DFU bootloader prevents to load app hex

RE: DFU bootloader prevents to load app hex

fab — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 14:34:28 GMT

Hi Hung Bui, Thank you, you saved my day. Generating the bootloader settings made the trick. I am now able to upload the app firmware both from nrfjprog and form my mobile app.

Maybe others are interested in the procedure that worked for me:

1) Erase the device: nrfjprog -e --family NRF52 
2) Generate the bootloader settings: nrfutil settings generate --family NRF52 --application pollen_device.hex --application-version 0x01 --bootloader-version 0 --bl-settings-version 1 bootloader_setting.hex
3) Upload the settings: nrfjprog --program bootloader_setting.hex --family NRF52 
4) Upload the bootloader: nrfjprog --reset --program nrf52832_xxaa_s132.hex --family NRF52 
5) Upload the softdevice: rfjprog --reset --program s132_nrf52_4.0.2_softdevice.hex --family NRF52
6) Upload the app firmware: nrfjprog --reset --program s132_nrf52_4.0.2_softdevice.hex --family NRF52

RE: DFU bootloader prevents to load app hex

Hung Bui — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 12:02:30 GMT

Hi,

I'm not so sure about the python issue, make sure you use python 2.7 also you can try using nRFConnect application to do DFU.

If you plan to merge application, bootloader, softdevice, you can follow my guide here at appendix 1.

RE: DFU bootloader prevents to load app hex

fab — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 08:46:25 GMT

Anyone? I stuck here. Is there any way to upload the app firmware once the bootloader is loaded without switching the bootloader in DFU mode? This is not a trivial question. I need a procedure to upload bootloader, softdevice and my own firmware for mass production and using DFU is not an option.

RE: DFU bootloader prevents to load app hex

fab — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:39:11 GMT

Thanks, Aaron. As far as I understand, I cannot upload the app firmware using the nfrjprog anymore but I have to use the nrfutil. I have prepared the pkg file as usual:

nrfutil  pkg generate --hw-version 52 --sd-req 0x98 --application-version 0x01 --application pollen_device.hex --key-file priv.pem pollen_device_fw.zip.

Then I have tried: nrfutil dfu ble -pkg pollen_device_fw.zip -ic NRF52

but I get this error: Fatal Python error: PyThreadState_Get: no current thread Abort trap: 6. I am on macOS 10.13.1. Is this the right procedure? Any suggestion?

RE: DFU bootloader prevents to load app hex

Aaron — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:17:59 GMT

If you have a bootloader, the bootloader checks your app against the bootloader settings. You need to flash updated settings when you update the app or else the bootloader won't switch to it. You need the nrfutil utility downloaded from Nordic, and "nrfutil settings generate ..." will generate a hex file to flash.

RE: DFU bootloader prevents to load app hex

fab — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 15:32:58 GMT

Hi Hung Bui,

Thank you. You are right, my family option is wrong. It should be NRF52. Now my app firmware uploads correctly. Unfortunately, the device remains in DFU mode and the app doesn't start even turning the device off and then on.

RE: DFU bootloader prevents to load app hex

Hung Bui — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 14:56:29 GMT

Hi Fab,

Shouldn't the family be NRF52 instead of NRF5 ?

nrfjprog --reset --program pollen_device.hex --sectorerase --family NRF52