Multilink Debug Probes
Debug Probes for many ARM and 8-/16-/32-bit devices

Multilink Overview

Multilink debug probes allow a PC access to the Background Debug Mode (BDM) or JTAG interface on wide range of ARM Cortex and 8-16-/32-bit devices, in order to halt normal processor execution and use the 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. 

Supported manufacturers include NXP, STMicroelectronics, Cypress, Infineon, Silicon Labs, and many others. Multilink connects between a USB port on a Windows machine and the standard debug connector on the target. Microcontrollers are supported via the multiple headers located under a flip lid on the Multilink case. Ribbon cables suitable for a variety of architectures are included.

Multilink Models & Features

Models

There are 3 models of Multilink:

 MULTILINK ACP  MULTILINK UNIVERSAL  MULTILINK UNIVERSAL FX 

Standard Features

All Multilink debug probes offer these standard features:

• 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).
• Target Voltage: 1.8V-5.25V
• Supports JTAG daisy chaining of multiple ARM MCUs
• ARM device support includes both the JTAG and SWD protocols
• Includes USB cable, Type A Male to Type B Male, 6-ft.

"Universal" Features

 MULTILINK UNIVERSAL  and  MULTILINK UNIVERSAL FX  also include these features:

• Pipelined programming algorithms for some Power Architecture families that dramatically increase programming speed.
• 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.

Advanced Features

 MULTILINK UNIVERSAL FX  supports these additional advanced features:

• High-speed USB interface from PC to Multilink allows for fast, easy programming and debugging -- up to 10X faster than the other Multilink models.
• 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)
• I/O line clamping for added protection

Multilink Universal FX Performance Note

The exceptional performance increases seen with the USB Multilink Universal FX are limited to synchronous architectures: ARM devices, Kinetis, S32, MPC55xx-577xx (& STMicroelectronics SPC5), Coldfire V2-V4, DSC, MPC5xx/8xx, and HC16/683xx.

No-Cost Software Features

1) PEmicro's UNITACMP Library SDK for ARM Cortex-M processors is free to download. This allows the user to create an application which can fully control the execution of an embedded processor via Multilink debug probes or Cyclone programmers.

2) 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 (FX only), 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.

Supported Devices

Multilink debug probes offer 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.

Multilink debug probes are supported by development software from PEmicro, NXP, and many other third parties. PEmicro offers three models:

Multilink ACP (part# USB-ML-ACP) covers a wide variety of ARM devices. Please view PEmicro's ARM device resource page for a list of all supported ARM Cortex devices. 

Multilink Universal (part# USB-ML-UNIVERSAL) covers the same as well as NXP 8/16/32 devices. Please view our available Flash Algorithms resource page for a list of available algorithms. Feature sets are the same for the Multilink Universal & Multilink ACP.

Multilink Universal FX (part# USB-ML-UNIVERSAL-FX) covers a wide variety of ARM devices, as well as NXP 8/16/32 devices. It offers high-speed communications and can provide power to the target device. Please view our available Flash Algorithms resource page for a list of available algorithms.

Multilink ACP

• Multilink ACP Debug probe
• USB 2.0 High Speed Cable, Type A to Type B, 6-ft.
• 20-pin 0.100" pitch ribbon cable for connecting to ARM targets
• 10-pin 0.050" pitch ribbon cable for connecting to ARM targets (Mini-10)
• 20-pin 0.050" pitch ribbon cable for connecting to ARM targets (Mini-20)

Multilink Universal & Multilink Universal FX

• Multilink Universal or 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
• 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 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.