Thread DFU

[Jay]

I want to program the firmware into a nrf52840 on our custom board to be the NCP and do the DFU over thread. I can not use the DK board and have the nrfutil load the firmware.

I also need to be able to change the thread masterkey.  Is the source code available as an example. Or a precompiled Hex file I program into the 52840

I would prefer to have the source so I can add a serial bootloader and update the NCP itself in the future.

[Edvin]

Hello,

 

I can not use the DK board and have the nrfutil load the firmware.

 So what do you intend to use, then?

 

Is the source code available as an example.

 The source code for what? A project that changes the master key? I would have to double check this, but I don't think you can change the master key of the network after it has started. Or do you mean the Master key for the bootloader?

BR,
Edvin

[Jay]

I have a custom board with a nrf 52840 on it with a usb connection to a linux computer. I would like the source code to the NCP that talks to the nrfutil and does the DFU for a network. I would like to be able to use the usb serial to DFU the NCP code into the 52840. Then use the NCP to update the rest of the network. Then DFU my custom code back into the 52840.

Digging down into the nrfutil project I found the hex file for the ncp and how to set the thread network parameters. 

But the ncp hex file in thegithub nrfutil  project is not a DFU able project is it?

The NCP in the nrfutil also has the nordic IOT included to do the DFU correct?  Or is it just a standard thread NCP with COAP enabled?

Worst case I have to have 2 nrf52840 chips. One for the custom interface and one to do the DFU but that is not the preferred solution.

[Jay]

I also need this to have USB serial support.

Is this something Nrdic is going to support DFU over thread through a USB port. Or can you make the source code for the DFU NCP and I will add the USB myself.

[Edvin]

Hello,

Sorry for the late reply.

 

Jay said:

But the ncp hex file in thegithub nrfutil  project is not a DFU able project is it?

 It doesn't contain self-updates, no. But it is possible to update to and from this FW using a USB serial bootloader.

 

Jay said:

The NCP in the nrfutil also has the nordic IOT included to do the DFU correct?

 What do you mean by "the nordic IOT included"?

As I see it, it sounds like you have a couple of options.

1: If the Linux computer is a fairly strong computer, you could run nrfjprog from it, and program the nRF the "normal" way directly via the SWD pins. That would require something more than just the USB connected.

2: If only the USB being connected is a demand from your side, then you could program a USB bootloader to the nRF52840 connected to the Linux Computer. You can use this FW to switch between the NCP application and the DFU FW. Is that a possibility?

Best regards,

Edvin

[Jay]

Adding a bootloader to the NCP would be the option for us. Also as I understand it now the NCP is using the the serial port to communicate with the Segger chip on the DK board. Then the segger chip does the USB to serial translation.  We would need to add the USB serial functionality to the NCP.