Categories
Computer architecture simulators can be classified into many different categories depending on the context.
- Scope: micro-architecture vs. full-system simulators. The modeled scope could be only one microprocessor or the whole computer system.
- Detail: functional vs. timing (or performance) simulators. Functional simulators emphasize achieving the same function as the modeled components (what is done), while timing simulators strive to accurately reproduce the performance/timing features (when is it done) of the targets in addition to their functionalities.
- Input (sometimes called Workload): trace-driven (or event-driven) vs. execution-driven simulators. Traces/Events are pre-recorded streams of instructions with some fixed input. Execution-driven simulators allow dynamic change of instructions to be executed depending on different input data.
Microarchitecture Simulation is a technique for modeling the design and behavior of a microprocessor and its components.
Full system simulation consist in the simulation of a complete computer system able to execute unmodified programs (it is this thus execution-driven). Such simulators are called emulator, in particular when they imitate existing (or discontinued) hardware instead of under development hardware.
Instruction Set Simulator and Cycle Accurate Simulator are simulators which scope is the simulation of a sole microprocessor. They diverge in the level of details that they provide. Instruction set simulators focus on the fast simulation of the processor functions while cycle accurate simulators aim at allowing accurate timings of the processor.
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