1. Overview

This application note explains how to install the Zephyr images to the Emcraft SOM-NRF9151 hardware platform (refer to https://voxelbotics.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/SOMnRF9151/pages/709328900/Setting+Up+Emcraft+SOM-NRF9151+Hardware+Platform?atlOrigin=eyJpIjoiYTUyNTFhYTBlMjcwNGIwODlmMTkwZTI3YmE2NTI4YmQiLCJwIjoiYyJ9 for a description of the hardware platform).

2. Obtaining Firmware Images

2.1. Obtaining Zephyr Images

The Zephyr images to be installed onto the SOM-NRF9151 platform can be obtained using one of the two approaches, as follows:

  1. Use latest release images provided in recent Release Notes.

  2. Build the images from the sources, as documented in Building SOM-NRF9151 Software .

2.2. Obtaining Modem Firmware Images

The nRF91x1 Modem Firmware images to be installed onto the SOM-NRF9151 platform can be obtained from the Nordic website.

nRF91x1 Modem Firmware update is required to make the modem compatible with the newer versions of nRF Connect SDK.

Currently, there are two versions available for download:

  • 2.0.1, which is compatible with nRF Connect SDK v2.6.x and higher.

  • 2.0.2, which is compatible with nRF Connect SDK v2.8.x and higher.

3. Preparing Host

3.1. Installing nRF Util

  1. Download and install the SEGGER J-Link Software from https://www.segger.com/downloads/jlink/:

    sudo dpkg -i JLink_Linux_V794e_x86_64.deb

  2. Install the libusb-1.0 package: 

    sudo apt install libusb-1.0-0

  3. Download and install the nrf-udev package from https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/nrf-udev/releases:

    sudo dpkg -i nrf-udev_1.0.1-all.deb

  4. Download the latest nrfutil executable from https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Development-tools/nRF-Util, give it the execute permission, and move it to a folder that is in the system's PATH:

    chmod +x nrfutil
sudo mv nrfutil /usr/local/bin

  5. Install the nrfutill device command:

    nrfutil install device

3.2. Identifying Nordic Devices on the Linux Host

  1. Use nrfutil to list all connected SOM-NRF9151 boards, their serial numbers and associated serial ports:

    $ nrfutil device list
801057368
product         J-Link
traits          jlink, seggerUsb, usb
...

  2. Use nrfutil to identify the specific devices:

    $ nrfutil device device-info --serial-number 801057368
serial_number: 000801057368
        boardVersion: null
        deviceFamily: NRF91_FAMILY
        deviceVersion: NRF9151_xxAA_REV3
        jlinkObFirmwareVersion: J-Link EDU Mini V1 compiled Oct  9 2024 10:54:30
        protectionStatus: NRFDL_PROTECTION_STATUS_NONE

  3. In this example, the nRF9151 serial number is 000801057368, which should be used to program the corresponding device.

4. Installing Zephyr Images

4.1. Updating Modem Firmware on nRF9151

  1. If needed, disable access protection on nRF9151:

    nrfutil device recover --serial-number <serial number>

  2. Program the modem firmware image to nRF9151:

    nrfutil device program --serial-number <serial number> --firmware mfw_nrf91x1_<fw version>.zip

  3. Reset the board:

    nrfutil device reset --serial-number <serial number>

4.2. Programming SOM-NRF9151 Application to nRF9151

  1. If needed, disable access protection on nRF9151:

    nrfutil device recover --serial-number <serial number>

  2. Program the release image to nRF9151:

    nrfutil device program --serial-number <serial number> --firmware asset_tracker_v2_on_nrf9151som_*_release.hex

  3. Alternatively, program the application image from the build tree:

    nrfutil device program --serial-number <serial number> --firmware som-nrf9151-app/asset_tracker_v2/build/zephyr/merged.hex

  4. Reset the board:

    nrfutil device reset --serial-number <serial number>