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## Nordic Power Profiler Kit II on Ubuntu, Install Note for Local Setup
**Last verified download versions, April 2026:**
- `nrfutil 8.1.1 (b6089d0 2025-08-21)`
- `nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage`
- `JLink_Linux_V876_x86_64`
---
### Scope
- SEGGER J-Link installation
- `nrfutil` installation
- manual `udev` rule setup for Nordic USB devices
- `nRF Connect for Desktop` AppImage setup
- `.desktop` launcher setup
- `Power Profiler` app usage with **PPK2**
### Working result
- `JLink_Linux_V876_x86_64.deb` installed
- `nrfutil 8.1.1` downloaded manually, made executable, moved to `/usr/bin`
- Nordic `udev` rules created manually
- `nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage` runs as normal user on this system with `--no-sandbox`
- PPK2 detected and usable
---
### 1. Required files
| File | Downloaded by |
|------|---------------|
| `JLink_Linux_V876_x86_64.deb` | Admin |
| `nrfutil` binary | Admin |
| `nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage` | User |
---
### 2. Official download pages
| Tool | URL |
|------|-----|
| SEGGER J-Link (64-bit DEB) | `https://www.segger.com/downloads/jlink/` |
| nRF Connect for Desktop | `https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Development-tools/nRF-Connect-for-Desktop/Download` |
| nRF Util | `https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/nrfutil/page/guides/installing.html` |
---
### 3. Admin steps
#### 3.1 Install J-Link
```bash
cd ~/Downloads
sudo dpkg -i JLink_Linux_V876_x86_64.deb
```
#### 3.2 Install `nrfutil`
```bash
cd ~/Downloads
chmod +x nrfutil
sudo mv nrfutil /usr/bin/
nrfutil --version
```
Expected output (versions may differ):
```text
nrfutil 8.1.1 (b6089d0 2025-08-21)
commit-hash: b6089d08a9cfdb292f8ab8d21e0908ded814cd11
commit-date: 2025-08-21
host: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
build-timestamp: 2025-08-22T09:15:23.120304773Z
classification: nrf-external
```
#### 3.3 Create Nordic `udev` rules
**Main Nordic USB rule**
```bash
sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/71-nrf.rules >/dev/null <<'EOF_RULE1'
ACTION!="add", GOTO="nrf_rules_end"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="1915", MODE="0666"
KERNEL=="ttyACM[0-9]*", SUBSYSTEM=="tty", SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="1915", MODE="0666", ENV{NRF_CDC_ACM}="1"
LABEL="nrf_rules_end"
EOF_RULE1
```
**Security note:** `MODE="0666"` grants read/write to all users on the system. This is acceptable for a single-user lab machine. On shared systems, consider `GROUP="plugdev"` + `MODE="0664"` and adding your user to the `plugdev` group instead.
**ModemManager blacklist rule**
```bash
sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/99-mm-nrf-blacklist.rules >/dev/null <<'EOF_RULE2'
ENV{NRF_CDC_ACM}=="1", ENV{ID_MM_CANDIDATE}="0", ENV{ID_MM_DEVICE_IGNORE}="1"
EOF_RULE2
```
**Reload and trigger**
```bash
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger --subsystem-match=usb --action=add
sudo udevadm trigger --subsystem-match=tty --action=add
```
Now unplug and replug the PPK2.
#### 3.4 Verify USB detection
```bash
lsusb | grep -i nordic
```
Expected output:
```text
Bus xxx Device xxx: ID 1915:c00a Nordic Semiconductor ASA PPK2
```
---
### 4. (local) User steps
#### 4.1 Prepare the AppImage
```bash
mkdir -p "$HOME/Desktop/AppImage"
cd "$HOME/Desktop/AppImage"
chmod +x nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage
```
#### 4.2 Install shell completion for `nrfutil` (optional)
For `nrfutil` v7+, the correct command is:
```bash
nrfutil completion install bash
```
#### 4.3 Start nRF Connect for Desktop
```bash
cd "$HOME/Desktop/AppImage"
./nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage --no-sandbox
```
Equivalent absolute-path form:
```bash
"$HOME/Desktop/AppImage/nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage" --no-sandbox
```
#### 4.4 Create `.desktop` launcher
Create the launcher file:
```bash
mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/share/applications"
cat > "$HOME/.local/share/applications/nrf-connect.desktop" <<'EOF_DESKTOP'
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=nRF Connect for Desktop
Comment=Nordic Semiconductor nRF Connect for Desktop
Path=$HOME/Desktop/AppImage
Exec=/bin/bash -lc '"$HOME/Desktop/AppImage/nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage" --no-sandbox'
Icon=$HOME/path/to/icons/nRF-Connect_desktop.png
Terminal=false
Categories=Development;Electronics;
StartupNotify=true
EOF_DESKTOP
chmod +x "$HOME/.local/share/applications/nrf-connect.desktop"
```
Then adjust the `Icon=` line to your own icon path.
Optional: place a symlink on the desktop so the launcher is easy to back up and keep in one place:
```bash
ln -sf "$HOME/.local/share/applications/nrf-connect.desktop" "$HOME/Desktop/nRF-Connect.desktop"
```
> **Note:** The `Exec=` line uses `/bin/bash -lc` so `$HOME` expands correctly when the launcher starts from the desktop environment.
---
### 5. Inside nRF Connect for Desktop
1. Install the **Power Profiler** app.
2. Connect the **PPK2**.
3. Select the device.
4. Confirm it stays selected and does not drop with `No device setup found`.
---
### 6. Typical failure I run into and fix
**Symptom:**
```text
No device setup found
```
**Cause:** Missing or incomplete Nordic `udev` rules.
**Fix:**
1. Create the two rule files from section 3.3.
2. Reload udev.
3. Unplug and replug the PPK2.
4. Restart `nRF Connect for Desktop`.
---
### 7. Command Summary
#### Admin
```bash
# J-Link
cd ~/Downloads
sudo dpkg -i JLink_Linux_V876_x86_64.deb
# nrfutil
chmod +x nrfutil
sudo mv nrfutil /usr/bin/
nrfutil --version
# udev rules
sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/71-nrf.rules >/dev/null <<'EOF_RULE1'
ACTION!="add", GOTO="nrf_rules_end"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="1915", MODE="0666"
KERNEL=="ttyACM[0-9]*", SUBSYSTEM=="tty", SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="1915", MODE="0666", ENV{NRF_CDC_ACM}="1"
LABEL="nrf_rules_end"
EOF_RULE1
sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/99-mm-nrf-blacklist.rules >/dev/null <<'EOF_RULE2'
ENV{NRF_CDC_ACM}=="1", ENV{ID_MM_CANDIDATE}="0", ENV{ID_MM_DEVICE_IGNORE}="1"
EOF_RULE2
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger --subsystem-match=usb --action=add
sudo udevadm trigger --subsystem-match=tty --action=add
lsusb | grep -i nordic
```
#### User
```bash
mkdir -p "$HOME/Desktop/AppImage"
cd "$HOME/Desktop/AppImage"
chmod +x nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage
nrfutil completion install bash
./nrfconnect-5.2.1-x86_64.AppImage --no-sandbox
```