J-Link Base not showing anything and debug not working VS Code

[Svetlio141]

Hi,

I am currently developing a software for a custom board with nRF9160 chip.

The code is tested and works on nrf9160DK. The debugging works and the device is showing all information from logs.

The problem comes when I move to my custom board and I try to upload code from my J-Link Base.

There the code uploads but you cannot see any log information on the port of the J-Link.

Also when I try to debug the code I get the following message:

and I cannot seem to fix it.

For trying to see the log I go to NRF Terminal, select the COM port that the device is on and choose 115200 8n1.

Also tried with putty with 9600 but still the connection is established but nothing comes on the screen,

Any suggestions on why the J-Link is not functioning as intended?

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

when debugging with the nordic vscode plugin, you should be able to link the specific build with a debugger/programmer using this:

Does your debugger serialnumber now pop up?

Are you able to use nrfjprog to program manually?

  

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Svetlio141]

The debugger serial number pops up. 

And I also tried this and get the same results.

Håkon Alseth said:

Are you able to use nrfjprog to program manually?

I am not completely sure what this is. But the programming of the device works fine. The debugging doesn't.

[Svetlio141]

I am not sure that the problem is this because I cannot connect to the VCOM of the j-link at all.

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

A JLink Base does not have USB/UART bridge. It is a pure debugger and programmer.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Svetlio141]

I did that but I get the same error.

The error tells me to open launch.json file but that is it.

Here is my launch.js file I don't know what to look in it.

{
    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "(gdb) Launch",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "enter program name, for example ${workspaceFolder}/a.exe",
            "args": [],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "${fileDirname}",
            "environment": [],
            "externalConsole": false,
            "MIMode": "gdb",
            "miDebuggerPath": "/path/to/gdb",
            "setupCommands": [
                {
                    "description": "Enable pretty-printing for gdb",
                    "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
                    "ignoreFailures": true
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "type": "nrf-connect",
            "request": "launch",
            "name": "Launch build",
            "config": "${workspaceFolder}/build",
            "runToEntryPoint": "main"
        }
    ]
}

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi.

The second part of your file is pointing to a workspace build folder.

Can you share where you're entering debug mode from? Here's where I'm selecting my project and entering debug:

 

Can you please press "CTRL + shift + p" and write "nrf connect generate support information" and run that? This should print out all your environment details in the "OUTPUT". Please copy this and share it.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Svetlio141]

I am entering debug mode the same way as you are.

Here are the results from the support information:

IMPORTANT: The data below could contain sensitive or confidential information about your environment.
If you do not wish this to be seen by others, please make sure to remove it before sharing.

For help and support, visit the Nordic DevZone at https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/.

{
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    "electron": "19.1.8",
    "node": "v16.14.2"
  },
  "system": {
    "date": "2023-01-17T07:28:30.519Z",
    "vscodeRoot": "c:\\Users\\SvetoslavAnev\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\resources\\app",
    "nrfConnectForDesktopInstalled": true,
    "vscodeUptime": "00:08:11",
    "osUptime": "00:18:44",
    "cpu": {
      "model": "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz",
      "speed": "1992 MHz",
      "count": 4
    },
    "memory": {
      "total": "15.88 GB",
      "free": "8.39 GB"
    }
  },
  "workspace": {
    "name": "Untitled (Workspace)",
    "workspaceFile": "1670502190484",
    "folders": [
      "c:\\Users\\SvetoslavAnev\\tests\\aws",
      "c:\\Users\\SvetoslavAnev\\tests\\at",
      "c:\\Users\\SvetoslavAnev\\tests\\at_monitor"
    ]
  },
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        "isActive": true
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    "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\SEGGER\\JLink\\JLink.exe": "7.80c",
    "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\nrfjprog.exe": "10.18.1",
    "nrfutil": "Not found",
    "c:\\Users\\SvetoslavAnev\\ncs\\v1.7.0\\toolchain\\opt\\bin\\cmake.exe": "3.20.5",
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  },
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    }
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      "path": "c:\\Users\\SvetoslavAnev\\ncs\\v1.7.0\\toolchain"
    }
  ],
  "connectedDevices": [
    {
      "serialNumber": "51011598"
    },
    {
      "serialNumber": "960072282"
    }
  ],
  "deviceProviders": [
    "nrfjprog"
  ],
  "config": {
    "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {
      "topdir": "${nrf-connect.sdk:1.7.0}",
      "toolchain": {
        "path": "${nrf-connect.toolchain:1.7.0}"
      },
      "ozonePath": "",
      "applications": [
        "${workspaceFolder}",
        "c:\\Users\\SvetoslavAnev\\tests\\at_monitor",
        "c:\\Users\\SvetoslavAnev\\tests\\at"
      ],
      "applicationOptions": {},
      "kconfig": {
        "interface": "kconfig",
        "executeInDefaultShell": false
      },
      "welcome": {
        "showOnStartup": true
      },
      "west": {
        "env": {
          "$base": "terminal"
        }
      },
      "boardRoots": [],
      "enableTelemetry": false,
      "taskBindings": {},
      "debugging": {
        "backend": "nRF Debug",
        "flash": true,
        "bindings": {
          "${workspaceFolder}/build": "Launch build"
        }
      },
      "activeAppFollowActiveEditor": true
    },
    "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {
      "terminalMode": "character",
      "scrollBack": 1000
    },
    "marus25.cortex-debug": {
      "armToolchainPath": null,
      "armToolchainPrefix": "arm-none-eabi",
      "gdbPath": null,
      "objdumpPath": null,
      "JLinkGDBServerPath": null,
      "openocdPath": null,
      "pyocdPath": null,
      "PEGDBServerPath": null,
      "stutilPath": null,
      "stlinkPath": null,
      "stm32cubeprogrammer": null,
      "enableTelemetry": true,
      "registerUseNaturalFormat": true,
      "variableUseNaturalFormat": true,
      "dbgServerLogfile": null,
      "showDevDebugOutput": "none"
    }
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    "westEnv": {
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[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

At your end, it is most likely the wrong debug configuration type is used in launch.json:

"name": "(gdb) Launch",
"type": "cppdbg"
...

Can you try to remove that or just select the correct "nrf-connect" type when launching?

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Svetlio141]

I tried removing this line but didn't fix the problem.

What do you mean by selecting the correct nrf-connect type?

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

Svetlio141 said:

What do you mean by selecting the correct nrf-connect type?

You have two debug targets defined in your launch.json at this time.

You can either remove the whole of:

{
    "name": "(gdb) Launch",
    "type": "cppdbg"
    ...
},

And only keep the "nrf-connect" part, or select "nrf-connect" as your debug target.

Svetlio141 said:

I tried removing this line but didn't fix the problem.

Is there still no output in the debug console?

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Svetlio141]

Håkon Alseth said:

Is there still no output in the debug console?

No.

[Håkon Alseth]

Q1: Could you try to use the nRF9160-DK as an external debugger (see here for hardware setup: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_nrf91_dk/UG/nrf91_DK/hw_debug_out.html?cp=2_0_4_3_11)?

Then enter debug mode, ie. not a UART terminal.

Q2: Have you tried the same procedure on a newer installation of NCS, lets say v2.2.0?

Q3: Could you share details about your JLink Base debugger? Which version of JLink is it? That should be on a sticker on the backside of the debugger.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon