DFU + SD + APP Programming Via External Programmer

RE: DFU + SD + APP Programming Via External Programmer

aa — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 01:30:40 GMT

Amanda, thank you! your recommendation about merging the hex files worked like a charm.

A recommendation for future reference in case anyone out there having the same issues; make sure that when you generate your bootloader settings file using the 'nrfutil settings generate' command, you specify the --application and --key-file flags, otherwise the bootloader will mark the flashed application as invalid and won't execute it.

nrfutil settings generate --key-file private.key --application /path/to/application.hex ....other settings....

RE: DFU + SD + APP Programming Via External Programmer

Amanda Hsieh — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 09:52:49 GMT

Hi,

It could be that when the softdevice is programmed, the bootloader start address that is written to MBR, is overwritten.It will then don't jump to the bootloader at startup, because the MBR does not think there is a bootloader present.

A solution could be to merge all the hex-files, with mergehex, and then program the combined hex. Please see this post and this.

-Amanda H.

RE: DFU + SD + APP Programming Via External Programmer

aa — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 21:26:43 GMT

Hi Amanda,

The problem is that programming the binaries at the addresses defined in the .cfg file using the Cyclone FX programmer doesn't seem to execute the bootloader, instead, it jumps straightaway to the user app. Entering into bootloader mode via NRF_POWER->GPREGRET = 0xB1 doesn't work either.

As I mentioned in the original post, I suspect it is something related to my settings.hex file (or lack of another config file) because if the same binaries are programmed using nrfjprog, everything works as expected (bootloader runs first, then jumps to the user app, and I can enter bootloader mode via NRF_POWER reg).

I guess I can rephrase the question: 'Is there any config file/flag that I'm missing that is preventing the bootloader from running?" Why is the app being executed straightaway?

Thanks.

RE: DFU + SD + APP Programming Via External Programmer

Amanda Hsieh — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 12:45:34 GMT

Hi,

[quote user=""]Everything works fine if programmed via nrfjprog.[/quote]

I don't understand the problem. Do you mean the issue only happened while using the Cyclone FX programmer?

-Amanda H.