Designing Multiprocessor Systems in Platform Studio

Embedded processing requirements are growing at a rapid pace and system architects are turning toward multiprocessor designs to solve the problems of burgeoning complexity and inadequacy in uniprocessor systems. The advent of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) with high logic density and multiple instances of high performance hard blocks have made powerful chip multi-processing (CMP) solutions a reality. The real challenge now lies in the rapid exploration and creation of designs in this solution space.

The Xilinx Platform Studio (XPS) and Embedded Development Kit (EDK) is a comprehensive solution for designing embedded programmable systems. Platform Studio tools and IP provide the flexibility to create uniquely crafted, customized solutions on FPGA logic real estate that can meet both price and performance targets. This white paper describes various multiprocessing hardware and software concepts in Platform Studio as they apply to Xilinx solutions based on the PowerPC and MicroBlaze embedded processors.