About nrfjprog and nRF connect

[cpeng]

from this link

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/getting-started-with-nordics-secure-dfu-bootloader

I gathered that nrfjprog is for flashing bootloader and softdevice and nRF connect is for flashing the applications.

After reading this I got a few questions:

1.Can you use nRF connect to flash bootloader and softdevice as well?

2. What's the purpose of nRFGo Studio and nRFToolbox app?

3. In the link above, "D1. Flash bootloader and softdevice. Use nRFGo Studio or nrfjprog or the IDE to flash the softdevice first, then the bootloder. Verify the bootloader start advertising as "DFUTarg"."

What is "IDE" here? I use Segger embeded studio for nRF52840 DK. Does that mean I can use Segger to flash SD and BL? If so what are the steps?

4. Before flashing SD/BL/APP, Do we need to load one of the projects from  SDK\examples\dfu onto the board through J-link first?

Thanks!

[Heidi-Irene Harvey Sollie]

Hi!

 

1.Can you use nRF connect to flash bootloader and softdevice as well?

Yes, you can use the nRF connect for this, just use the SoftDevice or bootloader hex file. 

2. What's the purpose of nRFGo Studio and nRFToolbox app?

 nRFgo studio is deprecated. nRF Toolbox app is a container app for all of Nordics BLE apps. It contains the DFU app for updating your devices firmware. It also contains apps to test a few profiles. See here for more information.

What is "IDE" here? I use Segger embeded studio for nRF52840 DK. Does that mean I can use Segger to flash SD and BL? If so what are the steps?

Yes, IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment and can be for example Segger Embedded Studio or Keil. And you can use SES in the same way you use the Programmer application in nRF Connect to flash the SD or BL. Select Target -> Connect J-Link and then Download File -> Download Hex File... and select the hex file for either the SD or BL. 

4. Before flashing SD/BL/APP, Do we need to load one of the projects from  SDK\examples\dfu onto the board through J-link first?

Whenever your application uses BLE you have to flash the SoftDevice to the board first. If you flash a DFU example before flashing your own application, it will just get overwritten. I'm not sure what you're asking?

Best regards,

Heidi

[cpeng]

Hi thanks for replying. I wasn't very specific about question no.4 sorry for confusing you.

My goal is to flash application through USB (on nRF52840DK, it's port J3, not the J-link usb J2).

"4. Before flashing SD/BL/APP, Do we need to load one of the projects from  SDK\examples\dfu onto the board through J-link first?"

I was asking this to comfirm that we need to have USB UART set up first on J3 before we can use J3 to flash SD/BL/APP (download hex file onto the board), is that correct?

If so, do we need to load this project at "examples/dfu/open_bootloader/pca10056_usb_debug" onto the board through J2 first?

Thanks.

[cpeng]

Also just trying to confirm with you here, 

nrfjprog/nRF connect/SEGGER IDE  can ALL be used for flashing SD/BL/APP correct?

[Heidi-Irene Harvey Sollie]

Hi! Because of the holidays here in Norway, a lot of key staff are missing in our department. I don't know the answer at the top of my head, so you can expect an answer next week.

Best regards,

Heidi

[Heidi-Irene Harvey Sollie]

Hi again! If you are going to use the USB bootloader to load a new application or APP + BL + SD over USB then you have to flash the USB bootloader beforehand, yes. 

Does this answer your question?

Best regards,

Heidi