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USB Sniffer usage and preparation

Requirements

  • USB Sniffer
  • Computer running Linux (tested on Fedora 42)

Step 1 — Clone the repository

```bash
git clone https://github.com/ataradov/usb-sniffer.git
cd usb-sniffer/bin
```

Step 2 — Set udev rules

Enables device access without root privileges:

```bash
sudo cp 90-usb-sniffer.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger
```

Step 3 — Connect the sniffer and verify detection

Connect the sniffer via USB-C to the computer, and verify the system recognizes it:

The board should light up a green and an orange LED

```bash
lsusb
```

Expected output (new, unprogrammed board):

```
Device XXX: ID 04b4:8613 Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
CY7C68013 EZ-USB FX2
```

Step 4 — Grant execute permission to the binary

```bash
chmod +x usb_sniffer_linux
```

Step 5 — Flash firmware to MCU SRAM

```bash
./usb_sniffer_linux --mcu-sram usb_sniffer.bin
```

The device will reset and appear as "USB Sniffer".

Check `lsusb` to confirm.

Expected output (unprogrammed board):

```
Device XXX: ID 6666:6620 Prototype product Vendor ID
USB Sniffer
```

Step 6 — Flash firmware to MCU EEPROM

```bash
./usb_sniffer_linux --mcu-eeprom usb_sniffer.bin
```

After this step disconnect and reconnect the sniffer (power cycle).

Step 7 — Flash bitstream to FPGA flash

```bash
./usb_sniffer_linux --fpga-flash usb_sniffer_impl.jed
```

Disconnect and reconnect the sniffer again.

After reboot, only the green LED should be lit.

Step 8 — Performance test

```bash
./usb_sniffer_linux --test
```

Expected result: 40–50 MB/s

More information can be found on the USB-Sniffer GitHub page