AMD to launch SimNow - Pacifica Virtualization Technology tool

AMD today announced the upcoming availability of SimNow, a high-performance AMD64 simulator that provides software developers with access to features of AMD's next-generation processor technologies, including AMD's virtualization technology, code named "Pacifica." SimNow is designed to enable software developers to emulate single- and dual-core AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Opteron processor-based systems that run commercial operating systems and applications, and to allow them to write and test software in advance of the commercial availability of processors implementing the features.

"AMD is demonstrating our strong support for the software development community by making our high-performance AMD64 simulator, SimNow, free to developers," said Joe Menard, corporate vice president, Software Strategy, AMD. "By providing leading-edge tools and features to the ISV community, and enabling access to next-generation technologies such as 'Pacifica' ahead of the commercial availability of next-generation processors, we expect SimNow to enable a richer commercial and embedded software ecosystem for AMD64 technology, the gold standard for 64-bit computing."

"The SimNow Simulator is a significant factor behind superior SUSE Linux support of the AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Opteron processors. Not only does it allow us to develop for new chip designs prior to their physical creation, it also provides us with important debug capabilities, accelerating the process," said Eric Anderson, vice president of engineering for Novell. "We are excited about AMD's decision to make this tool available to a broader audience and are looking forward to this new release of SimNow."

By making SimNow generally available, AMD is providing software developers with a high-performance development tool that is designed to allow them to develop and tune software for the AMD64 architecture. As the AMD64 architecture continues to evolve, SimNow is designed to be a tool to enable developers to test and tune their software to ensure the best possible end-user experience.

SimNow will include a workable model of "Pacifica" virtualization technology. Available in the first half of 2006, "Pacifica" has been developed to extend AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture to enhance virtualization for clients and servers by introducing a new model and features into the processor and memory controller.

The SimNow code will be available for download by August 22, at AMD's website.