[DFU] How to create dfu using a standalone command

[longo92]

Hi,

i am developing under NCS 3.2.1.

I would like to if there exist a stand-alone command for creating DFU (nrfutil sub-command or similar) instead of https://github.com/nrfconnect/sdk-nrf/blob/v3.2.1/scripts/bootloader/generate_zip.py.

Thank you,

Alessandro

[Sigurd Hellesvik]

Hi all,

To keep it simple, I will assume the case is for an application with MCUboot as an immutable bootloader.

TL;DR: To manually generate files for DFU, use imgtool.py.

zephyr.signed.bin

To update an application with MCUboot, you need zephyr.signed.bin. This file is automatically generated by our build system, as part of the Output Build Files.

You can generate your own signed binary manually using imgtool.py if you prefer. If you do this, you can start with build/<app>/zephyr.hex, which is your application.

To learn how to upload zephyr.signed.bin to a device to perform DFU, see DevAcademy -> nRF Connect SDK Intermediate ->  Lesson 9 on DFU.

dfu_application.zip

Some places you see dfu_application.zip being generated and used, such as in the DevAcademy course for FOTA. However, in this case, dfu_application is not used directly by the SoC. Instead, dfu_application contains zephyr.signed.bin and a manifest json file. The application responsible for the DFU, for example nRF Connect for Mobile or nRF Cloud, will then unzip this file, and DFU the containing zephyr.signed.bin as instructed in the manifest file. This method is useful for more flexible DFU solutions, such as multi image DFU.

The script you refer to is used to generate dfu_application.zip from already signed binary files.

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

[SteveHx]

You're on the right track, but this rabbit hole has a lot of blind alleys. I was able to download and install Python, but now I'm stuck on finding Pip3. I would really like to find or create a simple Windows app that my customer could use to program a simple hex file via DFU to my target (currently nRF52840, could be 52832 on future products). Just using this for field firmware updates.

[SteveHx]

Since I just downloaded nrfutil.exe in the past week or so, I would expect all required resources to still be available. When I do

nrfutil install nrf5sdk-tools

The response is

Error: Failed to install nrfutil-nrf5sdk-tools

Caused by:
    0: Could not download package
    1: failed to download from `developer.nordicsemi.com/.../nrfutil-nrf5sdk-tools-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc-1.0.1.tar.gz`
    2: failed to get 200 response from `developer.nordicsemi.com/.../nrfutil-nrf5sdk-tools-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc-1.0.1.tar.gz`, got 410

Okay, so let's see what's going on under the hood. Putting that link in my browser (FireFox), yields:

Gone

The requested resource
/.pc-tools/nrfutil/nrfutil-nrf5sdk-tools-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc-1.0.1.tar.gz
is no longer available on this server and there is no forwarding address. Please remove all references to this resource.

Also tested with Chrome and Edge, same result.

Any system with so many scattered pieces is bound to lose a few now and then. But where did it go?

[Sigurd Hellesvik]

SteveHx said:

Error: Failed to install nrfutil-nrf5sdk-tools

Could you create a new ticket for this?

[SteveHx]

This is but one link in a long and winding chain of what should be a very simple process. I do not want to lose the context from above.

To get back to brass tacks: I need a simple utility I can offer to an end user of my product containing an nRF52832 or nRF52840 microcontroller, to allow him to update the application firmware in the device. There should be no need for him to install a whole development environment etc.

[Sigurd Hellesvik]

SteveHx said:

This is but one link in a long and winding chain of what should be a very simple process. I do not want to lose the context from above.

You can link to this ticket, and you can tag me in the new ticket. 
Then we will keep the context, and at the same time keep this ticket tidy.

[SteveHx]

Okay, I'm not sure what you mean by "tagging me", but it's ticket #357526.