SoftDevice for nRF5340

[PatGries]

A SoftDevice is software which implements a wireless protocol and the nRF51 and nRF52 series specifically mention them.  Since the nRF5340 has a dedicated network processor does that imply a SoftDevice is not used by the nRF53 series?

[run_ar]

Hi,

For the nRF53 series we are no longer providing a SoftDevice. Instead we are providing a SoftDevice controller as part of the new nRF connect SDK. There is a blog here comparing the two. As well as some more blogs and tutorials here: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nrf-connect-sdk-guides/

The latest nRF connnect SDK documentation can be found here: https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/index.html

[jose123]

Hi run_ar, this info is useful. However the latest documentation does seem to mention SoftDevice. If this is no longer true, it would be great if it were updated. Thanks!

https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/ug_nrf5340.html 

"...Currently, the nRF Connect SDK provides the following solutions for the network core:

• Bluetooth LE Controller - both the SoftDevice Controller and the Zephyr Bluetooth LE Controller...."

[run_ar]

Hi,

As mentioned this is the "Softdevice controller". Compared to the traditional Softdevice this is only the Controller part.

So for nRF52 series we provide a Softdevice binary that has a qualified controller (link layer) and host layer.

For nRF53, we provide the Softdevice controller (only link layer), which has to be combined with a host layer, i.e. zephyr host or BlueZ linux host. See https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/ug_ble_controller.html#softdevice-controller