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Firmware OTA

The Firmware OTA feature lets you update the firmware and application of a deployed device over the network, without a programming cable.

A new image can reach the device in two ways:

  • Upload from a browser: the Web Console shows a firmware upload page where you pick a file and watch its progress.
  • Download from a URL: the Upgrade Firmware block makes the device fetch the image from a web server itself, for example when a command arrives or on a schedule. This block is available on Tibbo Project PCBs (TPP) running TiOS.

The device reboots into the new image once it has been received and checked.

Availability

Firmware OTA is available on Tibbo devices running TiOS and on Zephyr-based devices.

Configuration​

  • Enabled: turns firmware updates on.

Enabling the feature adds the HTTP and flash disk libraries it needs.

Firmware Files​

The file you upload depends on the device:

DeviceFile
Tibbo devices (TiOS and Zephyr)A .tcu file containing the firmware and the application. Create it with the TCU Generator.
Other Zephyr boardsThe signed image zephyr.signed.bin produced by the build.

On non-Tibbo Zephyr boards, enabling the feature builds the MCUboot bootloader alongside the application. MCUboot installs the new image and can roll back to the previous one if the update fails.

Flash Layout on Tibbo Zephyr Devices​

On Tibbo devices running Zephyr, the incoming image is staged on the external at45db081e flash chip before it is installed. The editor checks the Flash Devices configuration and offers to fix it when it doesn't match:

  • The at45db081e flash device must be present.
  • storage_partition must be 270336 bytes.
  • An ota_staging_partition of 811008 bytes, starting at address 270336, is added if it's missing.

See Also​