Switchboard

Switchboard (SB) is a framework for communication between distinct hardware models, such as RTL simulations, RTL implemented on FPGAs, and fast SW models. This makes it possible to simulate large hardware systems in a distributed fashion, using whatever models are available for the different components.

In such a simulation, each hardware model has one or more SB ports. Each is unidirectional: it may act as an input or an output, but not both. In addition, each SB connection is single-producer, single-consumer (SPSC): an output port may not drive more than one input port, and an input port may not be driven by more than one output port.

Here’s an example of what a switchboard connection topology might look like:

To learn more about Switchboard, please visit the GitHub repo.