OF AN NMOS IN CADENCE

Cu (M1), Al (MX)
0.44m / 0.31m
0.56m / 0.48m
105/ / 15%
72/ / 10%
270/ / 15%
1600/ / 20%
61/ / 6%

Schematic Entry:
Create a cellview and draw the circuit below. Note that to do a parametric simulation
the DC Voltage value of V1 and V2 should be vds and vgs respectively.

Component list: vdc (from analogLib), nfetx (from cmrf7sf)

Simulation:
Open Analog Environment simulation window from Launch -> ADE L

 Copy the circuit variable to this window thru Variables -> Copy From Cellview.
Assign a value for each variable (i.e. vgs=500m, vds=1.8)

Add all the model libraries needed for simulation

NB: Type the path to the model files as shown above

Choose DC analyses thru Analyses->Choose->dc
Set DC Analysis as seen below and click OK.

Select Id current thru Outputs-> To be plotted -> Select On Schematic

Click on the drain terminal of MOS in the schematic.

Analog Design Environment should look like below before simulation

Click Tools->Parametric Analysis.

Set parametric simulation as seen below.

Click on the green button to run simulation (or Select Analysis-> Start Selected)

The Cadence Spectre will run and plot the graph below.

You can also check MOS DC operating points by clicking Results->Print->DC Operating Point
in the Analog Environment Window and then clicking on the MOS in the schematic. It will open
the window below where you can find all transistor model parameters based on the DC analysis
you run.

USEFUL LINUX COMMANDS

To execute a command, your need to enter after typing command name
1. Changing You Password
It is VERY IMPORTANT to change your password the first time you login to any CLASS
machines. Open a terminal window and type the following command at the prompt. First it will
ask your current password and then let you enter your new password finally ask you to verify it.
$ passwd
passwd: Changing password for <your_username>
Enter existing login password:
New Password:
2. $ pwd - shows your present working directory
3. $ su < username> - switch to a different username