RDK-B Banana Pi R4 - Beta Engineering Release(05 Feb 2025)

Scope

Scope of this Beta engineering release is for RDK-B community to explore and understand RDK-B running on Banana pi R4.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i use this release for production - Not recommended
Does it cover all features - Yes
what release version i can use for deployment - 2025Q2 release is planned for deployment
Can i share this Beta release with my OEM's/Operators/SI's/SoC's - You are free to share
Can i contact RDKM team if i have any queries/to give any feedback - Yes
Is this Beta engineering release fully tested - Yes we have done End to End testing
Can i use Beta release for my development/New enhancements - Yes
Does beta release support 6.x linux kernel,If no what is the plan - Beta release support 5.4 kernel and we are planning linux kernel 6.1 upgrade with upcoming mediatek BSP release
Does beta release support EasyMesh/Wi-Fi 7 - No,We plan Post beta release
Can i expand RAM in BPI R4 - You have to do it on Hand,Please refer here https://forum.banana-pi.org/t/bpi-r4-successfully-upgraded-8gb-ram-on-bpi-r4/17882/5

Build instructions

NAND
repo init -u https://code.rdkcentral.com/r/reference/manifests -m bpi4_tags/rdkb-bpi-extsrc-2025Q1.xml -b master
repo sync -j`nproc` --no-clone-bundle
MACHINE=bananapi4-rdk-broadband source meta-cmf-bananapi/setup-environment-refboard-rdkb
bitbake rdk-generic-broadband-image

SD card

repo init -u https://code.rdkcentral.com/r/reference/manifests -m bpi4_tags/rdkb-bpi-extsrc-2025Q1.xml -b master
repo sync -j `nproc` --no-clone-bundle --no-tags 
MACHINE=bananapi4-rdk-broadband BPI_IMG_TYPE=sdmmc source meta-cmf-bananapi/setup-environment-refboard-rdkb
bitbake rdk-generic-broadband-image

Common Build Error

Please follow link below to build binary if not having access to artifacts and getting below error

https://wiki.rdkcentral.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=354648448

Copy the built binary to necessary path in meta-cmf-bananapi and change the SRC_URI to pint to the binary

ERROR: bootloader-prebuild-r0 do_fetch: Bitbake Fetcher Error: FetchError('Unable to fetch URL from any source.', 'https://artifactory.rdkcentral.com/artifactory/RDKB-Platform/BPI-R4/uboot-2024.04/bpi-r4_sdmmc_bl2.img;name=bl2')

Flashing instructions(NAND flash)

Pre-requirements: Install tftp server in you local machine and copy the image to tftp server location

Step 1: Power on the BPi board
Step 2:You will see U-Boot Boot Menu procedure (ie, startup system, upgrade firmware, ...)
Step 3:Select the second option upgrade firmware -> Run image after upgrading? (Y/n): Y
Step 4:Next on Available load methods select 0 which is TFTP client.
Step 5:Setup device network
       Input U-Boot's IP address: (same network as tftp server, eg:192.168.2.1)
       Input TFTP server's IP address: (tftp server IP address)
       Input IP netmask: 255.255.255.0
       Input file name: rdk-generic-broadband-image-bananapi4-rdk-broadband-sysupgrade.bin (BPI image in bin format)
Step 6:Then enter, image will be downloaded from tftp server to BPI and will start flashing the image to BPI device if success.

Flashing instructions(SD card)

Tested machines - Linux,MacOs

Copy wic.bz2 from build machine

MacOs

Install Balena etcher and flash using it

Linux

bzip2 -d <Path to ImageName.wic.bz2>
sudo -E bmaptool copy --nobmap <Path to ImageName.wic> <Path to SD card device file>

Boot mode

NAND
- switch configuration
  - https://wiki.banana-pi.org/Getting_Started_with_BPI-R4#Prepare_to_develop
SD
- switch configuration
  - https://wiki.banana-pi.org/Getting_Started_with_BPI-R4#Prepare_to_develop

Yocto

Version
- Kirkstone(Yocto 4.0)
SoC meta layers
- meta-filogic
- meta-cmf-filogic
RDK meta layers
- meta-cmf-bananapi
  - https://github.com/rdkcentral/meta-cmf-bananapi/tree/Beta

Kernel & user space

Kernel 5.4
Full 64bit (User space and kernel space)

Currently supported & working WAN technologies

ethwan
fixedwirelesswan

Wi-Fi highlights

2.4 Ghz (wifi0)
5 Ghz (wifi1)
6 Ghz(wifi2)
Does it support multiple creations - As of now we have not created any VAP's.Technically that is possible based on requirement.

Cellular Network highlights

Tested in North America & APAC regions

Flashing mechanism

Primary
- NAND flash supported in Beta Engineering release
Secondary
- SD flash supported in Beta Engineering release
- Prerequisites:You may need to compile your own uboot and copy files to build system before build.The reason is uboot code is not fully open.as of now we are not authorized to host binaries in RDKM(SD Monolitic image build and flashing steps for BPI R4.)

Hardware & Peripherals

Banana Pi R4 Router Board
BE14 Wi-Fi 7 card & Antennas
Quectel EM05-G Cellular Modem
Power supply & Heat sinks
Case (Optional)
serial cable

How to get bananapi R4

https://www.amazon.com/Development-MediaTek-MT7988A-onboard-Network/dp/B0DFBLL1CX/ref=sr_1_3?crid=F4K6S2C1WSLY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VcoMSeqhcGQZZ_Izyt-ezSl4nissusDy-9DX3HtClc5bM0CS1tY8XJu61qTPGaRRTQcyNK6BYUXP_vPjx0FIXXkdDGjpgGdSIzz0IQ0Xy2Qrw5_58JPNNl5PQUT6Arvw64sR8D7uwWeqZY0WAlGFZfff303GAp8FdafZ9UWHJ6TFcUIZh_jtU4Wrr9u131p7plmRCHSqIU-dAFGS4Z_plaknOogJtU7PtddRVlPLHd8.SU2S2lZCwzak9CRvg1LH_uRzc_0UKs1UeQqvk5xvIO0&dib_tag=se&keywords=banana+pi+r4&qid=1729895436&sprefix=bananapi+r4%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-3
Cellular Modem - Quectel EM05-G LTE M.2 Module/Simcom Module 8200EAM2
- Note: For testing with other CellularModules,There might need some changes in ModemManager (You can plan it on your own)

Features supported in Beta engineering release

featuressuported

Validation Status

Sanity Status

S.No	Sanity Tested on	Status
1	erouter0 interface got Wan IPv4 and IPv6	Pass
2	brlan0 interface got default LAN IP & Ipv6	Pass
3	Able to take SSH Connection	Pass
4	All CCSP process are running	Pass
5	Able to Ping www.google.com & ping -6 www.google.com in Gateway (i,e erouter0)	Pass
6	All systemd services are running	Pass
7	Able to connect LAN client	Pass
8	LAN client got IP from default pool range for Ipv6 and Ipv4	Pass
9	LAN client should open with CaptivePortal Page	Pass
10	Able to connect wireless client	Pass
11	Wireless client got IP from default pool range(i,e 2G,5G,6G) for Ipv4 and Ipv6	Pass
12	Wireless client can access the CaptivePortal Page(i,e 2G,5G,6G)	Pass
13	Internet should work on Connected clients after changing the default credentials	Pass
14	Using dmcli to check the CCSP TR-181 DataModels	Pass
15	WebUI page should be loaded on Connected clients after changing the default credentials	Pass
16	WebUI page should be loaded through erouter0IP via RM	Pass
17	wifi0, wifi1, wifi2 interfaces should be UP and RUNNING	Pass
18	All ccsp logs files should be generated in /rdklogs/logs folder	Pass
19	Factory Reset	Pass
20	Device stable	Pass

Features Status

S.No	Features tested on	Status
1	WebPa get and set should work, query device.	Pass
2	LogUpload/Logrotation	Pass
3	RFC	Pass
4	Webconfig	Pass
5	Telemetry 2	Pass
6	Usppa get and set are working through DM’s	Pass
7	Cellular Mode	Pass
8	Local WebUI	Pass
9	Firewall	Pass
10	OneWiFi Triband	Pass
11	CPU Proc Analyser	Pass
12	WAN Connectivity (i,e Ipv4)	Pass
13	WAN Connectivity (i,e Ipv6)	Pass
14	WiFi Connectivity	Pass
15	LAN Connectivity	Pass
16	SNMP	Pass
17	Bridge Mode	Pass
18	DAC	Pass
19	OneWifi with Single WiPhy Design	Pass
20	TR069	Pass Connected to ACS server Get/Set of few DM parameter
21	eSDK	Pass
22	PopulateSDK	Pass
23	SelfHeal	Pass
24	Test and Diagnostic	Pass
25	Crash Upload	Pass
26	SD card support	Pass
27	Factory reset	Pass

List of Supported Features - User Manual's

Webpa - WebPA Feature Support on BPI R4 - User Manual
RFC -RFC Feature Support in RDKB BPI - User manual
WebConfig -WebConfig Feature Support in RDKB BPI - User Manual
Telemetry 2 - Telemetry 2.0 Feature support for RDKB BPI -User Manual
Log Rotate -Log Rotation Feature Support in RDKB BPI - User manual
Cellular - Cellular Feature support in RDKB BPI - User Manual
UspPa
1. Including UspPa in a device
2. TR-369/USP on RDK-B
3. OBUSPA 8.0 User Manual(Engineering Version)
CpuProcAnalyser - Cpuprocanalyzer Feature support in RDKB BPI - User Manual
OneWifi - OneWifi Integration in RDKB BPI - User Manual
Selfheal - Self Heal Feature in BPI - User manual
TR-69 - TR069 Support for Bananapi R4
SNMP - SNMP Support for BPIR4 - Preferred Program - RDK Central Wiki
OneWifi with Single WiPhy support
1. OneWifi Integration in RDKB BPI - User Manual
2. Single wiphy design for Onewifi/rdk-wifi-hal
Crashupload - Crash Upload Feature RDK-B - RDK - RDK Central Wiki
Test and Diagnostics similar to RPI- Test and Diagnostic on R-Pi
Bridge Mode similar to RPI- BridgeMode Feature support in RPI
DAC similar to RPI
1. Containerization using META DAC SDK in RDK-B RPI
2. DAC on BPI R4 RDK-B -64 bit
3. iperf3 application
eSDK - RDKB: Extensible SDK support on (BananaPi R4) Yocto 4.0 Kirkstone build
PopulateSDK : Creating Yocto SDK
SD card support - SD Monolitic image build and flashing steps for BPI R4.

Roadmap of new Features

Q4' 2024(Previous prebeta release,Oct 2024)

Q1' 2025 (current beta release,Feb 05 2025 )

Q2' 2025

Future

Board bringup
Core RDK-B Porting
Ethernet WAN support
LAN support
Basic Wi-Fi bringup
WebPA
TR369
Telemetry 2.0
RFC
Cellular WAN support
DHCP(IPv4,IPv6)
CPU Proc Analyzer
Local WebUI
Webconfig
Log upload/Log rotation
Firewall

Selfheal
TR-69
SNMP
Onewifi with single WiPhy support(First RDK-B device with this design)
- 2.4 Ghz
- 5 Ghz
- 6 Ghz
Crashupload
Test and Diagnostics
Bridgemode
SD Card Support
DAC
- Bundlegen support for BPI R4
- meta-dac-sdk support for BPI R4
eSDK
PopulateSDK
Factory reset
Configurable WAN support
USP 8.0 migration

WiFi 7
TelcoVoice
Scarthgap
PPPoE
WPS
Mac Filtering
Speedtest
Port Triggering
Firmware upgrade
EasyMesh Gateway
EasyMesh Extender

IoT
Bluetooth/BlueZ
WAN Over WiFI
RDK Generic Broadband Dev Image
Guest WiFi

Known issues

NA

References

About Bananapi R4 - https://www.banana-pi.org/en/bananapi-router/155.html
Cellular Modem - https://en.simcom.com/product/SIM8200EA_M2.html
https://wiki.banana-pi.org/Getting_Started_with_BPI-R4#2.EF.BC.89_4G.2F5G_Module
EM05-G

Reference image

Can be provided to RDK-B Licenses on demand

Test results reference

BPI-R4 E2E Report

Additional info

As of now Bluetooth/BlueZ is not supported in Beta release.in case if some organization need.pls add this code manually -Bluetooth support in Banana Pi R4(Reference) - Generic Module

For support

Please reachout to support@rdkcentral.com

RDK Resources

[*RDK Preferred*]

Code Management Facility

RDK Forums

[RDK Conferences]

RDK Support

Archives

RDK-B Banana Pi R4 - Beta Engineering Release(05 Feb 2025)

Scope

Frequently Asked Questions

Build instructions

Common Build Error

Flashing instructions(NAND flash)

Flashing instructions(SD card)

Boot mode

NAND

switch configuration

SD

switch configuration

Yocto

Version

SoC meta layers

RDK meta layers