Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

RE: Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

bjorn-spockeli — Thu, 07 May 2020 14:47:22 GMT

Hi Dave,

Happy to hear that things are now working fine.

Best regards

Bjørn

RE: Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

SleepingDog — Thu, 07 May 2020 13:40:28 GMT

I have made a number of changes and it appears to be working now:

1) Changed NRF_BL_DFU_ENTER_METHOD_BUTTON from 1 to 0 in sdk_config.h

2) Changed NRF_BL_DFU_ENTER_METHOD_BUTTONLESS from 0 to 1 in sdk_config.h

3) Changed the way I was requesting DFU in my app from

    sd_power_gpregret_clr(0, 0xFF);
    sd_power_gpregret_set(0, 1);
    sd_nvic_SystemReset();

to:

    uint32_t value;
    sd_power_gpregret_get(0, &value);
    value |= BOOTLOADER_DFU_START;
    sd_power_gpregret_set(0, value);
    sd_nvic_SystemReset();

using the macro definition for BOOTLOADER_DFU_START taken from a bootloader header file.

The combination of the above seems to have fixed the problem.

I will close this ticket after I have performed more extensive testing.

Regards to all.

Dave

RE: Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

SleepingDog — Thu, 07 May 2020 12:39:06 GMT

Further info.

I've added some code to turn LEDs on when various events happen. I'm finding that it is getting into this piece of code:

  static bool dfu_enter_check(void)
  {
    .
    .
    .
    if (NRF_BL_DFU_ENTER_METHOD_GPREGRET &&
       (nrf_power_gpregret_get() & BOOTLOADER_DFU_START))
    {
        NRF_LOG_DEBUG("DFU mode requested via GPREGRET.");  <<< Gets here

So it looks like GPREGRET is still set. I set it in my app when I want to go into DFU mode. How is that flag supposed to get cleared?

RE: Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

SleepingDog — Wed, 06 May 2020 14:40:41 GMT

Thanks Bjørn

I've changed the order of events in my flashing script to what you suggested, and added the sectorerase option when flashing the bootloader setting, but it still works the same way.

I can't seem to set a breakpoint in that function, though (using SES). I get the ? in the breakpoint dot. I can set a breakpoint where it is called in nrf_bootloader_init() where it is called, though, but when I single step it does not seem to go into dfu_enter_check(). Very strange.

Dave

RE: Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

bjorn-spockeli — Wed, 06 May 2020 13:59:43 GMT

Hi David,

the correct flashing order is

nrfjprog --eraseall

nrfutil settings generate --family NRF52840 --application emf_firmware_pca10056_s140.hex --application-version 1 --bootloader-version 0 --bl-settings-version 2 bootloader_setting.hex

nrfjprog --program s140_nrf52_6.1.1_softdevice.hex -f NRF52

nrfjprog --program secure_bootloader_ble_s140_pca10056.hex -f NRF52

nrfjprog --program bootloader_setting.hex --sectorerase -f NRF52

nrfjprog --program emf_firmware_pca10056_s140.hex -f NRF52

nrfjprog --reset

The bootloader settings should set the bank 0 bank code to NRF_DFU_BANK_VALID_APP(0x01) and the bootloader should see this on boot and jump to the application.

Can you set a breakpoint in the app_is_valid if statement in dfu_enter_check() in nrf_bootloader.c to see if dfu_enter_check returns false?

static bool dfu_enter_check(void)
{
    if (!app_is_valid(crc_on_valid_app_required()))
    {
        NRF_LOG_DEBUG("DFU mode because app is not valid.");
        return true;
    }
    
    .
    .
    .
}

Best regards

Bjørn

RE: Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

SleepingDog — Wed, 06 May 2020 13:25:20 GMT

I have some updated information.

Within my firmware app I have code that allows the user to switch to DFU mode so that they can upload a new firmware app via BLE DFU. If I go into DFU mode using that method and then run my script to erase all and flash everything it will not launch the app unless I power cycle the board after running my script. Once the board has been powered down and back up I can reflash everything over and over again and it always works.

So to be clear, here is the sequence:

1) f/w app running, go into DFU mode (see code below), flash SD/BL/APP (using nrfjprog) => bootloader still running and advertising for DFU

2) power cycle board => firmware app launches ok

3) flash SD/BL/APP (using nrfjprog) => firmware app is running

Can repeat step 3 and always works

This is what I'm doing within my firmware app to go into DFU mode:

    sd_power_gpregret_clr(0, 0xFF);
    sd_power_gpregret_set(0, 1);
    sd_nvic_SystemReset();

Perhaps there is a better (proper?) way of getting into DFU mode?

RE: Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

SleepingDog — Tue, 05 May 2020 22:39:49 GMT

Thanks for the idea. I tried that, but no change in behaviour I'm afraid.

RE: Unable to get app to run when flashing BL, SD and App via nrfjprog

Turbo J — Tue, 05 May 2020 19:45:21 GMT

Try flashing the bootloader settings after flashing the bootloader and firmware. Otherwise these will get overwritten.