How to configure nrf7002's MAC manually

[Arvin Chen]

I am trying to use nrf7002 in accord with nrf52840 to build a wifi sniffer recently. As a begineer of nrf70 series, I use wifi sample supplied in ncs 2.4.0 as a start, which is the "shell" sample. After programming sample app to nrf52840. I got some error form console like down below.

------------------------------------------------------------log from console------------------------------------------------------------

00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.297,058] <inf> wifi_nrf: SPIM spi@4002f000: freq = 8 MHz
00>
00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.297,088] <inf> wifi_nrf: SPIM spi@4002f000: latency = 0
00>
00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.375,213] <inf> wifi_nrf: Firmware (v1.2.8.1) booted successfully
00>
00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.403,717] <inf> wifi_nrf: wifi_nrf_fmac_otp_mac_addr_get: Invalid OTP MAC addr: 000000000000
00>
00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.404,022] <err> wifi_nrf: wifi_nrf_if_start_zep: Invalid MAC address: 00:00:00:00:00:00
00>
00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.409,149] <inf> fs_nvs: 8 Sectors of 4096 bytes
00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.409,149] <inf> fs_nvs: alloc wra: 0, fe8
00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.409,179] <inf> fs_nvs: data wra: 0, 0
00> rtt:~$ *** Booting Zephyr OS build v3.3.99-ncs1 ***
00> rtt:~$ Starting nrf52840dk_nrf52840 with CPU frequency: 64 MHz
00> rtt:~$ [00:00:00.409,790] <inf> wpa_supp: Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant

------------------------------------------------------------log from console------------------------------------------------------------

According error msg, I found a related ticket How to avoid the use of OTP memory in the nrf7002

 My first question, it seems that nrf7002's OTP need to be pre-programmed berfore using the wi-fi stack. However, I had buy a nrf7002DK that can directly run the sample mentioned above. If that means nrf7002 on the nrf7002DK, whose OTP had been pre-programmed when production? 

Anther question is, what if I prefer not to pre-programmed OTP but provide the MAC manually instead. From the application note down below, there indeed exist a way to set MAC manually but not mentioned in detail. If there has any example or guideline about it?

 

 Device Commissioning and Characterization application note

[Kenneth]

Hi,

You can use the alternative method mentioned in the documentation like this.

struct net_if *iface;
struct ethernet_req_params params;

...

ret = net_mgmt(NET_REQUEST_ETHERNET_SET_MAC_ADDRESS, iface, &params, sizeof(struct ethernet_req_params));

The MAC address need to be given to params.mac_address.addr. It can be provided directly in the code, for example:

static const uint8_t my_mac_addr[6] = { 0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04,  0x05,  0x07 };
memcpy(params.mac_address.addr, my_mac_addr, 6);

Kenneth

[Arvin Chen]

Hi Kenneth,

Thanks for your reply. Wi-Fi stack starts to run successfully after I set the MAC manually. So I had tried to use sample's shell command wifi scan to check the APs nearby but the result is contrary to the actual deployment, at mean time, there are no error message. 

I have no idea what this kinds of situation result from. If it means nrf7002's pin setting is incorrect？  

[Kenneth]

Can you tell me details about the nRF7002-DK you are using? Which version it is for instance.

Kenneth

[Arvin Chen]

Hi Keeneth,

It's a customized board, in other words, the onboard nrf7002 is brand new. I had referred to the nrf7002DK's dts pin setting making it almost the same, including the bias (pull-up or pull-down), and still don't show any AP's SSID after the scan command.

Many thanks
Arvin

[Arvin Chen]

Hi Kenneth,

Thanks for your help. The problem mentioned above seems to result from HW's power sequence. Now wifi stack can scan and discover APs nearby.

Many thanks

Arvin

[Rajendran Veerakaran]

Hi Arvin,

    Now I am working with nRF9160 + nRF7000. I am facing the same problem. may I know function how did you change MAC address in run time. Thanks in advance. 

[Arvin Chen]

Hi Rajendran Veerakaran,

        It can be achieved through net mgmt command. Please refer to the example down below.

//header for net mgmt command
#include <zephyr/net/net_if.h>
#include <zephyr/net/ethernet.h>
#include <zephyr/net/ethernet_mgmt.h>

//code example setting the MAC manually
struct net_if *iface = net_if_get_default();
struct ethernet_req_params params;
static const uint8_t my_mac_addr[6] = { 0x02, 0x80, 0xe1, 0x69,  0x80,  0xc2 };
memcpy(params.mac_address.addr, my_mac_addr, 6);

int ret = net_mgmt(NET_REQUEST_ETHERNET_SET_MAC_ADDRESS, iface, &params, sizeof(struct ethernet_req_params));
if(ret) goto out;

BR.

Arvin Chen