Introduction - RDK Extender

RDK Extender profile is a Yocto based RDK miniature build with opensource OpenSync agent
OpenSync agent is cloud agnostic and it forms mesh orchestrated by Plume cloud
RPI4 target is chosen for extender profile since this target is chip and widely available
Two external Wi-Fi dongles are used for 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio support
OpenSync's minimum requirement on the WiFi radio is the support for 2AP and 1 Station interface
Conceptually, RPI4 extender can be used with different Gateway devices(which has OpenSync agent). But currently validated with TurrisOmnia RDKB GW
Prerequisite: Need to contact Plume to acquiring TLS certificate and backhaul credential

Scope of the work

Onboarding RPI Extender to Router over Wi-Fi
RPI4 extender should appear online in Plume NOC
Extension of Internet to mobile from Router over Wi-Fi

High level Design / Architecture

RPI4 Extender build(32-bit) instructions:

repo init -u https://code.rdkcentral.com/r/manifests -b rdkb-2023q3-dunfell -m rdkb-pod-extsrc.xml
or
repo init -u https://code.rdkcentral.com/r/manifests -b rdkb-2023q3-dunfell -m rdkb-pod-nosrc.xml
repo sync -j4 --no-clone-bundle
<UPDATE 0001-Update-bhaul-credential.patch in meta-cmf-broadband layer>
MACHINE=raspberrypi4-rdk-extender source meta-cmf-raspberrypi/setup-environment
bitbake rdk-generic-extender-image

Reference (rdk-next build instruction): RPI 4B Model Reference Platform: Extender build instructions

OpenSync version details:

Ported OpenSync version is 4.4.0.

OpenSync components	Branch
OpenSync Core component	osync_4.4.0
Platform-RDK	osync_4.4.0
RPI Vendor component	main

Sanity Test cases :

S.No	Sanity tested on	Status	Comments
1	Image should be stable	Pass
2	OpenSync service and its manager should be running	Pass
3	RPI Extender onboarding over Wi-Fi	Pass
4	Able to Ping www.google.com from RPI Extender	Pass
5	Wifi Extension of Internet to mobile from GW	Pass	Currently through 2.4GHz Radio, While 5GHz radio is used for backhaul connectivity

Known issues/Observations:

Due to Wi-Fi dongle's limited capability, using 5GHz radio for backhaul connectivity and 2.4GHz radio for Home AP
Backhaul to GW is established only using 5GHz station interface but not using 2.4GHz station interface
Could not connect mobile with 5GHz Home AP since 5GHz radio station interface is used for backhaul connectivity (may be due to hardware )
Extender's (2.4GHz)HomeAP channel number is not matching with GW's (2.4GHz)HomeAP channel number (need to check plume cloud team)

References :

REFPLTB-2650 - Bringup OpenSync4.4 in RPI4 Extender

REFPLTB-2724 - Home AP is not running in RPI Extender

User Stories/EPIC

Technical support

support@rdkcentral.com