App does not start from bootloader when it is programmed via jlink

[Aymen Rejeb]

Hi All,

Please, I would like to know why when using bootloader on nRF51822, the app does not start when it is being flashed with a debugger (I'm using the J-Link), however when programmed with MCP (Master Control Pannel) using DFU service every thing is alright and the app starts correctly?

The application is placed at 0x1C000 and it is exactly where the boot-loader expects it to be:

However when checking bootloader_settings->bank_0 flag, no valid application seems to be present:

Please note that the app is already flashed via J-Link:

Would you please confirm that when using DFU bootloader we can no longer flash the application using a debugger? and is there any alternative to handle that?

Kind Regards, Ayman.

manu_setting.PNG

bank_0.PNG

[Aravinth]

If you have erased the chip completely and flash everything, then you have to manually write VALID_APP after flashing. It could be done writing to bootloader settings using J-Link/nrfjprog or you can add it as a default bootloader setting in your firmware as

const uint8_t m_boot_settings[CODE_PAGE_SIZE] attribute((at(BOOTLOADER_SETTINGS_ADDRESS))) attribute((used)) = {BANK_VALID_APP};.

Have a look at this for more info.

If you flash only the firmware (bootloader and softdevice flashed separately) with --sectorerase, then bootloader setting will not be erased.

For example my bootloader settings are at 0x3fc00 and i do nrfjprog --memwr 0x3fc00 --val 0x01 -f NRF51 to booloader settings to have VALID_APP flag, if i have erased whole chip and flashed everything fresh.

[Aravinth]

If my answer works for you, please mark it as a correct answer by clicking the tick.

[Aymen Rejeb]

Hi Aravinth,

The first option, editing the bootloader settings in bootloader_util_arm.c (m_boot_settings <== BANK_VALID_APP) doesn't work for me, the p_bootloader_settings->bank_0 flag still zero initialized! However, doing it manually worked fine! see attached screen-shots.

Please note that I'm using SDK10 on nRF51822 (256 Ko Flash /16 Ko RAM).

Do you have any other suggestions that could fix this?

Thanks.

[Aravinth]

First option was suggested by Nordic and it didn't work out for me as well because i'm compiling with GCC SDK8. I was always manually writing the bootloader setting page, that is 255th page of 256 KB ROM. So it worked out for you as well. Please mark it as a correct answer by clicking the grey circular tick next to the answer.

[Aymen Rejeb]

Hi Aravinth,

Sorry to tell you that, but Nordic have absolutely right ;)

Actually, I was editing the wrong file! it is not bootloader_util_arm.c as mentioned here but the bootloader_settings.c

Kind Regards