News

Understanding KEIL MDK User-Based Licensing (UBL) and Its Benefits

Perpetual licenses have been a trusted option for Keil MDK users for many years. However, as development environments become more connected and automated, Keil MDK User-Based Licensing (UBL) offers additional flexibility for modern development teams.   Why consider UBL?   User-based access – Licenses are assigned to users rather than individual machines, making it easier to work across multiple approved systems.   Supports modern development workflows – Integrates well with CI/CD pipelines, automated build environments, and distributed development teams using Keil MDK.   Designed for VS Code and modern IDE workflows – Enables engineers to take advantage of today's development ecosystem, including VS Code extensions, AI-assisted coding tools, and productivity-enhancing integrations while continuing to use Keil development tools.   Simplified license management – Provides administrators with greater visibility and control over license allocation and usage across engineering teams.   Access to the latest Arm tools – Includes current Arm development tools such as Arm Compiler for Embedded (Arm Compiler 6), along with ongoing updates and enhancements.   Legacy toolchain support – UBL Professional also provides access to older Arm toolchains when maintaining existing products and long-term projects.   Perpetual licenses remain a valid option for many projects, but for organizations adopting modern development practices, Keil MDK UBL offers a flexible licensing model aligned with today's engineering workflows.   Get Started with Keil MDK UBL    

ARCHITECTURE OF TRUST: STRENGTHENING SECURITY IN MODERN CORTEX-M SYSTEMS

As embedded devices continue to expand into connected and safety-critical applications, security has become a fundamental design requirement rather than an optional feature. From industrial controllers and medical devices to automotive and IoT systems, developers must address increasingly sophisticated threats while maintaining performance and reliability.   Modern Arm Cortex-M processors have evolved significantly to meet these challenges. While earlier Cortex-M architectures provided strong performance and low-power operation, newer generations introduce hardware enforced security features designed to protect software, data, and system resources from both accidental faults and malicious attacks.   One of the most significant advancements is TrustZone for Arm Cortex-M, which enables the separation of applications into Secure and Non-Secure environments. By isolating sensitive assets such as cryptographic keys, authentication services, and security-critical firmware, TrustZone helps reduce the attack surface and limits the impact of compromised software components.   Recent Cortex-M architectures further strengthen security through features such as Stack Limit Registers, PAN (Privileged Access Never), PXN (Privileged Execute Never), Pointer Authentication and Branch Target Identification (PACBTI), enhanced Memory Protection Unit (MPU) capabilities, and secure gateway mechanisms. Together, these technologies help mitigate common attack vectors including stack overflows, code injection, privilege escalation, control-flow hijacking, and cross-domain attacks.   These hardware assisted protections are particularly valuable as embedded systems become increasingly connected and exposed to external threats. Security mechanisms that were once implemented primarily in software can now be enforced directly by the processor, improving both robustness and system resilience.   As cybersecurity requirements continue to evolve, modern Cortex-M security features provide developers with practical tools to implement a defense in depth strategy. By combining hardware isolation, memory protection, privilege controls, and control-flow integrity mechanisms, organizations can build more secure and trustworthy embedded systems for the next generation of connected devices.   To learn more about the security features discussed in this article, watch the full webinar here.

CMSIS Debugger: KEIL MDK V6 User Based License

The CMSIS Debugger is a next generation, standards based debugging solution designed to integrate seamlessly into modern embedded development workflows. Built on the trusted CMSIS (Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard) ecosystem, it delivers powerful debugging, trace and analysis capabilities for Arm Cortex-M based devices.   👉 You can find the CMSIS Debugger extension directly in the VS Code Extensions Marketplace, or download it from this link: CMSIS Debugger Extension   ·  Seamless Integration: CMSIS Debugger plugs directly into popular IDEs like Keil MDK, VS Code, and other CMSIS-based workflows. Start debugging without the hassle of extra setup.   ·         Single & Multi-core Support: Offers robust debugging for both single-core and complex multi-core processor systems.   ·         RTOS Awareness: Native support for FreeRTOS, RTX, ThreadX, and Zephyr ensures visibility into tasks, threads, and real-time performance.   ·         Wide Adapter Compatibility: Works with a broad range of debug adapters including ULINK, MCULink, NuLink, J-Link, and ST-Link.   ·         Unified Workflow: Works closely with the CMSIS Toolbox and CMSIS Pack system, simplifying device configuration, board selection, and debug initialization.   ·         Advanced Debug Features: Provides real-time trace, easy code stepping, and comprehensive register/memory inspection across thousands of supported microcontrollers.   ·         Open-Source & Extensible: Fully open-source, it can be combined with other VS Code debug extensions (e.g., Linux application debugging) and extended for domain specific use cases.   ·         Automation & CI/CD Ready: Combined with Arm Virtual Hardware (AVH), CMSIS Debugger enables cloud-based workflows, automated testing, and DevOps pipelines without requiring physical hardware.   The CMSIS Debugger empowers developers to accelerate embedded software development with a flexible, standardized, and powerful debug experience. Whether in early prototyping, safety critical validation, or large-scale CI/CD environments, it ensures consistent results and faster time to market.       To purchase, KEIL MDK V6 Essential User Based License 1 Year & KEIL MDK V6 Professional User Based License 1 Year   By: Hrutik Champaneri  

New Arm Product Updates Available

The following products have been updated: Product Code Product Version MDK000 Keil MDK (Keil Licensing) r5p42-01rel0 - MDK001 Keil MDK (FlexNet) r5p42-01rel0 -

JORAL Technologies is in South America

Exciting News for JORAL Technologies Customers!We are now an authorized distributor for ARM KEIL in the following countries:   Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.   If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our Sales team.   Alice Campbell Email: alice.campbell@joraltechnologies.com Phone:613-218-8425   Robert Campbell Email: robert.campbell@joraltechnologies.com Phone:613-218-8425

The Essential How-To Guide for ARM KEIL MDK Users

This guide provides instructions for installing ARM Keil MDK, activating User-Based Licenses, managing toolchains in µVision, and accessing key resources in the Arm Technical Library.   CLICK HERE:  KEIL MDK & UBL CHEATSHEET   Any questions, please contact Steve Short. Email: stephen@joraltechnologies.com Phone; 613-215-3252

ARM KEIL MDK Version 6 | UBL is available now!

The Keil Microcontroller Development Kit (Keil MDK) is the most comprehensive software development solution for Arm Cortex-M-based embedded, IoT, and ML edge device applications. With support for over 10,000 different microcontrollers from 38 different silicon vendors available today it is an critical part for many software projects