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

Scope

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

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 rdk 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 latest mediatek release Post Beta release
• Does beta release support EasyMesh/Wi-Fi 7 - No,We plan Post beta release

Build instructions

• 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

Flashing instructions(NAND flash)

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

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

Kernel & user space

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

Currently supported & working WAN technologies

• ethwan
• fixedwirelesswan

Flashing mechanism

• NAND flash supported in Beta Engineering release

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

Features supported in prebeta engineering release

• featuressuported

Validation  Status

Sanity Status 

Features Status

List of Supported Features - User Manual's

1. Webpa - WebPA Feature Support on BPI R4 - User Manual
2. RFC -RFC Feature Support in RDKB BPI - User manual
3. WebConfig -WebConfig Feature Support in RDKB BPI - User Manual
4. Telemetry 2 - Telemetry 2.0 Feature support for RDKB BPI -User Manual
5. Log Rotate -Log Rotation Feature Support in RDKB BPI - User manual
6. Cellular -  Cellular Feature support in RDKB BPI - User Manual
7. UspPa - Including UspPa in a device
8. CpuProcAnalyser - Cpuprocanalyzer Feature support in RDKB BPI - User Manual
9. OneWifi - OneWifi Integration in RDKB BPI - User Manual
10. Selfheal - Self Heal Feature in BPI - User manual - Preferred Program - RDK Central Wiki
11. TR-69 - TR069 Support for Bananapi R4 - Preferred Program - RDK Central Wiki
12. SNMP - SNMP Support for BPIR4 - Preferred Program - RDK Central Wiki
13. WiFi (6E)
14. Crashupload - Crash Upload Feature RDK-B - RDK - RDK Central Wiki
15. Test and Diagnostics similar to RPI- Test and Diagnostic on R-Pi
16. Bridge Mode similar to RPI- BridgeMode Feature support in RPI
17. DAC similar to RPI - Containerization using META DAC SDK in RDK-B RPI
18. eSDK similar to TurrisOmnia - ESDK dunfell  support on Turris Omnia 
19. PopulateSDK : Creating Yocto SDK 
20. SD card support - SD Monolitic image build and flashing steps for BPI R4.

Roadmap of new Features

Known issues  

• Bridge Mode is working when it is enabled. Device is not booting with bridgemode on reboot. To recover,  switch to router mode with command "dmcli eRT setv Device.X_CISCO_COM_DeviceControl.LanManagementEntry.1.LanMode string router"

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 (Access will be provided on demand)

TBD

Test results reference

TBD

For support

• Please reachout to support@rdkcentral.com