Flash RAK3172 without Firmware Update Tool

LPWAN Modules / EVBs RAK3172
1

Hi!

I’m trying to develop a procedure to upgrade the RAK3172 firmware from an attached linux SBC in the field.

I was able to flash the firmware via ST-Link, as well as with the Firmware Upgrade Tool.

What i’ve learned from https://forum.rakwireless.com/t/upgrade-rak4270-fw-from-external-mcu/4249 is, that the upgrade should work through:

  1. at+boot\r\n
  2. at+update\r\n
  3. Send new firmware using Ymodem protocol to upgrade.

I successfully completed steps 1 and 2 but i’m seeing the same behaviour as stated in https://forum.rakwireless.com/t/automating-rui-v2-programming/4922

I’ve tried picocom, minicom and several ymodem libraries, but with no success. Sadly, the Firmware Upgrade Tool seems to be closed source, but i would appreciate some help here on how this should work.

2

Or maybe RAK team can offer a cli version of the flash tool :wink:

3

Well, i have found a python CLI for linux/macos/win here: RAKwireless Downloads
for linux this would be: https://downloads.rakwireless.com/RUI/RUI3/Tools/uploader_ymodem_linux_v1.0.0.tar.gz

it works, but it seems rather complicated with my limited python skills :sweat_smile: