topic Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB in MCUXpresso for VSCode

Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Jorini — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:08:25 GMT

Good morning,

I’m starting to run some tests with the FRDM-MCXN947 board and the Visual Studio Code environment using the “MCUXpresso” extension, on a 64-bit Windows 11 system.

So far, I’ve successfully downloaded and run several examples from the “MCUXpresso SDK Repository,” including helloworld, blinky, and mailbox_interrupt (multicore), all of which worked correctly.

I’ve also tested examples from the “Zephyr Repository.” All single-core examples work fine, but I’m having issues with the multicore examples — specifically, they don’t run as expected.

In particular, I’m attaching information from the mbox_data example. It compiles without errors, but when I try to run or debug it, the program fails to execute.

I’m attaching the reports for reference.

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Harry_Zhang — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:16:48 GMT

Hi @Jorini

Thanks for your information.

I reproduced this issue.

I have reported it to our Zephyr team.

We will fix it as soon as possible.

Harry

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Jorini — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:39:40 GMT

Hi @Harry_Zhang,

Thank you for your response and for forwarding the issue to the Zephyr team.

I just wanted to kindly follow up and ask if there have been any updates regarding the multicore example issue, particularly with the mbox_data example on the FRDM-MCXN947 board.

I appreciate your help and any news you can share.

Best regards,

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Harry_Zhang — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:56:18 GMT

Hi @Jorini

I just tested it. My Zephyr VERSION is

(VERSION_MAJOR = 4
VERSION_MINOR = 2
PATCHLEVEL = 0
VERSION_TWEAK = 0
EXTRAVERSION = rc3)

It can work now, you can test it.

Harry

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Jorini — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:04:15 GMT

Hi @Harry_Zhang ,

The image you have attached is from the "blinky" project, this project has always worked for me.

I opened the thread because I couldn't run the "multicore" type projects, specifically the mbox_data. With Zephyr's latest release, I still can't get the "mbox_data" example to run. Any ideas?

Best regards,

Jorini

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Harry_Zhang — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:20:16 GMT

Hi @Jorini

Sorry, i updated the SDK used in the zephyr environment to 0.17.2 and it is working now. Can you please try updating and testing again?

Harry

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Jorini — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 10:36:25 GMT

Hi @Harry_Zhang ,

I've updated what you told me, and it still behaves the same. I'm attaching a screenshot of the project import and the error message it displays when debugging the project. I'm also attaching the installed versions.

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Harry_Zhang — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 03:10:36 GMT

Hi @Jorini

I am so sorry, I am still investigating this issue with the team. If there is any progress, I will update immediately. Thank you for your understanding.

Harry

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Harry_Zhang — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:42:55 GMT

Hi @Jorini

I tested it again. I believe that the CPU1 doesn't get programmed when just pressing the debug button from VSCode. So my steps are:

1. Flash the CPU1 (remote domain)

2. Then I can debug the application:

I'm able to replicate this each time. Can you please check again?

Harry

Re: Cannot debug "mbox_data" zephyr sample apps. Failed to launch GDB

Jorini — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 10:12:50 GMT

Hi @Harry_Zhang , following the steps indicated works correctly. In other projects, the code is automatically loaded into memory, but in these, I see that it isn't. Thanks for your help.