nRF Progammer v2.3.3

[Learner]

Hello,

While programming my board with a merged.hex I sometimes see some differences at the end of the Programmer log.

Sometimes the log ends like this,

2022-03-25T14:05:24.026Z DEBUG Usage data has been sent
2022-03-25T14:05:24.026Z INFO Loading readback protection status for Application core
2022-03-25T14:05:24.662Z INFO Readback protection status: NRFDL_PROTECTION_STATUS_ALL
2022-03-25T14:05:24.671Z INFO Parse memory regions for Application core
2022-03-25T14:05:24.675Z INFO Device is loaded and ready for further operation

and other times it ends like this,

2022-03-25T13:49:15.964Z DEBUG Usage data has been sent
2022-03-25T13:49:15.964Z INFO Loading readback protection status for Application core
2022-03-25T13:49:16.725Z INFO Readback protection status: NRFDL_PROTECTION_STATUS_NONE

The programming of the target board looks as if it succeeded but I am concerned something else went wrong e.g. the SoC protection is not enabled.

Which of the two programming sessions have completed successfully?

Does it mean I need to reprogram the boards when I get NRFDL_PROTECTION_STATUS_NONE?

Can someone please explain what is going on here? 

Thank you.

Kind regards

Mohamed

[Simonr]

Hi Mohamed

Are you programming multiple boards and are seeing the different "PROTECTION_STATUS" messages on different boards? If so, you might have different revisions of the nRF52833 SoCs. Some with and some without the readback protection.

Best regards,

Simon

[Learner]

Hi Simon,

Thank you.

How can I check if I do have different revisions of the nRF52833 SoC.?

I have now checked some of the boards I still have access to and found these various revisions of the nRF5283 SoC:

N52833 QDAAA0 2036B0

N52833 QDAAA0 2120GL

N52833 QDAAB0 2118AB

According to the Product Specification manual the hardware version code is different.

What is the difference between hardware versions A and B ?

Which of these revisions have the security feature built-in?

Kind regards

Mohamed

[Simonr]

Hi

Here you can see information on SoC revisions and variants. The B0 will be revision 2, so if you see these protection status messages on the B0 revisions that makes sense. If not we'll need more information to get to the bottom of this.

Best regards,

Simon

[Learner]

Thank you Simon.

If I understood you right you are saying with B0 revision SoCs I should see this message

2022-03-25T13:49:16.725Z INFO Readback protection status: NRFDL_PROTECTION_STATUS_ALL

and with other revisions I should see,

2022-03-25T13:49:16.725Z INFO Readback protection status: NRFDL_PROTECTION_STATUS_NONE

Please clarify.

I am not in the office today so, I will check this on Monday and get back to you.

Kind regards

Mohamed

[Simonr]

Hi

Yes, I think you should see protection status ALL for the B0 revisions, and protection status NONE on the older revisions. Any future revisions should also include readback protection.

Best regards,

Simon