MPC5500 Development Tools Support Page

Welcome to the Ashling MPC5500 Development Tools Support Page

PathFinder for MPC5500 Debugger Software Status
Current version: v1.0.7
Released on: 17th October 2007

PathFinder for MPC5500 now includes real-time Code Coverage Measurement

MPC5500-related Technical Articles
New features in PathFinder for MPC5500 v1.0.7
Download PathFinder for MPC5500 v1.0.7
Important Installation Information for USB Operation
Important Installation Information for Genia/Vitra

(Need the Support Page for PathFinder-MPC565 tools? Click here)

Ashling's PathFinder for MPC5500 v1.0.7 Debugger (used with Ashling Vitra and Genia Emulators for MPC5500) includes many updates and improvements in response to requests from MPC5500 developers.

PathFinder for MPC5500 v1.0.7 is available for download by registered users of Ashling's Software Update and Support Service.

The open-source GNU binutils package, with an updated Assembler that supports all Instructions on the MPC5500 family, may be downloaded here

Consult the library of MPC5500-related Technical Articles here

APB194: NEXUS Debug and Trace Connectors for use with Freescale's MPC5500 Microprocessors
This article describes the connectors and pin-configurations that are best suited for NEXUS-standard debugging and trace on Freescale's MPC5500 microprocessor family (including MPC5554 and MPC5553).

APB197: Debugging eTPU application code using the Ashling MPC5500 Tools
This article provides an overview of eTPU code development and debugging using the Ashling MPC5500 Tools.

APB160: Ashling Vitra, Genia and Opella Emulator and Debugger Product Selection Guide
This article helps you to select the appropriate Ashling Emulator and Debugger for the PowerPC architectures.

APB161: External-Trigger, User-Trace and General-Purpose-I/O on Ashling's Vitra, Genia and Opella Emulators
An optional Extended Trigger and Trace Probe Assembly (TPA-TRIG-TRACE) is available for Ashling's Vitra Emulator and Trace tools that adds the External-Trigger and User-Trace and General-Purpose-I/O capabilities as described in this article (APB161).

APB162: Ashling tools for NEXUS and BDM Debugging on Power PC
This article compares the NEXUS (and BDM) Debug Ports on Freescale's MPC5500 and MPC5xx PowerPC Embedded Microprocessors.

APB171: PowerPC Flash Programming
This article (APB171) outlines how to use the Ashling PowerPC tools to program on-chip flash and external flash devices on your PowerPC based target.

New Features in the PathFinder for MPC5500 v1.0.7 Debugger

PathFinder at v1.0.7 and SymFinder-DWARF at v1.1.8.
Stepping from a breakpoint when an interrupt is pending is now supported.
Improved flash programming support. Better error handling and user-interface improvements.
Support for interrupts and exceptions in the Call\Return window.
Added support for *.?19 filter in various File picker dialogs added.
Full VLE support.
Miscellaneous bugs fixed (breakpoints and trace).
Please note the following known issues with eTPU debugging in the v1.0.5 release due to two known issues with the ELF/DWARF debug information produced by the Byte Craft v1.0.7 eTPU_C compiler:
- Source-level ('C') debug for eTPU applications with more than one C source file is not supported.
- eTPU complex variables (structures, unions, arrays, etc) display is not supported.

Important Installation Information for PathFinder
Before downloading PathFinder, please note that under Windows NT/2000/XP or Vista you will need administration privileges to install PathFinder; additionally, all PathFinder users require full access privileges to the PathFinder installation directory at all times.

Download PathFinder for MPC5500 v1.0.7 here
Unzip using WINZIP or PKZIP for Windows (use a utility that supports long filenames;
do not use PKZIP for DOS) and run SETUP.EXE from the downloaded file.

Important Installation Information for USB Operation
If you get a "New USB hardware found" message after you connect your Ashling Emulator to your PC using a USB cable, then direct the Hardware Installation Wizard to your installation directory so that it can locate the necessary drivers and complete the installation. Windows only needs to perform this operation the first time you connect your Ashling Emulator to your PC. Microsoft Windows XP users can safely ignore any Windows generated warnings about the Ashling drivers not passing Windows Logo Testing.

Important Installation Information for Genia/Vitra
After installing this software, please ensure you turn off and on your Genia/Vitra emulator before running the new installed version. This ensures that your Genia/Vitra diskware software is updated to the latest version supplied with this release.