nRF Sniffer not working

[GBrownWong]

Hardware: Using the nRF52840 Development Kit

Software: Wireshark v2.6.10; nRF Sniffer software, nrf_sniffer_2.0.0-beta-3_12oct2018_1c2a221.zip; Python v2.7.16; Pyserial v3.4

Installed all of the software successfully. When I open up Wireshark and look at dropdown menu "View>Interface Toolbars" I see 2 nRF Sniffers. I selected both of them, but can't seem to capture data for them. I get an error window "Unable to init extcaps. (tmp fifo already exists?)". I tried uninstalling Wireshark and reinstalling it. but still see 2 nrf Sniffers.

Went through the Troubleshooting section of the nRF Sniffer User Guide v2.2 and everything was verified to be working correctly.

Can you recommend anything?

I'll try uninstalling all the software and reinstalling it to see if that helps. 

[GBrownWong]

I uninstalled all of the software, then reinstalled it. Now the Sniffer works!

Here's a step by step guide to what I did to get my Sniffer to work.

Using the following hardware:

1. nRF51 Dongle (PCA10031)
2. nRF52840 Development Kit (PCA10056)

Download the following software to the PC and install it:

1. Wireshark v2.6.10. Download the executable, Wireshark-win64-2.6.10.exe, and run it
2. nRF Sniffer software, nrf_sniffer_2.0.0-beta-3_12oct2018_1c2a221.zip.

Need to extract it. Copy the files in ..\nrf_sniffer_2.0.0-beta-3_12oct2018_1c2a221\extcap to folder C:\Program Files\Wireshark\extcap.

3. Python v2.7.16. Download and install python-2.7.16.amd64.msi.

In the terminal window type python <Enter>. Verify that the python version is 2.7. If not, you need to change the variable path for Python.

Control Panel>System Security>System>Advanced system settings>Environment Variables

In the “System variables” window, double-click on the Path.

Edit the Python variable paths and change them to Python27.

Select OK button. Select OK button. Select OK button. This closes all of the windows.

 

Copy the requirements.txt file from the ..\nrf_sniffer_2.0.0-beta-3_12oct2018_1c2a221\extcap folder to the C:\Python27\Scripts folder.

 

Open a terminal window. Change the current folder to C:\Python27\Scripts.

Install the python modules required for nRF Sniffer v2 by typing:

pip.exe install -r requirements <Enter>

 

4. Pyserial v3.4 or later. The file is pyserial-master.zip file. Extract the zip file.

 

Open a terminal window. Change the current folder to the one containing the setup.py file (should be in a “pyserial-master” folder where the pyserial-master.zip file was extracted).

Type: setup.py install <Enter>. The pyserial program should be installed.

 

5. Install firmware with SEGGER J-Link to nRF52840DK.
6. In Windows find the hex file that is used to program the board or dongle.

If using the NRF52840DK board, select the file sniffer_pca10056_1c2a221.hex.

If using the NRF51 Dongle, select the file sniffer_pca10031_1c2a221.hex.

 

1. Plug the board or dongle that is to be used as the Sniffer into a USB port of the PC. It should appear as a flash drive in File Explorer. Drag the appropriate hex file to the flash drive. The board or dongle is now programmed with the hex file.

 

Another, more complicated way to program the board or dongle is shown below.

1. Locate the directory where the SEGGER JLink.exe program is installed.

In our case the directory is C:\Program Files (x86)\SEGGER\JLink_V642b

 

1. Open a terminal window and change the current directory to the one containing the JLink.exe program.

Change the current directory to C:\Program Files (x86)\SEGGER\JLink_V642b by typing:

cd C:\Program Files (x86)\SEGGER\JLink_V642b. The prompt now displays “C:\Program Files (x86)\SEGGER\JLink_V642b”.

 

1. Start the JLink program.

Type: Jlink.exe <Enter>. The prompt changes to J-Link>.

 

1. Type: Connect <Enter>. The prompt changes to Device>.
2. Enter the name of the device used which is NRF52840_XXAA (NRF51422_XXAA if using the nRF51 Dongle).

Type: NRF52840_XXAA (or NRF51422_XXAA if using the nRF51 Dongle) <Enter>.

“Specify target interface: J) JTAG S) SWD  T) Cjtag” is displayed.

The prompt changes to TIF>.

 

1. Type: S <Enter>. The prompt changes to Speed>.
2. Type: 1000 <Enter>.

A bunch of lines, beginning with “Connect to target via SMD” and ending with “Cortex-M4 identified” should be displayed.

The prompt changes to J-Link>.

1. Program the NRF52840 DK with the hex file.

Find the folder where the hex files are stored under the Wireshark path. In our case the path is: C:\Program Files\Wireshark\extcap\nrfsniffer200beta312oct20181c2a221\hex\ sniffer_pca10056_1c2a221.hex. (or sniffer_pca10031_1c2a221.hex if using the nRF51 Dongle)

Type:

loadfile C:\Program Files\Wireshark\extcap\nrfsniffer200beta312oct20181c2a221\hex\ sniffer_pca10056_1c2a221.hex (or sniffer_pca10031_1c2a221.hex if using the nRF51 Dongle).

 

This didn’t work. I assume that the directory path was too long. Therefore, file sniffer_pca10056_1c2a221.hex was copied to folder “C:\Program Files (x86)\SEGGER\JLink_V642b then typed:

loadfile sniffer_pca10056_1c2a221.hex (or sniffer_pca10031_1c2a221.hex if using the nRF51 Dongle).

 

1. Reset the NRF52840DK (or NRF51422 Dobngle).

Type: r <Enter>

 

1. Run the firmware.

Type: g <Enter>

 

6. Open Wireshark and start collecting Bluetooth data with the Sniffer.
7. In the dropdown menu, select View>Interface Toolbars > nRF Sniffer.
8. In the dropdown menu, select Capture > Options.

 

Select the “Manage Interfaces” button to select which Interfaces to view. Select only the nRF Sniffer box, then select the OK button to close the window.

 

In the “Wireshark – Capture Interfaces” window, select the nRF Sniffer (which highlights it), then press the Start button. Note that the Start button doesn’t become selectable unless the nRF Sniffer is highlighted.

 

A window opens up. Select the appropriate button and Bluetooth data collected by the Sniffer should now be seen.

 

[Ruppie]

I am using the nrf52840 DK, too but i am using Version 3 of the release.

IWhile using wireshark 3.2 it always crashes or not getting any darta

By using Wireshark 3.0.7, all working fine

Hope that is usefull too

[demcanulty]

This was useful.  I ran into the same problems, saw this post, switched versions, and now it's running without any other changes.