How to debug nRF51-DK with CMSIS-DAP

[Hongtao]

Hi,

I have bought nRF51-DK and have downloaded the hex file successfully in the mbed mode, I wonder May I debug the DK with CMSIS-DAP instead of JLINK? I searched the internet for a while and didn't get the answer. Anyone have ideas for this?

Thanks in advance.

[John]

This blog post is more orientated toward gang programming, but there is information about debugging as well: Blog post

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

If you check out the user guide for the nRF51-DK, there's a chapter there which describes how to switch out the firmware on the debugger IC.

It's basically to hold in button "IF BOOT/RESET", then plug in the USB cable. A drive called "BOOTLOADER" should appear, and you can drag the .bin file over to this drive.

The binary file for the CMSIS-DAP is located here: www.nordicsemi.com/.../21120532

If you want to switch back to JLINK, just download the .bin for that and repeat the process: www.nordicsemi.com/.../30216378

Cheers, Håkon

[Hongtao]

After taking a half day work, I finally make it works. It is very exciting to know that CMSIS-DAP works so well.

1. First, you need download the CMSIS-DAP driver here:

2. After install the driver, you will find 3 devices in your PC, they are a MBED USB Drive, a MBED CMSIS-DAP, and a virtual COM:

3. Config the Keil debug tool to CMSIS-DAP:

4. Be sure to set your CMSIS-DAP to SWD mode, otherwise your CMSIS-DAP is inactive with gray color.

5. Copy the nrf51xxx.flm file from "C:\Keil\ARM\Pack\NordicSemiconductor\nRF_DeviceFamilyPack\1.1.4\Flash" to C:\Keil\ARM\Flash", And load the flash algorithm file by manual.

And then you go! the CMSIS-DAP works very similar to JLINK, it is also offers a virtual COM for UART debug. Except you can't use it with nRFgo.

Enjoy!

[Hongtao]

Yes, I got some very useful info there, thanks.

[Hongtao]

Yes, that how I entered in Mbed mode, but there is no info on CMSIS-DAP debugging. BTW, will nRFgo support CMSIS-DAP? programming?