Contents of this document

1
Installing MCU-Link and Updating Firmware
2
Using MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE
3
Setting Up MCU-Link with 3rd Party IDEs
4
Using Other Serial Terminal Programs

Design Resources
Support

Purchase your MCU-Link Debug Probe

1. Installing MCU-Link and Updating Firmware

Setting up your MCU-Link is very simple. The first step is to download the driver information files and utility to update the firmware. Note that MCUXpresso IDE 11.2.1 or later will automatically install the driver information files. You can either watch the video below for Windows installation, or follow the steps to install MCU-Link:

1.1 Get the Software Package

First step is to download the MCU-LINK Installer for your host operating system. After downloading, run the installer.

Mark as complete:1.1 Get the Software Package

1.2 Update the Firmware

Although MCU-Link comes with firmware installed, it is recommended that you update to the latest version. To perform the update:

Install jumper J3
Connect MCU-Link to your host computer via USB
Go to the scripts directory in the software package installation and run the program.cmd (Windows) or program (Linux/MacOS) script by double-clicking it. Follow the onscreen instructions
Press Ctrl-C to exit the script
Disconnect MCU-Link from the host computer, remove J3 and then reconnect to the computer
Review the Readme.txt for other OS-specific setup

Mark as complete:1.2 Update the Firmware

1.3 Checking MCU-Link Devices are Present

MCU-Link will enumerate 3 devices when fully installed –a CMSIS-DAP device and Trace port under HID devices, plus a VCOM port under Ports.

Mark as complete:1.3 Checking MCU-Link Devices are Present

NextUsing MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE

2. Using MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE

2.1 MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE Tutorial

MCUXpresso IDE will automatically detect MCU-Link, just as it does with other supported probes (note version 11.1 or later are supported but 11.2.1 or later is recommended). The MCU-Link VCOM feature is independent of the IDE, but the built-in Serial terminal feature of MCUXpresso IDE can be used with it.

See this short tutorial video for an overview of using MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE:

Mark as complete:2.1 MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE Tutorial

PreviousInstalling MCU-Link and Updating Firmware

NextSetting Up MCU-Link with 3rd Party IDEs

3. Setting Up MCU-Link with 3rd Party IDEs

MCU-Link can be used with IDEs from our partners, such as Arm Keil uVISION and IAR Embedded Workbench. Setup is straightforward, as with any other CMSIS-DAP probe.

3.1 Setting Up IAR EWARM with MCU-Link

Install the latest version IAR available. The version must be at least, IAR Embedded Workbench IDE for Arm 8.40.2.

With your project workspace open, right mouse click on the project:
When the Options for workspace open, select the Debugger tab, then select CMSIS-DAP Debugger from the Setup selection:
Click OK to close the dialog boxes. You can now use your MCU-Link as you would any other CMSIS-DAP probe.

Mark as complete:3.1 Setting Up IAR EWARM with MCU-Link

3.2 Setting Up Keil uVision with MCU-Link

With your project workspace open, click on the “Options for target” icon:
When the Options for Target dialog open, select the Debug tab, then select CMSIS-DAP ARMv8-M Debugger from the Use selection:
After selecting this probe option, click on Settings to open the CMSIS-DAP ARMv8-M Target Driver set up dialog. Select MCU-Link from the pulldown menu on the left:
You should now see settings similar to this:
Click OK to close the dialog boxes. You can now use your MCU-Link as you would any other CMSIS-DAP probe.

Mark as complete:3.2 Setting Up Keil uVision with MCU-Link

PreviousUsing MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE

NextUsing Other Serial Terminal Programs

4. Using Other Serial Terminal Programs

Note: First production MCU-Link inserts have an error in the VCOM connection diagram. Please use the version on this site instead.

MCU-Link’s VCOM feature can be used with serial terminal emulation programs such as PuTTY and TeraTerm. Setup is as with similar VCOM devices. Most MCUXpresso SDK examples will use a configuration of 115200 baud rate, 8 data bits, no parity and 1 stop bit. To determine the port number of the MCU-Link virtual COM port, open the device manager and look under the "Ports" group (as shown earlier).

4.1 Tera Term Tutorial

Tera Term is a very popular open source terminal emulation application. This program can be used to display information sent from your NXP development platform's virtual serial port.

Download Tera Term from SourceForge. After the download, run the installer and then return to this webpage to continue.

Download

Launch Tera Term. The first time it launches, it will show you the following dialog. Select the serial option. Assuming your board is plugged in, there should be a COM port automatically populated in the list with the MCU-Link name

Configure the serial port settings (using the COM port number identified earlier) to 115200 baud rate, 8 data bits, no parity and 1 stop bit. To do this, go to Setup -> Serial Port and change the settings.
Verify that the connection is open. If connected, Tera Term will show something like below in its title bar.

You're ready to go

Mark as complete:4.1 Tera Term Tutorial

4.2 PuTTY Tutorial

PuTTY is a popular terminal emulation application. This program can be used to display information sent from your NXP development platform's virtual serial port.

Download PuTTY using the button below. After the download, run the installer and then return to this webpage to continue.

Download

Launch PuTTY by either double-clicking on the *.exe file you downloaded or from the Start menu, depending on the type of download you selected.
Configure in the window that launches, select the Serial radio button and enter the COM port number that you determined from the Device Manager. Also enter the baud rate, in this case 115200.

Click Open to open the serial connection. Assuming the board is connected and you entered the correct COM port, the terminal window will open. If the configuration is not correct, PuTTY will alert you.