8.12 Hardware Tool Connections and Debugging

The connection between your hardware debug tool and target can determine what debug features are available, in addition to the device-related debug features.

Table 8-7. Hardware Tool to Target Connections - PIC MCUs
Connection TypeHardware Support(1)Debug Support (3,4,5)Trace Support(1)Support Speed
Standard (ICSP) CommunicationsICEx(2); RI, ICDx: Modular cable (6-pin RJ-11); Snap, PKx: Ribbon cable (6-pin SIL)Basic and AdvancedICEx and RI: Native Trace

15 MIPS or less

PIC32: Device Dependent

High-Speed CommunicationsICEx: High-speed cable; RI: Performance Pak (AC244002)Basic and Advanced

Native Trace, SPI Trace

Greater than 15 MIPS

PIC32: Device Dependent

RI: Performance Pak + Isolator Unit (AC244005)Basic and AdvancedNone

Greater than 15 MIPS

PIC32: Device Dependent

JTAG

ICEx(2); RI: JTAG Adapter (AC244007); J32

BasicNonePIC32: Device Dependent
I/O Port TraceICEx: High-speed cable; RI: Logic Port Probes (4 pins)N/AI/O Port TraceDevice Dependent
PIC Instruction Trace ICEx(2); RI: Logic Port + Trace Interface Kit (AC244006)N/AInstruction Trace (PIC32 MCUs, some Emulation Headers)Device Dependent
Power MonitorICEx(2) + Current Sense; RI: Modular Cable + Logic Port + Power Monitor board (AC244008)BasicNone

RI: 15 MIPS or less, PIC32 Device Dependent

  1. For tool abbreviations, see last table.
  2. ICEx can be used with legacy boards or the high-speed cable for better performance.
  3. Support is device dependent, i.e., some debug features are not available on all devices.
  4. Basic Debug Support: Run, Halt, Reset, Step Into, Step Over, Software/Hardware Breakpoints.
  5. Advanced Debug Support: Data Capture, Runtime Watch, etc.
Table 8-8. Hardware Tool to Target Connections - AVR MCUs
Connection TypeHardware Support(1)Device Support(4)Debug Support(5,6,7)Trace SupportSupport Speed
JTAGAI, PKx(2), ICEx(3)All AVR MCUsBasicNo32kHz to 7.5MHz
aWireAIAVR 32-bit MCUsBasicNo7.5kbit/s to 7Mbit/s
PDI 2-wireAl, PKx(2), ICEx(3)AVR XMEGA® MCUsBasicNo32kHz to 7.5MHz
debugWIREAl, PKx(2), ICEx(3)AVR 8-bit MCUsBasicNo4kbit/s to 0.5Mbit/s
UPDIAl, PKx(2), ICEx(3)AVR 8-bit MCUsBasicsNoUp to 750kbit/s
SPIAI, PKx(2), ICEx(3)AVR 8-bit MCUsProgramming onlyN/A8kHz to 5MHz
TPIAI, PKx(2), ICEx(3)tinyAVR 8-bit MCUsProgramming onlyN/ADevice dependend
  1. For tool abbreviations, see last table.
  2. PKx requires the AC102015 Debugger Adapter Board.
  3. ICEx can be used with legacy boards or the high-speed cable for better performance.
  4. Device support is on-going and may not be currently available.
  5. Support is device dependent, i.e., some debug features are not available on all devices.
  6. Basic Debug Support: Run, Halt, Software/Hardware Breakpoints.
  7. Programming Only: No debugging with this connection.
Table 8-9. Hardware Tool to Target Connections - SAM MCUs
Connection TypeHardware Support(1)Device Support(4)Debug Support(5,6,7)Trace SupportSupport Speed
JTAGICDx(2),ICEx(3)SAM MCUsBasicNo32kHz to 7.5MHz
SWDICDx(2), ICEx(3)SAM MCUsBasic and AdvancedITM - 3MB/s32kHz to 10MHz
  1. For tool abbreviations, see last table.
  2. ICDx requires the AC102015 Debugger Adapter Board.
  3. ICEx can be used with legacy boards or the high-speed cable for better performance.
  4. Device support is on-going and may not be currently available.
  5. Support is device dependent, i.e., some debug features are not available on all devices.
  6. Basic Debug Support: Run, Halt, Software/Hardware Breakpoints.
  7. Advanced Debug Support: Additional features over Basic; device dependent.
Table 8-10. Tool Abbreviations
AbbreviationTool Name
SnapMPLAB Snap in-circuit debugger/production programmer
PKxMPLAB PICkit x in-circuit debugger/production programmer, where x = 3, 4 or 5
ICDxMPLAB ICD x in-circuit debugger/production programmer, where x = 3, 4 or 5
ICExMPLAB ICE x in-circuit emulator/production programmer, where x = 4
RIMPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulator/production programmer
AIAtmel-ICE in-circuit debugger/programmer
J32J-32 debug probes (Third Party)

For more on device-dependent debug features, see:

<MPLAB X IDE install>docs/FeatureSupport/HWToolDebugFeatures.html