Using JTAG debugging

JTAG hardware debuggers use a connector to write an image directly into RAM, setting the machine to the start address and then resuming the processor. The launch configurations for a JTAG device let you select which image to use (the supported types are ELF and SRecord).

The QNX Momentics IDE supports three types of JTAG debuggers. Each of these has an associated launch configuration type, and writes a QNX Neutrino image into RAM in a slightly different way:

Updates to the launch configuration types

These launch configuration types are used for JTAG debugging in the IDE:
  • GDB Hardware Debugging — currently included as part of the IDE, used by the Abatron BDI2000 Debugger and the Macraigor Usb2Demon Debugger
  • Lauterbach Trace32 In-Circuit Debugger — an optional plugin that you can install

Updates to the Debug perspective

In the IDE, the Debug perspective includes buttons to control the processor state through the JTAG device. These buttons start, reset, and halt the device, and link to the corresponding GDB commands for the Abatron and Macraigor devices, and the corresponding PRACTICE command for the Lauterbach device.

The Lauterbach Trace32 In-Circuit Debugger plugin doesn't include a Debug perspective; it launches its own Trace32 software that contains its own buttons for performing actions.