How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

tesc — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:58:35 GMT

Hi,

There is no way to completely erase the modem firmware, that is correct. Modem firmware is updated, using either the nRF Connect for Desktop Programmer app (the preferred solution) or through a more complicated process (which I linked to previously in this thread.)

Some restrictions may apply, such as e.g. related to downgrades. Please also make sure to use compatible nRF Connect SDK and modem firmware versions.

Are you able to successfully upgrade the modem firmware using the nRF Connect for Desktop Programmer app, on the affected device?

Regards,
Terje

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

FrustratedDev — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:35:46 GMT

As there is no answer til now, I think there is no possibility to erase the firmware from the modem part.

Is that right?

Or is there a IPC command to reset the modem part to a default mode, so that the programming can be done?

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

FrustratedDev — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 09:05:37 GMT

I understand.

There is hardware and software. The hardware is given and for this I need software.

I have done the steps and copy the mfw in the seperated parts like in the discription, but then there comes a problem in the verify. So I want to clean all the firmware in the modem part over the MCU.

If I erase the device over the j-link only the MCU is erased, but I think there is a problem in the mfw part. But I don't know how to fix it. So there must be a possibility to erase the whole firmware in the modem part, do write a new firmware in the modem flash.

Is there such a possibility or is the modem part of the device is now broken?

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

Achim Kraus — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 08:40:45 GMT

The "wohle device to setup the modem firmware" doesn't reflect my explanation, that the "whole device" consists of a "modem + mfw" and a "MCU + bootloader + zephyr + app". The jlink is connected to the MCU, not the modem.

As long as you stick to your view, you will be damned to fail.

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

FrustratedDev — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 08:09:25 GMT

Is there a possibility to erase the wohle device to setup the modem firmware with the segger j-link? It looks like it has worked one time but now I get only the message back that the verify failed.

Programming speed: 400kHz.
Chip erase successful.
Programming modem firmware: modem-fw\firmware.update.image.segments.0.hex
Modem firmware programming block size: 8192
Programming modem firmware: 59602000 : 2304
Programming modem firmware: modem-fw\firmware.update.image.segments.1.hex
Modem firmware programming block size: 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00006000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00008000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0000A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0000C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0000E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00050000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00052000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00054000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00056000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00058000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0005A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0005C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0005E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00060000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00062000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00064000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00066000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00068000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0006A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0006C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0006E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00070000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00072000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00074000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00076000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00078000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0007A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0007C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0007E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00080000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00082000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00084000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00086000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00088000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0008A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0008C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0008E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00090000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00092000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00094000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00096000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00098000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0009A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0009C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0009E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000A0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000A2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000A4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000A6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000A8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000AA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000AC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000AE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000B0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000B2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000B4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000B6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000B8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000BA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000BC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000BE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000C0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000C2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000C4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000C6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000C8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000CA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000CC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000CE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000D0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000D2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000D4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000D6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000D8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000DA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000DC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000DE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000E0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000E2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000E4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000E6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000E8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000EA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000EC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000EE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000F0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000F2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000F4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000F6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000F8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000FA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000FC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 000FE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00100000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00102000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00104000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00106000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00108000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0010A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0010C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0010E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00110000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00112000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00114000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00116000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00118000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0011A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0011C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0011E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00120000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00122000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00124000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00126000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00128000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0012A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0012C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0012E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00130000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00132000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00134000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00136000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00138000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0013A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0013C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0013E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00140000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00142000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00144000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00146000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00148000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0014A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0014C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0014E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00150000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00152000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00154000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00156000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00158000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0015A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0015C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0015E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00160000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00162000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00164000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00166000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00168000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0016A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0016C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0016E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00170000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00172000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00174000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00176000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00178000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0017A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0017C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0017E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00180000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00182000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00184000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00186000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00188000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0018A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0018C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0018E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00190000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00192000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00194000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00196000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00198000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0019A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0019C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0019E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001A0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001A2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001A4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001A6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001A8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001AA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001AC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001AE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001B0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001B2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001B4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001B6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001B8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001BA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001BC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001BE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001C0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001C2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001C4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001C6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001C8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001CA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001CC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001CE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001D0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001D2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001D4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001D6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001D8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001DA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001DC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001DE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001E0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001E2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001E4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001E6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001E8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001EA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001EC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001EE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001F0000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001F2000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001F4000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001F6000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001F8000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001FA000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001FC000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 001FE000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00200000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00202000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00204000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00206000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00208000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0020A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0020C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0020E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00210000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00212000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00214000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00216000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00218000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0021A000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0021C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0021E000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00220000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00222000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00224000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00226000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 00228000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0027C000 : 8192
Programming modem firmware: 0027E000 : 8192
Verify failed!
Duaration in ms : 95069
0204;01

It looks like the programming is working, but the verify failed at the end.

I think there must be a tool to recover the device back to a working device, isn't it?

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

Achim Kraus — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 11:40:59 GMT

Using the Programmer app with "Nordic genuine device check" was a pretty bad experience. It wasted so much time, that in the meantime I'm only use that for mfw updates and that is luckily not too frequently required.

Anyway, this isn't my ticket.

"I have to do an automatic test application, which should program the device and measure some voltage on a customer layout."

That won't work for larger numbers of devices with the Programmer app.

But as I also wrote, "Firmware_V1.0.4.hex - 612kB" seems for me to be not the modem firmware.

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

tesc — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:53:33 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="AchimKraus"]The modem firmware update, AFAIK, works by using a special application loaded into RAM, which then does the real mfw update.[/quote]

Correct.

The nRF9160 comes with preprogrammed modem firmware, which cannot be replaced directly over J-Link. Rather, you must follow the upgrade procedures described in Updating the modem.

Please see the full documentation set nRF9160 Production Programming, for full information on (large scale) programming of the nRF9160.

I must also mention programming tools such as the nRF Connect for Desktop Programmer app, which of course is also an option: Updating the DK firmware using Programmer. However it sounds like this is not a preferred option to you.

Regards,
Terje

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

Achim Kraus — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:41:34 GMT

I'm not an employee of Nordic, I can't tell you, if there is no way. It's only no way in my experience (I remember, that the circuit dojo, but that's related to a nRF9160 feather only).

The modem firmware update, AFAIK, works by using a special application loaded into RAM, which then does the real mfw update.

But from the files above you don't update the modem itself, you update the application MCU.

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

FrustratedDev — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:35:52 GMT

So these means there is no known way to do an installation of the the modem firmware with the segger j-link allone?

The problem I have to solve is, to do an automatisation, so there will be no user to work with the "Programmer" application.

Is there no documentation where I have to put the hex and ihex files?

Maybe the positions will be shown in the programmer tool?

With the Jlink.exe tool I'm able to program the application, I think.

Connecting to target via SWD
ConfigTargetSettings() start
---Setting ROM table---
ConfigTargetSettings() end - Took 68us
Found SW-DP with ID 0x6BA02477
DPIDR: 0x6BA02477
CoreSight SoC-400 or earlier
Scanning AP map to find all available APs
AP[7]: Stopped AP scan as end of AP map has been reached
AP[0]: AHB-AP (IDR: 0x84770001, ADDR: 0x00000000)
AP[1]: AHB-AP (IDR: 0x24770011, ADDR: 0x01000000)
AP[2]: JTAG-AP (IDR: 0x12880000, ADDR: 0x02000000)
AP[3]: APB-AP (IDR: 0x54770002, ADDR: 0x03000000)
AP[4]: JTAG-AP (IDR: 0x12880000, ADDR: 0x04000000)
AP[5]: JTAG-AP (IDR: 0x12880000, ADDR: 0x05000000)
AP[6]: MEM-AP (IDR: 0x128800A1, ADDR: 0x06000000)
Iterating through AP map to find AHB-AP to use
AP[0]: Core found
AP[0]: AHB-AP ROM base: 0xE00FF000
CPUID register: 0x410FD212. Implementer code: 0x41 (ARM)
Feature set: Mainline
Cache: No cache
Found Cortex-M33 r0p2, Little endian.
FPUnit: 8 code (BP) slots and 0 literal slots
Security extension: implemented
Secure debug: enabled
CoreSight components:
ROMTbl[0] @ E00FF000
[0][0]: E000E000 CID B105900D PID 000BBD21 DEVARCH 47702A04 DEVTYPE 00 Cortex-M33
[0][1]: E0001000 CID B105900D PID 000BBD21 DEVARCH 47701A02 DEVTYPE 00 DWT
[0][2]: E0002000 CID B105900D PID 000BBD21 DEVARCH 47701A03 DEVTYPE 00 FPB
[0][3]: E0000000 CID B105900D PID 000BBD21 DEVARCH 47701A01 DEVTYPE 43 ITM
[0][5]: E0041000 CID B105900D PID 002BBD21 DEVARCH 47724A13 DEVTYPE 13 ETM
[0][6]: E0042000 CID B105900D PID 000BBD21 DEVARCH 47701A14 DEVTYPE 14 CSS600-CTI
Memory zones:
Zone: "Default" Description: Default access mode
Cortex-M33 identified.
J-Link>loadfile "C:\PROJECTS\ELPRO\PAB Libero Gx\Software\PAB Libero Gx\PAB Libero Gx\LIBERO G - FT1 V1.0.5A\dev-fw\LIBERO G - FT1 Firmware V1.0.5.hex" , 0x0000
'loadfile': Performing implicit reset & halt of MCU.
Reset type: NORMAL (wiki.segger.com/J-Link_Reset_Strategies)
Reset: ARMv8M core with Security Extension enabled detected. Switch to secure domain.
Reset: Halt core after reset via DEMCR.VC_CORERESET.
Reset: Reset device via AIRCR.SYSRESETREQ.
Downloading file [C:\PROJECTS\ELPRO\PAB Libero Gx\Software\PAB Libero Gx\PAB Libero Gx\LIBERO G - FT1 V1.0.5A\dev-fw\LIBERO G - FT1 Firmware V1.0.5.hex]...
J-Link: Flash download: Bank 2 @ 0x00000000: Skipped. Contents already match
O.K.
J-Link>

Is there a documentation for the modem firmware 1.3.7 to get the needed addresses?

Best regards

Michael

RE: How to program the nRF9160 with the segger j-link and the jlink.exe

Achim Kraus — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:51:10 GMT

Let me start with, there are two MCU on the nRF9160, one is the modem itself, and one is the application/zephyr MCU.

And there are a couple of additional tools around zephyr and the NCS (Nordic Connect SDK), which helps.

For the modem mcu itself I mainly use the "nRF Connect For Desktop" application and the "Programmer" inside of that. There are also some CLI tools, bit I have never been able to used them with success. If you need to update the modem, the mfw is contained in a .zip (e.g. mfw_nrf9160_1.3.7.zip), which for best you never touch. Just load that into the "Programmer".

For the application/zephyr it's easier. There you may use "west flash", or

nrfjprog --program build/zephyr/merged.hex --sectorerase --verify -r

(you need to download nrfjprog.

The next thing to understand is the organization of the firmware and partitions.

When the device starts up, the first part is the "bootloader", if that has no job (no pending image to activate, no serial rescue console requested by the user on restart), then zephyr starts and after that finished to boot, you applications starts. That is reflected in the used files. A "west build" usually generates:

"merged.hex" that's the "bootloader + zephyr/application".

"app_signed.hex" that's the "zephyr/application" in intelhex (without bootloader)

and

"app_update.bin" that's the "zephyr/application" in binary, sometimes required for alternative updates (e.g. FOTA).

Usually not this general names of the west build are used, but at least you should know, which .hex should be used.

From your description I guess, you have a JLink, so with that, and downloaded and installed (there may be some more dependencies to install) nrfjprog, I guess you need.

nrfjprog --program Firmware_V1.0.4.hex --sectorerase --verify -r

Cross the fingers ;-).