Updating nrf9160 modem firmware through the command line

[RonanB96]

We are producing a batch of nrf9160 based devices and will need to upgrade the modem firmware, this will be much easier if we could do this through the command but I saw on modem firmware version 1.0.0  and after, you no longer provide a flashing tool and recommend nRF Programmer.

Can the old nrf9160_mdm_dfu be used with the newer modem firmware or how would you recommend upgrading modems through the command line?

[Sigurd]

Hi,

It's possible to use a python script with pynrfjprog to flash the modem. 

Simple example:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
#
# Copyright (c) 2019 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-BSD-5-Clause-Nordic


from pynrfjprog import HighLevel
api = HighLevel.API()
api.open()
snr = api.get_connected_probes()
for s in snr:
    probe = HighLevel.IPCDFUProbe(api, s, HighLevel.CoProcessor.CP_MODEM)
    probe.program("mfw_nrf9160_1.0.1.zip")
    probe.verify("mfw_nrf9160_1.0.1.zip")
    print("Done")
 
api.close()

With threading[experimental]

#!/usr/bin/env python3
#
# Copyright (c) 2019 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-BSD-5-Clause-Nordic

from pynrfjprog import HighLevel
import threading
 
class myThread (threading.Thread):
   def __init__(self, threadID, name, counter):
      threading.Thread.__init__(self)
      self.threadID = threadID
      self.name = name
      self.counter = counter
   def run(self):
      print ("Starting " + self.name)
      update_fw(self.name)
      print ("Exiting " + self.name)
 
def update_fw(snr):
    print("updating FW in {}".format(snr))
    probe = HighLevel.IPCDFUProbe(api, int(snr), HighLevel.CoProcessor.CP_MODEM)
    print("{} probe initialized". format(snr))
    probe.program("mfw_nrf9160_1.0.1.zip")
    print("{} programmed".format(snr))
    probe.verify("mfw_nrf9160_1.0.1.zip")
    print("{} verified".format(snr))
 
# Create new threads
api = HighLevel.API()
api.open()
devices = api.get_connected_probes()
threads = list()
for idx, device in enumerate(devices):
    threads.append(myThread(idx, device, idx))
 
# Start new Threads
for thread in threads:
    thread.start()
 
print("waiting for all threads to complete")
#wait for threads to finish
for t in threads:
    t.join()
 
api.close()
print("Exiting Main Thread")

[RonanB96]

I'm having issues with the DLL file on "HighLevel.IPCDFUProbe(...)", I'm on Linux so guessing it means the .so file

import argparse
import os
from pynrfjprog import HighLevel


def main():
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Update modem firmware of nrf9160 devices.')
    parser.add_argument('-f', '--firmware', dest='firmware', type=str, help='Absolute path to modem firmware zip')
    args = parser.parse_args()
    if args.firmware is None:
        print("ERROR: Path to firmware was not given")
        return -1
    if not os.path.exists(args.firmware):
        print("ERROR: {} does not exist".format(args.firmware))
        return -1

    api = HighLevel.API()
    api.open()
    snr = api.get_connected_probes()
    for s in snr:
        probe = HighLevel.IPCDFUProbe(api, s, HighLevel.CoProcessor.CP_MODEM, jlink_arm_dll_path="/opt/nrfjprog")
        probe.program(args.firmware)
        probe.verify(args.firmware)
        print("Done")

    api.close()
    return 0


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

I get -100 JLINKARM_DLL_NOT_FOUND when I point to a folder containing some .so files. I also tried pointing to /opt/SEGGER/Jlink

I get -151 NRFJPROG_SUB_DLL_COULD_NOT_BE_OPENED if don't specify the path

[Sigurd]

What version of nrfjprog and pynrfjprog are you using ?

There are some reported issues with nrfjrpog 10.4.0 on Linux, so at the moment you should try to use 10.3.0 on linux for nrfjprog and pynrfjprog.

It could be that you have an older pynrfjprog installed. Try to run this:

pip3 install pynrfjprog==10.3.0 -U

[RonanB96]

Ok that seemed to work, is there a way to add some debug information during the flashing and verifying?

I see within IPCDFUProbe, logging is enabled by default but I don't see any logging

[Sigurd]

Hi,

RonanB96 said:

is there a way to add some debug information during the flashing and verifying?

Yes.

Take look at this file. Logging level is set to INFO here.

#!/usr/bin/env python3
#
# Copyright (c) 2019 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-BSD-5-Clause-Nordic

import os
import time
import argparse
import subprocess
import logging
from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory, mkstemp
from pynrfjprog import HighLevel

logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
log = logging.getLogger('modem_update')


def flash_modem_pkg(modem_zip, verify):
    start = time.time()
    with HighLevel.API(True) as api:
        snr = api.get_connected_probes()
        for s in snr:
            log.info("Establish board connection")
            log.info(f"Flashing '{modem_zip}' to board {s}")
            with HighLevel.IPCDFUProbe(api, s, HighLevel.CoProcessor.CP_MODEM) as probe:
                log.info(f"Programming '{modem_zip}'")
                probe.program(modem_zip)
                log.info("Programming complete")
                if verify:
                    log.info("Verifying")
                    probe.verify(modem_zip)
                    log.info("Verifying complete")
        api.close()
        log.info(f"Completed in {time.time() - start} seconds")

def main():
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
    parser.add_argument("modem_pkg")
    args = parser.parse_args()
    log.info("Modem firmware upgrade")
    flash_modem_pkg(args.modem_pkg,True)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

(Using f-Strings(introduced in python 3.6))