On Board ST-Link from dev board reprogrammed as stand-alone JLink???...... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 09:04:01 pm
content: I just stumbled on this page from Segger that sounds like it has a firmware version that turns the on board ST-Link built in to some ST dev boards into a full J-Link.https://www.segger.com/products/debug-probes/j-link/models/other-j-links/st-link-on-board/I've used an ST Nucleo as a stand alone STLink for a custom board before, so I'm wondering if there is any reason this can't be a stand alone JLink with this alternate firmware. That would be a crazy inexpensive alternative to the $300 regular JLink.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 09:15:53 pm
content: Yes, it is a nice alternative, J-Link offer a similar service for the NXP LPC-Link2, which I used once but reverted back to the generic NXP debugger code because the MCUXpresso IDE wasn't able to stop the program on the target running or pause while using the JLink code. Still it is very nice.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 11:26:25 pm
content: Yes, it will only work on STM32, and some other limitations.There are many alternatives to the regular Jlink, although most out of stock, search the microcontroller forum for them being discussed already:- Jlink edu $70- Jlink edu mini $20- Clone jlink $20+- Black magic probe ($5) in some cases

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 11:21:50 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on October 17, 2022, 11:26:25 pmEven after it's been flashed from an STLink to a JLink, it will still only work with STM processors?(This wouldn't really be an issue if the mentioned Jlink EDU was in stock. It's been out of stock for months)

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2022, 12:11:17 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on October 18, 2022, 11:21:50 pmYes, ST wouldn't want you using their hardware with other vendors parts.Someone here may have hacked it, but, I'd just get a clone at that point.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2022, 04:31:07 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on October 19, 2022, 12:11:17 amI wonder if that's actually true. On the page with the alternate STLink/Jlink firmware, one of the "terms of use" is :"The firmware is only to be used with ST target devices. Using it with other devices is prohibited and illegal."That's not something you need to say specifically if the thing just won't work with anything but STM32 processors.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2022, 06:34:15 am
content: I would assume that means it isn’t to be used with STM32 clones. I doubt it works with other MCU architectures, since I’d think that would be easy to block in the firmware.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2022, 08:06:27 pm
content: dammit. I was hoping someone would have already tried all this stuff.You guys let me down this time!I guess I need to dig out that STM32 nucleo board and try flashing it with this firmware.