Failed to set MCUboot secondary to external flash. E: Failed to open flash area ID 2 (image 0 slot 1): -2, cannot continue

[mmade]

I have problem placing MCUboot secondary to external flash. I have been testing using nRF9160DK. Project compiles fine but device doesn't boot after flashing the firmware.

Here is the log from serial output of the board. I get error message E: Failed to open flash area ID 2 (image 0 slot 1): -2, cannot continue at the end.

*** Booting nRF Connect SDK v2.8.0-a2386bfc8401 ***
*** Using Zephyr OS v3.7.99-0bc3393fb112 ***
Attempting to boot slot 0.
Attempting to boot from address 0x8200.
I: Verifying signature against key 0.
I: Hash: 0xa5...ef
I: Firmware signature verified.
Firmware version 2
I: Setting monotonic counter (version: 2, slot: 0)

*** Booting MCUboot v2.1.0-dev-4594a8693738 ***
*** Using nRF Connect SDK v2.8.0-a2386bfc8401 ***
*** Using Zephyr OS v3.7.99-0bc3393fb112 ***
I: Starting bootloader
E: Failed to open flash area ID 2 (image 0 slot 1): -2, cannot continue

Here is simple project which I have been trying to use.

app_eft.zip

[Menon]

Hello,

Have you tried flashing any sample from the SDK? If so, does it work fine? From the logs, I see that you’re using nRF Connect SDK v2.8.0, so I assume you’re using sysbuild. If not, I recommend trying it.

Could you also disable SB_CONFIG_SECURE_BOOT_APPCORE=y in sysbuild.conf and check if you’re able to flash the application?

Kind regards,
Abhijith

[mmade]

Hello,

If I remove line 

SB_CONFIG_PM_EXTERNAL_FLASH_MCUBOOT_SECONDARY=y

from the sysbuild.conf the application works. I have tried with 2.7.0 and today updated to 2.8.0 and it didn't help. Both with using sysbuild.

[JH7]

mmade I had the same issue with nrf52840 dk and finally found it to be related to 

CONFIG_NORDIC_QSPI_NOR.

It was not enabled in my project.

Hope this helps.

[mmade]

Thank you for the tip. I have tried to add CONFIG_NORDIC_QSPI_NOR to mcuboot.conf and prj.conf but it doesn't solve the problem.

[Menon]

Hello,

Sorry for getting back to you a bit late. I was out of the office last week due to a family emergency. I apologize if this has caused any inconvenience for you.

Could you answer the questions I asked in my first response? How have you configured the partition manager for the external flash? Have you properly defined the external flash in the DTS or through an overlay file? If so, could you share it here so that I can review it? Also, try enabling the MCUboot logs, as they will provide more information on the issue.

Kind regards,
Abhijith