AN1086: Using the Gecko Bootloader with the Silicon Labs Bluetooth® Applications

PublishTime：2020-09-23

This application note includes detailed information on using the Silicon Labs Gecko Bootloader with Silicon Labs Bluetooth applications. It supplements the general Gecko Bootloader implementation information provided in UG266: Silicon Labs Gecko Bootloader User’s Guide. If you are not familiar with the basic principles of performing a firmware upgrade or want more information about upgrade image files, refer to UG103.6: Bootloader Fundamentals.
In Gecko SDK Suite v3.0, the Bluetooth API structure was completely updated. Among other changes, all function calls were renamed. This document covers both the v2.x and the v3.x variants.
KEY POINTS：
• Gecko Bootloader overview
• Using Gecko Bootloader for BGAPI UART DFU
• Using Gecko Bootloader for Bluetooth OTA upgrade
• Using Gecko Bootloader to update firmware from the user application
The Silicon Labs Gecko Bootloader is a common bootloader for all the newer MCUs and wireless MCUs from Silicon Labs. The Gecko Bootloader can be configured to perform a variety of bootload functions, from device initialization to firmware upgrades. The Gecko Bootloader uses a proprietary format for its upgrade images, called GBL (Gecko Bootloader). These images are produced with the file extension “.gbl”. Additional information on the GBL file format is provided in UG103.6: Bootloader Fundamentals.
The Gecko Bootloader has a two-stage design, where a minimal first stage bootloader is used to upgrade the main bootloader. The first stage bootloader only contains functionality to read from and write to fixed addresses in internal flash. To perform a main bootloader upgrade, the running main bootloader verifies the integrity and authenticity of the bootloader upgrade image file. The running main bootloader then writes the upgrade image to a fixed location in flash and issues a reboot into the first stage bootloader. The first stage bootloader verifies the integrity of the main bootloader firmware upgrade image, by computing a CRC32 checksum before copying the upgrade image to the main bootloader location.
The Gecko Bootloader can be configured to perform firmware upgrades in standalone mode (also called a standalone bootloader) or in application mode (also called an application bootloader), depending on the plugin configuration. Plugins can be enabled and configured through the Simplicity Studio IDE.
This document describes how to configure and use the Gecko Bootloader for BGAPI UART device firmware upgrades and for Bluetooth OTA (over-the-air) upgrades.
Unlike the legacy Bluetooth bootloaders, the Gecko Bootloader does not come bundled into the application download image. Therefore,you must compile and load the bootloader separately from the application image.

Brand of Product：	Silicon Labs
Part#：
Product Category：	Gecko Bootloader More
Application：	[ Bluetooth® Applications ] More
Data Type：	Application note & Design Guide More
Safety & Environment Standards：	More
Operating Temperature：	Please see the document for details
Qualification Grade：	More
Qualification Approval：	More
Package：
Language：	English Chinese Chinese and English Japanese
Date of Creation：	2020/08/01
Version Number：	Rev. 1.3
Data Encoding：	AN1086
Data Size：	1.4 MB

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