12.1.0 nRF5 SDK Bootloader size issue

[RahulR]

I generated boot-loader (logging disabled) from SDK 12.1.0 for adding a signature check during DFU for nRF51

The problem I am facing is with the size of bootloader (hex file size 56,871 bytes).

Previously I was using bootloader (hex file size 40,050 bytes) generated from SDK 11.0.0

Application hex file size is 161,287 bytes

Soft device: S130: 305,123 bytes

While writing into flash through nRFgo Studio, I am following this sequence:

1. Upload Soft device hex file

2. Upload Application hex file

3. Upload bootloader hex file

On step 3 I am getting error "This hex file has data in SoftDevice region"

What are different ways to get over this issue?

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

nRFGo studio is deprecated and replaced by the programmer app in nRF Connect for Desktop. That might explain why you get the error. I would recommend using the nRF Connect Programmer app.

-Amanda H.

[RahulR]

Boot-loader and Soft Device files have overlapping data.

[RahulR]

I generated boot-loader hex file from SDK 12.1.0 with Public key added. I did not make any other changes.

[Amanda Hsieh]

If you only program the bootloader and the softdevice, could you see it advertising as DfuTest?

Is the Public key the same pair of the private key with the application?

-Amanda H. 

[RahulR]

It reads DfuTarg in the broadcast scan data

[RahulR]

Well, I repeated all the steps related to generation of keys to ensure that there is no mismatch. Yet Application is failed to operate normal.

[RahulR]

Another way I tried is, first I flashed Boot-loader and Soft Device through nrfConnect Programmer and then generated hex.zip package from Application hex file.

I used nrfConnect android App to flash .zip package.

It followed steps:

1. Connecting

2. Starting bootloader

3. Disconnected (Without initiating download)

I double checked the private key used to generate .zip package and same key was used to generate public_key.c file that was used to build the boot-loader. Yet I am getting failure in downloading .zip  package.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

RahulR said:

Yet I am getting failure in downloading .zip  package.

What is the error message? How do you generate the .zip package? What is the command? If you use s130_nrf51_2.0.1_softdevice.hex, you generate the pack with the command like this if you use the correct key:

nrfutil pkg generate --application dfu_test_app_hrm_s130.hex --application-version 1 --application-version-string "1.0.0" --hw-version 51 --sd-req 0x87 --key-file private.pem FW.zip

-Amanda H.

[RahulR]

I am using Soft Device s130 2.0.0. Below is the command used for generating .zip package.

nrfutil.exe pkg generate --hw-version 51 --application-version 0xFFFFFFFF --application application.hex --sd-req 0xfffe --key-file private.key %file_name%.zip

[Amanda Hsieh]

RahulR said:

I am using Soft Device s130 2.0.0.

 s130_nrf51_2.0.0 should use 0x80 for  --sd-req.

Could you try this?

nrfutil.exe pkg generate --application application.hex --application-version 1 --application-version-string "1.0.0" --hw-version 51 --sd-req 0x80 --key-file private.key %file_name%.zip

-Amanda H.

[RahulR]

Great!!

This change in the process of generation of .zip package resolves my issue.

Thanks for your patience and support.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Please kindly verify the answer to benefit other users. Thanks. 

-Amanda H.