Ara240 Module Bring-Up on FRDM-IMX95

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Getting Started Video:

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to verify successful communication with the Ara240 module and the runtime software environment to interface  with the FRDM i.MX 95 development board.

Out of the Box

Get Familiar with the Ara240 Module

 Ara240 Module [Top view]

Ara240 Module [Back view]

  

 

Connecting the M.2 Module

This section explains how to connect Ara240, a discrete module, to the FRDM i.MX 95 development board. The instructions in the FRDM i.MX 95 Quick Start Guide will walk you through the boot-up process for the pre-loaded Embedded Linux image on the board and how to connect the USB debug cable. For additional details, see the official FRDM i.MX 95 Development Board documentation.

References:

FRDM i.MX 95 Quick Start Guide

FRDM i.MX 95 Development Board product page

FRDM i.MX 95 getting started page

Getting Started with ARA2-M2-16G-GT

Follow the steps below to connect the Ara240 module to the FRDM i.MX 95 development board:

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Important: Ensure the board is powered off before making any connections.

1. Insert the Ara240 module into the M.2 Key-M socket on the FRDM i.MX 95 development board.
2. Using the screw provided, secure the module.
3. Connect the fan cable to the board’s fan header (refer to the FRDM i.MX 95 board documentation for the exact header location).

Connect the Ara240 to the FRDM i.MX 95 development board.

Power on the Board

• Follow the instructions to power on (boot) the board found in the Getting Started with FRDM-IMX95.
• After powering on, verify that the fan and green LED indicators Ara240 module are on are on.

 

Get the Software

This section will walk you through the Ara240 Runtime software development kit (SDK), a streamlined subset of the Ara240 SDK designed for rapid enablement and execution on NXP platforms. The Runtime SDK simplifies installation and configuration, enabling developers to quickly deploy and run AI/ML workloads on the Ara240 module with minimal effort.

Overview

• Refer to Ara240 software release notes for details on the Ara240 software development kit (SDK)
• The Getting Started page for Ara240 only outlines usage on specific i.MX development platforms
• For any other platforms please reach out to your NXP representative for guidance.

Module Enumeration and Software Configuration

This section provides instructions to verify proper installation of Ara240 module and configuration of the Ara240 Runtime SDK on the FRDM i.MX 95 development board.

Verify Device Detection

Once the board has successfully booted, connect to the serial debug port to monitor system logs. To confirm that the Ara240 module is being detected by the board, run the following command:

$ lspci | grep 1e58

Expected output:

0000:01:00.0 Processing accelerators: Device 1e58:0002 (rev 02)

Enable Ara240 device

For quick enablement, the Ara240 Runtime SDK starts at boot time. Refer to the Ara240 Runtime SDK documentation for detailed instructions and environment setup steps.

Developer Experience

This section provides an overview of Ara240 runtime software enablement using the FRDM i.MX 95 development board.

Verify Setup Environment

Use the following guidance on how to connect required devices. For most of the demos, you would need a camera, keyboard, mouse, internet connection and a HDMI display monitor.

Setup preparation for FRDM i.MX 95 board [Top view]

Setup preparation for FRDM i.MX 95 board [Back view]

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NOTE: You might need to use a USB hub to connect keyboard, mouse and camera at the same time.

 

Runtime setup Description:

Runtime SDK delivers a complete runtime environment that enables AI/ML acceleration on the Ara240 module. To run demo applications, ensure that the Ara240 bring-up process has been successfully completed and the system is ready for demo evaluation.

Refer to the Runtime SDK documentation for detailed guidance on:

• Verifying correct installation of the Runtime SDK.
• Checking and updating the Ara240 firmware version.
• Validating proxy service bring-up status.
• Executing benchmark tests on Ara240.

Following these steps ensures that the module is properly initialized and ready for use. Ara240 supports the execution of CNNs, LLMs, VLMs, and agentic frameworks, enabling advanced AI workloads to run directly on Ara. For comprehensive examples and end-to-end workflow guidance, please refer to the Ara SDK documentation page.