This guide walks you through the required steps to prepare your development environment and hardware for debugging the M core on the IMX8MN-EVK board using the MCU-LINK Pro. You’ll install the necessary firmware, compile and flash a binary, and finally, initiate a debug session using MCUXpresso for VS Code.
Requirements:
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IMX8MN-EVK Board
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MCU-LINK Pro Debug Probe
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PC Host with MCUXpresso for VS Code installed
Install Segger Firmware on MCU-LINK Pro
By default, the MCU-LINK Pro does not support i.MX processors. Installing the Segger firmware is essential for proper debugging.
Follow the firmware update guide to update your MCU-LINK Pro.
Compile the Binary for the M Core
Ensure MCUXpresso for VS Code is properly installed.
Import the iMX8MN-EVK SDK
Import "hello world" example
Ensure that we are compiling a debug binary
Build Project
Flash the Binary using UUU Tool
Connect the IMX8MN-EVK Board to your Host PC via USB
Enter Fastboot Mode in U-Boot Terminal
=> fastboot 0
On your Host PC, navigate to the binary location and flash it using the next commands:
$ cd <project_location>/armgcc/debug/
$ uuu -b fat_write hello_world.bin mmc X:1 hello_world_debug.binNote: replace the X with 2 if you are booting from eMMC or 1 if you are booting from SD Card
Connect MCU-LINK Pro to the Target
IMX8MN-EVK Debug connection:
Launch the M Core from U-Boot Terminal
Use the following commands in the U-Boot terminal:
=> fatload mmc X:1 0x48000000 hello_world_debug.bin; cp.b 0x48000000 0x7e0000 0x20000;
=> bootaux 0x7e0000Note: replace the X with 2 if you are booting from eMMC or 1 if you are booting from SD Card
Start the Debug Session
Once the M core is launched, you can start your debug session in VS Code using MCUXpresso:
With the MCU-LINK Pro configured, the IMX8MN-EVK, and the binary successfully flashed and executed, you are now ready to debug applications on the M core using MCUXpresso and VS Code. This setup enables a reliable development workflow for i.MX8MN based projects.
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