bootloader not loading application (nRF25832, SES, SDK v.17.1.0, SoftDevice s112 v7.2.0)

[RoccoBr]

Hello,

I have followed this guide https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/guides/short-range-guides/b/software-development-kit/posts/getting-started-with-nordics-secure-dfu-bootloader to create an image with bootloader, custom application and softdevice.

My problem is that bootloader is never loading the application, I can see with nRFConnect that the bootloader is advertising as DfuTarg.

I suspect that bootloader is not recognising the application as valid, so my questions are:

- how do I debug what is happening in bootloader? If I load bootloader_debug with SES I lose my application in the flash

-what could be a possible solution?

Regards,

Rocco

[Turbo J]

You can instruct the debugger to load symbols from the bootloader elf, but to flash the device from the merged hex file. No idea how to do that exactly with SES but it should not be difficult to find in the debug setup/options.

Otherwise just attach the debugger w/o flashing. That should be possible, too.

[RoccoBr]

I have instructed SES to load softdevice and my custom application from Options->Common->Debugger->Loader->AdditionalFile but I can't load the settings.hex file, it doesn't allow me to write at address 0x7f000

[Vidar Berg]

I thought you were building for the 52832. When using the 52810, you must select '--family NRF52810' when generating the settings page.

[RoccoBr]

yes I'm using 52832. am I using the wrong setting?

[RoccoBr]

I have added argument --start-address 0x2F000 to the nrfutil settings generate command but it doesn't help

[Vidar Berg]

The bootloader project you have selected (_pca10040e) is configured to emulate a nRF52810 on a 52832 target, see 'Developing for nRF52810' for more details. Is this what you want, or do you plan to use a 52832 in your final design?

RoccoBr said:

I have added argument --start-address 0x2F000 to the nrfutil settings generate command but it doesn't help

Does it fail to load as before? In that case, can you show how you are doing it?

[RoccoBr]

I'm planning to use 52832 with softdevice s112 which uses less space in flash, that's why I selected the _pca10040e project. 

what would be the proper bootloader in my case?

[RoccoBr]

I have switched to s132 and using the files:

secure_bootloader_ble_s132_pca10040.hex

s132_nrf52_7.2.0_softdevice.hex

with the memory layout for 52832 specified here infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp

still device is not loading application at startup

[RoccoBr]

ok, now is working. I had DFU button mode enabled

<info> app: Inside main
<debug> app: In nrf_bootloader_init
<debug> nrf_dfu_settings: Calling nrf_dfu_settings_init()...
<debug> nrf_dfu_flash: Initializing nrf_fstorage_nvmc backend.
<debug> nrf_dfu_settings: Using settings page.
<debug> nrf_dfu_settings: Copying forbidden parts from backup page.
<debug> nrf_dfu_settings: Destination settings are identical to source, write not needed. Skipping.
<info> nrf_dfu_settings: Backing up settings page to address 0x7E000.
<debug> nrf_dfu_settings: Destination settings are identical to source, write not needed. Skipping.
<debug> app: Enter nrf_bootloader_fw_activate
<info> app: No firmware to activate.
<debug> app: App is valid
<info> nrf_dfu_settings: Backing up settings page to address 0x7E000.
<debug> nrf_dfu_settings: Destination settings are identical to source, write not needed. Skipping.
<debug> app: Running nrf_bootloader_app_start with address: 0x00001000
<debug> app: Disabling interrupts. NVIC->ICER[0]: 0x0

[RoccoBr]

to resume:

I was using the wrong bootloader project for nrf52832; the bootloader has the DFU_ENTER_METHOD_BUTTON enabled by default and on my custom board it was always sensing as the dfu was enabled. changing to buttonless fixed the issue