InSight Adapter, Program and Debug via Ethernet - Ember

Ember’s InSight Adapter enables programming and debugging of EM250 and EM260-based products via a standard 10-pin InSight Port connector on the target hardware. Access to the InSight Adapter is provided by TCP/IP connections over a Power-over-Ethernet capable 10/100 Ethernet connection.

InSight Adapter Front Panel

When work with EmberZNet, the InSight Adapter able to convert between the Ember SIF commands, Packet Trace Interface, TCP/IP, and UDP over a 10/100 Ethernet. Six services are available within the InSight Adapter:

• Backchannel debug service

• SIF service

• Discovery service

• Packet Trace service

• Time Sync service

• Administration service

InSight Adapter Back View

Key features of Ember InSight Adapter Development tool:

•  Programming of the EM2xx family
  • Development programming from InSight Desktop
  • Production programming from command-line interface
• InSight Port connectivity for debugging
• API Trace
  Ember’s unique minimally intrusive API trace for the EM2xx family is accomplished with a memory mapped interface, enabling API tracing of EmberZNet APIs without tying up a UART and drastically modifying timing like competing solutions. API traces are available through InSight Desktop
• PacketTrace
  All EM2xx chips provide a complete non-intrusive trace of all packets arriving and departing the radio. The InSight Adapter permits this trace to be used for network analysis by InSight Desktop. Completely removes the uncertainty inherent in packet sniffer based tools.
• Virtual UART
  Unique among ZigBee silicon providers, Ember’s EM2xx family supplies developers with a printf function that operates over a Virtual UART. This debugging tool enables developers to send themselves messages during device operation without using a hardware serial port and with minimal timing impact on running code. Messages can be seen in InSight Desktop.
• SIF Debug Access
  For the EM250 SoC, SIF debugging access permits standard microprocessor debugging including breakpoints, halt/step/run operations and access to memory and processor registers. Requires xIDE toolchain for debugger.
• Extended debugging connections
• UART access
  Access target hardware’s UART via a TCP socket interface for scripting and debugging
• GPIO access
  Access to GPIO pins on the target hardware via a TCP socket for debugging functions such as button press emulation
• Supply of power to target hardware
  Optionally supply up to 50mA of regulated power to the target hardware

The InSight Adapter contains an expansion connector that gives developers access to target hardware serial ports and GPIO. Using these extra I/O, developers can write sophisticated test drivers that simulate button presses or other I/O activity from their desktop.

Key Specification of Ember InSight Adapter Development tool:

Source: InSight Adapter - Development Tool - Ember