Issue in nrfutil to execute thread DFU on raspberry Pi3

[Jadeja]

Hello,

I am using "nRF5_SDK_for_Thread_and_Zigbee_v3.1.0_c7c4730" for NCP as well as other thread devices.
nrfutil version: 5.2.0
RPI3 image: RaspPi_OT_Border_Router_Demo_v3.1.0-1.alpha.img

I am using nRF52840 dongle for NCP device  which i attach with my RPI3.

I want to perform the DFU keeping the existing thread network working.

I have tried to do the thread DFU using nRF util in raspberry PI.

I get following output:

$ sudo python2.7 nordicsemi/__main__.py dfu thread -pkg ../../app_dfu_package.zip -p /dev/ttyACM1 --channel 24 --panid 4396
Address not specified. Using ff03::1 (all Thread nodes)
Using connectivity board at serial port: /dev/ttyACM1
2019-12-09 15:14:01,632 Failed to reset NCP. Please flash connectivity firmware.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "nordicsemi/__main__.py", line 1375, in thread
    transport.open()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nordicsemi/thread/tncp.py", line 224, in open
    raise Exception('Failed to reset NCP. Please flash connectivity firmware.')
Exception: Failed to reset NCP. Please flash connectivity firmware.

Meanwhile i have tried adding one more USB dongle and the same process but the result is same.

Note: NCP firmware is correct as well as i have double checked the Com port for USB dongles.

Do you have any documentation explaining the Thread DFU process using nrfutil also the implementation notes on thread COAP server will be very helpul.

[Marjeris Romero]

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. Are you running the unmodified NCP code from the SDK examples? I am afraid this example does not include any DFU code.

Take a look at the Thread Secure OTA DFU example if you want to test Thread DFU. You will need a nRF52840 DK to run the DFU server using nrfutil.

Best regards,

Marjeris

[Jadeja]

Hello Marjeris,

Is there any update?

[Marjeris Romero]

Hi Jadeja,

Yes, you need to use the nRF52840 DK for using 'nrfutil dfu thread', because the nrfutil needs to flash the connectivity software to the IC (which is not the same code as the NCP example under SDK/examples/thread/ncp/ftd/usb/hex) and it does this using the JLink onboard debugger.

Best regards,

Marjeris

[Jadeja]

Hello Marjeris, 

Thanks for the reply.

I have replaced my set-up with nRF52840 devkit, but now i am getting pc-ble-driver error while using with Raspberry-pi. 

I am able to start the ota from my linux PC. I guess now issue is PC-BLE-DRIVER version and it is proper installation.

Please see the log :

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ nrfutil dfu thread -pkg app_dfu_package.zip -p /dev/ttyACM1 --channel 24 --panid 4396
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/bin/nrfutil", line 6, in <module>
    from pkg_resources import load_entry_point
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pkg_resources/__init__.py", line 3251, in <module>
    @_call_aside
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pkg_resources/__init__.py", line 3235, in _call_aside
    f(*args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pkg_resources/__init__.py", line 3264, in _initialize_master_working_set
    working_set = WorkingSet._build_master()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pkg_resources/__init__.py", line 585, in _build_master
    return cls._build_from_requirements(__requires__)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pkg_resources/__init__.py", line 598, in _build_from_requirements
    dists = ws.resolve(reqs, Environment())
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pkg_resources/__init__.py", line 786, in resolve
    raise DistributionNotFound(req, requirers)
pkg_resources.DistributionNotFound: The 'pc_ble_driver_py>=0.14.0' distribution was not found and is required by nrfutil

Can you share the steps to install the PC-BLE-Driver into raspberry pi. I have asked it in my first post.

[Jadeja]

Hello Marjeris, 

Any Update on this ?

[Jadeja]

Hello Marjeris,

I have implemented the secure DFU over Thread network using my custom server-client which does not require to disturb the existing network set-up.

Most importantly it doesn't require NRF52840 devkit (J-TAG) to be used instead i have used nRF52840 dongle.

It will be great if you can share PC-BLE-Driver installation steps for other users, who will face issue in future.

Thanks

[Marjeris Romero]

Hi,

For future reference the installation steps for PC-BLE-Driver can be found here:  https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/pc-ble-driver

But it's also possible to use the pre-builded pc-ble-driver, and then you will not need to compile it yourself. Take a look at this guide here for the steps: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/52871/building-the-examples-in-pc-ble-driver-from-scratch/213557#213557

BR,

Marjeris

[AS_Kalpa]

Hi Jadeja!

I'm facing the same issue, I'd like to use a nrf52 dongle as DFU server.

Can you share your solution?

Thanks!