Thread DFU

RE: Thread DFU

Jay — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 16:50:34 GMT

Thanks I did not realize the coap was done with spinel.

RE: Thread DFU

Edvin — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 15:22:03 GMT

Hello,

That is true. nrfutil will probably by default use the serial (UART) interface between the programmer chip and the nRF52840.

It looks like the hex file that is programmed to the nRF52840 by nrfutil is just a default NCP example from the nRF5 SDK.

However, I have some good and some bad news. I set up a Thread DFU test, using 2x nRF52840 DKs.

Normal DFU using nrfutil and "nrfutil dfu thread -f ..." works just fine.

Then I tried to flash the thread\ncp\ftd\uart example, and then the "nrfutil dfu thread ..." without the -f flag works as well.

However, when I tried the ncp\ftd\usb example, it doesn't work out of the box using nrfutil. It throws an error saying it can't reset the device, so it looks like you need to do some changes to nrfutil.

So the bad news are that you need to do some modifications and rebuild nrfutil. The good news is that you can use the default NCP example from the SDK.

If you can use this example for everything you need to do with the connected USB device, then you are almost there already. If you need to use another project, you need to add a USB bootloader that you can use to change between the NCP example and your custom project.

nrfutil's source code is available here:

https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/pc-nrfutil

Best regards,

Edvin

RE: Thread DFU

Jay — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:40:34 GMT

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.

RE: Thread DFU

Edvin — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 14:58:51 GMT

Hello,

Sorry for the late reply.

[quote user="jnorrish"]But the ncp hex file in thegithub nrfutil project is not a DFU able project is it?[/quote]

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

[quote user="jnorrish"]The NCP in the nrfutil also has the nordic IOT included to do the DFU correct?[/quote]

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

RE: Thread DFU

Jay — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 20:00:22 GMT

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.

RE: Thread DFU

Jay — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:03:48 GMT

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.

RE: Thread DFU

Edvin — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 14:04:14 GMT

Hello,

[quote user=""]I can not use the DK board and have the nrfutil load the firmware.[/quote]

So what do you intend to use, then?

[quote user=""]Is the source code available as an example.[/quote]

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