This document discusses setting up the environment variables needed to use EDA tools on workstations in the NCTU 307 Lab. It describes the purpose and setup of key variables like $PATH, $LD_LIBRARY_PATH, $LM_LICENSE_FILE, and $DISPLAY. It also provides instructions for installing and configuring Xming to enable GUI applications on Windows and offers tips for debugging issues with variables or starting specific EDA tools like Cadence.

1. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Setup of EDA tools and
workstation environment variables
in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Tao-Yi Lee
RFVLSI LAB, NCTU
2012/7/18 1

2. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
$PATH Variable in Linux
• All binary (i.e. executables) are looked for in the
directories specified in this variable.
• System will search in order, which means if there
are multiple binaries with same filename, the first
match in the $PATH list will be the one being
executed.
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3. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
$LD_LIBRARY_PATH Variable in Linux
• This variable specifies dynamic linked libraries.
Most programs are too big to be in a single file. So
they may need many external *.so files to be
successfully initiated. (similar to Microsoft
Windows® *.dll)
• The system will also search in order
• Related command : ldd
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4. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
$LM_LICENSE_FILE Variable in Linux
• The variable used by FlexLM, a license management
services adopted by most EDA tools.
• Refer to CIC website to do the setup:
http://www.cic.edu.tw
– Synopsis: 26585@lsnctu
– Springsoft Verdi (now Synopsis): 5219@lsnctu
– Springsoft Laker (now Synopsis): 5229@lsnctu
– Mentor Graphics: 1717@lsnctu3
– Cadence: 5280@lsnctu
• Related command: lmstat –a -c
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5. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
$DISPLAY Variable in Linux
• export DISPLAY=<YOUR_IP_ADDRESS>:0
• Open-source X11 server: Xming
http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming
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6. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
What’s Xming
• It’s an open-sourced X server for Windows systems
• Some GUI for unix-like systems (Linux, FreeBSD,
Solaris and Mac OS X etc.) are built on X11, which
uses server/client protocol for transmitting graphical
data.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System
Xming setup for RFVLSI 62014/4/18

7. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Make sure 3 things first
• Xming is installed.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming/
• Extra fonts for xming is installed
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming/files/Xming-
fonts/
• Firewall (anti-virus software) is disabled.
Xming setup for RFVLSI 72014/4/18

8. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Just click next, next, and next…
• After Xming is installed, please configure Xlaunch
Xming setup for RFVLSI 82014/4/18

9. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Configure XLaunch
Xming setup for RFVLSI 92014/4/18

10. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Configure Xlaunch (continued)
Check “No
Access Control”
Xming setup for RFVLSI 102014/4/18

11. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Configure Xlaunch (continued)
Save configuration to desktop
Xming setup for RFVLSI 112014/4/18

12. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
How/When to start Xming?
• Click the desktop icon you saved
• Start xming before staring any GUI on
workstation
Xming setup for RFVLSI 122014/4/18

13. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
$DISPLAY environment variable
• Check whether $DISPLAY is set
– echo $DISPLAY
• Set $DISPLAY in bash shell
– export DISPLAY=140.113.aaa.bbb:0
• Set $DISPLAY in tcsh shell
– setenv DISPLAY 140.113.aaa.bbb:0
Xming setup for RFVLSI 132014/4/18

14. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Debugging License Server Settings
• License won’t check-out
– Check $LM_LICENSE_FILE
and see if the license server
on the previous page exists in
the value (You do not need all
5 to run a single EDA tool)
– Check your research group’s
registration with CIC
– Inform CIC with IP of the
workstation you’re using
• Use their webpage
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15. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Simple Debugging Procedures
• Cadence 5.141 won’t start (binary not found)
– Check $PATH variable and see if it contains the path of
“icfb”
– Also check $LD_LIBRARY_PATH
– /usr/cad/cadence/IC/IC51.41.151/tools/bin
– /usr/cad/cadence/IC/IC51.41.151/tools/lib
– Copy .bashrc from /home3/examples/. bashrc to your
home directory for quick solution
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16. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Simple Debugging Procedures
• Cadence 5.141 won’t start and you see the
following message: Contact system administrator
*WARNING* voInit failed to find the passwd entry for (null), using '/tmp' for a home
directory.
The most likely cause of this problem is the failure of NIS lookups.
Please contact your system administrator.
*WARNING* clsInit failed: Success
*WARNING* file /.../…/CDS.log Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.1 Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.2 Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.3 Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.4 Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.5 Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.6 Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.7 Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.8 Success
*WARNING* file /.../.../CDS.log.9 Success
Failed to lock log file: /.../.../CDS.log.2012/7/18 16

17. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Simple Debugging Procedures
• Cadence 6.14 won’t start (binary not found)
– Check $PATH variable and see if it contains the path of “virtuoso”
– Copy .bashrc from /home3/examples/. bashrc to your home
directory for quick solution
• Laker won’t start (binary not found)
– Check $PATH variable and see if it contains the path of “laker”
– Copy .bashrc from /home3/examples/. bashrc to your home
directory for quick solution
• Calibre won’t start: No Calibre menu in Virtuoso Layout Editor
– Copy .cdsinit from /home3/examples/.cdsinit to your home
directory
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18. Setup of EDA tools and workstation environment
variables in NCTU 307 Lab. workstations
Some Useful Commands
• passwd: Change password
• rm: delete file
• mv: move file, rename file
• top: see system tasks
• ps: see current tasks
• w: see how many users are using workstation
• chmod: change file permisssions
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