How to create rows for multiple power domains (Site COREHVT height Xum of is not a multiple of site CORE height Yum)

[titan73]

I have 2 power domains with 2 completely different sites.

I tries these to commands w/ and w/o the -additional_sites COREHVT:

initialize_floorplan -die_area $fp_area -core_area $fp_area -site CORE -additional_sites COREHVT
make_rows -core_area $fp_area -site CORE -additional_sites COREHVT

but I always get: Site COREHVT height Xum of is not a multiple of site CORE height Yum

How can I creates these 2 power domains?

[titan73]

I think -additional_sites is for site that are multiple of the base site like cells that have a doubled height. That would make sense so I should not use this option in my case. So to make 2 power domains I should use:

initialize_floorplan -die_area $fp_area -core_area $fp_area -site CORE
make_rows -core_area <some area for this power domain> -site COREHVT

Unfortunately I get the same error.
I added some traces to OR and while only CORE is specified in the initialize_floorplan, the line:
addUsedSites(sites_by_name); in method InitFloorplan::makeRowsWithSpacing in file src/ifp/src/InitFloorplan.cc
add the COREHVT site to sites_by_name
Is that normal?

[maliberty]

You want create_voltage_domain, see src/ifp/test/init_floorplan8.tcl for an example. The other option is UPF, see upf_test.tcl in the same.

[titan73]

I test both floorplan and upf commands:
create_voltage_domain pd_1v2 -area {100 50 1285 765}
and

create_power_domain pd_3v3 -elements .
create_power_domain pd_1v2 -elements SW_i
set_domain_area pd_1v2 -area {100 50 1285 765}

initialize_floorplan -die_area $fp_area -core_area $fp_area -site CORE
still gives me the error:
Site COREHVT height Xum of is not a multiple of site CORE height Yum

How can I make sure each power domains creates the correct site (CORE for pd_1v2 and COREHVT for pd_3v3?

[maliberty]

We do not current support sites that vary by domain. That would be an enhancement as today we cut the domain out of the overall space of rows.

I suppose set_domain_area could could take -site/-additional_sites. Any opinions? (@gadfort @rovinski)

[gadfort]

@maliberty it seems like initialize_floorplan needs to be aware of the power domains and create rows specific to them (or set_domain_area or cut_rows) would need to somehow use this information to create rows (and remove the other rows, what halo should be used for that?).
If set_domain_area is not a UPF command, then adding the additional flags couldn't hurt, but the mechanics for this would need to be well documented.

[rovinski]

I don't know how it currently exists, but I think that users should be able to set up rows with different core sites. Setting up a power domain is an orthogonal issue. Making it convenient to set up both the rows and the power domain at the same time could be useful.

[titan73]

@maliberty @gadfort I agree with @rovinski. Power domains and rows should be separated.
I've already used power domains with several rows areas to contain buffers.
Also, I'll have to use a power domains with additional rows areas for LS having a different site.