What do I need for software updates (DFU) via BLE?

[Hugo Habicht]

Hello,

we would like to update our application software. There is plenty documentation from Nordic all over the place, some relevant, some outdated, with boot loader, without, a BLE DFU service a.s.o. but we could not find any top level documentation what you really need. I do not want examples because our software is pretty much finished.

So what I would like to know is:

1. what do I need on the BLE peripheral side to do over the air application software update (we don't care about softdevice update and if it's possible without bootloader the better).

2. What do I need on the phone / desktop side? The nrfTollbox seems to have a DFU function but I could not get that to work; the file select leads to some obscure file manager download which eventually fails. I downloaded the nrf-connect (great name btw., same as you sdk now) for desktop and it works fine with an pca10056 DK but the desktop software does not seem to have any DFU built in. Have I missed that or is there an nrf-Toolbox for desktop available?

I have the feeling it's very easy and it's all there but I just cannot see it.

Kind Regards,

[mrono]

A key question is which SDK are you using? The nRF Connect SDK or the nRF5 SDK? I'm going to assume nRF5 SDK here. 

Hugo Habicht said:

1. what do I need on the BLE peripheral side to do over the air application software update

You need a bootloader of course, and a means to enter the bootloader. Nordic provides the secure bootloader as part of the nRF5 SDK. The "means to enter" can be a BLE DFU service, but it can also be as simple as holding a button pressed during powerup. This is up to your requirements. The DFU service is convenient for updating via a phone app.

Hugo Habicht said:

2. What do I need on the phone / desktop side?

Forget nRF Toolbox. The nRF Connect for desktop does have DFU, I use it all the time. This user guide shows where it is.

[Hugo Habicht]

Hello mrono,

thank you very much for your fast reply.

Yes, you were right, I am using then nrf SDK, sorry, forgot to mention that.

And thank you for your clear answers, I wish the Nordic documentation would have expressed that somewhere instead of plenty of contradicting and confusing information. I will try to get that working; that I never saw the DFU in the nrf connect is most likely due to the fact that the device did not have the service in it.

Kind Regards,