OpenSDA is used on the popular Tower and Freedom evaluation boards equipped with Kinetis microcontroller devices.

One of the key advantages of this update is zero-configuration drag-&-drop programming support. Programming new software onto the application processor is a familiar drag-&-drop operation using Windows explorer or MacOS Finder: once dropped, the new software is effortlessly programmed without any setup files or complex configuration.

The firmware upgrade turns a board’s OpenSDA interface into a fully functional J-Link, which, in addition to programming, is fully capable of debugging the board's application processor. By upgrading to the J-Link firmware, developers will be able to set an unlimited number of breakpoints in flash memory and debug their applications faster and more efficiently. This results in considerably better use of engineering resources, as well as reducing time to market.

J-Link firmware offers compatibility with all major tool chains, including those using GDB (GNU Debugger), on all major host platforms (Windows, Mac and Linux), while also attaining elevated operational benchmarks, including the fastest download speed onto RAM and Flash memory. The tool needed to upgrade the firmware of the OpenSDA can be downloaded free of charge direct from the SEGGER website.

“With J-Link firmware installed, users of NXP Kinetis evaluation boards will benefit from access to essential tools such as SEGGER RTT and SystemView for real-time analysis. In doing so, they have the opportunity to experience the unmatched debug capabilities that our J‑Link technology offers," states Alex Grüner, CTO of SEGGER.

“Our ongoing partnership with SEGGER has proven invaluable to NXP’s global customer base. The availability of J-Link support for Kinetis devices provides a professional debug solution across the complete range of Kinetis microcontrollers. Adding USB mass-storage flash programming capabilities to the robust OpenSDA J-Link debug interface, which already included a virtual serial port, enables quick and easy demonstrations and provides a simple interface for other embedded tools,” adds Michael Norman, Technical Marketing Manager for Microcontroller Software & Tools at NXP Semiconductors. “Making J‑Link available for NXP Freedom and Tower boards demonstrates the strength of the Kinetis portfolio as we continue to further shorten design and debug processes for our customers.”

To access more information on using the J-Link OpenSDA firmware go to: https://www.segger.com/opensda.html.
Further information on J-Link is available at: https://www.segger.com/jlink.html.