# NimbeLink on BeagleBone Black and Green **URL:** \ **Category:** Development Boards, Kits, Programmers\ **Tags:** engineering-briefs, evaluation-boards\ **Created:** [March 24, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.digikey.com/t/nimbelink-on-beaglebone-black-and-green/12954 "2021-03-24T18:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ScottRaeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@ScottRaeker](https://forum.digikey.com/u/ScottRaeker)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.digikey.com/t/nimbelink-on-beaglebone-black-and-green/12954/1 "2021-03-24T18:02:21Z")
Created by Robert Nelson, last modified on Jan 25, 2016 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/original/2X/5/59a2c52d0cbcc3ded01039e7113413c3c0cae3d4.jpeg) # Introduction This page will show you step-by-step how to interface a NimbeLink cape to the BeagleBone Black/Green. # Hardware Requirements [BeagleBone Black](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/embedded-mcu-dsp-evaluation-boards/786?s=N4IgTCBcDaIEYFMCGBzANguB7AdggBHGkgMYDWIAugL5A) at DigiKey [BeagleBone Green](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/embedded-mcu-dsp-evaluation-boards/786?s=N4IgTCBcDaIEYFMCGBzANguB7AdggBCgE4II4gC6AvkA) at DigiKey NimbeLink Beaglebone Black IOT cape: [NL-AB-BBBC](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nimbelink-llc/NL-AB-BBBC/5021024) at DigiKey [XBee XB24CZ7WIT-004](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/digi/XB24CZ7WIT-004/5322374) at DigiKey ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/original/2X/a/a433170e7f24778a7f19439a473c25dd1bdde8c5.jpeg) # Software Requirements - BeagleBone Black/Green running Debian Jessie (console image) flash to the eMMC - Grab the Latest from: [Making sure you're not a bot!](http://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBoneBlack_Debian#Jessie_Snapshot_console) # Install latest console image to eMMC Today the latest version is: [2016-01-03](http://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBoneBlack_Debian#Jessie_Snapshot_console) ( **these are just weekly snapshots, so always check for the latest** ) ```auto Flasher: (console) (BeagleBone Black/Green eMMC) wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/bb.org/testing/2016-01-03/console/BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-8.2-console-armhf-2016-01-03-2gb.img.xz sha256sum: ecd682d199d98abbff46e187cd1ccb51e9776645a5aa28f35d0d5e9c92127ec4 ``` Insert microSD into pc adapter and check device node name (in our case /dev/sdd): ```auto voodoo@hades:~$ lsblk NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT sda 8:0 0 465.8G 0 disk └─sda1 8:1 0 465.8G 0 part / sdd 8:48 1 7.4G 0 disk └─sdd1 8:49 1 7.4G 0 part ``` Download the \*.img.xz and matching \*.bmap file, and write to microSD card via bmaptools: ```auto voodoo@hades:~$ wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/bb.org/testing/2016-01-03/console/BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-8.2-console-armhf-2016-01-03-2gb.img.xz voodoo@hades:~$ wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/bb.org/testing/2016-01-03/console/BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-8.2-console-armhf-2016-01-03-2gb.bmap voodoo@hades:~$ sudo bmaptool copy --bmap BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-8.2-console-armhf-2016-01-03-2gb.bmap BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-8.2-console-armhf-2016-01-03-2gb.img.xz /dev/sdd [sudo] password for voodoo: bmaptool: info: block map format version 2.0 bmaptool: info: 435200 blocks of size 4096 (1.7 GiB), mapped 79584 blocks (310.9 MiB or 18.3%) bmaptool: info: copying image 'BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-8.2-console-armhf-2016-01-03-2gb.img.xz' to block device '/dev/sdd' using bmap file 'BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-8.2-console-armhf-2016-01-03-2gb.bmap' bmaptool: info: 100% copied bmaptool: info: synchronizing '/dev/sdd' bmaptool: info: copying time: 1m 20.9s, copying speed 3.8 MiB/sec ``` Insert microSD into the first BeagleBone Black/Green and wait for flashing procedure to finish. (device should shutdown) # Enable g\_serial on usb mini connector Since we will be using an NimbeLink cape, we will be losing access to the J1 serial debug header on the baseboard. So let’s enable “g\_serial” over the usb mini by default. We can have current am335x\_evm boot script to this for us, by removing “udhcpd” > ```auto #If image file is found, use it for g_multi if [-f ${usb_image_file}] ; then modprobe g_multi file=${usb_image_file} cdrom=0 ro=0 stall=0 removable=1 nofua=1 ${g_network} || true #In a single partition setup, dont load g_multi, as we could trash the linux file system... elif ["x${root_drive}" = "x/dev/mmcblk0p1"] || ["x${root_drive}" = "x/dev/mmcblk1p1"] ; then if [-f /usr/sbin/udhcpd] || [-f /usr/sbin/dnsmasq] ; then #Make sure (# CONFIG_USB_ETH_EEM is not set), otherwise this shows up as "usb0" instead of ethX on host pc.. modprobe g_ether ${g_network} || true else #serial: modprobe g_serial || true fi else boot_drive="${root_drive%?}1" modprobe g_multi file=${boot_drive} cdrom=0 ro=0 stall=0 removable=1 nofua=1 ${g_network} || true fi ``` Let’s remove udhcpd ```auto debian@beaglebone:~$ sudo apt-get remove udhcpd --purge Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages will be REMOVED: udhcpd* 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded. After this operation, 88.1 kB disk space will be freed. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y (Reading database ... 12104 files and directories currently installed.) Removing udhcpd (1:1.22.0-9+deb8u1) ... Purging configuration files for udhcpd (1:1.22.0-9+deb8u1) ... ``` On the next reboot: ```auto [13188.095975] usb 5-1.4: new high-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd [13188.186421] usb 5-1.4: New USB device found, idVendor=0525, idProduct=a4a7 [13188.186426] usb 5-1.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [13188.186428] usb 5-1.4: Product: Gadget Serial v2.4 [13188.186430] usb 5-1.4: Manufacturer: Linux 4.1.13-ti-r34 with musb-hdrc [13188.200414] cdc_acm 5-1.4:2.0: ttyACM0: USB ACM device [13188.200922] usbcore: registered new interface driver cdc_acm [13188.200925] cdc_acm: USB Abstract Control Model driver for USB modems and ISDN adapters ``` Using gtkterm we can get access via: ```auto gtkterm -p /dev/ttyACM0 -s 115200 & ``` # Install common tools For this project we are going to use just a few tools on top of the base console image. ```auto sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install bc git-core i2c-tools picocom ppp python-dev python-setuptools usbutils ``` Update /boot/uEnv.txt to use the correct dtb for NimbeLink and eMMC usage ```auto sudo sed -i 's/#dtb=$/dtb=am335x-boneblack-emmc-overlay.dtb/' /boot/uEnv.txt ``` Install device tree overlays for NimbeLink cape ```auto git clone https://github.com/beagleboard/bb.org-overlays --depth=1 cd ./bb.org-overlays ./dtc-overlay.sh ./install.sh cd ~/ ``` Update Kernel (the 2016-01-03 default kernel lacks the driver for the iio based temp sensor we are using in this example.) ```auto cd /opt/scripts/tools/ git pull sudo ./update_kernel.sh --ti-rt-channel --lts-4_1 cd ~/ ``` Install Exoline ```auto git clone https://github.com/exosite/exoline --depth=1 cd ./exoline sudo python setup.py install cd ~/ ``` Disable eth0 ```auto sudo sed -i 's/auto eth0$/#auto eth0/' /etc/network/interfaces sudo sed -i 's/iface eth0 inet dhcp$/#iface eth0 inet dhcp/' /etc/network/interfaces ``` Cleanup and Shutdown system via: ```auto sudo apt-get clean sudo systemctl poweroff ``` Install NimbeLink and powerup BeagleBone Black/Green and verify cape is installed, since j1 debug is hidden use the usb port: ```auto gtkterm -p /dev/ttyACM0 -s 115200 & ``` ```auto debian@beaglebone:~$ dmesg | grep bone [3.976746] bone_capemgr bone_capemgr: Baseboard: 'A335BNLT,,BBG115091797' [3.976783] bone_capemgr bone_capemgr: compatible-baseboard=ti,beaglebone-black - #slots=4 [4.032343] bone_capemgr bone_capemgr: slot #0: No cape found [4.092306] bone_capemgr bone_capemgr: slot #1: No cape found [4.152301] bone_capemgr bone_capemgr: slot #2: No cape found [4.182329] bone_capemgr bone_capemgr: slot #3: 'Skywire Beaglebone Cape,00D0,Nimbelink,NL-AB-BBBC' [4.182849] bone_capemgr bone_capemgr: initialized OK. [4.211219] bone_capemgr bone_capemgr: slot #3: dtbo 'NL-AB-BBBC-00D0.dtbo' loaded; overlay id #0 debian@beaglebone:~$ cat /sys/devices/platform/bone_capemgr/slots 0: PF---- -1 1: PF---- -1 2: PF---- -1 3: P---L- 0 Skywire Beaglebone Cape,00D0,Nimbelink,NL-AB-BBBC ``` # Clone eMMC Insert a microSD into BeagleBone Black/Green that we will use to clone the eMMC to the additional device. ```auto debian@beaglebone:~$ lsblk NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT mmcblk0boot0 179:8 0 2M 1 disk mmcblk0boot1 179:16 0 2M 1 disk mmcblk0 179:0 0 3.6G 0 disk `-mmcblk0p1 179:1 0 3.6G 0 part / mmcblk1 179:24 0 3.7G 0 disk <<< Inserted microSD >>> `-mmcblk1p1 179:25 0 1.7G 0 part ``` Run “beaglebone-black-make-microSD-flasher-from-eMMC.sh” script ```auto cd /opt/scripts/tools/eMMC sudo ./beaglebone-black-make-microSD-flasher-from-eMMC.sh ``` Progress: ```auto ----------------------------- Version: [1.20151007: gpt partitions with raw boot...] ----------------------------- copying: [/dev/mmcblk0] -> [/dev/mmcblk1] lsblk: NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT mmcblk0boot0 179:8 0 2M 1 disk mmcblk0boot1 179:16 0 2M 1 disk mmcblk0 179:0 0 3.6G 0 disk `-mmcblk0p1 179:1 0 3.6G 0 part / mmcblk1 179:24 0 3.7G 0 disk `-mmcblk1p1 179:25 0 1.7G 0 part ----------------------------- df -h | grep rootfs: ----------------------------- update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.1.13-ti-rt-r39 <<< RUNNING >>> ``` Shutdown system via: ```auto sudo systemctl poweroff ``` Remove “microSD” and flash other BeagleBone Black/Green devices. # XBee Setup Download and install XCTU: [Digi XCTU — Download and Install the Configuration Platform for XBee/RF Solutions | Digi International](http://www.digi.com/products/xbee-rf-solutions/xctu-software/xctu) ```auto Gateway Xbee: (13A200 40F536D8) PAN ID: 4113 Coordinator Enable: Enabled [1] Sensor Xbee: (13A200 40E5F1AD) PAN ID: 4113 Destination Address High: 13A200 Destination Address Low: 40F536D8 ``` Test, with both Xbee’s installed in their ownNimbeLink cape: ```auto echo "test" > /dev/ttyS2 ``` # Temperature Sensor Add device: ```auto sudo sh -c "echo si7005 0x40 > /sys/bus/i2c/devices/i2c-2/new_device" debian@beaglebone:~$ dmesg | grep i2c-2 [228.452700] i2c i2c-2: new_device: Instantiated device si7005 at 0x40 ``` Look at the device: ```auto debian@beaglebone:~$ ls /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio\:device0/in_temp* /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_offset /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_raw /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_scale debian@beaglebone:~$ cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp* -6400 9704 7.812500 ``` Conversion: ```auto T = ((in_temp0_raw + in_temp0_offset) * in_temp0_scale) / 1000 T = ((9704 + -6400) * 7.812500) / 1000 T = (3304 * 7.812500) / 1000 T = 25812.5 / 1000 T = 25.8125 (C) 78.4625 (F) ``` Script the conversion using bc: ```auto #!/bin/bash -e in_temp_raw=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_raw || true) in_temp_offset=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_offset || true) in_temp_scale=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_scale || true) if [! "x${in_temp_raw}" = "x"] && [! "x${in_temp_offset}" = "x"] && [! "x${in_temp_scale}" = "x"] ; then temp=$(echo "${in_temp_raw} + ${in_temp_offset}" | bc) temp=$(echo "scale=5; ${temp} * ${in_temp_scale}" | bc) temp=$(echo "scale=5; ${temp} / 1000" | bc) echo "${temp}" fi ``` Now send that data padded with a cksum over the serial port: ```auto #!/bin/bash -e port="/dev/ttyS2" send_data () { date_cksum=$(echo ${data} | cksum | awk '{print $1}') echo "\$${data}*${date_cksum}#" echo -e "\$${data}*${date_cksum}#\n" > ${port} } stty -F ${port} raw speed 9600 &> /dev/null in_temp_raw=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_raw || true) in_temp_offset=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_offset || true) in_temp_scale=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_scale || true) if [! "x${in_temp_raw}" = "x"] && [! "x${in_temp_offset}" = "x"] && [! "x${in_temp_scale}" = "x"] ; then temp=$(echo "${in_temp_raw} + ${in_temp_offset}" | bc) temp=$(echo "scale=5; ${temp} * ${in_temp_scale}" | bc) temp=$(echo "scale=5; ${temp} / 1000" | bc) data="TEXT,TEMP0,${temp}," send_data fi ``` and load the iio driver if not loaded (assumes root) ```auto #!/bin/bash -e port="/dev/ttyS2" send_data () { date_cksum=$(echo ${data} | cksum | awk '{print $1}') echo "\$${data}*${date_cksum}#" echo -e "\$${data}*${date_cksum}#\n" > ${port} } stty -F ${port} raw speed 9600 &> /dev/null if [! -f /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_raw] ; then echo si7005 0x40 > /sys/bus/i2c/devices/i2c-2/new_device fi in_temp_raw=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_raw || true) in_temp_offset=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_offset || true) in_temp_scale=$(cat /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device0/in_temp_scale || true) if [! "x${in_temp_raw}" = "x"] && [! "x${in_temp_offset}" = "x"] && [! "x${in_temp_scale}" = "x"] ; then temp=$(echo "${in_temp_raw} + ${in_temp_offset}" | bc) temp=$(echo "scale=5; ${temp} * ${in_temp_scale}" | bc) temp=$(echo "scale=5; ${temp} / 1000" | bc) data="TEXT,TEMP0,${temp}," send_data fi ``` tie into cron ```auto /etc/crontab # m h dom mon dow user command 17 * * * * root cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly 25 6 * * * root test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.daily ) 47 6 * * 7 root test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.weekly ) 52 6 1 * * root test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.monthly ) * * * * * root /bin/bash /home/debian/tx_temp.sh &> /dev/null & # ``` # Receiver We need P9.30 for SPIDEV1, which is the enter key on the LCD7, so disable P9.30 in BB-BONE-LCD7-01-00A3.dts