How to flash openthread_rcp_xiao_mg24.hex to my board?

[lboue]

Hi,

Could you tell me how to flash openthread_rcp_xiao_mg24.hex to my board?

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/arduino/blob/ddc757e9612e9c053c360467dac46c492d4e3933/extra/openthread_rcp/openthread_rcp_xiao_mg24.hex

I din't find the answer here:
https://github.com/SiliconLabs/arduino/blob/main/libraries/Matter/readme.md

Regards

[silabs-bozont]

Hello @lboue,

You can use the built in OpenOCD from the core to flash the Thread RCP firmware.
On macOS for me the command looks like this:

"/Users/<user>/Library/Arduino15/packages/SiliconLabs/tools/openocd/0.12.0-arduino1-static/bin/openocd" -d2 -s "/Users/<user>/Library/Arduino15/packages/SiliconLabs/tools/openocd/0.12.0-arduino1-static/share/openocd/scripts/" -f interface/cmsis-dap.cfg -f target/efm32s2_g23.cfg -c "init; reset_config srst_nogate; reset halt; program { openthread_rcp_xiao_mg24.hex }; reset; exit"

The paths change depending on your OS, but the parameters remain the same. Here's how it changes:

Windows:
C:\Users\{user}\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\SiliconLabs\
Linux:
/home/{user}/.arduino15/packages/SiliconLabs/
macOS:
/Users/{user}/Library/Arduino15/packages/SiliconLabs/

Thank you for mentioning it - I'll add info on flashing the RCP firmware to the readme.
Let me know if it helped!

[lboue]

Thanks.
I adapted the command a little; the paths are recognized except for the binary file.
I tried with the full path and also just the file name, but it ends in an error:

PS C:\Users\ludov\Downloads> C:\Users\ludov\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\SiliconLabs\tools\openocd\0.12.0-arduino1-static\bin\openocd -d2 -sC:\Users\ludov\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\SiliconLabs\tools\openocd\0.12.0-arduino1-static\share\openocd\scripts\ -f interface\cmsis-dap.cfg -f target\efm32s2_g23.cfg -c "init; reset_config srst_nogate; reset halt; program { C:\Users\ludov\Downloads\openthread_rcp_xiao_mg24.hex }; reset; exit"
Open On-Chip Debugger 0.12.0+dev-01514-g21fa2de70 (2024-02-07-19:18)
Licensed under GNU GPL v2
For bug reports, read
        http://openocd.org/doc/doxygen/bugs.html
debug_level: 2
Info : auto-selecting first available session transport "swd". To override use 'transport select <transport>'.
efm32s2_dci_read_se_status
Info : Using CMSIS-DAPv2 interface with VID:PID=0x2886:0x0062, serial=C9E0B9A2
Info : CMSIS-DAP: SWD supported
Info : CMSIS-DAP: FW Version = 2.0.0
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Serial# = C9E0B9A2
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Interface Initialised (SWD)
Info : SWCLK/TCK = 1 SWDIO/TMS = 1 TDI = 0 TDO = 0 nTRST = 0 nRESET = 0
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Interface ready
Info : clock speed 1000 kHz
Info : SWD DPIDR 0x6ba02477
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] Cortex-M33 r0p4 processor detected
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] target has 8 breakpoints, 4 watchpoints
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] Examination succeed
Info : starting gdb server for efm32s2.cpu on 3333
Info : Listening on port 3333 for gdb connections
[efm32s2.cpu] halted due to debug-request, current mode: Thread
xPSR: 0xf9000000 pc: 0x08000170 msp: 0x20001008
[efm32s2.cpu] halted due to debug-request, current mode: Thread
xPSR: 0xf9000000 pc: 0x08000170 msp: 0x20001008
** Programming Started **
Error: couldn't open  C:\Users\ludov\Downloads\openthread_rcp_xiao_mg24.hex
embedded:startup.tcl:1561: Error: ** Programming Failed **
in procedure 'program'
in procedure 'program_error' called at file "embedded:startup.tcl", line 1626
at file "embedded:startup.tcl", line 1561

[silabs-bozont]

Hey @lboue,
Looks like it's unable to open the RCP binary file.
I've prepared a script which helps users flash these OpenThread RCP binaries - I'll give it to you to test. I'll be included in the next release.
Just copy this script to the extra/openthread_rcp/ folder as openthread_rcp_flasher.py in your core and run it from there.

#
# This file is part of the Silicon Labs Arduino Core
#
# The MIT License (MIT)
#
# Copyright 2025 Silicon Laboratories Inc. www.silabs.com
#
# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
# of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
# in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
# to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
# copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
# furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
#
# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
# all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
#
# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
# AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
# OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
# THE SOFTWARE.

import platform
import getpass
import subprocess
import sys


def main():
    print("Arduino OpenThread RCP Flasher Tool")
    print("------------------------------------------")
    selected_board_config = get_selected_board_config_from_arguments()
    print(f"Selected board: {selected_board_config['name']}")

    # Get the flasher tool executable path
    arduino_tools_dir = get_arduino_tools_dir_path()
    if arduino_tools_dir is None:
        print("Arduino Core tools directory not found / Silabs Core not installed / unsupported OS")
        sys.exit(1)

    flasher_tool_executable_path = get_flasher_tool_executable_path(selected_board_config['flasher_tool'], arduino_tools_dir)
    if flasher_tool_executable_path is None:
        print("Unsupported flasher tool!")
        sys.exit(1)
    print("Flasher tool location: {}".format(flasher_tool_executable_path))

    # Flash the bootloader binary file for the selected board
    flash_binary(flasher_tool_executable_path,
                 selected_board_config['bootloader_binary'],
                 arduino_tools_dir,
                 selected_board_config['flasher_tool'])

    # Flash the OpenThread RCP binary file for the selected board
    flash_binary(flasher_tool_executable_path,
                 selected_board_config['rcp_binary'],
                 arduino_tools_dir,
                 selected_board_config['flasher_tool'])

    print("Finished successfully")


def flash_binary(flasher_tool_executable_path, binary_file, arduino_tools_dir, flasher_tool):
    print("")
    print("Flashing binary file: {}".format(binary_file))
    if flasher_tool == 'openocd':
        flasher_process = subprocess.Popen(
            [flasher_tool_executable_path, "-d2", "-s", arduino_tools_dir + "/openocd/0.12.0-arduino1-static/share/openocd/scripts/", "-f", "interface/cmsis-dap.cfg", "-f", "target/efm32s2_g23.cfg", "-c", "init; reset_config srst_nogate; reset halt; program {" + binary_file + "}; reset; exit"]
        )
        flasher_process.communicate(timeout=30)
    elif flasher_tool == 'simplicitycommander':
        flasher_process = subprocess.Popen(
            [flasher_tool_executable_path, "flash", binary_file, "-v"]
        )
        flasher_process.communicate(timeout=30)
    else:
        print("Unsupported flasher tool")
        sys.exit(1)

    if flasher_process.returncode != 0:
        print(f"Error: Flashing failed with return code '{flasher_process.returncode}'")
        sys.exit(flasher_process.returncode)


def get_selected_board_config_from_arguments():
    def print_available_configs():
        print("")
        print("Supported boards:")
        for board in supported_boards:
            print(board['name'])

    def print_usage():
        print("")
        print("Usage: python openthread_rcp_flasher.py <board_name>")
        print("Example: python openthread_rcp_flasher.py nano_matter")

    try:
        input_board_name = sys.argv[1]
    except IndexError:
        print("Please provide a target board name in the first argument!")
        print_available_configs()
        print_usage()
        sys.exit(1)

    found = False
    selected_board_config = None
    for board in supported_boards:
        if board['name'] == input_board_name:
            selected_board_config = board
            found = True
            break
    if not found:
        print(f"Board with the name '{input_board_name}' not found!")
        print_available_configs()
        sys.exit(1)

    return selected_board_config


def get_arduino_tools_dir_path():
    username = getpass.getuser()
    arduino_tools_dir = None
    if platform.system() == 'Windows':
        arduino_tools_dir = 'C:\\Users\\{}\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\SiliconLabs\\tools'.format(username)
    elif platform.system() == 'Linux':
        arduino_tools_dir = '/home/{}/.arduino15/packages/SiliconLabs/tools'.format(username)
    elif platform.system() == 'Darwin':
        arduino_tools_dir = '/Users/{}/Library/Arduino15/packages/SiliconLabs/tools'.format(username)

    return arduino_tools_dir


def get_flasher_tool_executable_path(flasher_tool, arduino_tools_dir):
    flasher_tool_executable_path = None
    if flasher_tool == 'openocd':
        flasher_tool_executable_path = arduino_tools_dir + "/openocd/0.12.0-arduino1-static/bin/openocd"
    elif flasher_tool == 'simplicitycommander':
        if platform.system() == 'Darwin':
            flasher_tool_executable_path = arduino_tools_dir + "/simplicitycommander/1.16.4/Commander.app/Contents/MacOS/commander"
        else:
            flasher_tool_executable_path = arduino_tools_dir + "/simplicitycommander/1.16.4/commander"

    return flasher_tool_executable_path


nanomatter_config = {
    'name': 'nano_matter',
    'flasher_tool': 'openocd',
    'bootloader_binary': "../../bootloaders/arduino-nano-matter-bootloader-storage-internal-single-512k.hex",
    'rcp_binary': "openthread_rcp_nano_matter.hex"
}

thingplusmatter_config = {
    'name': 'thingplus_matter',
    'flasher_tool': 'simplicitycommander',
    'bootloader_binary': "../../bootloaders/sparkfun-thingplus-matter-bootloader-storage-internal-single-512k.hex",
    'rcp_binary': "openthread_rcp_sparkfun_thingplusmatter.hex"
}

xiaomg24_config = {
    'name': 'xiao_mg24',
    'flasher_tool': 'openocd',
    'bootloader_binary': "../../bootloaders/seeed-studio-xiao-mg24-bootloader-storage-internal-single-512k.hex",
    'rcp_binary': "openthread_rcp_xiao_mg24.hex"
}


supported_boards = [nanomatter_config,
                    thingplusmatter_config,
                    xiaomg24_config]


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Let me know how it went!

[lboue]

Thanks, I'll test that as soon as I have the board back in my possession soon.

[lboue]

Thanks. It seems to flash correctly:

C:\Users\INTEL-N100\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\SiliconLabs\hardware\silabs\3.0.0\extra\openthread_rcp>python openthread_rcp_flasher.py xiao_mg24
Arduino OpenThread RCP Flasher Tool
------------------------------------------
Selected board: xiao_mg24
Flasher tool location: C:\Users\INTEL-N100\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\SiliconLabs\tools/openocd/0.12.0-arduino1-static/bin/openocd

Flashing binary file: ../../bootloaders/seeed-studio-xiao-mg24-bootloader-storage-internal-single-512k.hex
Open On-Chip Debugger 0.12.0+dev-01514-g21fa2de70 (2024-02-07-19:18)
Licensed under GNU GPL v2
For bug reports, read
        http://openocd.org/doc/doxygen/bugs.html
debug_level: 2
Info : auto-selecting first available session transport "swd". To override use 'transport select <transport>'.
efm32s2_dci_read_se_status
Info : Using CMSIS-DAPv2 interface with VID:PID=0x2886:0x0062, serial=C9E0B9A2
Info : CMSIS-DAP: SWD supported
Info : CMSIS-DAP: FW Version = 2.0.0
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Serial# = C9E0B9A2
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Interface Initialised (SWD)
Info : SWCLK/TCK = 1 SWDIO/TMS = 1 TDI = 0 TDO = 0 nTRST = 0 nRESET = 0
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Interface ready
Info : clock speed 1000 kHz
Info : SWD DPIDR 0x6ba02477
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] Cortex-M33 r0p4 processor detected
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] target has 8 breakpoints, 4 watchpoints
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] Examination succeed
Info : starting gdb server for efm32s2.cpu on 3333
Info : Listening on port 3333 for gdb connections
[efm32s2.cpu] halted due to debug-request, current mode: Thread
xPSR: 0xf9000000 pc: 0x08000170 msp: 0x20001008
[efm32s2.cpu] halted due to debug-request, current mode: Thread
xPSR: 0xf9000000 pc: 0x08000170 msp: 0x20001008
** Programming Started **
Info : detected part: MG24B220, rev 16
Info : flash size = 1536 KiB
Info : flash page size = 8192 B
** Programming Finished **

Flashing binary file: openthread_rcp_xiao_mg24.hex
Open On-Chip Debugger 0.12.0+dev-01514-g21fa2de70 (2024-02-07-19:18)
Licensed under GNU GPL v2
For bug reports, read
        http://openocd.org/doc/doxygen/bugs.html
debug_level: 2
Info : auto-selecting first available session transport "swd". To override use 'transport select <transport>'.
efm32s2_dci_read_se_status
Info : Using CMSIS-DAPv2 interface with VID:PID=0x2886:0x0062, serial=C9E0B9A2
Info : CMSIS-DAP: SWD supported
Info : CMSIS-DAP: FW Version = 2.0.0
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Serial# = C9E0B9A2
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Interface Initialised (SWD)
Info : SWCLK/TCK = 1 SWDIO/TMS = 1 TDI = 0 TDO = 0 nTRST = 0 nRESET = 0
Info : CMSIS-DAP: Interface ready
Info : clock speed 1000 kHz
Info : SWD DPIDR 0x6ba02477
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] Cortex-M33 r0p4 processor detected
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] target has 8 breakpoints, 4 watchpoints
Info : [efm32s2.cpu] Examination succeed
Info : starting gdb server for efm32s2.cpu on 3333
Info : Listening on port 3333 for gdb connections
[efm32s2.cpu] halted due to debug-request, current mode: Thread
xPSR: 0xf9000000 pc: 0x08000170 msp: 0x20001008
[efm32s2.cpu] halted due to debug-request, current mode: Thread
xPSR: 0xf9000000 pc: 0x08000170 msp: 0x20001008
** Programming Started **
Info : detected part: MG24B220, rev 16
Info : flash size = 1536 KiB
Info : flash page size = 8192 B
** Programming Finished **
Finished successfully

[lboue]

Generally, RCP baud rate has a value of 460800. Is it intentional to set it to 115200?