Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 09:50:02 GMT

Vidar, the latter of what you said (Inactivity timer) is true. Thanks a lot for your help. God Bless you

I am sorry to ask multiple questions on the same thread. The way you put it, it seems right.

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:06:16 GMT

Ideally we want there to be one question and one correct answer per thread. Long threads are hard to follow for others who may be looking for the same answers.

Anyway. I'm not sure I understand your last question. Do you want the bootloader to fall back to DFU mode or boot the main app after a failed DFU attempt? The bootloader has an inactivity timer that expires after 2 minutes by default So the bootloader will not get stuck in DFU mode if you still have the old app in bank 0.

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 17:00:24 GMT

Hmm I will look into this and try this. Thanks a lot

Also, once again, I have another question 😛

Actually I keep assuming it's better than posting in a new thread and this is easier for the nordic team, but I am not sure.

So the question is that I was looking into Single vs Dual Bank

I play with NRF_DFU_FORCE_DUAL_BANK_APP_UPDATES and NRF_DFU_SINGLE_BANK_APP_UPDATES. In single bank mode I stop DFU in between and on restart I always see DFU Mode

For Double bank I always get the old application on re-start
My question is that is it possible for the bootloader to simply re-start the system if interrupted on DFU? Because we cant restart the devices in the field in case of a failed DFU. Even if we can, we dont want to. Is it possible to add that in the bootloader project using NVIC Reset?

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 08:51:16 GMT

Hi,

Thanks for the update. However, it should not be necessary to align the build configuration between the bootloader and app. The difference between release and debug in our projects is that debug disables code optimization and enables the DEBUG and DEBUG_NRF flag as you can see here:

  <configuration Name="Release"
    c_preprocessor_definitions="NDEBUG"
    link_time_optimization="No"    gcc_optimization_level="Optimize For Size" />
  <configuration Name="Debug"
    c_preprocessor_definitions="DEBUG; DEBUG_NRF"
    gcc_optimization_level="None"/>

Maybe your debug jlink settings file is corrupted. You can try to delete the *.jlink setting files in your project directory. SES will create a new setting file next time you start a debug session.

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 08:08:48 GMT

Hi Vidar. Our custom project was in debug mode, and the bootloader project is always in Release Mode. So both need to be in Release mode.

Although I don't know why that is necessary. Thanks a lot for all your help and patience :)

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 14:10:36 GMT

Just to confirm, you were able to reproduce this with the original unmodified SDK example as well (i.e. unmodified except for the bond configuration setting)? What SDK version do you use?

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 13:17:20 GMT

Yes I reproduced it with the original project as well. What do you think could be the issue then? I have also tried multiple Dev boards here.

and the settings page (with bonds enabled),

Is there a different BL settings page for bond enabled?

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 15:05:41 GMT

Hi,

I'm not sure if I have seen this error before. It's as if the debugger loses connection to the target. I was not able to replicate this here either. I programmed the bootloader, softdevice, buttonless template app and the settings page (with bonds enabled), and then stepped through the ble_dfu_buttonless_async_svci_init() function in main.

Are you able to reproduce this with the original projects?

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 09:11:54 GMT

Alongside this:

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 08:03:27 GMT

The CPU starts execution directly from the application's Reset_Handler when you use "Build & run", effectively bypassing the Softdevice and Bootloader. So please use "Build and Debug" instead. This will follow the project configuration and use address 0x0 as the entry point.

[quote user="AliMahmood123"]However, is this the same reason I am unable to debug a project with bonded bootloader, and it is unable to go past ble_dfu_buttonless_async_svci_init()? Am I to do something while generating the settings?[/quote]

Where does it hang? Can you post a screenshot showing the call stack and cpu registers?

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:55:45 GMT

Hi Sipan. Yeah I managed to solve the original issue actually

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 14:42:04 GMT

Okay so I have another finding related to this. When I simply Build & Run the example Bootloader project, it works. Shifting it to detect bonds does not work, it keeps restarting when trying to enabling BLE : app: Received an error: 0x00000003!

Okay so that's kinda obvious I think.

However, is this the same reason I am unable to debug a project with bonded bootloader, and it is unable to go past ble_dfu_buttonless_async_svci_init()? Am I to do something while generating the settings?

Moreover, By changing my main app project to without bonding, as well as non bonded bootloader, I am able to debug the application successfully, even without doing NO_VALIDATION on the settings page

So I am thinking it's got something to do with bonds

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 13:16:27 GMT

Hi Vidar

Sorry for the late reply. I figured out the DFU problem on my own, I replaced the bootloader project with my old one at it worked.

So this feature has gone successfully into our candidate release. However I still can't debug the project with NO_VALIDATION. Here's what the IDE shows me when I try to go past ble_dfu_buttonless_async_svci_init()

Btw I will get out of your hair after this one :)

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 13:19:50 GMT

Please make sure you have "Boot validation" disabled in your bootloader settings page when you are debugging.

$ nrfutil settings generate --help
Usage: nrfutil settings generate [OPTIONS] HEX_FILE

Options:
--family [NRF51|NRF52|NRF52QFAB|NRF52810|NRF52840]
                                  nRF IC family: NRF51 or NRF52 or NRF52QFAB
                                  or NRF52810 or NRF52840 [required]
--application TEXT              The application firmware file. This can be
                                  omitted ifthe target IC does not contain an
                                  application in flash.Requires --application-
                                  version or --application-version-string.
--application-version INTEGER   The application version.
--application-version-string TEXT
                                  The application version string, e.g.
                                  "2.7.31". Will be converted to an integer,
                                  e.g. 207031.
--bootloader-version INTEGER    The bootloader version. [required]
--bl-settings-version INTEGER   The Bootloader settings version.Defined in
                                  nrf_dfu_types.h, the following apply to
                                  released SDKs:
                                  |SDK12.0.0 - SDK15.2.0|1|
                                  |SDK15.3.0 -          |2| [required]
--start-address INTEGER         Custom start address for the settings page.
                                  If not specified, then the last page of the
                                  flash is used.
--no-backup                     Do not overwrite DFU settings backup page.
                                  If not specified, than the resulting .hex
                                  file will contain a copy of DFU settings,
                                  that will overwrite contents of DFU settings
                                  backup page.
--backup-address INTEGER        Address of the DFU settings backup page
                                  inside flash. By default, the backup page
                                  address is placed one page below DFU
                                  settings. The value is precalculated based
                                  on configured settings address
                                  (<DFU_settings_address> - 0x1000).
--app-boot-validation [NO_VALIDATION|VALIDATE_GENERATED_CRC|VALIDATE_GENERATED_SHA256|VALIDATE_ECDSA_P256_SHA256]
                                  The method of boot validation for
                                  application.
--sd-boot-validation [NO_VALIDATION|VALIDATE_GENERATED_CRC|VALIDATE_GENERATED_SHA256|VALIDATE_ECDSA_P256_SHA256]
                                  The method of boot validation for
                                  SoftDevice.
--softdevice FILE               The SoftDevice firmware file. Must be given
                                  if SD Boot Validation is used.
--key-file FILE                 The private (signing) key in PEM format.
                                  Needed for ECDSA Boot Validation.
--help                          Show this message and exit.

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:56:14 GMT

Im facing a super weird issue right now. The working example I had - Bonding + LESC DFU. To make it debug I just flash bootloader and then debug the main app. Doing that brings about the same result (system restart)

But when I merge BL settings + BL + APP + SD, I cant debug but the DFU happens.

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:44:08 GMT

Lets focus on the assert for now. Can you please read the error information from the app error handler when you have hit the flash breakpoint (i.e. error code, file name, and line number) ?

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:22:03 GMT

Sorry I meant that this happens after I attempt DFU. As soon as I press DFU, the program reaches NVIC_SystemReset(). After this restart it is expected for firmware to go into DFU mode right. Instead it just reboots the app

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:17:39 GMT

The program can't reach both NVIC_SystemReset() in the pwr module and the flash breakpoint NRF_BREAKPOINT_COND in one session. Can you read out the error information from the app error handler?

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 10:57:31 GMT

Okay so I managed to debug the project at least. I dont merge all files and then flash and debug. I flashed the bootloader and then started to debug the project.

The debugger reaches till NVIC_SystemReset() meaning the system does try to go into DFU mode.

if ((m_pwr_mgmt_evt == NRF_PWR_MGMT_EVT_PREPARE_RESET)
     || (m_pwr_mgmt_evt == NRF_PWR_MGMT_EVT_PREPARE_DFU))
    {
        NVIC_SystemReset();
    }

Anyways, the debugger hits NRF_BREAKPOINT_COND in app_error_fault_handler in app_error_weak.c and then restarts.

So I think the system should have gone into DFU mode at least, but either it didnt go or something else happened. Any thoughts?

I promise I am going to close the issue after this haha. We have a release pending with all these features actually

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 10:30:27 GMT

[quote user="AliMahmood123"]However, the same doesnt happen with Bonding + LESC. I spent a whole day today. Actually the code does start debugging but gets stuck on SVCALL sd_softdevice_vector_table_base_set which is called inside ble_dfu_buttonless_async_svci_init(). It's beyond me what is happening[/quote]

Can you post a screenshot showing the call stack, disassembly, and register view when it hangs?

[quote user="AliMahmood123"]In fact I get block verification error on j-link when debugging[/quote]

During debugging or when you try to flash the FW? Please post a screenshot of this as well.

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

sipan112 — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:18:21 GMT

Not enough information. Do you start the service twice? The lib should be able to restart the device into bootloader mode automatically if you use standard Nordic buttonless service and bootloader. You don't have to do it manually. Just start it when you are connected to your device, after that you may disconnect your app as the lib will take over the connection.
Error 133 is common in older devices, what devices are you using?

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 19:27:00 GMT

However, once again I hope you don't mind. I am facing another problem with LESC + Bonding. I can't debug the application 😞

So I have different copies of my project. DFU with and without bonding I can easily debug even when the application is changed by skipping the CRC check in the bootloader, it works!

However, the same doesnt happen with Bonding + LESC. I spent a whole day today. Actually the code does start debugging but gets stuck on SVCALL sd_softdevice_vector_table_base_set which is called inside ble_dfu_buttonless_async_svci_init(). It's beyond me what is happening

My thought is that I had to add a _crypto_start and _crypto_end symbol in linker script for nRF crypto to be properly enabled. These symbols were coming from the cc310.lib files. The same code works perfectly with flashing the hex file, but it doesnt work the same on debug. In fact I get block verification error on j-link when debugging

Regarding why I need to debug urgently. I added NUS service and did some custom changes with the Bonding + LESC DFU. After that, upon DFU, before nrf_pwr_mgt_shutdown is hit, the system restarts automatically. I just wanted to know what's causing that even before shutdown

So there I have two issues again 😞 But hopefully these will be the last ones

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 19:01:34 GMT

Hey Vidar. Changing the phone worked. Thanks a lot! You have been of great help

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

Vidar Berg — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 13:35:17 GMT

Generally It shouldn't matter what phone you use, but sometimes it does, no devices are perfect. Please let me know if you experience the same behavior with the dongle.

[quote user="AliMahmood123"]Also, what kind of timing issue it might be?[/quote]

It's hard to say. The disconnect during the transfer could be caused by drift on the LF clock (on either side of the link). A sniffer trace would likely provide some more clues.

RE: Soft device enable and disable - [DFU] disconnected by the remote device

AliMahmood123 — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:20:51 GMT

Yes I am using the same phone, does that matter? I have an old Nokia 6.1 Plus though. It's not a very recent phone

Okay I will try using nRF Connect and let you know, I'll use the dongle.

Also, what kind of timing issue it might be?