FRDM-MCXW71: Hands On 1: NBU and User Firmware Update Using ISP

[#1]

MCXW71 is a three-core platform that integrates a Cortex-M33 application core (CM33), a dedicated Cortex-M3 radio core, and an isolated EdgeLock Secure Enclave. The radio core, also called as Narrow Band Unit (NBU) features a Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) unit with a dedicated flash. The memories integrated in the NBU consist of Bluetooth LE controller stack and radio drivers. On MCXW71, only boot ROM has access to the NBU flash. The ROM bootloader provides an in-system programming (ISP) utility that operates over a serial connection on the microcontroller units (MCUs)

This hands-on describes how to update the code in NBU and the User firmware using the ISP.

Lab guide: FRDM-MCXW71_NBU_and_User_Firmware_Update_Using_ISP

[bschuster1031]

I cannot complete the Beacon Binary file download using ISP (lab 3). When I run the blhost command and change the command prompt I dont see the "writing segments" in the command prompt

[Daniel_Martinez]

Could you please try to close that command prompt, follow the steps the first 2 steps in Lab Section 1 to have the virtual environment ready again and try again to send the blhost command to download beacon binary file. 

[bschuster1031]

I opened and closed command, then restarter the virtual environment prompt but still cannot run the command. Are you saying to extract and copy the sb3 file into the root directory with the .screc file again?

Here is command
"blhost -p COM69 –- flash-image beacon_frdmmcxw71.srec erase"

[Daniel_Martinez]

To use the commands as the guide we need to copy the .sb3 file and the . srec file in the SPSDK folder like the image, if you do not have the srec file in this folder you can modify your command to point to the file using the complete path. Other recommendation is to try to write manually the command, this to avoid any hide character that may corrupt the command.  

[Nic_Roozeboom]

Need to add the path to blhost.exe in environment variables (as the trainer's machine probably did), or include the path in the command - otherwise blhost will not be recognized.

Trainings/tutorials always need to be conducted from machines in default state, otherwise dependencies will be missed.

C:\Users\uzername\GetSpsdk>cd scripts

C:\Users\uzername\GetSpsdk\Scripts>activate

(GetSpsdk) C:\Users\uzername\GetSpsdk\Scripts>cd..

(GetSpsdk) C:\Users\uzername\GetSpsdk> blhost -p COM8 -- receive-sb-file mcxw71_nbu_ble_1_9_14_1.sb3
'b1host' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.


(GetSpsdk) C:\Users\uzername\GetSpsdk>C:\Users\uzername\GetSpsdk\Scripts\blhost -p COM8 -- receive-sb-file mcxw71_nbu_bl
e_1_9_14_1.sb3
Sending SB file  [####################################]  100%
Response status = 0 (0x0) Success.

[neidys_vargas]

Hi @Nic_Roozeboom 

there is not needed to add the path in the environment variables. 

I tried your first command and the issue that's there is a "1" instead a "l". If you copied and pasted, there might be a typo.  

[Nic_Roozeboom]

I did try that "b1host" as an experiment as well as blhost (correct) and accidentally left it in the example I posted. But it was not the issue, both failed. It only executed correctly when I included the path. Will verify again tomorrow.

[bschuster1031]

What worked for me was to rerun "blhost -p COMX –- flash-image beacon_frdmmcxw71.srec erase" through the command prompt in admin mode.

I do not see the same error when calling blhost in the typical command prompt. It looks like it is recognized as a function, maybe just some syntax issue: 

[jm_irazabal]

How can run blhost command on Mac environment?
There is no "COM" concept.
My board comes up under "/dev/cu.usbmodem3JZZLT3TYREZ43" but I'm not sure how to map this with the blhost command [OPTIONS] syntax.

From blhost help:

(venv) JMs-Work-MacBook-Pro-6:venv JeanMarc$ blhost
Usage: blhost [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]...
  Utility for communication with the bootloader on target.

Options:
  -p, --port COM[,speed]          Serial port configuration. Default baud rate
                                  is 57600. Use 'nxpdevscan' utility to list
                                  devices on serial port.

Thank you.

P.S.: really trying to run everything on Mac OS as this is my customer's preferred environment

[Daniel_Martinez]

Hello, 

In the next link we have the BlHost User guide in most of the commands we have equivalent on MAC

MCUBLHOSTUG.pdf (nxp.com)

[Jac_K]

Hello, I am not sure why I keep getting this error "Access is denied." I am working as administrator on my PC. 

C:\MCXW71>python -m venv GetSpsdk

C:\MCXW71>cd GetSpsdk

C:\MCXW71\GetSpsdk>cd Scripts

C:\MCXW71\GetSpsdk\Scripts>activate
Access is denied.
Access is denied.

(GetSpsdk) C:\MCXW71\GetSpsdk\Scripts>

[Jac_K]

Hi, how do I find this file "beacon_frdmmcxw71.srec" to copy to SPSDK folder as I am encountering the same error. 

(GetSpsdk) C:\MCXW71\GetSpsdk\Scripts>blhost -p COM8 -- receive-sb-file mcxw71_nbu_ble_1_9_14_1.sb
'blhost' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

[amigo_li]

Could you please try to tun the command as admin again after you reset the Computer. You should try to use "pip install -U spsdk" to install SPSDK from Github before you want to use blhost. If you fail to run the command which install SPSDK because a network issue, You can try to use VPN of your network. And You should add the path of blhost when you run the command.