RE: How to DFU the SD from 7 to 8

Stefan Birnir Sverrisson — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 14:32:14 GMT

Perhaps it is time to answer this question properly :)

With S110 7 and bootloader from SDK 7, softdevice and bootloader updates were possible with an over the air update. This means that if you have i.e. S110 7 + bootloader from SDK 7, it is possible to update the device over the air (via Master Control Panel for Windows PC or nFR Toolbox app for Android, IOS or Windows phone) to contain S110 8 and bootloader from SDK 8 or SDK 9.

PART 1: Flashing softdevice+bootloader+application to the device

If you merge e.g. the following files with mergehex.exe

s110_nrf51822_7.3.0_softdevice.hex
BL7_1.hex
ble_app_bps_SDK_7_1_0.hex
app_valid_setting_apply.hex

into one file

SD_BL_APP_valid.hex

with the following command sequence:

mergehex --merge s110_nrf51822_7.3.0_softdevice.hex BL7_1.hex --output SD_BL.hex
mergehex --merge SD_BL.hex ble_app_bps_SDK_7_1_0.hex --output SD_BL_APP.hex
mergehex --merge SD_BL_APP.hex app_valid_setting_apply.hex --output SD_BL_APP_valid.hex

and then flash the file onto your nRF51-DK board (PCA10028) using nrfjprog.exe with

nrfjprog --program SD_BL_APP_valid.hex

then the ble_app_bps application should be advertising on your nRF51-DK.

Another method of obtaining the same thing without merging the files is with flashing the 4 files directly with the following command sequence:

nrfjprog --eraseall
nrfjprog --dfu --programs s110_nrf51822_7.3.0_softdevice.hex
nrfjprog --program BL7_1.hex
nrfjprog --program ble_app_bps_SDK_7_1_0.hex
nrfjprog --program app_valid_setting_apply.hex

It is also possible to upload softdevice and bootloader with nrfgo Studio. The steps are shown on this thread.

PART 2: Creating the softdevice 8 + bootloader 8 zip file

If you now want to update the device over the air to contain e.g. S110 8 and bootloader from SDK 8.1, you must first create a zip file that contains the new S110 8 and bootloader 8.1. Use the nrf.exe tool to create this and follow this description. With the following S110 file and bootloader file

s110_nrf51_8.0.0_softdevice.hex
BL8_1.hex

it is possible to create a zip file with the following command

nrf dfu genpkg --bootloader BL8_1.hex --softdevice s110_nrf51_8.0.0_softdevice.hex --application-version 0xffff --dev-revision 0xff --dev-type 0xff --sd-req 0xfffe SD_8_BL_8_1.zip

which should create this zip file

SD_8_BL_8_1.zip

PART 3: Upload the zip file to the device

Now you can upload the zip file to the device via Master Control Panel for PC, or nRF Toolbox for Android, IOS or Windows Phone which will make the device start bootloader 8.1 when upload is complete. Before uploading the file, you must start the device in bootloader mode by power-resetting the nRF51-DK board while pushing Button_4. LED_1 and LED_3 should light up to indicate that the device is in bootloader mode.

RE: How to DFU the SD from 7 to 8

Alex — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 16:51:07 GMT

Stefan, will the process using nrfjprog explained by you here enable SD protection and prevent programming future SD?

RE: How to DFU the SD from 7 to 8

Stefan Birnir Sverrisson — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 16:45:18 GMT

Perhaps following the steps given in my answer on this thread helps. Notice step 4: Deselect "Enable softdevice protection", it is a common pitfall.

RE: How to DFU the SD from 7 to 8

sara — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 02:10:37 GMT

I also have this problem, I've tried using .zip file but got the error message.

RE: How to DFU the SD from 7 to 8

jimlin — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 03:41:32 GMT

Could anyone show me the guide?

RE: How to DFU the SD from 7 to 8

jimlin — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 10:20:39 GMT

As what you said, it should be OK if I used 7.1 but it still run the same error.

RE: How to DFU the SD from 7 to 8

Alex — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 08:03:46 GMT

I'd like to know the answer on your question as well because I will come across to this situation soon. The way you tried doesn't work because bootloader from 7.0 doesn't work with new SoftDevice 8.0 so both have to be loaded at the same time if possible at all. ZIP file can be the answer then. Look forward to full explanation.