We have developed an Arduino Zero based custom device that has also internal SPI flash memory and GPRS modem for connectivity.
What we would like to achieve is a code that downloads a new firmware bin file over a FTP server, save it to the external SPI flash and then perform a firmware update on the internal flash.
That way we can remotely update the firmware on the board.
Can anyone please advise how we can achieve this?
From my understanding:
We should export a bin file with the newer firmware
Download it to the external flash of the custom device using the FTP
Use a custom bootloader to write the external flash addresses to the internal flash and update code?
Is a custom bootloader what we really need? Is there any other way with stock arduino zero bootloader?
or you can upload the bin to upper half of the internal flash and then move it to running location like the InternalStorage class of the WiFi101OTA library does
thank you very much for your feedback. So from my understanding from the WIFI101 OTA library:
i should export a binary firmware file from the Arduino IDE
Upload it to my FTP server
Download it using GPRS and copy it to the internal flash with a code similar to this
while (client.connected() && read < contentLength) {
while (client.available()) {
read++;
_storage->write((char)client.read());
}
}
_storage->close();
_storage->apply();
Then the micro would restart and run on the new code
I would like to ask the following:
a) Do i need a custom bootloader or i could use the stock Arduino Zero for this to work
b) How should i export the binary file for the OTA? Do i need a special linker script or i just use the binary from the "Sketch / Export Compiled Binary" menu?
a) Do i need a custom bootloader or i could use the stock Arduino Zero for this to work
b) How should i export the binary file for the OTA? Do i need a special linker script or i just use the binary from the "Sketch / Export Compiled Binary" menu?
a) bootloader is not involved
b) use "Export compiled binary" in Sketch menu. the output is in the sketch folder
I am thinking about the same.... is there any manuals/howto`s for using WiFI101OTA for updating sketch directly from an HTTP/FTP server? Have been searching for hours and cannot find any. Sigalabs, would be appreciated if you could share in more details / post example sketch for acheiving this.
sindrevr:
I am thinking about the same.... is there any manuals/howto`s for using WiFI101OTA for updating sketch directly from an HTTP/FTP server? Have been searching for hours and cannot find any. Sigalabs, would be appreciated if you could share in more details / post example sketch for acheiving this.
BR,
Sindre
the library is for upload from IDE. but the InternalStorage object of WiFI101OTA library can be 'feed' from any source.
I am trying to update my Arduino Mega OTA.
I burned Optiboot to my board to be able to use ArduinoOTA library, and I am using SIM800L module. The sketch is exported as .hex file, and uploaded to the server.
My idea is to download the .hex file from server and use ArduinoOTA to perform something like @Sigilabs suggested. This is the code which is supposed to do the trick :
char *binaryUpdate;
inet.httpGET("server", 80, "path to hex", binaryUpdate, 1000);
ArduinoOTA._storage->open(1000);
int i = 0;
while (binaryUpdate[i] != '\0')
{
ArduinoOTA._storage->write(binaryUpdate[i]);
i++;
}
ArduinoOTA._storage->close();
ArduinoOTA._storage->apply();
The problem is that the inetGSM library which I use to download the sketch, stores it to the binaryUpdate variable, and there is not enough memory to do that. What I want instead, is to write the downloaded file directly to ArduinoOTA's InternalStorage, character by character, as they are downloaded from the server.
Can anyone point me to the right direction on how to do that ? GRPS is the only way to perform download, I cannot use WiFi.
vukovic:
I am trying to update my Arduino Mega OTA.
I burned Optiboot to my board to be able to use ArduinoOTA library, and I am using SIM800L module. The sketch is exported as .hex file, and uploaded to the server.
My idea is to download the .hex file from server and use ArduinoOTA to perform something like @Sigilabs suggested. This is the code which is supposed to do the trick :
char *binaryUpdate;
inet.httpGET("server", 80, "path to hex", binaryUpdate, 1000);
ArduinoOTA._storage->open(1000);
int i = 0;
while (binaryUpdate[i] != '\0')
{
ArduinoOTA._storage->write(binaryUpdate[i]);
i++;
}
The problem is that the inetGSM library which I use to download the sketch, stores it to the binaryUpdate variable, and there is not enough memory to do that. What I want instead, is to write the downloaded file directly to ArduinoOTA's InternalStorage, character by character, as they are downloaded from the server.
Can anyone point me to the right direction on how to do that ? GRPS is the only way to perform download, I cannot use WiFi.
use bin file, because the hex file has not only sketch data. it has lines with addresses a check sum and other control values
I've generated the .bin and downloaded it, but Arduino restarts after the download, to be exact, in the line before the while. I have 4kB of available memory, and the .bin is below 2kB.
vukovic:
I've generated the .bin and downloaded it, but Arduino restarts after the download, to be exact, in the line before the while. I have 4kB of available memory, and the .bin is below 2kB.
const char* SERVER = "my server ip";
const unsigned short SERVER_PORT = my port number;
const char* PATH = "/update.bin";
const unsigned long CHECK_INTERVAL = 5000;
I think that i can connect server succesfully but i could not update .bin file from server. Because
Update Status Code:-2 and nothing change in my atsamd21 board.
fth_41:
I think that i can connect server succesfully but i could not update .bin file from server. Because
Update Status Code:-2 and nothing change in my atsamd21 board.
Where am i making a mistake?
you have to code the download of the bin file over the GSM module. it is different then the download with Ethernet library. maybe TinyGSM library could work very similar as the Ethernet library to download the bin.
I downloaded TinyGSM library and checked the examples. After that i added my code some parts of httpClient example.
I think, I passed one step more successfully. I attached an image.
Now i am trying to do OTA process using your library (ArduinoOTA-->OTASketchDownload). But still could not.I added your ArduinoOTA library my code and edit handleSketchDownload() fuction.
A litte bit confused because when i add ArduinoOTA without "ethernet.h" i cant compile the code.
I downloaded TinyGSM library and checked the examples. After that i added my code some parts of httpClient example.
I think, I passed one step more successfully. I attached an image.
Now i am trying to do OTA process using your library (ArduinoOTA-->OTASketchDownload). But still could not.I added your ArduinoOTA library my code and edit handleSketchDownload() fuction.
A litte bit confused because when i add ArduinoOTA without "ethernet.h" i cant compile the code.
Serial.println("Initialize Ethernet with DHCP:");
if (Ethernet.begin(mac) == 0) {
Serial.println("Failed to configure Ethernet using DHCP");
while (true);
}
Serial.println("Ethernet connected");
Serial.println("Initialize Ethernet with DHCP:");
if (Ethernet.begin(mac) == 0) {
Serial.println("Failed to configure Ethernet using DHCP");
while (true);
}
Serial.println("Ethernet connected");
