US Patent 8397220 Simulation control techniques

Simulation control techniques include shutting down peer processes and user code modules, storing an image of a simulation as a checkpoint after the peer processes and user code modules are shutdown, and re-starting user code modules and peer processes after storing an image of the simulation. The resulting checkpoint and processes can be used for restoring from a checkpoint or restarting a new simulation environments having peer processes such as debuggers coupled to the simulation.