Instable JTAG connection

Currently I'm working on a platform without Ethernet or USB client and therefore I depend on JTAG debugging support for this SH4 based board (Renesas SH7760).

Debugging was quite annoying during the first debug sessions: The debugger always lost the connection after a while.

The reason for that is quite evident: The CPU enters the sleep mode in OEMIdle() as long as there are no busy tasks. But if the CPU "sleeps" the JTAG communication gets broken. So, the only thing that I have to assure is that the CPU does not enter sleep mode.

OEMIdle() in OAL\OALLIB\timer.c is the right location for such an adaption:

Search for "sleep" and enclose it with a define like

#if !defined(DISABLE_OEMIDLE_SLEEP)
__asm("Sleep");
#endif

If you like, you can control this define via the sources.cmn file and a CE catalog feature. Just add these lines

!IF "$(DISABLE_OEMIDLE_SLEEP)"=="1"
CDEFINES=$(CDEFINES) -DDISABLE_OEMIDLE_SLEEP=1
!ENDIF

and create a catalog feature which sets the environment variable DISABLE_OEMIDLE_SLEEP. Do not forget to rebuild oallib if you set or clear your new feature.

Read more! Post this to a friend!

.NET Micro Framework Porting Kit V3.0 with GCC Support?

Just a joke or what? The release notes of the recently released .NET Micro Framework Porting Kit V3.0 highlight the support for building the .NET MF firmware with GCC tools. It's hard to believe - so let's try it!
After installation of the porting kit I was looking for some information about the toolchain to use. The only hint I could find in the documentation is that GCC4.2 or later is supported for the ARM architecture. Frivolous as I am, I installed the first GNU ARM toolchain for Windows I found on the web. A few seconds later the build script ran and a lot of red output was flashing in the build window. Usually I like the red color but not in this case! ERRORS - wherever you look! Sure.. GCC support. Fortunately the cause was obvious. The toolchain I'd installed doesn't include a none EABI compiler, that was called by the build script. Due to the lack of information, I had to try several toolchains until I found the free ARM Tools from Raisonance, which finally worked :)

These are the three easy steps to build your home-made firmware:

1. Start a command window
2. Call setenv_gcc.cmd in the installation directory of the porting kit with the path of your toolchain to set up your build environment
   setenv_gcc.cmd C:\PROGRA~1\RAISON~1\Ride\arm-gcc
3. Invoke MSBuild.exe with the command below in the directory of your platform solution
   msbuild dotNetMF.proj
   

E Voilá. We have built a release version of the .NET Micro Framework V3.0 firmware ready for flashing. How to do this? Take a look at this previous post :)

The following is just a reminder of the used OpenOCD commands for me, if I want to flash my i.MXS board again ;)

flash probe 0
flash erase 0 0 63
flash write_binary 0 C:\MicroFrameworkPK_v3_0\BuildOutput\ARM\GCC4.2\FLASH\release\iMXS\bin\TinyBooterDecompressor.bin 0x0
flash write_binary 0 C:\MicroFrameworkPK_v3_0\BuildOutput\ARM\GCC4.2\FLASH\release\iMXS\bin\tinyclr.bin\ER_CONFIG 0x40000
flash write_binary 0 C:\MicroFrameworkPK_v3_0\BuildOutput\ARM\GCC4.2\FLASH\release\iMXS\bin\tinyclr.bin\ER_FLASH 0x60000
flash write_binary 0 C:\MicroFrameworkPK_v3_0\BuildOutput\ARM\GCC4.2\FLASH\release\iMXS\bin\tinyclr.bin\ER_DAT 0x120000

The result looks like this:




Even the output of the deployment tool tells us V3.0. Now we could use Visual Studio to develop and deploy our real application with all the features of the new SDK.



Next time we'll visit the wonderful world of the gdb console and try to debug the whole thing. No, just kidding - we'll use a debugger with a graphical interface of course :)
Stay tuned!

Read more! Post this to a friend!

Mark your calendar: the MSDN Live Webcast about Industrial Automation Solutions is comming soon!

The Windows Embedded family of products offers a broad range of embedded operating systems that have been deployed in demanding environments, and Windows Embedded operating systems will continue to drive the next generation of leading industrial automation solutions.

If you interessted in, so attend this Live Webcast presented by Chris Muench on Thursday December 11, 2008 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada).

Follow the link to register for this webcast:
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032394353&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Don't miss it!
Read more! Post this to a friend!

Have you already seen ...

the new Windows Mobile portal at http://developer.windowsmobile.com/. It has a new look and feel:

check out the "for developers" area. In my opinion, it's nice :)

It’s not only the Windows Mobile portal that has changed. Also the Windows Mobile Team blog has a new look and feel too. Check it out:

Read more! Post this to a friend!

Register now for the Windows Embedded Community Party in Barcelona!

Click here before Friday 6th November 2008 to put your name down on the guest list for the Windows Embedded Community Party.

This is your chance to connect with the Windows Embedded team, Windows Embedded Partners, your fellow developers and academic community in a chilled environment with food, drink and music!

DATE: Tuesday 11th November 2008
TIME: From 6pm
LOCATION: Only 2 minutes walk from the CCIB

Save the date - and I'll see you there!

So long and thanks for all the fish!
Read more! Post this to a friend!

Sign Up For InfoBlast!

InfoBlast is a monthly ‘Must Read’ from the Windows Embedded Team and Partners.

Subscribe here for the monthly newsletter and read the latest news from Windows Embedded and WEPP partners.

Don't miss it!

So long and thanks for all the fish!
Read more! Post this to a friend!

Don't panic - Windows XP hotline for embedded developers

Windows Embedded Distributor Abacus Deltron has set up a Windows® XP Professional Hotline to support embedded developers affected by Microsoft’s withdrawal of Windows® XP Professional from the royalty channel as of June 30th this year.

"So, what has Windows® XP got to do with Embedded?", you might ask. Well ever heard of Microsoft XP Professional for Embedded Systems? No?
Well this is a package that is technically identical to the desk-top product in every respect except that the licensing terms are different.

Well if you are using Microsoft XP Professional for Embedded Systems and need support

- Don't panic -

Simply contact dontpanic@abacus-deltron.de or visit http://www.abacus-deltron.de

- and don't forget your towel ;-)

So long and thanks for all the fish!
Read more! Post this to a friend!