Important note: QuestaSim (part of Siemens EDA, formerly Mentor Graphics) is proprietary commercial software that requires a valid license. This guide describes how to obtain the official Linux installer and run it in a portable fashion (no system-wide install), assuming you have a valid license.
What is QuestaSim?
The demand for a portable version of QuestaSim stems from the modern workflow of engineers. In academic environments, students often work on locked-down lab computers where they do not have administrative (sudo) rights. In the industry, engineers frequently switch between workstations or work remotely. A portable installation promises a "plug-and-play" experience, preserving custom configuration files, .do scripts, and saved wave formats across different machines. The idea is simple: carry the tool in your pocket, plug it into any Linux machine, and simulate your Verilog or VHDL code instantly.
Create a startup script setup_questa.sh in the portable folder:
Additional Tips and Tricks
You can search for a Docker image that contains QuestaSim, such as:
All of these match the spirit of "portable download" and are legal, safe, and free.
If you want to run QuestaSim on a modern distro (like Ubuntu 24.04) without worrying about old library dependencies, use Docker.
