Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:05:16 GMT

Hi Bjorn, this one worked. No idea why my one didn't work originally after modifying everything. For anyone having similar problems to me here is a guide for running the twi_scanner example on nRF52811 hardware, if starting from a non-emulated project (i.e. pca10056):

.emProject file modifications

Right Click the project in the Project Explorer. In this case it will be named 'twi_scanner_pca10056'
Select 'Open Solution in Editor' from the menu that appears.
Change arm_fp_abi from "Hard" to "Soft"
Change arm_fpu_type from "FPv4-SP-D16" to "Soft"
Change arm_target_device_name from "nRF52840_xxAA" to "nRF52811_xxAA"
Add in any directories you might want to use to c_user_include_directories
Change in c_preprocessor_definitions:
1. BOARD_PCA10056 to your custom board
2. FLOAT_ABI_HARD to FLOAT_ABI_SOFT
3. NRF52840_XXAA to NRF52811_XXAA
Change debug_register_definition_file from "../../../../../../modules/nrfx/mdk/nrf52840.svd" to "../../../../../../modules/nrfx/mdk/nrf52811.svd"
Change linker_section_placement_macros:
1. FLASH_PH_SIZE=0x100000 to 0x30000
2. RAM_PH_SIZE=0x40000 to 0x6000
3. FLASH_SIZE=0x100000 to 0x30000
4. RAM_SIZE=0x40000 to 0x6000
Under <folder Name="None">
1. <file file_name="../../../../../../modules/nrfx/mdk/ses_startup_nrf52840.s" /> change to <file file_name="../../../../../../modules/nrfx/mdk/ses_startup_nrf52811.s" />
2. <file file_name="../../../../../../modules/nrfx/mdk/system_nrf52840.c" /> change to <file file_name="../../../../../../modules/nrfx/mdk/system_nrf52811.c" />

sdk_config.h modifcations

The reason I have included these is to use them as an example of the things you might have to change in a separate example.

NRFX_TWIM0_ENABLED from 0 to 1
NRFX_TWI0_ENABLED from 0 to 1
TWI1_ENABLED from 1 to 0
UART_LEGACY_SUPPORT from 1 to 0

In order to get things printing in the Debug Terminal

NRF_LOG_BACKEND_RTT_ENABLED from 0 to 1
NRF_FPRINTF_FLAG_AUTOMATIC_CR_ON_LF_ENABLED from 1 to 0
NRF_LOG_BACKEND_UART_ENABLED from 1 to 0

main.c modifications

Change your pin assignments

Thank you Bjorn for all your help.

I suggest Nordic provide clearer instructions in future for this kind of thing, as their instructions left out many things that Bjorn has helped with that are crucial for transferring examples to different hardware.

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 08:00:34 GMT

Attached is the modified project.

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../twi_5F00_scanner_5F00_sheddanl_5F00_modified.zip

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:51:46 GMT

With the changes I still hardfault immediately. Would you be able to attach the modified project so I can check if it runs on my board?

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 09:40:20 GMT

Found two errors in the project

The first error was that FLOAT_ABI_HARD was added under Code > Preprocessor > Preprocessor Definitions. This must be changed to FLOAT_ABI_SOFT. Without this change I was not able to compile the project.

Running the project I saw that it Hardfaulted immediately and I saw that the Stack pointer was way out of bounds so I check the FLASH and RAM settings and the second error was that the FLASH and RAM settings were still set as if the code was running on a nRF52840, i.e.

FLASH_PH_START=0x0
FLASH_PH_SIZE=0x100000
RAM_PH_START=0x20000000
RAM_PH_SIZE=0x40000
FLASH_START=0x0
FLASH_SIZE=0x2FFFF
RAM_START=0x20000000
RAM_SIZE=0x5FFF

If you compare this to another pca10056e peripheral project, see below, then you see that the physical size of FLASH and RAM are much lower. So changing the Code > Linker > Section Placement Macros to the one below

FLASH_PH_START=0x0
FLASH_PH_SIZE=0x30000
RAM_PH_START=0x20000000
RAM_PH_SIZE=0x6000
FLASH_START=0x0
FLASH_SIZE=0x30000
RAM_START=0x20000000
RAM_SIZE=0x6000

After this change the example runs with no issues on my nRF52811 board.

Best regards

Bjørn

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 23:45:19 GMT

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../thank_5F00_you_5F00_bjorn.zip

I am able to get examples working if I paste them into an already emulated example and import all the libraries etc, however, I'd like to understand what's happening here.

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 08:00:36 GMT

Can you attach your modified twi_scanner example? I would like to debug it on a nRF52811 board I have here.

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 19:25:26 GMT

This allowed the program to builld. If anyone is having the a similar problem with 'multiple definitions of UARTE0_UART0_IRQHANDLER'

set the flag UART_LEGACY_SUPPORT to 0 in your sdk_config.h file.

I am now met with another hard fault unfortunately. I've started with a fresh copy of twi_scanner and have performed the following steps on the pca10056 project to try and transfer it to the nrf52811 hardware:

Project Options -> Common -> Debugger -> Target Device -> nRF52811_xxAA
Project Options -> Common -> Preprocessor -> Preprocessor Definitions -> (changed NRF52840_XXAA to NRF52811_XXAA)
Project Options -> Common -> Linker -> Section Placement Macros -> (changed FLASH_SIZE to 0x2FFFF and RAM_SIZE to 0x5FFF)
Right click project -> Open Solution in Editor -> (change ses_startup_nrf52840.s to ses_startup_nrf52811.s and system_nrf52840 to system_nrf52811)
Project Options -> Common -> Code Generation -> (ARM FPU TYPE -> None, ARM FP ABI TYPE -> Soft)
Save and reload project
Add in my own custom board layout and edit the scl and sda pins
In the sdk_config.h file:
1. NRFX_TWIM0_ENABLED 1
2. UART_LEGACY_SUPPORT 0
3. NRFX_TWI0_ENABLED 1
Also in the sdk_config.h file to enable the debug terminal
1. NRF_LOG_BACKEND_RTT_ENABLED 1
2. NRF_LOG_BACKEND_UART_ENABLED 0
3. NRF_FPRINTF_FLAG_AUTOMATIC_CR_ON_LF_ENABLED 0

The program will then build and when I try to run it will give me a hard fault.

UPDATE: also be sure to change the register definiton file to nrf52811.svd

I also tried this with the fatfs example and I am met with the same hard fault

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 10:28:36 GMT

The nRF52811 does not have a TWIM1 instance, see Instantiation, so I think its related to your sdk_config.h.

In the twi_scanner main.c file you see that the instance is set by the sdk_config.h definitions.

/* TWI instance ID. */
#if TWI0_ENABLED
#define TWI_INSTANCE_ID     0
#elif TWI1_ENABLED
#define TWI_INSTANCE_ID     1
#endif

So just make sure that TWI0_ENABLED is set to 1 and TWI1_ENABLED is set to 0 in sdk_config.h

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 23:47:35 GMT

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../twi_5F00_scanner.zip

I believe I have altered things in the config file. Although forgive me, I can't remember exactly what.

Thanks very much

Could this have something to with the limitations on the bit length?

If so how can I make sure I use the correct length, as I am trying to use an SD card in SPI mode.

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 07:48:10 GMT

Have you altered the sdk_config.h file of the TWI scanner example for the pca10056? If you could share the modified project, then I can debug it here on my end.

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 20:10:07 GMT

This resolved the error, although I did not have the option for ARM FP ABI Type -> Soft, instead I used None.

I am trying to use the TWI scanner example, and now I am given the error:

'TWIM1_EASYDMA_MAXCNT_SIZE' undeclared (first use in this function); did you mean 'TWIM0_EASYDMA_MAXCNT_SIZE'?

In the file nrfx_twim.c

Is this related to my original issues?

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:55:05 GMT

Make sure that you set the ARM FPU type and ARM FP ABI Type to Soft in the Project settings

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:47:05 GMT

I have followed those steps and I am given the error:

Compiler generates FPU instructions for a device without an FPU (check __FPU_PRESENT)

I found the instructions unclear and hard to follow, could I have done something wrong to give me this error?

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 08:23:35 GMT

If your custom board has a nRF52811, then there is no wonder that the pca10056 examples hardfault as they are intended for the nRF52840. We emulate the nRF52811 on the nRF52840 DK, these projects are labled pca10056e, but in order to run these on actual nRF52811 HW instead then you need to modify the project.

Hence, I suggest that you read through the Developing for nRF52811 section on our Nordic Infocenter, specifically the Transferring the project to nRF52811 hardware that explains the necessary steps.

Best regards

Bjørn

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 02:07:32 GMT

I am programming my custom board through the nrf52 DK. Only the emulated examples work. I tried the pca10056 examples too but they hardfault when I try to run thm on the custom board. Only emulated examples are able to run on my custom board

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 07:00:01 GMT

[quote user="sheddanl"]Yesterday I did a fresh install of everything Nordic related and now I am able to get the pca10040e blinky example to program from Segger Embedded Studio using Debug and Release, however pca10040 does not work, it will give me a hardfault. This is the same with the TWI scanner for pca10040.[/quote]

So you're not able to run a pca10040 example on a nRF52811? If this is the case, then this is expected as the pc10040 examples are intended for the nRF52832. Or is the pca10040 example hardfaulting on a nRF52832?

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

sheddanl — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 18:55:28 GMT

Thank you for replying to my question :)

Yesterday I did a fresh install of everything Nordic related and now I am able to get the pca10040e blinky example to program from Segger Embedded Studio using Debug and Release, however pca10040 does not work, it will give me a hardfault. This is the same with the TWI scanner for pca10040.

I suppose my question is now why is the emulated project working for me but not the other?

RE: Programming custom board through SES corrupts host device's bootloader

bjorn-spockeli — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 13:02:59 GMT

Hi sheddanl,

[quote user=""]However, when I try to Start Execution while Debug has been selected, the DK will only show up as a corrupted USB device and is not able to flashed until I re-upload the bootloader software onto it. It is still able to be found by nRFgo Studio but it requires that I select a NRF51 device as it is unknown to the version of J-link software.[/quote]

nRFGo Studio is deprecated for the nRF52 Series. You need to use the nRF Programmer application in nRF Connect for Desktop, see nRF Connect Programmer. If you flash the bootloader to a nRF52 device, then the nRF52 will remain in bootloader mode even though an application has been flashed until a boootloader settings page is flashed to the nRF52, see Appendix 1 in https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/getting-started-with-nordics-secure-dfu-bootloader

Best regards

Bjørn