George
Many EVBs include a dBug program which allows memory debugging and loading small programs. This is not the case with the NE64 - the serial monitor is only abbout 2k in size and teh dBug program would probably use up most of its availabel momory. Since it only has 8k SRAM (with LAN you will need almost half for the the LAN buffers..) it would alos be fairly useless to load code to run from the remaining RAM. Therefore the way to go is load always to FLASH and debug either with a DBM or with the serial monitor.
The serial monitor provides all support necessary to read and write registers and memory, to single step etc. It has a cryptic protocol (saves code space) and the intelligence is in the debugger. Use the CodeWarrior set for monitor mode. I have also written a debugger which is included in the the uTasker package - it has one big advantage over the CodeWarrior for projects using FLASH for parameters and web pages etc. since it can load and delete just program sections - the CodeWarrior trashes the parameters and web pages each time a new program is loaded :smileysad:
The uTasker is also delivered with ready to run GNU project if you prefer free compilers (but the code is not very efficient, although it works great if it fits in...). Also an IAR Embedded Workbench project is provided (best code density I have found yet - see comparisons in the NE64 tutorial).
Is I mentioned before, for uTasker users moving from the M9S12NE64 to their own board there is a project which converts the DEMO9S12NE64 in to a BDM to allow programming of fresh devices. A list of other project supports are (file system in EEPROM via SPI, LCD (incl. simulator), Keypad driver, POP3, TIME SERVER, I2C RTC). We have an active community and welcome new members. So once you have checked out the details tell me if you think you could benefit - if nothing else it will save you a few weeks or even months of work getting up to speed with the NE64 and you can benefit from personal email support - free of charge with no catches. If your project turns commerical a royalty free project license costs $485 (see licensing terms) and will have paid for itself on the first day.
We also support other compiler ports and EVB ports free of charge... just ask!
Cheers
Mark
www.mjbc.ch
Hi George,
You don't need to load anything into the MCU to get the BDM to work. It works "of the shelf". What you do need is a BDM adapter between the MCU's BDM connections and your computer. Something like P&E's USB Multilink.
Regards David