portenta-tools

KO | EN

gitlite — search

#javascript #python #hacktoberfest #react #ai #typescript #llm #go #golang #android #machine-learning #rust #deep-learning #linux

(★ 10)

Build and debug tools for Arduino Portenta H7

portenta-tools Latest Version Download

Download Latest Version (.zip)

// repository documentation

Was this content helpful?

★ 0 (0 ratings)

# portenta-tools
Build and debug tools for Arduino Portenta H7

## Build Mbed Core with Debug Symbols for Portenta H7

First, make sure you have the necessary prerequisites for the Mbed toolchain. On Ubuntu, you can use:

```sh
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip git mercurial gcc-arm-none-eabi
python3 -m pip install --user mbed-cli
```

Clone this repository, which includes changes to enable debug builds and various `mbed-os` source patches:

```sh
git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/ardnew/portenta-tools
```

Install all of the necessary dependencies:

```sh
python3 -m pip install --user -r portenta-tools/mbed/os/requirements.txt
arduino-cli lib install lvgl # or install "lvgl" through Arduino IDE package manager
```

And finally, run the build script:

```sh
cd portenta-tools
bash ./build.sh
```

This should generate a new Arduino Portenta H7 core with debug symbols at `/tmp/mbed-os-program/BUILD/mbed-core-PORTENTA_H7_M7.a`. If everything built correctly, you should now have a much larger static library `.a` archive - roughly 1.6GiB.

## Portenta H7 JTAG/SWD Interface

Unfortunately, the SWD pins on Portenta H7 are only available using the 80-pin high-density connectors. However, Arduino is happy to give you access to them with their [Arduino Portenta Breakout](https://store.arduino.cc/usa/portenta-breakout) board (for a cool **$50 USD**).

But, just to keep you on your toes, they throw a couple curveballs:

1. First, it isn't the usual 10-pin Cortex-M header (2x5, 2.54mm pitch), but instead a 20-pin MIPI 20T JTAG (2x10, 2.54mm pitch) header. 
    - This means the 10-pin ribbon cable you use with, e.g., JLink EDU Mini or Black Magic Probe, will not work - not even with a little spit and muscle (trust me). Luckily, the JLink EDU Mini I purchased from Adafruit many moons ago actually came with this 20-pin cable. Hope you haven't lost or cannibalized yours!
2. Second, the breakout board's official pinout documentation for the JTAG header is (very) wrong. The documentation lists JTAG pin 1 (`+3V3`) at the top-left of the pinout diagram, but it is actually located at the bottom-right, where pin 20 is located. In fact, the entire header should be rotated 180 degrees. 
    - I've made all of these changes in a **corrected** diagram below:

![Corrected JTAG Pinout](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ardnew/portenta-tools/main/extra/jtag-pinout-corrected.png)

## Reprogramming Portenta H7 Bootloader

To reprogram the Portenta bootloader, you will need an external programmer and access to pins on the high-density connectors (or use the JTAG/SWD header on the [Arduino Portenta Breakout board mentioned above](README.md#portenta-h7-jtag-swd-interface)).

#### ST-Link

To use an ST-Link to reprogram the Portenta bootloader, you can use the script [`flash-bootloader.sh`](flash-bootloader.sh), which uses OpenOCD and the Portenta bootloader firmware included in this repo. Once you've connected your ST-Link to the Portenta Breakout via JTAG/SWD headers, perform the following steps.

Clone this repo:
```sh
git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/ardnew/portenta-tools
```

Run the flash bootloader script:
```
cd portenta-tools
bash ./flash-bootloader.sh
```

#### Embedded ST-Link on Nucleo-64/144

It is also possible to use the embedded ST-Link onboard STM32 Nucleo-64/144 devices (but not Nucleo-32!). There is usually a breadboard-style SWD header that you can connect to the JTAG/SWD header on the Portenta Breakout. The image below shows how to connect the ST-Link v2.1 on an STM32 Nucleo-G071RB.

- Note that you **must** remove the two jumpers labeled `ST-LINK` on one side, `NUCLEO` on the other, located next to the SWD header.
 - This setup can also be used for source-level debugging via OpenOCD's `gdbserver`!

![Embedded ST-Link on Nucleo used to program Portenta bootloader](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ardnew/portenta-tools/main/extra/nucleo-st-link-portenta.jpg)

The only STM32 Discovery board I own ([B-G474E-DPOW1 Discovery kit](https://www.st.com/en/evaluation-tools/b-g474e-dpow1.html)) has both a 14-pin Cortex debug header and 4-pin SWD pads (undocumented in reference manual), as well as an on-board ST-Link v3, but there doesn't seem to be a way to use that ST-Link with external applications. The documentation describes how to physically isolate all ST-Link circuitry from the MCU, but it doesn't describe how to then interface with the ST-Link. Therefore, unlike Nucleo boards, I can't say all Discovery kits with embedded ST-Links can be used for flashing/debugging the Portenta H7.

#### Segger JLink

While I was able to use my Segger JLink EDU Mini to flash new firmware to the device and debug via `gdbserver`, I never managed to use it to reprogram a *corrupted* bootloader, although I have no doubt it is possible. So I do not have instructions at the moment for JLink.

### Corrupted bootloader

With a corrupt bootloader, there is no way to restore access to the device without [reprogramming the bootloader](README.md#reprogramming-portenta-h7-bootloader). Symptoms of a corrupt bootloader are:
 1. USB (DFU), USART, I²C, SPI, CAN bootloader interfaces are not initialized.
    - This means the device will not be detected by any PC when plugged in to any USB port, nor will it communicate using any of the other serial interfaces (USART, I²C, SPI, or CAN). 
    - Simply put: **the device will not boot existing firmware, and there is no way to flash it with new firmware**.
 2. The orange LED (`CHG` circuit) to the left of the USB-C connector remains solidly illuminated - no blinking or fading - with a *very* slight flicker every ~15 seconds or so (almost imperceptible).
 3. The Portenta does not respond when pressing the reset button with either single- or double-tap (double-tapping the reset button normally puts the device in bootloader mode). The orange LED remains solidly illuminated when pressing reset, and the counter that triggers that slight 15-second flicker does not reset, indicating the reset button presses are not detected at all.
    - Similarly, setting the `BT SEL` and `BOOT` DIP switches on the Portenta Breakout board have no effect - the device will not be put into bootloader mode.

portenta-tools

portenta-tools Latest Version Download

Today's picks

Was this content helpful?

Recent Feedback

portenta-tools

portenta-tools Latest Version Download

Today's picks

Was this content helpful?

Recent Feedback

Download README