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diff --git a/docs/debugging.tex b/docs/debugging.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..2d2a5d3909 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/debugging.tex @@ -0,0 +1,61 @@ +Debugging hardware can be tricky especially when doing kernel and drivers +development. It might become handy for you to add serial console to your +device as well as using JTAG to debug your code. + +\subsection{Adding a serial port} + +Most routers come with an UART integrated into the System-on-chip +and its pins are routed on the Printed Circuit Board to allow +debugging, firmware replacement or serial device connection (like +modems). + +Finding an UART on a router is fairly easy since it only needs at +least 4 signals (without modem signaling) to work : VCC, GND, TX and +RX. Since your router is very likely to have its I/O pins working at +3.3V (TTL level), you will need a level shifter such as a Maxim MAX232 +to change the level from 3.3V to your computer level which is usually +at 12V. + +To find out the serial console pins on the PCB, you will be looking +for a populated or unpopulated 4-pin header, which can be far from +the SoC (signals are relatively slow) and usually with tracks on +the top or bottom layer of the PCB, and connected to the TX and RX. + +Once found, you can easily check where is GND, which is connected to +the same ground layer than the power connector. VCC should be fixed +at 3.3V and connected to the supply layer, TX is also at 3.3V level +but using a multimeter as an ohm-meter and showing an infinite +value between TX and VCC pins will tell you about them being different +signals (or not). RX and GND are by default at 0V, so using the same +technique you can determine the remaining pins like this. + +If you do not have a multimeter a simple trick that usually works is +using a speaker or a LED to determine the 3.3V signals. Additionnaly +most PCB designer will draw a square pad to indicate ping number 1. + +Once found, just interface your level shifter with the device and the +serial port on the PC on the other side. Most common baudrates for the +off-the-shelf devices are 9600, 38400 and 115200 with 8-bits data, no +parity, 1-bit stop. + +\subsection{JTAG} + +JTAG stands for Joint Test Action Group, which is an IEEE workgroup +defining an electrical interface for integrated circuit testing and +programming. + +There is usually a JTAG automate integrated into your System-on-Chip +or CPU which allows an external software, controlling the JTAG adapter +to make it perform commands like reads and writes at arbitray locations. +Additionnaly it can be useful to recover your devices if you erased the +bootloader resident on the flash. + +Different CPUs have different automates behavior and reset sequence, +most likely you will find ARM and MIPS CPUs, both having their standard +to allow controlling the CPU behavior using JTAG. + +Finding JTAG connector on a PCB can be a little easier than finding the +UART since most vendors leave those headers unpopulated after production. +JTAG connectors are usually 12, 14, or 20-pins headers with one side of +the connector having some signals at 3.3V and the other side being +connected to GND. |