eCos Reference Manual
Prev |  | Next

# JTAG debugging support

## Name

JTAG support -- Usage

## Use of JTAG for debugging

JTAG can be used to single-step and debug loaded RAM applications, or even applications resident in ROM, including RedBoot.

Debugging of ROM applications is only possible if using hardware breakpoints. The XScale only supports four such hardware breakpoints - two for instruction breakpoints and two for data breakpoints, and so they should be used sparingly. If using a GDB front-end such as Eclipse, check it has not set unnecessary extra breakpoints. Some JTAG devices give the option of whether to set hardware or software breakpoints by default. Be sure to configure your device appropriately.

### Abatron BDI2000 notes

On the Abatron BDI2000, the `ixdp425.cfg` file that is included with the BDI2000 software should be used to setup and configure the hardware to an appropriate state to load programs. This includes setting up the SDRAM controller.

The `ixdp425.cfg` file also contains an option to define whether hardware or software breakpoints are used by default, using the BREAKMODE directive in the [TARGET] section. Edit this file if you wish to use software break points, and remember to use the boot command on the BDI2000 command line interface to make the changes take effect.

On the BDI2000, debugging can be performed either via the telnet interface or using arm-elf-gdb and the bdiGDB interface. In the case of the latter, arm-elf-gdb needs to connect to TCP port 2001 on the BDI2000's IP address. For example:

    (gdb) target remote 111.222.333.444:2001

By default when the BDI2000 is powered up, the target will always run the initialization section of the `ixdp425.cfg` file (which configures the SDRAM among other things), and halts the target. This behavior is repeated with the reset halt command.

If the board is reset when in 'reset halt' mode (either with the 'reset halt' or 'reset' commands, or by pressing the reset button) and the 'go' command is then given, then the board will boot as normal. If a ROMRAM RedBoot is resident in Flash, it will be run.

It is also possible for the target to always run, without initialization, after the reset button has been pressed. This mode is selected with the reset run command. This conveniently allows the target to be connected to the JTAG debugger, and be able to reset it with the reset button, without being required to always type 'go' every time. Thereafter, invoking the reset command will repeat the previous reset style. Also in this mode, exceptions will be handled by board software, rather than causing the JTAG debugger to halt the CPU.

Prev | Home | Next
Configuration | Up | The HAL Port