Embedded development, JTAG boundary scan and device programmer solutions

When using Microsoft's Platform Builder for development of a product based on XScale or other ARM - based embedded processor, interfaces are provided so that you can link directly to the target for debug purposes.

There are two ways in which this link can be achieved.

If your target is networked, then you can make an Ethernet connection via the KITL protocol. This will give you a certain level of target control, but of course, since you are debugging the processor which is responsible for the network connection, you cannot intervene in a way which will stop the connection. For example, you cannot halt the processor, and expect to maintain a debug connection!

However, if your target is not networked, if you are debugging the bootloader or developing drivers, bringing up new hardware, or if you prefer in-depth control of the target, then you can achieve hardware-assisted debug by interfacing via the eXDI protocol directly to the on-chip debug facilities of the ARM, XScale or MIPS processor, via the JTAG debug port.

To achieve this, you need a JTAG interface which is designed to support your embedded processor, and also to talk to Platform Builder. The Sophia Systems EJ-Debug probe Interface is designed for this task.

When you install the EJ-debug interface, the supplied Watchpoint debugger connects to Platform Builder via its own eXDI2 driver, and appears as a plug-in in the Platform Builder environment, enabling your debug session to communicate transparently with the hardware. EJ-Debug is ideal for both BSP and application development, and is seamlessly integrated into the Microsoft environment.

Direct Insight are experts in Windows Embedded CE development for ARM, XScale and MIPS targets. Please don't hesitate to make contact if you think we might be able to help. You can contact us to request further information or call our team on +44 1295 768800.