TMS320F28379D: Creating an Attach only debug configuration

Hi Jay,

When trying to connect to a running target to debug the existing running code, please be aware of any action in the OnTargetConnect GEL callback function of the startup GEL file being used. Many times there are actions which do some target initialization (like CPU reset) which can disrupt a running program.

Thanks

ki

Thanks. I will dig for this. It doesn't appear to be part of the Debug Configuration window, so I'll have to figure out how they are used in the system.

I modified the two GEL files (located in the CCS install directory) to remove GEL_Reset() calls in all but OnPreFileLoaded() call. I left the reset here to reset the cpus when a normal debug program is being downloaded. 

Now with an attach only (load symbols only) debug configuration, the cores stop and symbols appear as expected:

But if I step (or continue) either core, I get an ESTOP0 instruction in Interrupt_illegalOperationHandler. What is missing now?

Typically, creating attach-only debug configs are easy. Apparently this is not the case with TI. Is there some good documentation of creating these types of configs? Thanks,

Jay

Having to modify files located in the TI CCS installation directory feels like a blunt tool. Am I supposed to approach this differently? What do others do for attach-only debug configs?

Jay Cosper said:

Typically, creating attach-only debug configs are easy. Apparently this is not the case with TI. Is there some good documentation of creating these types of configs?

It is tricky because it depends on the environment. Often, a GEL file is not used at all when trying to non-intrusively connect to a running target. You may want to try a manual launch with no GEL file at all.

Jay Cosper said:

Having to modify files located in the TI CCS installation directory feels like a blunt tool. Am I supposed to approach this differently?

If your target configuration relies on startup GEL files, one recommendation is to make a copy of those files and use the copies themselves. That way you can safely modify the files without altering the originals. 

Jay Cosper said:

What do others do for attach-only debug configs?

As mentioned in my previous post, it is common to do a manual launch with no startup GEL file. This is the best way to try a non-intrusive debug session to a running target. 

See the below post for more suggestions:

https://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/c2000-microcontrollers-group/c2000/f/c2000-microcontrollers-forum/1045697/tms320f28379d-non-intrusive-connection-to-a-target

Thanks

ki

Thanks. I will need to try that out when I get back to it.