Simulation with dynamic run-time accuracy adjustment

1. A computer implemented simulation method comprising:

during a simulation, simulating a first portion of a sequence of instructions by a first simulation model of a processor;

during the simulation, receiving an accuracy control input from a debugger and switching from the first simulation model of the processor to a second simulation model of the processor responsive to the accuracy control input from the debugger, the second simulation model providing a different simulation speed and accuracy than the first simulation model; and

during the simulation, simulating a second portion of the sequence of instructions by the second simulation model of the processor upon switching from the first simulation model to the second simulation model.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first simulation model is a cycle accurate simulation model of the processor and the second simulation model is an instruction accurate simulation model of the processor, the simulation switched from cycle accurate simulation model to the instruction accurate simulation model responsive to the accuracy control input.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first simulation model is an instruction accurate simulation model of the processor and the second simulation model is a cycle accurate simulation model of the processor, the simulation switched from the instruction accurate simulation model to the cycle accurate simulation model responsive to the accuracy control input.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transferring state information from the first simulation model of the processor to the second simulation model of the processor when switching from the first simulation model of the processor to the second simulation model of the processor.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the transferred state information comprises all state variables of the first simulation model.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the transferred state information comprises less than all state variables of the first simulation model.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein transferring the state information comprises:

tracking changed states in the state information of the first simulation model; and

transferring the changed states of the state information to the second simulation model.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

storing a history of events that change state; and

upon switching from the first simulation model to the second simulation model, replaying the history of events that change state in the second simulation model.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the accuracy control input corresponds to a user selected setting.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first simulation model is switched to the second simulation model at a point in simulation when operating system initialization is complete.

11. A computer storing logic that is executed by the computer to:

during a simulation, simulate a first portion of a sequence of instructions by a first simulation model of a processor;

during the simulation, receive an accuracy control input from a debugger and switching from the first simulation model of the processor to a second simulation model of the processor responsive to the accuracy control input from the debugger, the second simulation model providing a different simulation speed and accuracy than the first simulation model; and

during the simulation, simulate a second portion of the sequence of instructions by the second simulation model of the processor upon switching from the first simulation model to the second simulation model.

12. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the first simulation model is a cycle accurate simulation model of the processor and the second simulation model is an instruction accurate simulation model of the processor, the simulation switched from cycle accurate simulation model to the instruction accurate simulation model responsive to the accuracy control input.

13. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the first simulation model is an instruction accurate simulation model of the processor and the second simulation model is a cycle accurate simulation model of the processor, the simulation switched from the instruction accurate simulation model to the cycle accurate simulation model responsive to the accuracy control input.

14. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the logic is further executed to:

transfer state information from the first simulation model of the processor to the second simulation model of the processor when switching from the first simulation model of the processor to the second simulation model of the processor.

15. The computer of claim 14 , wherein the transferred state information comprises all state variables of the first simulation model.

16. The computer of claim 14 , wherein the transferred state information comprises less than all state variables of the first simulation model.

17. The computer of claim 14 , wherein transferring the state information comprises:

tracking changed states in the state information of the first simulation model; and

transferring the changed states of the state information to the second simulation model.

18. The computer of claim 14 , wherein the logic is further executed to:

store a history of events that change state; and

upon switching from the first simulation model to the second simulation model, replay the history of events that change state in the second simulation model.

19. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the accuracy control input corresponds to a user selected setting.

20. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the first simulation model is switched to the second simulation model at a point in simulation when operating system initialization is complete.