Whether you want to use the RealView^® ICE unit as part of your own debug tool chain or are just looking to leverage the product's extensive feature set and device bring-up capabilities in-house, a software API package is now available to accomplish this.

The Remote Device Debug Interface (RDDI) supersedes the Remote Debug Interface (RDI), the debug API used with Multi-ICE, offering enhanced, flexible and scaleable support for the new innovations in debug architecture and ARM processor technology that RDI was not designed to support.

The Remote Device Debug Interface API  enables device designers and tools users to simply incorporate the RealView ICE unit into their preferred device connection and debug environments, through the integration of a complete software package that provides the appropriate feature set for the users’ application.

The Remote Device Debug Interface API is available in three editions:

• RDDI-LITE
• RDDI-DEVICE
• RDDI-DEBUG

RDDI-LITE is now provided with the latest version of the RealView ICE software. It provides a basic feature set to enable programs to be written that connect to a RealView ICE unit and issue operations over JTAG to a connected target system.

The LITE edition is targeted at those users who want to be able to operate the JTAG port in a specific way or require a low-level access and control capability.

Main features include:

• Full Browse capability to view available RealView ICE units
• Access to the RealView ICE configuration files for device connection
• Comprehensive JTAG command set for use within software programs

For example, users can script or write a program that would sequence a series of instructions that would select a RealView ICE unit to connect to a specified device on a scan chain then read or write to a register.

RDDI-DEVICE is available as a free of charge download for registered RealView ICE users. Registration and access to the download is available from here.

This edition provides the same capabilities of RDDI-LITE with additional features that further extend and simplify the integration of the RealView ICE unit into the tool chain of choice. The additional capabilities leverage the extensive device support provided by the RealView ICE unit and give access to a comprehensive set of higher level functions that enhance and abstract away the device connection and control details.

The DEVICE edition is available to users wanting to bring-up new and existing devices, with the ability to control and debug the device’s features as an integral part of their own in-house tools.  

Additional features include:

• Automated unit and device connection for quick-start debug and test
• Reset, synchronization and start for immediate control of the device
• Direct Memory accesses to all accessible memory resources
• Register Read and Write to all accessible registers and settings

For example, users can write programs that enable connections to the RealView ICE units and selected processors for memory access operations, which program the flash devices in your target system.

RDDI-DEBUG is available as a  licensed product from ARM allowing software applications that use and incorporate the Remote Device Debug Interface to be made available to other organizations for commercial or non-commercial use. The software API package is fully inclusive of all the features and functions of the other editions combined with the additional benefit of being able to subscribe to an exclusive support package.   

The DEBUG edition enables users to rapidly develop, target and deploy a comprehensive debug solution for any of the devices currently supported by the RealView ICE unit and those that will be supported in future releases.

For further information please contact RealView@arm.com.

All Remote Device Debug Interface API editions are available for use with both Windows and Linux host platforms.

Registration and access to the RDDI-DEVICE download for registered and non-registered RealView ICE users is available.