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SimPASS PE PCI
User Manual
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Teledyne SimPASS PE PCI User Manual

Teledyne LeCroy SimPass PE™
PCI Express Analysis Software
User Manual
For SimPass PE Software Version 1.1x
June 2013
SimPASS PE Software User Manual
This electronic product is subject to disposal and recycling regulations that vary by country and region. Many countries prohibit the disposal of waste electronic equipment in standard waste receptacles. For more information about proper disposal and recycling of your LeCroy product, please visit www.lecroy.com/recycle.
Document Disclaimer
Teledyne LeCroy reserves the right to revise the information in this document without notice or penalty.
Trademarks and Servicemarks
Teledyne LeCroy, SimPASS PE, CATC Trace, PCI Express, PETracer Edge, PETracer
EML, PETracer ML, PETracer, PETrainer EML, PETrainer ML, PETracer Summit, Summit T2-16, Summit T3-16, Summit Z2-16, Universal Protocol Analyzer System, UPAS, and BusEngine are trademarks of Teledyne LeCroy.
All other trademarks are property of their respective companies.
Copyright
© 2012, Teledyne LeCroy. All Rights Reserved.
This document may be printed and reproduced without additional permission, but all copies should contain this copyright notice.
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SimPASS PE Software User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Other Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 2 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 3 Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.1 Installing a License File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.2 Checking License Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 4 Software Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4.1 The SimPASS PE Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4.2 Application Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4.3 Using the Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Multi-Segment Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Toolbar Hide Buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.4 Using the Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.5 Tool Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.6 Keyboard Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.7 Search Direction Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.8 Importing a SimPASS PE File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.9 Opening CATC Trace Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.10 Saving CATC Trace Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Using the Save As Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Saving a Portion of a CATC Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.11 Exporting a CATC Trace File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.12 Printing Data Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Chapter 5 Reading CATC Traces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.1 Viewing PCI Express CATC Traces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.2 Expand and Collapse Data Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.3 Resizing Cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.4 Pop-up Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.5 View Data Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.6 Show Raw 10b Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.7 Show Header Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.8 Packet Cell Popup Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Packet Header R-> Cell Popup Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Packet Header G1 Cell Popup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.9 Set Marker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.10 Edit or Clear Marker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.11 Decoding Traffic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
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Chapter 6 Searching CATC Traces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.1 CATC Trace Search Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.2 Go to Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.3 Go to Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.4 Go to Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.5 Go To Marker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.6 Go To Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.7 Search Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.8 Find . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Event Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6.9 Search for the Next Packet Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Chapter 7 Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.1 Setting Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.2 Specifying General Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Analysis Tools Checkboxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Configuration Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.3 Color, Format, and Hiding Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Setting Field Colors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Changing Field Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.4 Load a Previously Saved Display Options File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
7.5 Saving Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Chapter 8 BitTracer Trace Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
8.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
8.2 Views Available for Captured Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
8.3 De-Skewing Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
8.4 Data Display Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
8.5 Color-Coding of BitTracer Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
8.6 Report and Analysis Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
8.7 Timing Measurements Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Markers Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
8.8 Errors Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
8.9 Symbols Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
8.10 Events Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
8.11 Packets Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
8.12 Decoding Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
8.13 Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
8.14 Link Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
8.15 Export of BitTracer Capture to CATC Trace Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Exports Involving Multiple Logical Links on One Physical Link. . . . . . . 57
8.16 Compressing and Expanding the Data View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
8.17 Opening and Saving BitTracer Captures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Chapter 9 Reports and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
9.1 File Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9.2 Error Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
9.3 Traffic Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Using the Traffic Summary Window to Search the CATC Trace . . . . . . 62
Traffic Summary Buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
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9.4 Bus Utilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Bus Utilization Pop-up Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Bus Utilization Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
9.5 Link Tracker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Using the Link Tracker Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Link Tracker Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
9.6 Data Flow Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
9.7 Flow Control Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
9.8 Using the CATC Trace Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Displaying the Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Navigator Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Navigator Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Navigator Panes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
9.9 LTSSM Flow Graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
9.10 Packet Header Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
9.11 Packet Data Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
9.12 Configuration Space View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
9.13 Using Unit Metrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Show Metrics in the CATC Trace Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Show Metrics in the Traffic Summary Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Show Metrics in the Bus Utilization Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
9.14 TC to VC Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
9.15 Timing and Bus Usage Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
9.16 Running Verification Scripts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Appendix A Configuration Space Decoding . . . . . . . . . 103
A.1 Mandatory Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
A.2 Mandatory Module Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
A.3 Configuration Register Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
A.4 Primitives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
A.5 Helper File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Appendix B China Restriction of Hazardous Substances
Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
How to Contact LeCroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
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SimPASS PE Software User Manual Chapter 1: Overview

Chapter 1: Overview

The Teledyne LeCroy SimPASS PE™ PCI Express Protocol Analyzer Software is a powerful and intuitive expert software system embedding detailed knowledge of the protocol hierarchy and intricacies, as defined in the protocol specification. It allows you to import your simulation results and analyze them in a graphical display that has been optimized for fast and easy navigation through a simulated traffic session. Users are alerted as violations are detected at all levels of the protocol layering and can easily drill down on areas of interest or collapse and hide fields that are not relevant. It is based on Teledyne LeCroy PETracer™ PCI Express Analysis Software running in the Windows operating system.
Features and Benefits
The Teledyne LeCroy PCI Express Protocol Analyzer Software has the following features and benefits:
Features Benefits
Powerful and Intuitive CATC Trace™ Analysis Software
Extensive Decoding Complete, accurate and reliable decoding of TLPs (Transaction
Intelligent Reporting
Sophisticated Viewing View Packet, Link, and Split transaction levels of the PCI Express
Dword to Transaction Level Viewer
Faster interpretation and debug of PCI Express traffic with color-coded, clearly labeled protocol elements in a graphical display. Reduces coding and deciphering.
Layer Packets), DLLPs (Data Link Layer Packets),and all PCI Express Primitives.
Quickly identify and track error rates and abnormal link or timing conditions. Display configuration space and protocol specification details.
protocol. Collapsible/expandable headers with Tool tip explanations make it easy to navigate and interpret packet contents, headers, and commands. View packets, transactions of TLPs and DLLPs in classic CATC Trace™ format or in raw bit stream for deeper analysis.
View Dwords, Packet, Link and Split Transaction levels of the PCI Express protocol.

1.1 Other Documents

For more information, refer to the following documents:
• Teledyne LeCroy Analyzers File-based Decoding Manual
• PETracer VSE Manual
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Chapter 2: Installation SimPASS PE Software User Manual

Chapter 2: Installation

The SimPASS PE™ software is installed on a Linux®-based PC running in a Windows® emulation environment that is installed together with SimPASS PE software.
Please consult the readme file on the installation CD for the latest PC requirements.
To install the SimPASS PE software on the Host PC:
Step 1 Insert the CD into the CD ROM drive of the PC.
Alternatively, you can download the SimPASS PE installation from the Teledyne LeCroy web site.
Step 2 The SimPASS PE software installs automatically on the PC hard disk.
Follow the onscreen instructions.
Starting the Application
Launch the SimPASS PE program to open the SimPASS PE main window.:
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SimPASS PE Software User Manual Chapter 3: Licensing

Chapter 3: Licensing

3.1 Installing a License File

To i mp or t .simpass files requires an appropriate license.
After obtaining a SimPASS PE License file, install it using the following procedure.
Step 1 Run the SimPASS PE application.
Step 2 Select Help > Install Software License File.
Step 3 Use the Open dialog box file browser to locate and select the license file.
If the license is valid, it will install itself. Otherwise, contact PSG support. See “How to Contact LeCroy” on page 107 to purchase a valid license.
Note: You do not need a license to view recorded or imported trace files in SimPASS PE.

3.2 Checking License Information

To view the SimPASS PE license registered with an instance of the SimPASS PE application, open the application and select Help > Display License Information to display a message.
The message shows the installed licenses and their respective expiration dates.
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Chapter 4: Software Overview SimPASS PE Software User Manual

Chapter 4: Software Overview

4.1 The SimPASS PE Software

The SimPASS PE™ software administers Analyzer platforms and handles all CATC Trace analysis and display.
The software runs in a Windows you to import simulation results for analysis.
®
-emulation environment on a Linux-based PC. It allows
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4.2 Application Layout

The SimPASS PE application contains the following components:
Title bar: The title bar is at the top of the application window and displays the CATC Trace file name or generation script name.
Menu bar: The menu bar is located below the title bar, by default. The menu bar can be moved by clicking a blank area of the bar and then dragging the menu to a new position. It can be docked in another part of the application window or moved outside of the window to become a floating menu.
Toolbar: The toolbar is composed of buttons that represent the commonly used commands. The toolbar divides into smaller toolbars that can be moved and docked in a new position or made to float outside of the window.
Display area: The display area is the main part of the application window in which traces are displayed.
Status bar: The status bar is located at the bottom of the application window. The left end of the status bar displays descriptions of buttons and menu items when the mouse is positioned over them. The right end of the bar shows the search direction.

4.3 Using the Toolbar

You can use the SimPASS PE application Toolbar as a shortcut to most of the operations supplied by the menus.
Opens a previously recorded, or imported,
Save As Allows the open file to be saved with a new name.
CATC Trace file.
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Setup Display Options Opens the Display Options dialog box.
Zoom in display. Wraps display information.
Zoom out display.
Hide Training Sequence. Hide Downstream traffic/recording.
Hide SKIP and Update FC packets.
Hide Upstream recording/traffic. Compact View
Find Opens a dialog box that allows you
to select one or more items to find in the recording, then searches to that point.
View Packet Level data.
View Link Transaction Level data. View Split Transaction Level data
Advanced Hiding Options Opens a dialog box that allows you to select items to hide from view.
Toggles compacting of training sequences to analyze compacting to display more data.
Find Next. Repeats last Find or Search action.
CATC Trace data faster, or no
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File Information Lists the conditions under which
the recording was made.
Error Report Opens a window that lists all errors identified in the recording.
Traffic Summary Opens a window that lists all
events that occurred during the recording
Navigator. Shows/hides the Navigator bar - a utility that lets you easily navigate the CATC Trace.
Displays the Data/Payload window for the current packet.
Bus Utilization Opens a window that graphically represents
various information about the recording.
Link Tracker Opens a window that displays symbol information per lane.
Opens the Data Flow window. Shows recorded data in a compressed tabular
format.
LTSSM Flow Graph Shows a state diagram of the Link Training and Status State machine.
Displays the Packet Header bar. Opens a window that displays the header
information in the current packet, as it would be viewed in the specification.
Opens the Timing and Bus Usage Calculations window.

Multi-Segment Toolbar

First Segment. Open first segment in the multisegment CATC Trace.
Previous segment. Open previous segment in the multisegment CATC Trace.
Running Verification Scripts Opens a dialog that allows you to select and run verification scripts.
Index file. This button becomes active if a multisegment CATC Trace file is open and displays the index file for the recording.
Next Segment. Open next segment in multisegment CATC Trace.
Last segment. Open last segment in multisegment CATC Trace.
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Toolbar Hide Buttons

The SimPASS PE application toolbar has five buttons related to show/hide of CATC Trace file contents. The buttons allow you to quickly adjust the display to your needs.
Hide Training: Brings up a drop-down menu that lets you to hide all or a portion of the packets in the training portion of the CATC Trace.
Hide SKIP and Update FC: Brings up a drop-down menu that lets you hide SKIP or Update FC packets in a CATC Trace.
Hide Upstream: Hide all traffic from endpoint devices to the root complex.
{
Hide Downstream: Hide all traffic from the root complex to endpoint devices.
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Advanced Hiding Options: Brings up the Level Hiding pane of the Display Options window. Use this pane to tune the show/hide options within the CATC Trace display.
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4.4 Using the Menus

The SimPASS PE application main display includes the following set of pull-down menus:
File Menu
New Generator Script Creates a new Traffic Generation file.
Open Opens a file.
Close Closes the current file.
Save as Saves all or a specified range of packets to a uniquely named file.
Convert Old Files Convert CATC Trace files.
Print Prints part or all of the current traffic data file.
Print Preview Produces an on-screen preview before printing.
Print Setup Setup your current or new printer.
Import SimPASS File to Protocol Trace
Import SimPASS File to Bit Trace
Edit Comment Create or edit the comment field in a CATC Trace file.
Export >> to Text >> Packets to CSV Text >> to Generator File Format
Exit Exit the SimPASS PE application.
Imports a .simpass file as a CATC Trace file.
CATC Trace files are optimized for protocol analysis.
Imports a .simpass file as a BitTracer file.
BitTracer files are optimized for link and phy layer analysis.
Saves all or part of a CATC Trace to a text file or traffic generation file. This text file summarizes the traffic in the CATC Trace. Saves the CATC Trace to a text file in Comma Separated Value (CSV) format. Saves the CATC Trace to a generation file.
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Setup Menu
Display Options Allows you to customize display options such as field colors, field formats and level
hiding.
Report Menu
Report Menu operations are only available when you are working with a CATC Trace file.
File Information Displays information about the file contents and describes the conditions of the file’s
recording (Recording Options, hardware information, and so on).
Error Summary Displays an error summary of the current CATC Trace file and allows you to go to a
specific packet, and save the error file to a uniquely named file.
Traffic Summary Details the number and types of packets that were transferred during the recording.
You can hide, save, send, text, print, and view.
Bus Utilization Opens a window with graphs of bus usage for the open CATC Trace.
Link Tracker Opens a window for displaying a detailed chronological view of traffic. The window
provides view and navigation options.
Data Flow Opens the Data Flow Window, providing a tabular view of transactions and their
payload.
Trace Navigator Shows the Navigator bar for navigating a CATC Trace. Shows a snapshot of the
recording and allows you to adjust the memory area for the view.
LTSSM Flow Graph
Shows a state diagram of bus activity. Also allows you to navigate through the LTSSM, based on the current recording.
Packet Header Opens the Packet Header bar, showing the Packet Header information as it would be
viewed in the specification.
Packet Data/View Data Opens the Data Window for the current packet, with the options: Hide, Save,
Hexadecimal, ASCII, Decimal, Binary, MSB Format, LSB Format, Big Endian, and Little Endian. Format Line allows you to enter the number of bytes, words, or dwords per line.
Configuration Space Presents a list of Configuration Spaces. Clicking an item displays the selected
Configuration Space in a Configuration Table format.
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Search Menu
Search Menu operations are only available when you are working with a CATC Trace file.
Go to Trigger Repositions the display to show the first packet following the trigger event.
Go to Segment/ Packet Repositions the display to a specific packet, Link or Split transaction number.
Go to Time Repositions the display to specific timestamp.
Go to Marker Repositions the display to a previously marked packet, Link Transaction, or
Split Transaction.
Go to Packet Allows searching for specific link events: TLP Type, DLLP Type, Ordered Set,
Link Event, Traffic Class, DLLP Virtual Channel, TLP Virtual Channel, Direction, Speed, Link Width, Requester ID, Completer ID, Data Lengths, Errors.
Find Displays the Find dialog to allow searching for various events within a CATC Trace.
You can search by Display Level: Packets, Link Transactions, Split Transactions. You can search packets by Event Group: TLP Type, TLP Header, TLP Requester ID,
TLP Completer ID, TLP Data Pattern, TLP Data Lengths, TLP Tag, TLP Sequence Number, DLLP Type, DLLP Header, DLLP Virtual Channel, ACK/NAK Seq Number, Ordered Sets, Link Event, Direction, Errors. You can search link transactions by Event Group: TLP Type, Traffic Class, Virtual Channel, Direction, Requester ID, Completer ID, Status, Tag. You can search split transactions by Event Group: TLP Type, Traffic Class, Virtual Channel, Direction, Requester ID, Completer ID, Status, Tag. Find allows you to create complex searches based on numerous criteria. You can search by Display Level: Packets, Link Transactions, Split Transactions. You can search packets by Event Group: TLP Type, TLP Header, TLP Requester ID, TLP Completer ID, TLP Data Pattern, TLP Data Lengths, TLP Tag, TLP Sequence Number, DLLP Type, DLLP Header, DLLP Virtual Channel, ACK/NAK Seq Number, Ordered Sets, Link Event, Direction, Errors. You can search link transactions by Event Group: TLP Type, Traffic Class, Virtual Channel, Direction, Requester ID, Completer ID, Status, Tag. You can search split transactions by Event Group: TLP Type, Traffic Class, Virtual Channel, Direction, Requester ID, Completer ID, Status, Tag. Find allows you to create complex searches based on numerous criteria.
Find Next Repeats the previous Find or Search operation.
Search Direction Allows you to specify a forward or backward search of a CATC Trace file.
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View Menu
Toolbars>> Displays available toolbars: Standard, Frequently Used, Analysis, and Transaction
Level. Use Customize to display the Windows Customize window.
Script Editor Displays the Script Editor (only appears if a .peg file is open).
Status Bar Switches display of the Status Bar on or off.
Zoom In Zoom in increases the size of the displayed elements.
Zoom Out Zoom out decreases the size of the displayed elements.
Wrap Allows the display to wrap.
FC Credits Toggles a display for tracking Flow Control Credit update and consumption on a PCI
Express link.
FC Credits Setup Allows you to customize the display for tracking Flow Control Credits.
Compact View
Toggles compacting of the Link Training sequence to analyze CATC Trace data faster or no compacting to display more data.
Packet Level View the current recording at the Packet Level.
Link Transaction Level View the current recording at the Link Transaction Level.
Split Transaction Level View the current recording at the Split Transaction Level.
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Tools Menu
TC to VC Mapping Allows Traffic Classes to be mapped to Virtual Channels for purposes of simplifying
navigation (for example, Search > Go to > TLP Virtual Channel) and changing the way the CATC Trace is displayed (for example, in Split Transactions).
Timing Calculations Starts the mode-less calculator dialog for calculating various timing and bandwidth
parameters in the recording file.
Run Verification Scripts Presents a list of verification scripts, from which you can run a verification script.
Window Menu
New Window Opens a copy of the current CATC Trace window.
Cascade Displays all open CATC Trace windows in an overlapping arrangement.
Tile Displays all open CATC Trace windows as a series of strips across the display.
Arrange Icons Arranges minimized CATC Trace windows at the bottom of the display.
Synchronize Traces Synchronizes the CATC Trace View windows so that a move in one window
repositions the other window of the same recording.
Help Menu
User Manuals Accesses the SimPASS PE application user manuals.
Display License Information
Install Software License FIle Installs a valid license file.
Register Product Online Register at the Teledyne LeCroy website registration page.
About Displays version information about the currently running SimPASS PE software.
Displays the installed licenses and their respective expiration dates.
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4.5 Tool Tips

Tool tips provide details about fields within the CATC Trace. To see a tool tip, position your mouse pointer over a field within the CATC Trace.
You can turn off this capability in the Display Options menu.

4.6 Keyboard Shortcuts

Keystrokes Operation
Ctrl + O Open file
Ctrl + P Print
Ctrl + S Save file
Ctrl + Home Jump to first packet
Ctrl + End Jump to last packet
Ctrl + G Go to packet ...
Ctrl + F Search forward
F3 Find next
F6 Next pane
Shift + F6 Previous pane
Ctrl + B Search backward

4.7 Search Direction Indicator

A segment in the status bar indicates search direction. The direction can be changed by selecting Search Direction from the Search menu.
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4.8 Importing a SimPASS PE File

The SimPASS PE software creates and uses two related file types:
• Teledyne LeCroy CATC PCI Express Protocol Analysis File (CATC Trace file): Trace files optimized for protocol analysis
• Teledyne LeCroy PCI Express BitTracer Analyzer File (BitTracer file): Trace files optimized for link and phy layer analysis
SimPASS PE import files have the extension ".simpass". Simulation environments of participating vendors create these files to allow importing the logical PCI Express simulation traffic into a CATC Trace file and into a BitTracer file.
To i mp or t a .simpass file to a CATC Trace file:
Step 1 Select File > Import SimPASS File to Protocol Trace...
Step 2 Select a .simpass file.
To i mp or t a .simpass file to a BitTracer file:
Step 1 Select File > Import SimPASS File to BitTrace...
Step 2 Select a .simpass file.

4.9 Opening CATC Trace Files

To open an existing CATC Trace file, click File > Open or .
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4.10 Saving CATC Trace Files

Using the Save As Function

When you record a CATC Trace file, the Analyzer software provides a pre-defined name to the CATC Trace file (data.pex or any other that you specified in the Recording Options). If you do consecutive recordings, each time the previous recording is overwritten. If you see a recording you want to analyze later, you need to give a unique name to the CATC Trace file, so it is not overwritten with the next recording.
Also, when you analyze a recorded CATC Trace file, you might be interested in preserving just a part of the PCI Express traffic that was recorded. If you save a portion of a CATC Trace file, it can get significantly smaller, allowing you to attach it to an e-mail.
To save a portion of a CATC Trace file or the whole file to a unique name, select Save As from the File menu.
If you want to give a unique name to the CATC Trace file, select the All option and keep
Rename original file checked. This is the default setting for the dialog.

Saving a Portion of a CATC Trace

If you want to save a portion of a CATC Trace file, select Save packet range. Enter starting and ending packet numbers in the From Packet and To Packet fields. By default, it has the numbers of the first and the last packets in the file. The software is going to save all the packets in specified range to the new file, unless you have Do not save hidden packets checked. In this case it is going to save all packets in the range, EXCLUDING the currently hidden packets.
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4.11 Exporting a CATC Trace File

By default, SimPASS PE saves CATC Trace files in the .pex format. However, you can export a CATC Trace to a file in any of the following other formats:
•Text
• Comma Separated Value (CSV)
• Generator file format
Exporting to Generator file format is a simple way to create a script file from your CATC Trace.
To export a CATC Trace file, select File > Export:
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4.12 Printing Data Files

To print all or part of the open CATC Trace:
Step 1 Select File > Print from the menu or
click the Printer button on the toolbar.
The Print Packets dialog opens:
Step 2 To select a range of packets, enter values in the From packet # and To
packet # fields and click Print.
Step 3 To print an entire file, leave the From and To fields empty and click Print.
The specified traffic information is printed as currently displayed, in color or gray scale as supported by your printer. Any CATC Trace File comments you entered are printed following the current document name at the top of each page.
Note: CATC Trace File comments can be created by using Edit Comment on the File menu.
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Chapter 5: Reading CATC Traces

5.1 Viewing PCI Express CATC Traces

SimPASS PE™ displays traffic as labeled, color-coded, and time-stamped rows.
Tool tips provide details about fields within the CATC Trace. Hold the mouse cursor over a field to see a tool tip.
Additional information is available from pop-up menus. For example, if you click the left mouse button on the first cell in a packet a menu appears with an option to view Raw 10b Codes.

5.2 Expand and Collapse Data Fields

Packet data fields are displayed in a short format by default.
You can view a data field’s long format by performing one of the following three actions:
• Click the small triangle in the left corner.
• Double-click anywhere in the data field.
• Click once in the Data Field with the left mouse button, then choose Expand Data from the pop-up menu.
A repeat of any above methods causes the display to return to a Short Data format.

5.3 Resizing Cells

Data cells can be resized by pointing the mouse pointer on the edge of a data cell, depressing and holding the left mouse button, and then repositioning the mouse pointer while keeping the mouse button depressed.
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5.4 Pop-up Menus

The Analyzer software makes extensive use of pop-up menus. In some instances, pop-up menus provide the only means of accessing dialog boxes that contain detailed information about cells within the CATC Trace, for example, the Show Configuration Space dialog box.
To see a pop-up menu, left-click or right-click a cell within the CATC Trace. Right-click or left-click behavior depends on the Display Options setting. For default left-click, the right-click menu is not cell-dependent. For other left-click behavior, the type of menu that opens varies depending on the type of cell that is selected. Take some time to explore CATC Traces and the various pop-up menus.

5.5 View Data Block

To view the raw bits that make up the data in a data field, left-click a data field, then click 
or select View Data Block from the pop-up menu to display the Data Block window.
You can display data in Hexadecimal, ASCII, Decimal, or Binary formats.
Bit Order is Most Significant Bit or Least Significant Bit.
You can display data in Big Endian or Little Endian.
Format lets you display data as BYTEs, WORDs, or DWORDs.
Columns lets you select the number of columns.
You can enter hexadecimal offset values.
You can go to or search Previous or Next.
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5.6 Show Raw 10b Codes

You can view the raw bits that make up the data field by left-clicking the field and selecting View Data Block from the pop-up menu.
To view Raw 10b Codes:
Step 1 Left-click the first cell in a packet.
Step 2 Select Show Raw 10b Codes from the pop-up menu to display the
Raw 10b Codes window.
Step 3 To change the format of the data, use the options along the right side of
the dialog.
Step 4 To navigate the CATC Trace, use the Prev and Next buttons.
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5.7 Show Header Fields

You can view details about header fields by opening the Show Header Fields dialog box.
Step 1 Click a header. A pop-up menu appears.
Step 2 Select Show Header Fields. The following dialog box opens.
Step 3 Use the Prev and Next buttons to navigate to other headers.
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5.8 Packet Cell Popup Menus

The Packet cell has a left-click pop-up menu that includes the Show Raw 10b Codes command:
The right-click pop-up menu from Packet cell is:

Packet Header R-> Cell Popup Menu

The Packet Header R-> cell has a pop-up menu with the Swap Upstream/Downstream command, which changes the directionality of the packets in the CATC Trace.
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