# Update the Qualcomm Linux software
To update the software on your Qualcomm^®^ Dragonwing^TM^ IQ-615 (SMARC) Evaluation Kit (EVK), download and flash the prebuilt images of the latest software.
You can update the software using one of the following methods:
Caution
During the software update with the prebuilt images, all the data on your device is erased and a new image is installed. Back up important data before you start.
Use the Qualcomm Visual Code Extension to update the software
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> Update the software using the Qualcomm Visual Code Extension, an integrated application development environment. For instructions, see the [Qualcomm Visual Studio Code Extension Reference Guide](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-79972-1/user_guide.html#device-flashing). The IQ-615 (SMARC) EVK supports Qualcomm Visual Studio Code Extension v2.0.0 or later.
https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-79972-1/quick_start.html
Use a host computer to manually update the software
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> Update the software manually from a Ubuntu, Windows, or mac-based host computer. For instructions, see [Update the Qualcomm Linux software manually using a host computer](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-291/topic/iq615-ug-update-the-sw.html#update-sw-manually).
https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-291/topic/iq615-ug-update-the-sw.html#update-sw-manually
Use over-the-air tools to update the software
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> Update the software incrementally using over-the-air (OTA) update tools including the Capsule mechanism and the OSTree tool. For instructions, see the [Qualcomm Linux Yocto Guide](https://dragonwingdocs.qualcomm.com/Key-Documents/Yocto-Guide/qualcomm-linux-yocto-overview).
https://dragonwingdocs.qualcomm.com/Key-Documents/Yocto-Guide/qualcomm-linux-yocto-overview
## Update the Qualcomm Linux software manually using a host computer
The following workflow shows the steps to upgrade the software manually from a host computer.
Software upgrade workflow of Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-615 (SMARC) EVK
### Prerequisites
- Back up any important data on your Dragonwing IQ-615 (SMARC) EVK.
- Verify that the host computer has enough free storage. The software and its artifacts require at least 21 GB of space.
### Procedure
To update the Qualcomm Linux software, complete the following steps based on the operating system of your host computer.
Tab Ubuntu
Tab Windows
Tab macOS
- *class* tabincludedirective
- #### Download the software
1. [Download the software image](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/ui/native/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-distro/iq-615-evk/qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip).
2. Unzip the downloaded file on the development host by running the following command:
unzip qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image
Copy to clipboard
#### Put the device in EDL mode
Typically, the device enters emergency download (EDL) mode under two conditions:
- The device doesn’t have installed software upon initial power-up.
- The currently installed software malfunctions.
To flash the software, you must manually put the device into EDL mode. Follow these steps to do so:
1. Power On the device using the PWR ON/OFF switch on the EVK.
2. To enable EDL mode, set SW1 switch to OFF and move DIP switch SW3-4 to ON.
The following figure shows the location and position of SW1 and SW3-4 DIP switch:
Location of the SW3 DIP switch
3. On the host computer, run `lsusb` to verify whether the device has entered EDL mode.
Sample output:
Bus 002 Device 014: ID 05c6:9008 Qualcomm, Inc. Gobi Wireless Modem (QDL mode)
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#### Update udev rules
Udev rules ensure consistent device recognition and naming, facilitate seamless hardware changes, and allow dynamic device management. You must configure the `udev` USB rules for the Qualcomm manufacturing vendor ID **05c6** on the Ubuntu host.
To update the udev rules on your Ubuntu host, do the following:
1. Go to the directory of udev rules by running the following command:
cd /etc/udev/rules.d
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2. List the contents of the directory by running the following command:
ls
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3. Verify if the `51-qcom-usb.rules` file is present in the list.
- If the `51-qcom-usb.rules` file is not present, do the following:
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> 1. Create a `51-qcom-usb.rules` file by running the following command:
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> sudo vi 51-qcom-usb.rules
> Copy to clipboard
> 2. Add the following content to the file:
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>
>
> >
> >
> > SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="05c6", ATTRS{idProduct}=="9008", MODE="0664", GROUP="plugdev"
> > Copy to clipboard
- If the `51-qcom-usb.rules` file exists, do the following:
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> 1. View the contents of the file by running the following command:
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> cat 51-qcom-usb.rules
> Copy to clipboard
>
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> 3. Check if the following content is present in the file:
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
> > SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="05c6", ATTRS{idProduct}=="9008", MODE="0664", GROUP="plugdev"
> > Copy to clipboard
4. Restart `udev` by running the following command:
sudo systemctl restart udev
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5. If the USB cable is already connected to the host computer, unplug the cable and then reconnect it for the updated rules to take effect.
#### Flash using the QDL tool
The Qualcomm Download (QDL) tool is a flashing utility that communicates with USB devices identified by ID **05c6:9008**. The tool uploads a flash loader to the device, which then flashes the images to the eMMC built into the device.
To flash using the QDL tool, do the following:
1. Download the [QDL tool](https://softwarecenter.qualcomm.com/catalog/item/Qualcomm_Device_Loader?osArch=X86&osDist=Debian&osType=Linux&version=2.3.9).
2. Unzip the contents of the downloaded folder.
3. Provide executable permission by running the following command:
chmod +x ./qdl
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For more information about QDL tool usage, see the **QDL\_User\_Guide** in your unzipped `qdl` directory.
4. Flash the images as follows:
1. Flash the Qualcomm Linux software by running the following commands:
cd \qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image\images\iq-615-evk\qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-615-evk
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The `` is the file path of extracted `qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip` folder.
/qdl prog_firehose_ddr.elf rawprogram0.xml patch0.xml --storage emmc
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The `` is the directory of QDL tool.
Note
Turn on the SW1 DIP switch and turn off SW3 pin4 after flashing the software and allow the device to boot from eMMC.
5. After flashing and successfully rebooting the device, you can view the device information in the terminal window by running the `lsusb` command.
The line 4 of the following sample output shows the device information.
# Sample output
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 045b:0209 Hitachi, Ltd
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 045b:0210 Hitachi, Ltd
- *class* tabincludedirective
- #### Download the software
1. [Download the software image](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/ui/native/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-distro/iq-615-evk/qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip).
2. Unzip the downloaded file on the development host by running the following command:
unzip qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image
Copy to clipboard
#### Put the device in EDL mode
Typically, the device enters emergency download mode (EDL) mode under two conditions:
- The device doesn’t have installed software upon initial power-up.
- The currently installed software malfunctions.
To flash the software, you must manually put the device into EDL mode.
1. Power On the device using the PWR ON/OFF switch on the EVK.
2. To enable EDL mode, set SW1 switch to OFF and move DIP switch SW3-4 to ON.
The following figure shows the location and position of SW1 and SW3-4 DIP switch:
Location of the SW3 DIP switch
3. On the host computer, run `lsusb` to verify whether the device has entered EDL mode.
Sample output:
Bus 002 Device 014: ID 05c6:9008 Qualcomm, Inc. Gobi Wireless Modem (QDL mode)
Copy to clipboard
#### Flash using the QDL tool
The Qualcomm Download (QDL) tool is a flashing utility that communicates with USB devices identified by ID **05c6:9008**. The tool uploads a flash loader to the device, which then flashes the images to the eMMC built into the device.
To flash using the QDL tool, do the following:
1. Uninstall any other drivers for the device. Ensure that drivers such as Qualcomm USB driver aren’t installed. The device shouldn’t appear under **COM Ports** in **Device Manager**.
2. Download the [QDL tool](https://softwarecenter.qualcomm.com/#/catalog/item/Qualcomm_Device_Loader).
3. Unzip the contents of the downloaded folder.
4. Run the `install_driver.bat` script from the unzipped QDL directory.
5. Flash the images as follows:
1. Flash the Qualcomm Linux software by running the following commands:
cd \qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image\images\iq-615-evk\qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-615-evk
Copy to clipboard
The `` is the file path of extracted `qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip` folder.
.\qdl.exe prog_firehose_ddr.elf rawprogram0.xml patch0.xml --storage emmc
Copy to clipboard
Note
Turn On the SW1 DIP switch and turn Off SW3 pin4 after flashing the software and allow the device to boot from eMMC.
- *class* tabincludedirective
- #### Download the software
1. [Download the software image](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/ui/native/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-distro/iq-615-evk/qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip).
2. Unzip the downloaded file on the development host by running the following command:
unzip qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image
Copy to clipboard
#### Put the device in EDL mode
Typically, the device enters emergency download (EDL) mode under two conditions:
- The device doesn’t have installed software upon initial power-up.
- The currently installed software malfunctions.
To flash the software, you must manually put the device into EDL mode. Follow these steps to do so:
1. Power On the device using the PWR ON/OFF switch on the EVK.
2. To enable EDL mode, set SW1 switch to Off and move DIP switch SW3-4 to ON.
The following figure shows the location and position of SW1 and SW3-4 DIP switch:
Location of the SW3 DIP switch
3. On the host computer, run `lsusb` to verify whether the device has entered EDL mode.
Sample output:
Bus 002 Device 014: ID 05c6:9008 Qualcomm, Inc. Gobi Wireless Modem (QDL mode)
Copy to clipboard
#### Flash using QDL tool
The Qualcomm Download (QDL) tool is a flashing utility that communicates with USB devices identified by ID **05c6:9008**. The tool uploads a flash loader to the device, which then flashes the images to the eMMC built into the device.
To flash using the QDL tool, do the following:
1. Download the [QDL tool](https://softwarecenter.qualcomm.com/catalog/item/Qualcomm_Device_Loader?osArch=ARM64&osType=macOS&version=2.3.6).
2. Unzip the contents of the downloaded folder.
For more information about QDL tool usage, see the **QDL\_User\_Guide** in your unzipped `qdl` directory.
3. Flash the images as follows:
1. Flash the Qualcomm Linux software by running the following commands:
cd \qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image\images\iq-615-evk\qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-iq-615-evk
Copy to clipboard
The `` is the file path of extracted `qli-2.1-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image.zip` folder.
/QDL_Mac_ARM/qdl prog_firehose_ddr.elf rawprogram0.xml patch0.xml --storage emmc
Copy to clipboard
The `` is the directory of QDL tool.
Note
Turn On the SW1 DIP switch and turn Off SW3 pin4 after flashing the software and allow the device to boot from eMMC.
4. After flashing and successfully rebooting the device, you can view the device information in the terminal window by running the `lsusb` command.
The line 4 of the following sample output shows the device information.
# Sample output
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 045b:0209 Hitachi, Ltd
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 045b:0210 Hitachi, Ltd
## Next steps
1. [Set up the device](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-291/topic/iq615-ug-set-up-the-device.html#iq615-ug-set-up-the-device).
2. [Run multimedia or AI sample applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-291/topic/iq615-ug-run-sample-apps.html#iq615-ug-run-sample-applications).
Last Published: Oct 12, 2026
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