nrf_dfu_flash_* callbacks don't get called

[zolotiyeruki]

I am modifying the bootloader_secure_ble code to receive a serial number via BLE and store it in flash. However, whenever I call nrf_dfu_flash_store or nrf_dfu_flash_erase, the callback is never called. Here is my code (stripped of other functions and comments):

#define FLASH_SERIAL_ADDR 0x77000
volatile static uint8_t fs_callback_flag;

void serial_flash_callback(fs_evt_t const * const evt, fs_ret_t result){
	fs_callback_flag = 0;
}
void setSerialNumber(uint8_t const * const src){
	uint32_t * dest = (uint32_t *)FLASH_SERIAL_ADDR;
	
	fs_callback_flag = 1;
	fs_ret_t ret = nrf_dfu_flash_store(dest, (uint32_t *)&src[0], 16, serial_flash_callback);
	if (ret != FS_SUCCESS){
	}
	while(fs_callback_flag == 1)  {}
}

Even though the callback never gets called, the flash operation completes (I can read the flash via nrfjprog or via the BLE characteristic).

I've read several other similar questions, and some have suggested making sure that fs_init gets called after the SD gets initialized, but it appears that the nrf_dfu_flash library already accounts for that. Am I missing something?

[Hung Bui]

Where do you call setSerialNumber() if you call that function from inside an event handler and then wait inside that event for the serial_flash_callback() to be called by same or lower priority level event, you may have to wait forever.

[zolotiyeruki]

The stack goes something like this:

setSerialNumber() 
called by ble_dis_on_evt() (modified ble_dis.c)
called by ble_evt_dispatch() (modified nrf_ble_dfu.c)
called by SoftDevice

So the softdevice generates a BLE event, and the handler for the BLE event attempts to write to flash, and is waiting for the SoftDevice to generate a system event (from the flash erase or write event completing).

How do I know what the relative priorities of the two are?

[Hung Bui]

Hi Zolo,

The BLE event and the flash operation callback event are both at "Softdevice API calls and non-time-critical processing" see here.

If you want to wait for the event, you should better wait at the main loop or at those priority level 5-6-7. You can use app scheduler to send the flash task to main context.

[zolotiyeruki]

Ok, I modified the code to the following, and now the handler runs:

void setSerialNumber(uint8_t const * const src){
    uint32_t * dest = (uint32_t *)FLASH_SERIAL_ADDR;
    nrf_dfu_flash_erase(dest, 1, serial_flash_callback);
}

So I'm back moving again. Unfortunately, calling nrf_dfu_flash_store() within the handler doesn't result in the handler being called again. Still digging into that one.

[Hung Bui]

You should always check for the return code of the function, make sure it returns NRF_SUCCESS after you call it.