MIPS Products

System Navigator™ Probe
for 8051 Microcontroller Cores


The System NavigatorTM probe is designed to support the special features and integrated peripherals of 8051 cores from several IP vendors. The System Navigator probes are available for the following cores and processors:

Core Processor Supported

Product code

Product Overview

Latest Software

Cast 8051 cores including CAST R8051XC, R80515, R8051, C8051

SNAV-CAST51

Download here

Software update

Handshake Solutions (Philips) HT80C51 and HT80C51MX clock-less microcontroller cores

SNAV-HT80C51

Download here

Software update

Mentor M8051EW

SNAV-M8051EW

Download here

Software update

NXP Semiconductors LPC952 microcontroller

SNAV-P8051

Download here

Software update

Special "silicon hooks" for System-on-Chip (SoC) development have been integrated into the synthesizable IP model for the core. These On-Chip Instrumentation (OCI®) extensions provide a powerful debug tool with advanced features at a competitive price.

MIPS Technologies' System Navigator probe hardware is contained in a compact chassis that connects to the target system using a standard 10-pin debug connector. It requires access to only four pins in the core processor. The system runs on a Windows® 2000/XP PC over an USB 2.0 or optional 10/100 Ethernet port. A graphical, source-level debugger program provides an intuitive, easy to use interface. An optional Keil µVision software debugger interface is also available for complete compatibility with the Keil software toolchain.

Key Features

  • Supports processors and cores including the CAST 8051, Mentor Graphics M8051EW, and processors from Handshake Solutions and NXP Semiconductors
  • Go, halt processor run control
  • Supports bank switching and address memory extensions if available from core vendor
  • Read-write all processor registers, SFRs, program memory and data memory
  • Unlimited software breakpoints
  • Hardware execution breakpoints up to 4, depending on configuration
  • Load binary, Hex or OMF51 file formats
  • Complex triggers monitor address and data for code memory, data memory and SFRs
  • Low-level access to JTAG functions for silicon verification
  • Single line assembler/disassembler
  • Trace window display of assembly, source or mixed assembly/source
  • Symbolic debug including code, variables, and variable types
  • Symbol Explorer provides hierarchical tree view of all symbols (modules, functions, blocks, variables and more)
  • Source window can display C, assembly and mixed source code
  • Source window provides execution control: go; halt; goto cursor; step over/into call
  • Set or clear software or hardware breakpoints in source window
  • Select global or local variables for watch window from the source window
  • Trigger window allows triggers to be set on a combination of address, data, and bus cycles
  • Triggers can be set on an address range and/or data with masking bits
  • Optional interface for Keil µVision software debugger
  • Supports software tools from Keil, IAR and other vendors