STM32F030 (Cortex-M0) and BLE Mesh

[grzegorz]

I'd like to use STM32F030 with SPBTLE-RF. Is it possible? Can I use libBlueNRG_Mesh_CM0.a from STSW-BNRG-Mesh? STM32CubeExpansion_BLEMESH1 is available only for Cortex-M3 and M4. Is it going to be available for CM0?

[alok]

Hi,

Any specific reason to use STM32F030  ? Did you evaluate the flash size needs ?

For which application you plan to use STM32F030  ?

Normally, the  libBlueNRG_Mesh_CM0.a shall work fine for STM32F030,

There is no plan to provide X-CUBE-BLEMESH1 for CM0 based MCU

[grzegorz]

STM32F030 wasn't my choice, it was selected for the project (PV panels array monitoring).

I made some tests and it wasn't possible to link the code against libBlueNRG_Mesh_CM0.a:

collect2.exe: error: ld returned 5 exit status

I suppose the library wasn't compiled for GCC. Could ST provide the library for GCC (TrueStudio)?

[grzegorz]

OK, so the GCC compatibility issue can be fixed by removing debug symbols:

arm-none-eabi-objcopy --strip-debug llibBlueNRG_Mesh_CM0.a

But it doesn't help much. The ld.exe process doesn't crash now but it fails because of lack of BlueNRG1/2 specific functions like PKA_SetData(). And that's because ST dropped BlueNRG-MS support in BlueNRG-Mesh library version 1.09.000. The release notes say:

Removed support over BlueNRG-MS, For BlueNRG-MS kindly refer X-CUBE-BLEMESH1

But as you stated, X-CUBE-BLEMESH1 doesn't support CM0. So libBlueNRG_Mesh_CM0.a won't work fine for STM32F030. The solution would be to us mesh library V1.07.000 but it's nowhere to be found. ST offers only latest version for download.

[alok]

You are right. The X-CUBE is for STM32+BlueNRG-MS

Kindly share which MCU do you plan to use (Flash, RAM..) and which Model of the BLE-Mesh. Is it generic model or Vendor model for your application ?

Using STM32L1 is not an option for you ? or using BlueNRG2 which is also Cortex-M0 core

[grzegorz]

I don't design hardware in this project, just make suggestions as software developer. There would be Vendor model. STM32F030 was first choice because of price and LQFP48 package. SPBTLE-RF is already chosen as BLE module. For me STM32L1 would be OK, but is there some chip in LQFP48 package and with 512 kB Flash?

[alok]

for STM32F030, you are getting 256KB flash maximum. Any specific reason to ask 512kB for STM32L1 ?

[grzegorz]

I thought 256 kB wouldn't be enough. Anyway the project is postponed now. Thank you for your help.