nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

kristofbo — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:41:36 GMT

The only workaround I found is to close JLink connection using "qc" command before flash programming.

Best regards,
Krzysztof

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

Kenneth — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 08:51:46 GMT

It looks like Jlink have communication errors (read error) when connected to the device, maybe reducing clock speed can help, but this may be an SEGGER Jlink issue. I can in any case report it, let me know if you find a solution or workaround. You may also consider reach out to SEGGER, I think it would help if you knew version this worked on.

Best regards,
Kenneth

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

kristofbo — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 11:06:27 GMT

Logs from running flash command, and attached log.log.

$ sudo nrfjprog -f nrf52 -r --program node_thread.hex --sectorerase --log
Segmentation fault

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../1018.log.log

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

Kenneth — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 09:33:58 GMT

Hi again,

Can you also run "nrfjprog" command with logging enabled? use --log and send us the log.log file?

nrfjprog -f nrf52 -r --program nrf52840_xxaa.hex --sectorerase --log

Thanks,
Kenneth

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

kristofbo — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 15:08:47 GMT

The problem appears on 6.60e as well. We didn't experience such issues some time before (maybe a year before) but I don't remember what version it was...

Machine 1:

$ nrfjprog --version
nrfjprog version: 10.7.0
JLinkARM.dll version: 6.64b

Machine 2:

$ nrfjprog --version
nrfjprog version: 10.6.0
JLinkARM.dll version: 6.64b

Issue occurs on both machines like above.

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

Kenneth — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:43:05 GMT

So if I understand it correctly this worked on previous version of nrfjprog/jlink (do you know which one?), but the latest 10.7.0/6.64b this does not work anymore? Or is it only 6.60e that fails?

[quote user="kristofbo"]I also found out, that the issue does not appear when I close JLink connection and quit using "qc" command before flash programming.[/quote]

It seems like conflict between jlink and nrfjprog, I can report it internally. Can you type nrfjprog --version just so I have that.

Best regards,
Kenneth

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

kristofbo — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:34:39 GMT

- Is it just one DK, or all of them?
We have several DKs, please see details below.

- Have you by any chance cut the solder bridges to measure current at any time?
No.

- Do you have such problems if you use another PC (e.g. with windows)?
We have such problem on several PCs, Ubuntu 18.04. We do not use it with Windows.

- What version is it of the nRF52840-DK?
These have problems described in this issue, running on Ubuntu 18.04:
* PCA10056 0.9.3 2017.44
* PCA10056 1.0.0 2018.49

On this one I cannot reprocuce this prolem so far, on Ubuntu 18.04:
* PCA10056 2.0.0. 2020.2

This one is running on Mac, had the same problems, but now it's working after upgrade to JLink V6.64b.
* PCA10056 1.1.0 2019.26

I also found out, that the issue does not appear when I close JLink connection and quit using "qc" command before flash programming.

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

Kenneth — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 14:25:55 GMT

Just to try to narrow it down:

- Is it just one DK, or all of them?
- Have you by any chance cut the solder bridges to measure current at any time?
- Do you have such problems if you use another PC (e.g. with windows)?
- What version is it of the nRF52840-DK?

Best regards,
Kenneth

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

kristofbo — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:15:18 GMT

I've just reproduced this problem again with MSDDisable previously called as you suggested and my laptop is still hanging on bootup, when such broken DK is attached to USB.

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

kristofbo — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 11:54:00 GMT

Hi,

Thank you for the information.

I've already updated to the newest JLin DLL version V6.64b.

Firmware on DK has been automatically updated to Firmware: J-Link OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi compiled Mar 17 2020 14:43:00, please see logs:

10:08 $ sudo JLinkExe -if swd -speed 9600 -device NRF52840_XXAA -autoconnect 1
SEGGER J-Link Commander V6.64b (Compiled Mar 20 2020 10:08:41)
DLL version V6.64b, compiled Mar 20 2020 10:08:28
Connecting to J-Link via USB...Updating firmware:  J-Link OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi compiled Mar 17 2020 14:43:00
Replacing firmware: J-Link OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi compiled Jan  7 2019 14:07:15
Waiting for new firmware to boot
New firmware booted successfully
O.K.
Firmware: J-Link OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi compiled Mar 17 2020 14:43:00
Hardware version: V1.00
S/N: 683122431
License(s): RDI, FlashBP, FlashDL, JFlash, GDB
VTref=3.300V
Device "NRF52840_XXAA" selected.

in general it looks more stable but unfortunately the problem appeared again while attempting to program firmware:

J-Link>
****** Error: Communication timed out: Requested 12 bytes, received 0 bytes !

I will call MSDDisable and hope this will help.

RE: nRF52840 DK permanent hang during flashing

Kenneth — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:20:31 GMT

Hi,

You can try to first download and install the latest j-link from here:
https://www.segger.com/downloads/jlink#J-LinkSoftwareAndDocumentationPack

I am not familiar with Linux, but typically you should use the jlink configurator tool to update to the latest firmware, as seen in this reply for instance:
https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/41192/where-to-download-j-link-ob-firmware-j-link-ob-sam3u128-v2-nordicsemi-170213-bin/225493#225493

Once that is done, you can also disable the DK to enumerate as a disk drive by calling MSDDisable as seen here:

Remember to power cycle the DK for the change to have an effect. This should prevent the PC to hang during startup.

Hopefully the above should make nrfjprog to work again and the PC to boot.

Best regards,
Kenneth