nrfutil device (v2.9.0) packaging regression on Linux: Missing J-Link plugins/workers in lib/nrfutil-device break device discovery

[Pawel Iwaneczko]

Environment:

• OS: Linux (Ubuntu/Debian-based)
• Target MCU: nRF52840
• J-Link Version: SEGGER J-Link V9.24a (installed in the default path /opt/SEGGER/JLink)

Problem:
There is a critical packaging regression in nrfutil device on Linux from version 2.9.0 onwards.

• v2.4.0 up to v2.8.0: Works perfectly. nrfutil device list correctly detects the nRF52840 via J-Link.
• v2.9.0+: J-Link detection completely breaks. nrfutil device list is empty.

Root Cause:
Critical transport plugins, libraries, and binaries are missing from the ~/.nrfutil/lib/nrfutil-device directory in v2.9.0 compared to working versions.

• v2.4.0 / v2.8.0 (Working): Contains 10-nrfdl-jlink-plugin.nrfdl, jlinkarm_nrf_worker_linux, and libnrfjprogdll.so.
• v2.9.0 (Broken): These files are completely missing from the directory after installation.

Troubleshooting already performed:

• All system udev rules (Nordic and SEGGER) are properly set up.
• Standalone JLinkExe and nrfjprog have zero issues communicating with the nRF52840.
• Currently forced to pin nrfutil device to version 2.4.0 to keep the toolchain functional.

Is this an intentional deprecation/migration of the backend architecture under Linux, or is it a packaging/deployment bug in the 2.9.0 release? Any advice on how to restore J-Link support in newer versions would be highly appreciated.

[Simon D-M]

Hi,

We won't ever intentionally break a tool like this just to deprecate it.

I'm not sure about what version you are talking about... Are you talking about "NCS" versions, or directly "nrfutil device" versions ?

If you are talking about NCS version, nrfutil are only bundled in the toolchain with NCS version >= v3.1 (link). For NCS 2.9.0, please try to reinstall nrfutil from scratch (link).

Please keep me updated if that worked, and if you have more questions feel free to ask.

Best regards,

Simon D-M