Are there any software for Linux to program Freescale µControllers? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: VinzC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 03:12:28 pm
content: Hi all.I've just had to program some micro-controllers from Freescale and the only way I could do that was to pick up a 32-bit Windows machine, which is rare where I work. The software is P&E Micro PROG12Z version1.78. I only need to flash devices, I don't need the complete development suite. My company already owns a license (I guess) but it was one of my predecessors who last used that software a couple of years ago and I only run Linux on my machines (with the exception of virtual machines of course). The target micro controllers I need to flash are Freescale9S12DG128B(algorithm file: Freescale_9S12DG128B_1x16x64k_128k_Linear_16k_page) and9S12DG256B(algorithm file: Freescale_9S12DG256B_1x16x128k_256k_Linear_16k_page.12P)So I thought I could try the programming tool from one of my Windows virtual machines with USB pass-through but then I get many USB error messages such asCode:usb 3-1.2: device descriptor read/64, error -32orCode:usb 1-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71as soon as the connection manager tries to connect to the programming module. As a consequence the USB Multilink device disappears from the drop down list and if I press the «Refresh» button, the drop-down list disappears and is replaced with an information message and a link toFAQ #29item. And, yes, I've read the article and the problem occurs on my Linux host before the Windows guest can do anything. I believe there might be a problem with the amount of power the programming devices draws but I'm not sure.So, my question is: are there any software for flashing those two devices available for Linux? I'd like to make sure whether this is a software or hardware issue first.Thanks in advance for any hint or suggestion.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 04:27:06 pm
content: I have had succes using the P&E micro tools from a VM on my old Linux machine but my newer Linux machine (which has USB3.0 ports) it doesn't work. From what I have Googled so far it seems to be a USB related problem / incompatibility. I also tried a different (open source) programming tool but that gives exactly the same errors.All in all you might get lucky using a Windows machine but you could run into trouble as well if it has newer USB ports.

author: 6thimage
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 04:51:04 pm
content: What virtual machine software are you using?A few years back, I ended up using a Freescale development board which had a P&E Micro jtag as part of the board (I think it was the TWR-K60N512 board). Whilst it is probably different drivers, it worked on a linux host through both USB 2 and 3, when using vmware's workstation (windows 7 vm). I did try it with virtual box at the time and that couldn't handle USB devices very well (they hadn't long released USB 3 support).

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 12:19:04 am
content: Quote from: 6thimage on June 08, 2016, 04:51:04 pmHiThe Tower K60's are ARM based and work with a wide range of tools. The parts in the 9S12 family are much older. The P&E tools date back into the 90's. Even on Windows, getting them to run is not all that easy. Pretty much you want an XP machine to make them really happy. You *can* get them running on newer stuff (been there / done that). It takes some tweaks, and the hardwre (USB 2) needs to be compatible.Bob

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 12:41:03 am
content: Quotequite a few: kds, keil, iar, coide, ....just follow those simple steps:1) install a virtual machine in your linux;2) install a windows into your virtual machine;3) install one of those ides.4) sit back and enjoy a real coding experience.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 12:44:09 am
content: Quote from: dannyf on June 09, 2016, 12:41:03 amSigh... the problem is that the crappy programming hardware isn't working! The OP already stated he is using a VM!

author: VinzC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 11:21:52 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on June 08, 2016, 04:27:06 pmThanks. What you wrote sounds quite likely. I've made numerous attempts with my virtual machine, like disabling suspend and switching to USB1.1 to no avail. It really looks like, as you later say, that's some crappy hardware that only works on older computers — maybe because they're more power-consumption-tolerant. Indeed my laptop is a Dell Latitude that I bought like 3 years ago. It has two USB3 and two USB2 ports though I ignore if they all relate to the same controller, no idea. The computer on which the programmer works is an EEEPC with an Intel Atom CPU, probably bought like a decade ago, so...Quote from: uncle_bob on June 09, 2016, 12:19:04 amThe whole lot has quite an old-fashioned look indeed, such as what I've seen on Windows 3.1, i.e. in this galaxy but a long time ago... As for the "easy" part you reported, I haven't been able to read the firmware from already programmed chips. I don't care too much though since all I'm interested in is to flash them but, yeah...Quote from: 6thimage on June 08, 2016, 04:51:04 pmThe hyperviser isQemuwith hardware acceleration/passthrough (akavirtio) enabled. The managing gear isLibvirtwithvirt-manageras the graphical tool. I guess I could give it (PROG12Z) a go under Wine but afternctnico's answerI feel kinda lazy and not particularly optimistic.Quote from: nctnico on June 09, 2016, 12:44:09 am