nRF Sniffer doesn't work

Question

I tried to install nRF Sniffer. I followed the instructions here: https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/nrfutil/page/nrfutil-ble-sniffer/guides/installing_nrf_sniffer.html I tried it on Linux and on Windows. I can flash the firmware to my nRF52840-dk, and I can enable the Sniffer toolbar in Wireshark, but there is no Sniffer interface in Wireshark. Looks like there is some data when I try /dev/ttyACM0 in Minicom in Linux, so the firmware should run. 
 The manual has also a few minor bugs, did someone proof-read it? E.g. when I try from this page https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/nrfutil/page/nrfutil-ble-sniffer/guides/installing_nrf_sniffer_capture_tool.html the command " nrfutil ble-sniffer bootstrap --extcap-directory $HOME/.local/lib/wireshark/extcap", it doesn't work, because the argument name is "--extcap-dir", not "--extcap-directory". I also can't find any logs in /tmp as mentioned somewhere else in the documentation. 
 Any idea what's the reason, or how I can debug the problem? Best would be if it would work on Linux, but Windows would be ok, too. 
 I tried it with an older Wireshark version on Linux, which came with Debian, then the latest version, self compiled, and the latest released exe for Windows. All drivers are be installed, like the extra driver for Windows, and it shows up in the device manager in Windows as "JLink CDC UART POrt", and libusb on Linux.

Shahin97 · Accepted Answer

I have not tried it on a 40 series mcu. however I did manage to get it working on the nrf52832 following this tutorial - www.youtube.com/watch

frankbuss · Answer

Thanks, this worked, I can use it on Windows now! One minor correction: he installed the extcap files in the global program directory. I you use the local directory "C:\Users\frank\AppData\Roaming\Wireshark\extcap", then you don't need to run the command prompt in admin mode, and can install the Python requirements just for the current user. PS: looks like the main problem was that I didn't copy the extcap content from the downloaded nRF Sniffer zip packet, but used the nrfutil command which installed the shim as explained in the official nRF documentation, and this didn't work. Just in case someone else is searching for this problem. Also copying the Profile_nRF_Sniffer_Bluetooth_LE folder is very helpful, because then it can parse the BLE packets.

nRF Sniffer doesn't work

Top Replies