OTA Thread DFU: Merge SDK example with custom application

[AS_Kalpa]

Hi all!

I'm able to fully test the SDK example https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fsdk_tz_v3.2.0%2Fthread_example_dfu.html and it works pretty well.

Now, the next step is the integration of this OTA DFU over Thread example in my custom application (that already exploits Thread and MQTT-SN protocol).

I haven't found a tutorial that explains step-by-step this kind of operation. 

Basically I need some help to integrate the DFU client with the user application. I think the key point is the IoT SDK CoAP library that implement a DFU algorithm that should run concurrently to the user application, but I'm a bit confused about merging process.

Thanks in advance,

Alessio

[AS_Kalpa]

I think I need some clarifications about flashing different FW components.

In order to have the OTA DFU example working, I have to flash:

• mbr_nrf52_2.4.1_mbr.hex (MBR)

• nrf52840_xxaa_mbr.hex (BOOTLOADER)

• dfu_client.hex (EXAMPLE HEX)

In order to have my application working, I have to flash:

• s140_nrf52_7.0.1_softdevice.hex (SOFTDEVICE)

• my_app.hex (APPLICATION HEX)

At the moment, I have merged the two application codes and, let's say, I have the  

my_app_DFU.hex

I have tried to flash all the components:

1. mbr_nrf52_2.4.1_mbr.hex (MBR)

2. nrf52840_xxaa_mbr (BOOTLOADER)

3. s140_nrf52_7.0.1_softdevice.hex (SOFTDEVICE)

4. my_app_DFU.hex (APPLICATION+DFU HEX)

I received back this when I flash the SD

and this when I flash the application

Moreover, the dongle is stucked with the green led lit up.

Maybe I am supposed to do some mergehex operations?

Thanks,

Alessio 

 

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

Hi,

You do not need to flash both the MBR and Softdevice HEX-files. The MBR is merged into the softdevice, and you will find that if you do a compare, the first page (0x0 - 0x1000) will be identical.

The Bootloader needs information about the application in order to verify that it is a valid application. This means that you either needs to generate the settings using nrfutil, or create a DFU packet of the application and "flash" it using the DFU process. 

I recommend that you follow the instructions in the Testing section of the Thread Secure OTA DFU Example, especially steps 3.c-d.

Best regards,
Jørgen 

[AS_Kalpa]

Hi Jorgen,

yes I noticed that my application had the ".autocommissioning = false" option, so it creates a thread network only with the border router active. I set it to true and now it sends the GET messages correctly.

But after 3 times, I receive this kind of error log:

Is it normal?

Moreover, when I tried to do the DFU process with a server, It has failed. I got the invalid init error.

The DFU process doesn't start at all, I can't get if this is a problem of the flashed FW or of the DFU procedure (the package or the settings). In my command prompt I can see this kind of error from the server side when I run

nrfutil dfu thread -f -pkg app_dfu_package.zip -p COM13 --channel 11 --panid 43981 --address fdde:ad00:beef:0:45de:6d18:9ea6:219b

Thanks in advance,

Alessio

[AS_Kalpa]

After some researches, I think that is a problems of keys as "prevalidation failed" probably depends on that. 

I'm not sure about using keys. 

What should I do with my custom app during these steps?

In my project I just generated the public key and copy-paste it in my project explorer

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

You should include the generated public key from step 1b in your custom app (replace it with the default file containing the debug-key). When you generate the DFU-package in nrfutil, you need to provide the private key generated in step 1a. This will allow the application (DFU client) to verify the package (signed by private key) using the public key that it have available.

[AS_Kalpa]

Sorry but I didn't get your point.

I generate the priv_key as 1.a and I use it when I generate the DFU package 

nrfutil pkg generate --hw-version 52 --sd-req 0xCA --application-version 2 --application SAMBA_Node_DFU.hex --key-file priv.pem app_dfu_package.zip

I generate also the public_key and I drag it into my project explorer.

I totally miss point 1.c as I don't have that path in my custom project

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

By default, the DFU client example uses our public debug-key, found in examples\dfu\dfu_public_key.c. This key only works with the test-images for BLE/serial DFU, found in examples\dfu\secure_dfu_test_images. If you did not include the file containing the debug-key in your project, it should work fine to drag in the generated public key like you describe. Including both or none of the files should give compile errors, so I guess that should not be the issue here.

[AS_Kalpa]

Ah ok, I thought that the public key was used also to generate the bootloader hex file.

I had a try generating a new  nrf52840_xxaa_mbr.hex (bootloader) file copying my new public key in examples\dfu\dfu_public_key.c but I keep having the "prevalidation failed" error.

I'm pretty sure this error has something to do with keys.

EDIT: I put a debug message to get which is the error cause

From nrf_dfu_req_handler.h I can see:

NRF_DFU_RES_CODE_INVALID_OBJECT          = 0x05,    //!< Data object does not match the firmware and hardware requirements, the signature is wrong, or parsing the command failed.

So I think that:

• Or it is a problem of keys and so I need some help to understand what is wrong in my approach
• Or it is a problem of --sd-req 0xCA (I put 0xCA cause my app exploits s140_nrf52_7.0.1_softdevice.hex but I don't know if it is the right approach since DFU example used --sd-req 0x00)

Thanks in advance,

AS 

[AS_Kalpa]

EDIT: Finally, with an hardcoded debug session, I found where my code failed

How can I solve "Signature failed" error?

I had the attention to use the same public key to compile bootloader and code, and the private key (from which I generated the public key) to create the app_dfu_package.zip

[AS_Kalpa]

UPDATE

I found that I didn't have this macro on my custom app

while It is present in the DFU example.

I added it and now the FW crashes when I start the DFU process.

The blue mark indicates where the crash happens.

I think that macro should be in my app, so the problem is that the app crashes.

Thanks in advance,

Alessio

[AS_Kalpa]

UPDATE

I think I found the bug finally.

My problem is that when the board starts the update, it starts erasing flash memory where there is the Softdevice so It crashes.

I had a try with a version of my application that doesn't exploit the SD and the DFU starts normally.

I think something must be changed in the DFU example code to adapt it with a custom application that includes the softdevice.

I don't wanna update also the SD, but just the application.

Do you have any ideas which are the required steps? 

I can attach the debug during the crash

Seems like there is a problem with 0x000FF000 memory slot, where there is the bootloader_settings_page

IIs it normal that the DFU application tries to erase settings memory space?

Moreover I don't know if it is normal this data when I generate the settings with

$ nrfutil settings generate --family NRF52840 --application SAMBA_Node.hex --application-version 1 --bootloader-version 1 --bl-settings-version 2 settings.hex

I think i'm using a bootloader compiled without the Softdevice options set...