Combining DFU bootloader with application that doesn't use softdevice.

RE: Combining DFU bootloader with application that doesn't use softdevice.

JenR — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 14:13:31 GMT

Thanks, I changed the linker script of my application to start at the correct memory address. I also changed the RAM start so it doesn't interfere with the softdevice. Now it is working!

RE: Combining DFU bootloader with application that doesn't use softdevice.

Turbo J — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:44:19 GMT

Use a linker script from the BLE examples.

RE: Combining DFU bootloader with application that doesn't use softdevice.

JenR — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:41:39 GMT

I do want to use BLE to do the DFU. My application does not use BLE. The idea is that my application decides when to enable the bootloader DFU with a softreboot (and setting the GPREGRET register). When the DFU is activated I can use BLE to connect to the DfuTarg and do the update.

RE: Combining DFU bootloader with application that doesn't use softdevice.

JenR — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:38:21 GMT

Hmm I was afraid this would not be that simple. Any idea on how to link the binary to a specific address? I am using the arm-none-eabi-gcc compiler.

RE: Combining DFU bootloader with application that doesn't use softdevice.

Turbo J — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:18:24 GMT

[quote userid="66784" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/55323/combining-dfu-bootloader-with-application-that-doesn-t-use-softdevice"]I used the srec_cat tool to offset my binary from 0x0000000 to ox00026000. [/quote]

VERY bad idea. Cortex-M binaries are linked on a specific address and will not work anywhere else in flash. You need to re-compile (or at least re-link) your application for the new 0x260000 start address.

RE: Combining DFU bootloader with application that doesn't use softdevice.

Amanda Hsieh — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:16:49 GMT

Hi,

You cannot use the secure_bootloader_ble to update with the application that doesn't use the SoftDevice.

You should use Secure DFU Bootloader over Serial Link (UART/USB) e.g. pca10040_uart instead if you don't use BLE.

-Amanda H.

RE: Combining DFU bootloader with application that doesn't use softdevice.

JenR — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 12:50:17 GMT

Just to clarify, below you can see the memory usage of the working ble_app_buttonless example. The buttonless example is written from 0x00026000 to 0x000329E8. The other occupied space is the bootloader and the softdevice I guess.

Below is my application, it also starts at 0x00026000, the bootloader and softdevice (which is not used by my application) are also present. I would assume the bootloader gives control to the softdevice and the softdevice will give control to the application at address 0x00026000, which is where my application is.