If you are having trouble installing zsim, try this after installing Ubuntu 16.04:

zsim

# Install Linux 3.19 kernel and reboot into it
wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/220635919/linux-headers-3.19.0-31-generic_3.19.0-31.36~14.04.1_amd64.deb
wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/220668669/linux-headers-3.19.0-31_3.19.0-31.36~14.04.1_all.deb
wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/220635970/linux-image-3.19.0-31-generic_3.19.0-31.36~14.04.1_amd64.deb
sudo apt-get module-init-tools
sudo dpkg -i linux-*
sudo reboot

## MAKE SURE YOU HIT SHIFT AND REBOOT INTO KERNEL 3.19
## OR EDIT /etc/default/grub TO MAKE KERNEL 3.19 DEFAULT BEFORE REBOOT

# Install dependencies
sudo apt-get install build-essential g++ git libelf-dev libhdf5-serial-dev libconfig++-dev vim gcc-multilib scons
wget http://ppa.launchpad.net/md+lp/pintool/ubuntu/pool/main/p/pintool/pintool_2.14-71313-ppa1_amd64.deb
dpkg -i pintool_2.14-71313-ppa1_amd64.deb
echo "export PINPATH=/opt/pin" >> .bashrc
source .bashrc

# OPTIONAL: create swap space before installation
sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/swapfile bs=1024 count=3M
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile

# Clone repo
git clone https://github.com/stanford-mast/zsim/
cd zsim
scons -j16

# OPTIONAL: remove swap space after installation
sudo swapoff /swapfile
sudo rm /swapfile

# Enable pintool injection
sudo sysctl kernel.yama.ptrace_scope=0

# Create alias for zsim
echo "alias zsim='sudo ~/zsim/build/opt/zsim'" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

### TO TEST THAT IT IS WORKING:
zsim ~/zsim/tests/ptree.cfg