Multilink FX
Advanced High Performance Debug Probe

PEmicro’s USB Multilink Universal FX is a high-speed, all-in-one development interface which allows a PC access to the Background Debug Mode (BDM) or JTAG interface on many different NXP & STMicroelectronics MCU architectures and ARM devices from several manufacturers (see complete list below). The FX's high-speed USB interface allows communications between your Windows machine and the standard debug connector on the target. Connections to target MCUs are supported via the multiple headers located on the USB Multilink Universal FX. The product photos to the left of this page show how the headers can be accessed by simply flipping open the plastic case. Ribbon cables suitable for a variety of architectures are included.

Watch a video overview of PEmicro's Multilink debug probes.

The USB Multilink Universal FX includes all the features of PEmicro's standard Multilink interfaces, plus these additional benefits:

• Lightning fast! Up to 10X faster communications speed than PEmicro's other Multilinks
• Can provide power to the target MCU
• I/O line clamping for added protection
• Supports additional NXP devices
• Supports real-time power measurement 

By using the USB Multilink Universal FX, the user can take advantage of the background debug mode to halt normal processor execution and use a PC to control the processor. The user can then directly control the target’s execution, read/write registers and memory values, debug code on the processor, and program internal or external FLASH memory devices. The USB Multilink Universal FX can also provide power to your target MCU, either 3.3V or 5V.

The USB Multilink Universal FX has native IDE support in MCUXpresso IDE, S32 Design Studio, Kinetis Design Studio, recent versions of CodeWarrior® (10.x), current PEmicro software applications, and tool chains from many NXP partners including IAR, Keil, Silicon Labs (check with the vendor for device compatibility). You can also see which software versions  are required to support the current revision of Multilink Universal FX.

For many of the supported processors, PEmicro has a set of interface libraries allowing the user to write their own Windows-based application which interacts with PEmicro's debug interface.

This interface is USB 2.0 compatible, and it is also backwards compatible with USB 1.1 ports.

NOTE: For production usage, see the Cyclone LC and Cyclone FX stand alone programmer, test & debug interfaces.

• High-speed USB interface from PC to Multilink allows for fast, easy programming and debugging -- with the ease and compatibility of the USB interface.
• Draws power from USB interface-- no separate power supply required (draws less than 1mA from the target).
• Can be used to power target MCU:
  • Target Voltage: 1.8V-5.25V
  • Target Frequency: 16Khz-50Mhz (applies to HCS08, RS08, CFV1, S12Z, or HCS12X only)
• Supports JTAG daisy chaining of multiple ARM MCUs
• Pipelined programming algorithms for some Power Architecture families that dramatically increase programming speed.
• I/O line clamping for added protection
• Auto-frequency detection + trimming capabilities for HCS08 devices.
• Auto-frequency detection for HC(S)12(X) devices.
• Generates programming voltage on RESET line for RS08 devices.
• ARM device support includes both the JTAG and SWD protocols

Feature Spotlight:

PEmicro's no-cost GDB Server for ARM devices (Eclipse plug-in) includes the following powerful features:

• Real-Time Expression View 
  This view gives the user the ability to view variables and memory while a target ARM device is running. Sometimes the process of halting the target masks a bug. Sometimes, in order to reproduce a particular bug, the program must be kept running while being fed a particular set of data. In those cases, having the ability to view variable values as they change without halting the target is a great asset.
• OS-Aware Feature Supports FreeRTOS 
  The GDB server will automatically detect the presence, type, and configuration of an OS by querying the application’s symbol table for identifying characteristics. Using these discovered symbols, the debugger can traverse the kernel’s internal data structures to enumerate the available threads and their corresponding execution context. This information is then used to dynamically populate the Eclipse views as the user navigates between the threads. Additional OS support is expected to be added soon.
• Single-Wire Output (SWO) Debug Tools
  By using NXP's MCUXpresso or PEmicro's plug-in for ARM-based GDB IDEs, users can measure power consumption of their device in real time, monitor multiple variables and expressions in real time, use printf calls to be notified when specific events occur during the debug session, and use trace capture to log user-specified events and triggers. This allows much more insight into the operation of the user's code.

The Multilink Universal FX offers broad device support for ARM devices from several manufacturers, as well as support for several 8-/16-/32-bit architectures from NXP and STMicroelectronics.

Note: The older revision of the Multilink Universal FX (Rev A): only supports Freescale/NXP ARM devices.

**Support for these devices is not available on other Multilink models, only the Multilink FX.

MULTILINK FX supports PEmicro software and a wide range of third party IDEs. View a list of supported third-party ARM-based IDEs along with links to setup guides and user manuals where available. A condensed list is below. 

• PEmicro
  • Flash Programming Software
  • In-Circuit Debugger Software
  • GDB Server Plugin for Eclipse-based IDEs supporting ARM devices
  • Custom PC Applications (via UNIT SDK DLL)
• NXP
  • MCUXpresso IDE
  • Kinetis® Design Studio
  • S32 Design Studio for ARM
  • S32 Design Studio for Vision
  • S32 Design Studio for Power
  • CodeWarrior
• Partners
  • Cosmic IDEA
  • IAR Workbench
  • Keil uVision IDE
  • Mentor Graphics Sourcery Codebench

The USB Multilink Universal FX includes a ribbon cable for connecting to ColdFire V2-4 targets, however the MCF5272 & MCF5206(E) devices will require a separate adapter cable (not included) to synchronize the communications signals (as these devices do not do this on-chip).

The Multilink FX debug probe is supported by development software from PEmicro, NXP, and many other third parties. MULTILINK_UNIVERSAL_FX overs a wide variety of ARM devices, as well as NXP 8/16/32 devices. Please view our available Flash Algorithms resource page for a list of available algorithms.

Multilink Universal FX

• Multilink Universal FX Debug probe
• USB 2.0 High Speed Cable, Type A to Type B, 6-ft.
• 6-pin ribbon cable for RS08, HCS08, HC(S)12(X), S12Z, ColdFire V1/V1+ targets
• 10-pin ribbon cable for connecting to MPC5xx/8xx or HC16/683xx targets
• 14-pin ribbon cable for Qorivva MPC5xxx, DSC, and STMicroelectronics' SPC56 targets
• 26-pin ribbon cable for asynchronous ColdFire V2/V3/V4 targets
• 20-pin pitch ribbon cable for ARM targets
• 10-pin pitch ribbon cable for ARM targets (Mini-10 with 0.050" pitch)
• 20-pin ribbon cable for ARM targets (Mini-20 with 0.050" pitch)

*Recommended Accessory: the USB Multilink FX includes a ribbon cable for connecting to ColdFire V2-4 targets, however the MCF5272 & MCF5206(E) devices will require a separate adapter cable (not included) to synchronize the communications signals (as these devices do not do this on-chip).

PEmicro's Multilink Trade-In Program is a great way to trade in an old model Multilink ACP, Multilink Universal or Multilink Universal FX for a reduced cost for the new hardware. The program even has an upgrade from a current Multilink models to get the faster and more Advanced Multilink FX.