Note: USB Multilink Universal Rev. E users should read this errata notice to determine if their debug probe is affected.
Note: Demand for Multilink debug probes has frequently outpaced supply during the global chip shortage. PEmicro recommends placing an order as soon as possible to reserve a place in queue rather than simply waiting for the next in-stock date, as new stock is often quickly sold.
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.
Software Licenses/Compatibility
PEmicro's current software licenses are hardware-based, meaning they are installed permanently onto a single hardware interface, such as a Multilink. Newly purchased Multilinks support these licenses, however users wishing to install a license on an older Multilink should read our blog posts regarding PROG licensing and ICD/PKG licensing to be sure their Multilink will support the license.
Please note: Multilink debug probes do not include any software licenses by default, as there are myriad options regarding the device architecture and utility of software that the user might require. Users most often purchase a version of PEmicro's PROG programming software that is compatible with their device architecture. ICD debugger software and PKG software packages are available as well. Users can also create custom solutions with UNIT library routines. There is support for Multilink in many NXP and other third party tools, such as MCUXpresso, or STMicroelectronics' STM32CubeIDE. Click for a listing of compatible 3rd party ARM-based IDEs. In addition, ARM-based Eclipse IDEs are compatible, with the appropriate GDB Server plug in.
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.
Target Frequency: 16Khz-50Mhz (applies to HCS08, RS08, CFV1, S12Z, or HCS12X only)
Advanced Features
MULTILINK UNIVERSALFX 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: 3.3V, 5.0V
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.
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.
System Requirements
Windows 7/8/10: 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 11: 64-bit (x64) with USB 2.0 software support. Requires a USB port on the PC.
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.
**The latest Multilink Universal debug probe (part# USB-ML-UNIVERSAL, Rev. E or later) requires this RS08 adapter to allow the user to communicate with NXP's RS08 devices.
Note: The older revision of the Multilink Universal FX (Rev A): only supports Freescale/NXP ARM devices.
Multilink Universal/Universal FX Tech Summary(553 KB) Usage and other instructions for USB Multilink Universal & USB Multilink Universal FX. Document version 1.18c, updated Oct. 2022.
Hardware License Activation Guide(386 KB) PEmicro software with -HL- in the part number has a hardware license that must be installed into a hardware interface, typically a Multilink. This is a guide to assist with that installation.
PEmicro REACH Certificate(175 KB) Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Certificate
Multilink Fact Sheet(1016 KB) Fact sheet offering summary of usage and features for Multilink Universal and Multilink-ACP.
Multilink FX Fact Sheet(972 KB) Fact sheet with brief description of Multilink FX usage and features.
Downloads
USB Multilink Resources Install(16106 KB) Resource package for USB Multilink ACP, Embedded Multilink ACP, USB Multilink Universal (all revisions), and USB Multilink Universal FX (all revisions).
Install this if you are running older software or 3rd party software. Contains PEFirmwareConfig.exe utility, technical summaries, up-to-date firmware, and other resources.
= Version 11.09 04/20/2023
* For ColdFire V234, default behavior of RESET signal is now tri-stated instead of driven low, matching all other PEmicro hardware
* For MPC55xx-57xx & STMicroelectronics SPC5, fixes crashes on certain Nexus (real-time) memory reads
* Improves reliability when installing hardware licenses
= Version 11.01 12/08/2022
* On USB-ML-UNIVERSAL-FX Rev D, fixes issue where RESET was not toggled on BDM processors (RS08, HCS08, HC(S)12(X), ColdFire V1
= Version 10.99 10/19/2022
* Fixes power measurement issue on USB-ML-UNIVERSAL-FX Rev. D
= Version 10.98 10/12/2022
* Adds support for USB-ML-UNIVERSAL-FX Rev. D
= Version 10.81 09/17/2022
* Fixes licensing issue of some Multilinks
= Version 10.42 01/22/2020
* Adds Support for HW Licensing
= Version 10.29 08/07/2019
* Improves ARM SWO data capture, particularly if target frequency changes during execution
* Adds support for processors with RESET active high
= Version 10.27 07/08/2019
* Improves DSC debug performance adds support for MC56F837xx and MC56F836xx
= Version 10.15 02/28/19
* Fixes communication issue when using JTAG mode for ARM processors
= Version 9.94 05/29/18
* Improves firmware update speed for USB-ML-UNIVERSAL-FX Rev. C
= Version 9.93 04/24/18
* For ARM processors, now aborts hanging memory accesses
= Version 9.92 03/20/18
* Adds support for USB-ML-UNIVERSAL-FX Rev. C
= Version 9.86 11/02/17
* Improves debug communications Cypress PSoC 5 processors
= Version 9.74 08/05/16
* Improves debug communications for PowerPC BDM processors (NXP MPC 5xx/8xx)
= Version 9.73 06/22/16
* Improves communications for high speed BDM processors (NXP HCS08, RS08, S12, S12Z, CFV1)
= Version 9.72 06/16/16
* Improves Cypress PSoC4 Debug Entry
= Version 9.60 12/30/15
* Adds support for Unsecure CF utility
= Version 9.59 12/1/15
* Fixes hard reset for S12Z
* Fixes backwards compatibility for PROGHCS08 v1.70
= Version 9.58 11/17/15
* Silicon Labs Bootloader Support
= Version 9.41 8/14/15
* Adds NXP LPC12xx Support
= Version 9.40 7/22/15
* Adds USB 1.1 support
= Version 9.39 7/9/15
* Adds run control support for Cypress PSoC4 and PSoC5 familes
= Version 9.38 5/28/15
* General ARM support update
= Version 9.37 4/23/15
* Improves Coldfire debug communications
= Version 9.36 3/25/15
* Fix Coldfire block byte/word reads in Sourcery CodeBench.
= Version 9.35 3/9/15
* Fixes block read command for BDMV4 targets such as 9S12A64
* Fixes power on reset dialog problem for Multilink-FX.
= Version 9.34 2/6/15
* Improves BDM debug communications
= Version 9.33 1/20/15
* Handle legacy BDM command offset to support PROG 1.71
* Fixes issues with providing power for Coldfire and PPCBDM
* Fixed 16-bit block writes in Coldfire.
= Version 9.32
* Fixed bugs related to BDM architecture
* Fix SWD timeout, FX would hang if given a slow enough part
= Version 9.31
* Coldfire, fixed no address reads
* Coldfire, fixed return of error for write block long
= Version 9.30
* Improved BDM debug communications
= Version 9.29
* Fixed RS08 CPP for Multilink Universal
= Version 9.28
* Fixed block writes for HCS12
= Version 9.27
* Initial Release
USB-ML-UNIVERSAL
Rev E - 11.09
Release Notes:
= Version 11.09 04/20/2023
* Improves reliability when installing hardware licenses
= Version 10.81 09/17/2021
* Fixes licensing issue of some multilinks
= Version 10.42 01/22/2020
* Adds Support for HW Licensing
= Version 10.29 08/07/19
* Improves ARM SWO data capture, particularly if target frequency changes during execution
* Adds support for processors with RESET active high
= Version 10.27 07/08/2019
* Improves DSC debug performance adds support for MC56F837xx and MC56F836xx
= Version 10.18 02/07/2019
* Fixes JTAG communications for USB-ML-UNIVERSAL-FX Rev. C
= Version 9.86 11/02/17
* Improves debug communications Cypress PSoC 5 processors
= Version 9.81 12/29/16
* Adds support for USB-ML-UNIVERSAL Rev. D
= Version 9.73 06/22/16
* Improves communications for high speed BDM processors (NXP HCS08, RS08, S12, S12Z, CFV1)
= Version 9.72 06/16/16
* Improves Cypress PSoC4 Debug Entry
= Version 9.60 12/30/15
* Adds support for Unsecure CF utility
= Version 9.59 12/1/15
* Fixes hard reset for S12Z
* Fixes backwards compatibility for PROGHCS08 v1.70
= Version 9.58 11/17/15
* Silicon Labs Bootloader Support
= Version 9.41 8/14/15
* Adds NXP LPC12xx Support
= Version 9.40 7/22/15
* Adds USB 1.1 support
= Version 9.39 7/9/15
* Adds run control support for Cypress PSoC4 and PSoC5 familes
= Version 9.38 5/28/15
* General ARM support update
= Version 9.37 4/23/15
* Improves Coldfire debug communications
= Version 9.36 3/25/15
* Fix Coldfire block byte/word reads in Sourcery CodeBench.
= Version 9.35 3/9/15
* Fixes block read command for BDMV4 targets such as 9S12A64
* Fixes power on reset dialog problem for Multilink-FX.
= Version 9.34 2/6/15
* Improves BDM debug communications
= Version 9.33 1/20/15
* Handle legacy BDM command offset to support PROG 1.71
* Fixes issues with providing power for Coldfire and PPCBDM
* Fixed 16-bit block writes in Coldfire.
= Version 9.32
* Fixed bugs related to BDM architecture
* Fix SWD timeout, FX would hang if given a slow enough part
= Version 9.31
* Coldfire, fixed no address reads
* Coldfire, fixed return of error for write block long
= Version 9.30
* Improved BDM debug communications
= Version 9.29
* Fixed RS08 CPP for Multilink Universal
= Version 9.28
* Fixed block writes for HCS12
= Version 9.27
* Initial Release
USB-ML-ACP
Rev B - 11.09
Release Notes:
= Version 11.09 04/20/2023
* Improves reliability when installing hardware licenses
= Version 10.81 09/17/2021
* Fixes licensing issue of some multilinks
= Version 10.05 10/11/18
* Adds support for Revision B
S12Z (Does not support HC(S)12(X)) Flash/EEPROM Programmer Hardware license
US$199.00
Specifications & Contents
Models/Part Numbers
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.
Included Hardware
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
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).
Multilink Trade-In Program
Want to trade in your old model Multilink for a new one?