3. Flashing Debian

OS | image | Debian

For assistance: contact CTHINGS.CO Support at support.cthings.co.

3.1. Goals

This guide explains how to flash (to eMMC) an Edge IoT Gateway M or Edge IoT Gateway M DIN using the NXP UUU utility.

3.2. Prerequisites

You will need:

  • A CTHINGS.CO Debian BSP .zip package for Edge IoT Gateway M containing:

    • Bootloader binary (flash.bin)

    • Root filesystem image (*.img)

    • UUU script needed for flashing bootloader and image (uboot.auto)

    • (Optional) Integrity checksum (*.sha256)

  • Flashing tool: NXP UUU

  • USB drivers required by your host operating system

3.3. Steps

3.3.1. Installing NXP UUU

Follow the instructions here (it is recommended to use a Linux-based host computer): https://github.com/nxp-imx/mfgtools

If you would like to install the uuu utility to your computer, optionally run sudo make install after compiling.

3.3.2. Preparing the image files

Download the Debian BSP package for Edge IoT Gateway M from CTHINGS.CO and extract the .zip file on your host computer.

The package contains the Debian image and flashing binaries. Use the binary that matches your device model and RAM configuration.

Model

RAM size

Configuration

Flashing binary

Edge IoT Gateway M

1 GB

d1d8

m_flash.bin.d1d8

Edge IoT Gateway M

2 GB

d2d4

m_flash.bin.d2d4

Edge IoT Gateway M

4 GB

d2d4

m_flash.bin.d2d4

Edge IoT Gateway M

8 GB

d1d8

m_flash.bin.d1d8

Edge IoT Gateway M DIN

1 GB

d1d8

mdin_flash.bin.d1d8

Edge IoT Gateway M DIN

2 GB

d2d4

mdin_flash.bin.d2d4

Edge IoT Gateway M DIN

4 GB

d2d4

mdin_flash.bin.d2d4

Edge IoT Gateway M DIN

8 GB

d1d8

mdin_flash.bin.d1d8

3.3.3. Accessing the UUU port

  1. Power down the gateway.

  2. Remove the SIM card cover using a pin tool.

  3. Connect the micro-USB interface under the cover to your host computer. This is the NXP UUU interface. You may also optionally connect the serial interface and open a terminal emulator, but this is not required for flashing.

  4. Power on the device by long-pressing the power button for 1-2 seconds.

3.3.4. Flashing the full eMMC image

Run the command for your model and RAM configuration from the directory containing the extracted BSP files.

Replace cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img with the image filename provided in your package.

Edge IoT Gateway M, 2 GB / 4 GB

$ sudo uuu -b uboot.auto m_flash.bin.d2d4 cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img

.\uuu.exe -b uboot.auto m_flash.bin.d2d4 cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img

Edge IoT Gateway M, 1 GB / 8 GB

$ sudo uuu -b uboot.auto m_flash.bin.d1d8 cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img

.\uuu.exe -b uboot.auto m_flash.bin.d1d8 cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img

Edge IoT Gateway M DIN, 2 GB / 4 GB

$ sudo uuu -b uboot.auto mdin_flash.bin.d2d4 cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img

.\uuu.exe -b uboot.auto mdin_flash.bin.d2d4 cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img

Edge IoT Gateway M DIN, 1 GB / 8 GB

$ sudo uuu -b uboot.auto mdin_flash.bin.d1d8 cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img

.\uuu.exe -b uboot.auto mdin_flash.bin.d1d8 cthingsco-edge-gw-m-debian-bookworm-base-<date>.img

Only run the command that matches your hardware.

3.3.5. First boot

After the flashing process completes:

  1. Disconnect power.

  2. Wait 1-2 seconds.

  3. Power on the gateway.

On first boot, the Debian system resizes the filesystem and then reboots automatically. After this automatic reboot, the device is ready to use.

3.4. Hardware configuration

Some Edge IoT Gateway M hardware setups require a device-tree configuration command after the device has booted into Debian. Run the command that matches the connectivity cards installed in the device.

Note

This section applies to Edge IoT Gateway M only.

Connectivity cards

Command to execute

Notes

TPM2 card

sudo fw_setenv fdtfile iot-gate-imx8plus-m2tpm.dtb

Can be combined with one overlay command below.

EG25 + nRF52 combo card with Wi-Fi card

sudo fw_setenv fdtofile mpcie-modem-hog.dtbo

EG25 + nRF52 combo card with another CTHINGS.CO M.2 card

sudo fw_setenv fdtofile modem-hog-and-pcie-no-reset-gpio.dtbo

Non-combo mPCIe card with another CTHINGS.CO M.2 card

sudo fw_setenv fdtofile pcie-no-reset-gpio.dtbo

Non-CTHINGS.CO modem card with Wi-Fi card

No command required.

Note

To obtain the image and firmware, please contact CTHINGS.CO Support at support.cthings.co.