STMicroelectronics ST-LINKV2 In Circuit Debugger Programmer
Introduction
The ST-LINK/V2 is an in-circuit debugger/programmer for the STM8 and STM32 microcontrollers. The single wire interface module (SWIM) and the JTAG/serial wire debugging (SWD) interfaces facilitate the communication with any STM8 or STM32 microcontroller operating on an application board.
In addition to providing the same functionalities of the ST-LINK/V2, the ST-LINK/V2 ISOL features digital isolation between the PC and the target application board. It also withstands voltages of up to 1000 VRMS.
The USB full-speed interface enables communication with a PC and:
- STM8 devices via ST Visual Develop (STVD) or ST Visual Program (STVP) software (available from STMicroelectronics)
- STM32 devices via IAR™, Keil®, STM32CubeIDE, STM32CubeProgrammer, and STM32CubeMonitor integrated development environments.
Features
- 5 V power supplied by a USB connector
- USB 2.0 full speed compatible interface
- USB standard A to Mini-B cable
- SWIM specific features
– 1.65 to 5.5 V application voltage supported on SWIM interface
– SWIM low-speed and high-speed modes supported
– SWIM programming-speed rate: 9.7 and 12.8 Kbytes/s, respectively, for low and high speed
– SWIM cable for connection to the application via an ERNI standard vertical (ref: 284697 or 214017) or horizontal (ref: 214012) connector
– SWIM cable for connection to the application via a pin header or a 2.54 mm pitch connector - JTAG/serial wire debugging (SWD) specific features
– 1.65 to 3.6 V application voltage supported on the JTAG/SWD interface and 5 V tolerant inputs(a)
– JTAG cable for connection to a standard JTAG 20-pin pitch 2.54 mm connector
– Supports JTAG communication, up to 9 MHz (default: 1.125 MHz)
– Supports serial wire debug (SWD) up to 4 MHz (default: 1.8 MHz), and serial wire viewer (SWV) communication, up to 2 MHz - Direct firmware update feature supported (DFU)
- Status LED, blinking during communication with the PC
- 1000 VRMS high isolation voltage (ST-LINK/V2-ISOL only)
- Operating temperature from 0 to 50 °C
Ordering information
To order the ST-LINK/V2, refer to Table 1.
Table 1. List of the order codes
| Order code | ST-LINK description |
| ST-LINK/V2 | In-circuit debugger/programmer |
| ST-LINK/V2-ISOL | In-circuit debugger/programmer with digital isolation |
a. The ST-LINK/V2 can communicate with targets operating below 3.3 V, but generates output signals at this voltage level. STM32 targets are tolerant to this over-voltage. If some other components of the target board are sensible, use ST-LINK/V2-ISOL, STLINK-V3MINIE or STLINK-V3SET with B-STLINK-VOLT adapter to avoid impact of over-voltage injection on the board.
Product contents
The cables delivered within the product are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3. They include (from left to right):
- USB standard A to Mini-B cable (A)
- ST-LINK/V2 debugging and programming (B)
- SWIM low-cost connector (C)
- SWIM flat ribbon with a standard ERNI connector at one end (D)
- JTAG or SWD and SWV flat ribbon with a 20-pin connector (E)
Hardware configuration
The ST-LINK/V2 is designed around the STM32F103C8 device, which incorporates the high-performance Arm®(a) Cortex®-M3 core. It is available in a TQFP48 package.
As shown in Figure 4, the ST-LINK/V2 provides two connectors:
- an STM32 connector for the JTAG/SWD and SWV interface
- an STM8 connector for the SWIM interface
The ST-LINK/V2-ISOL provides one connector for the STM8 SWIM, STM32 JTAG/SWD, and SWV interfaces.
- A = STM32 JTAG and SWD target connector
- B = STM8 SWIM target connector
- C = STM8 SWIM, STM32 JTAG, and SWD target connector
- D = Communication activity LED
a. Arm is a registered trademark of Arm Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the US and/or elsewhere.
Connection with STM8
For the development of applications based on STM8 microcontrollers, the ST-LINK/V2 can be connected to the target board by two different cables, depending upon the connector available on the application board.
These cables are:
- a SWIM flat ribbon with a standard ERNI connector at one end
- a SWIM cable with two 4-pin, 2.54 mm connectors or SWIM separate-wires cables
Standard ERNI connection with SWIM flat ribbon
Figure 5 shows how to connect the ST-LINK/V2 if a standard ERNI 4-pin SWIM connector is present on the application board.
- A = Target application board with ERNI connector
- B = Wire cable with ERNI connector at one end
- C = STM8 SWIM target connector
- See Figure 11
Figure 6 shows that pin 16 is missing on the ST-LINK/V2-ISOL target connector. This missing pin is used as a safety key on the cable connector, to guarantee the correct position of the SWIM cable on the target connector even pins, used for both SWIM and JTAG cables.
Low-cost SWIM connection
Figure 7 shows how to connect the ST-LINK/V2 if a 4-pin, 2.54 mm, low-cost SWIM connector is present on the application board.
- A = Target application board with 4-pin, 2.54 mm, low-cost connector
- B = Wire cable with a 4-pin connector or separate-wires cable
- C = STM8 SWIM target connector
- See Figure 12
SWIM signals and connections
Table 2 summarizes the signal names, functions, and target connection signals when using the wire cable with a 4-pin connector.
Table 2. SWIM flat ribbon connections for ST-LINK/V2
| Pin no. | Name | Function | Target connection |
| 1 | VDD | Target VCC(1) | MCU VCC |
| 2 | DATA | SWIM | MCU SWIM pin |
| 3 | GND | GROUND | GND |
| 4 | RESET | RESET | MCU RESET pin |
- The power supply from the application board is connected to the ST-LINK/V2 debugging and programming board to ensure signal compatibility between both boards.
Table 3 summarizes the signal names, functions, and target connection signals using the separate-wires cable.
As the SWIM separate-wires cable has independent connectors for all pins on one side, it is possible to connect the ST-LINK/V2-ISOL to an application board without a standard SWIM connector. On this flat ribbon, all signals are referenced by a specific color and a label to ease the connection on target.
Table 3. SWIM low-cost cable connections for ST-LINK/V2-ISOL
| Color | Cable pin name | Function | Target connection |
| Red | TVCC | Target VCC(1) | MCU VCC |
| Green | UART-RX | Unused | Reserved (2)
(not connected on the target board) |
| Blue | UART-TX | ||
| Yellow | BOOT0 | ||
| Orange | SWIM | SWIM | MCU SWIM pin |
| Black | GND | GROUND | GND |
| White | SWIM-RST | RESET | MCU RESET pin |
- The power supply from the application board is connected to the ST-LINK/V2 debugging and programming board to ensure signal compatibility between both boards.
- BOOT0, UART-TX and UART-RX are reserved for future developments.
TVCC, SWIM, GND, and SWIM-RST can be connected to a low-cost 2.54 mm pitch connector or to pin headers available on the target board.
Connection with STM32
For development of applications based on STM32 microcontrollers, the ST LINK/V2 must be connected to the application using the standard 20-pin JTAG flat ribbon provided.
Table 4 summarizes the signals names, functions, and target connection signals of the standard 20-pin JTAG flat ribbon.
Table 4. JTAG/SWD cable connections
| Pin no. | ST-LINK/V2
connector (CN3) |
ST-LINK/V2
function |
Target connection (JTAG) | Target connection (SWD) |
| 1 | VAPP | Target VCC | MCU VDD(1) | MCU VDD(1) |
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | TRST | JTAG TRST | JNTRST | GND(2) |
| 4 | GND(3) | GND(3) | GND(3)(4) | GND(3)(4) |
| 5 | TDI | JTAG TDO | JTDI | GND(2) |
| 6 | GND(3) | GND(3) | GND(3)(4) | GND(3)(4) |
| 7 | TMS_SWDIO | JTAG TMS, SW IO | JTMS | SWDIO |
| 8 | GND(3) | GND(3) | GND(3)(4) | GND(3)(4) |
| 9 | TCK_SWCLK | JTAG TCK, SW CLK | JTCK | SWCLK |
| 10 | GND(5) | GND(5) | GND(4)(5) | GND(4)(5) |
| 11 | Not connected | Not connected | Not connected | Not connected |
| 12 | GND | GND | GND(4) | GND(4) |
| 13 | TDO_SWO | JTAG TDI, SWO | JTDO | TRACESWO(6) |
| 14 | GND(5) | GND(5) | GND(4)(5) | GND(4)(5) |
| 15 | NRST | NRST | NRST | NRST |
| 16 | GND(3) | GND(3) | GND(3)(4) | GND(3)(4) |
| 17 | Not connected | Not connected | Not connected | Not connected |
| 18 | GND | GND | GND(4) | GND(4) |
| 19 | VDD(3) | VDD (3.3 V)(3) | Not connected | Not connected |
| 20 | GND | GND | GND(4) | GND(4) |
- The power supply from the application board is connected to the ST-LINK/V2 debugging and programming board to ensure signal compatibility between the boards.
- Connect to GND for noise reduction on the ribbon.
- Available on ST-LINK/V2 only, not connected on ST-LINK/V2-ISOL.
- At least one of these pin must be connected to the ground for correct behavior, it is recommended to connecting all of them.
- GND on ST-LINK/V2, used by SWIM on ST-LINK/V2-ISOL (see Table 3).
- Optional: for Serial Wire Viewer (SWV) trace.
Figure 9 shows how to connect the ST-LINK/V2 to a target using the JTAG cable
- A = Target application board with JTAG connector
- B = JTAG/SWD 20-wire flat cable
- C = STM32 JTAG and SWD target connector
The reference of the connector needed on the target application board is: 2x10C header wrapping 2x40C H3/9.5 (pitch 2.54) – HED20 SCOTT PHSD80.
Note: For low cost applications, or when the standard 20-pin 2.54 mm-pitch connector footprint is too big, it is possible to implement the Tag-Connect solution. The Tag-Connect adapter and cable provide a simple and reliable means of connecting ST-LINK/V2 or ST-LINK/V2-ISOL to the PCB without requiring a mating component on the application PCB.
For more details on this solution and application-PCB-footprint information, visit
www.tag-connect.com.
The references of components compatible with JTAG and SWD interfaces are:
a) TC2050-ARM2010 adapter (20-pin- to 10-pin-interface board)
b) TC2050-IDC or TC2050-IDC-NL (No Legs) (10-pin cable)
c) TC2050-CLIP retaining clip for use with TC2050-IDC-NL (optional)
ST-LINK/V2 status LED
The LED labeled COM on top of the ST-LINK/V2 shows the ST-LINK/V2 status (whatever the connection type). In detail:
- LED is blinking RED: the first USB enumeration with the PC is taking place
- LED is RED: communication between the PC and ST-LINK/V2 is established (end of enumeration)
- LED is blinking GREEN / RED: data are exchanged between the target and the PC
- LED is GREEN: the last communication has been successful
- LED is ORANGE: ST-LINK/V2 communication with the target has failed.
Software configuration
ST-LINK/V2 firmware upgrade
The ST-LINK/V2 embeds a firmware upgrade mechanism for in-situ upgrade through the USB port. As the firmware can evolve during the life of the ST-LINK/V2 product (new functionality, bug fixes, support for new microcontroller families), it is recommended to periodically visit the dedicated pages on www.st.com to stay up-to-date with the latest version.
STM8 application development
Refer to ST toolset Pack24 with Patch 1 or more recent, which includes ST Visual Develop (STVD) and ST Visual Programmer (STVP).
STM32 application development and flash programming
Third-party toolchains (IAR™ EWARM, Keil® MDK-ARM™) support ST-LINK/V2 according to the versions given in Table 5 or in the most recent version available.
Table 5. How third-party toolchains support ST-LINK/V2
| Third party | Toolchain | Version |
| IAR™ | EWARM | 6.20 |
| Keil® | MDK-ARM™ | 4.20 |
The ST-LINK/V2 requires a dedicated USB driver. If the toolset setup does not install it automatically, the driver can be found on www.st.com under the name STSW-LINK009.
For more information on third-party tools, visit the following websites:
Schematics
- Legend for pin descriptions:
VDD = Target voltage sense
DATA = SWIM DATA line between target and debug tool
GND = Ground voltage
RESET = Target system reset
- Legend for pin descriptions:
VDD = Target voltage sense
DATA = SWIM DATA line between target and debug tool
GND = Ground voltage
RESET = Target system reset
Revision history
Table 6. Document revision history
| Date | Revision | Changes |
| 22-Apr-2011 | 1 | Initial release. |
| 03-Jun-2011 | 2 | Table 2: SWIM flat ribbon connections for ST-LINK/V2: added footnote 1 to the function “Target VCC”.
Table 4: JTAG/SWD cable connections: added footnote to the function “Target VCC”. Table 5: How third-party toolchains support ST-LINK/V2: updated the “Versions” of IAR and Keil. |
| 19-Aug-2011 | 3 | Added USB driver details to Section 5.3. |
| 11-May-2012 | 4 | Added SWD and SWV to JTAG connection features. Modified |
| 13-Sep-2012 | 5 | Added ST-LINK/V2-ISOL order code.
Updated Section 4.1: STM8 application development on page 15. Added Note 6 in Table 4. Added Note “For low cost applications…” before Section 3.3: ST- LINK/V2 status LEDs on page 14. |
| 18-Oct-2012 | 6 | Added Section 5.1: ST-LINK/V2 firmware upgrade on page 15. |
| 25-Mar-2016 | 7 | Updated VRMS value in Introduction and in Features. |
| 18-Oct-2018 | 8 | Updated Table 4: JTAG/SWD cable connections and its footnotes. Minor text edits across the whole document. |
| 09-Jan-2023 | 9 | Updated Introduction, Features, and Section 5.3: STM32 application development and flash programming.
Updated Table 5: How third-party toolchains support ST-LINK/V2. Minor text edits across the whole document. |
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Documents / Resources
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STMicroelectronics ST-LINK/V2 In Circuit Debugger Programmer [pdf] User Manual ST-LINK V2 In Circuit Debugger Programmer, ST-LINK V2, In Circuit Debugger Programmer, Circuit Debugger Programmer, Debugger Programmer, Programmer |
