Issue with MIMXRT1170 Flashloader

[dlangeler]

When trying to start a debug session or run the GUI flash tool, I'm running into issues with the supplied flashloader. We typically start debug sessions on our devices from serial downloader boot mode which has stopped working. An attempt will result in a failure to reset the flash loader, with a timeout reached.

Here's the LinkServer console output:

Executing flash operation 'Erase' (Erase flash) - Tue Jul 23 13:29:09 PDT 2024
Checking MCU info...
Scanning for targets...
Executing flash action...
MCUXpresso IDE RedlinkMulti Driver v11.10 (Jul  2 2024 19:33:51 - crt_emu_cm_redlink.exe build 741)
(  0) Reading remote configuration
Wc(03). No cache support.
Found chip XML file in C:/---/MIMXRT1172xxxxx.xml
(  5) Remote configuration complete
Reconnected to existing LinkServer process.
============= SCRIPT: RT1170_connect_M7.scp =============
RT1170 Connect M7 Script
DpID = 6BA02477
APID = 0x84770001
View cores on the DAP AP
TAP 0: 6BA02477 Core 0: M7  APID: 84770001 ROM Table: E00FD003*
============= END SCRIPT ================================
Probe Firmware: MCU-LINK (r0FF) CMSIS-DAP V3.146 (NXP Semiconductors)
Serial Number:  JZ4FND0JCLDTD
VID:PID:  1FC9:0143
USB Path: 0001:0008:00
Using memory from core 0 after searching for a good core
( 30) Emulator Connected
( 40) Debug Halt
( 50) CPU ID
debug interface type      = CoreSight DP (DAP DP ID 6BA02477) over SWD TAP 0
processor type            = Cortex-M7 (CPU ID 00000C27) on DAP AP 0
number of h/w breakpoints = 8
number of flash patches   = 0
number of h/w watchpoints = 4
Probe(0): Connected&Reset. DpID: 6BA02477. CpuID: 00000C27. Info: <None>
Debug protocol: SWD. RTCK: Disabled. Vector catch: Disabled.
Content of CoreSight Debug ROM(s):
RBASE E00FD000: CID B105100D PID 000008E88C ROM (type 0x1)
ROM 1 E00FE000: CID B105100D PID 04000BB4C8 ROM (type 0x1)
ROM 2 E00FF000: CID B105100D PID 04000BB4C7 ROM (type 0x1)
ROM 3 E000E000: CID B105E00D PID 04000BB00C Gen SCS (type 0x0)
ROM 3 E0001000: CID B105E00D PID 04000BB002 Gen DWT (type 0x0)
ROM 3 E0002000: CID B105E00D PID 04000BB00E Gen (type 0x0)
ROM 3 E0000000: CID B105E00D PID 04000BB001 Gen ITM (type 0x0)
ROM 2 E0041000: CID B105900D PID 04001BB975 CSt ARM ETMv4.0 type 0x13 Trace Source - Core
ROM 2 E0042000: CID B105900D PID 04004BB906 CSt type 0x14 Debug Control - Trigger, e.g. ECT
ROM 1 E0043000: CID B105900D PID 04001BB908 CSt CSTF type 0x12 Trace Link - Trace funnel/router
NXP: MIMXRT1172xxxxx
DAP stride is 1024 bytes (256 words)
Inspected v.2 External Flash Device on SPI using SFDP JEDEC ID MIMXRT1170_SFDP_QSPI.cfx
Image 'iMXRT1170_SFDP_FlexSPI1_A_QSPI Jul  2 2024 18:28:49'
Opening flash driver MIMXRT1170_SFDP_QSPI.cfx
Sending VECTRESET to run flash driver
AFTER driver startup timeout (302 5ms retries)
Driver Addresses
Start:  20000000
Entry:  2000009D
End:    20000834
Stack:  20002838
Mailbox:2000A838
Driver Register State
R0:     400CC000
R1:     00000008
R2:     20000574
R3:     00000001
R4:     00000002
R5:     00000000
R6:     0000C270
R7:     00000000
R8:     00000000
R9:     00000000
R10:    00000000
R11:    00000000
R12:    00000004
SP:     200027E8
LR:     2000034B
PC:     0021A114
xPSR:   61000000
MSP:    200027E8
PSP:    20002838
CFBP:   00000001 (CONTROL=0x0, FAULTMASK=0x0, BASEPRI=0x0, PRIMASK=0x1)
Flash Driver V.2 startup failed - rc Ef(34): Timed-out initializing flash.
chip initialization failed - Ef(34): Timed-out initializing flash.
failed to initialize flash driver MIMXRT1170_SFDP_QSPI.cfx
( 65) Chip Setup Complete
(100) Target Operation Failed
Unable to perform operation!
Command failed with exit code 1

I've tried the supplied flashloader of the 11.9 and 11.10 releases and they both do not work in serial downloader boot mode. The flashloader supplied with 11.8 (I think LinkServer v1.0.9) and it will work just fine. I've already tried changing the reset handling from a VECTRESET to SYSRESETREQ to no avail. I've also occasionally seen hard faults in the EPSR but not consistently. Is there some other configuration required now that I'm missing? Thanks

[AdrianOltean]

Would you please try to configure the board to boot from flash and let us know the result? We'll double-check on our side as well.

Thank you,

Adrian

[dlangeler]

Unfortunately no change in behavior there. Not sure that that would explain the GUI Flash Tool not working as well. The configuration of the project hasn't changed between 11.8 and 11.8/11.10, just which flashloader is being used. I pointed MCUXpresso 11.10 to the 11.8 flashloader for the RT1170 and that will also work as expected, so maybe a change to the flashloader is causing this? I did see that they were updated in 11.9 changelog for this processor. Thanks! 

[AdrianOltean · Accepted solution]

We checked your use case on our side and we confirm the issue. You're right about the change of functionality between 11.8.0 and 11.10.0. However, booting from flash does not exhibit the same issue on our side. We're also working on a fix.

Thank you,

Adrian