topic Re: Remotely Upgrading Firmware? in Kinetis Microcontrollers

Remotely Upgrading Firmware?

TravisHidlay — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:51:42 GMT

I have a general question about whether or not it's possible to remotely install brand new firmware on a Kinetis micro.

The processor would be programmed for use in a product before shipping, but I'd like to be able to add the possibility of remotely reprogramming it over a network, using just the kinetis as the processor.

Any ideas on how this could be accomplished in the K60? I noticed a section on page 104 of the K60P144 Reference Manual that mentions a feature for swapping the starting address of the program flash blocks between block 0 and block 1. Would it be possible to store a new binary to block 1 or 0 and switch the starting address, then reboot into the new firmware?

Re: Remotely Upgrading Firmware?

mjbcswitzerland — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:50:59 GMT

See the following: http://www.utasker.com/docs/uTasker/uTaskerBoot_003.PDF

This works also on the Kinetis and allows Ethernet (including encrypted) firmware uploading via Ethernet (typically FTP or HTTP from a web browser).

It involves installing a boot loader (varying in size from about 2k to about 20k if a standalone web server based loader is required.

If local firmware uploads are required also serial and USB can be used - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4TYM9jY2-g

I don't think that there are any advantages of switching Flash blocks as part of the loader sequence.

Regards

Mark

Re: Remotely Upgrading Firmware?

TravisHidlay — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:51:43 GMT

Thanks Mark, I'll take a look at this.