Linux driver for nRF7002

[kaushalyasat]

Hi,

I am evaluating the nRF7002 to be used as a host based WiFi MAC/PHY. My host is TI AM3358. The Linux version we use is 4.1.15. 

1. Is it possible to use the nRF7002 for this purpose?

2. I couldn't find any Linux drivers for this except https://github.com/NordicPlayground/nrf70-linux-driver. I tried building this but west fails.

Cheers,

Kaushalya

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

https://github.com/NordicPlayground/nrf70-linux-driver is the reference Linux driver for the nRF70 series. This is not released yet (the release is underway as I type this). Have you followed the README here (https://github.com/NordicPlayground/nrf70-linux-driver/blob/main/README.md) for building the driver?

In case you have downloaded a zipped version of the driver, please try using west init -l . in the unzipped folder before you run west update

Regards,
Amanda H.

[kaushalyasat]

Hi Amanda, Please let me know how to set up the build environment bit more clearly.

Also the details about the interposer board and nRF7002 evaluation kit mention in the Readme is same as the nRF7002-DK?

I tried building it natively on an Ubuntu core (ubuntu 6.2.0-1004-raspi) and I get 

/home/pi/nrf/drivers/wifi/nrf700x/osal/utils/inc/list.h:15:10: fatal error: stddef.h: No such file or directory

I am now trying to build it natively on a RPi 3 on Ubuntu Desktop 22.04.03. 

Cheers,

Kaushalya

[Amanda Hsieh]

kaushalyasat said:

Also the details about the interposer board and nRF7002 evaluation kit mention in the Readme is same as the nRF7002-DK?

The Interposer board is not included in the nRF7002 or nRF7001 Evaluation Kit and will need to be manufactured separately. The reference board design files for the same can be found here.

EK (without Host MCU) is not the same as DK.

[kaushalyasat]

Hi Amanda,

1. I am not sure, as I am not clear about what is this interposer board. Is this an off the shelf board or something you got to design yourself to connect the nRF7002 DK to CM4?

2. I couldn't find what is the EK as well. Is this same as DK?

3. Is this build natively in CM4?

4. Can we cross build this in a PC?

5. Any comments about the build failure I get as mentioned earlier?

Cheers,

Kaushalya

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

kaushalyasat said:

1. I am not sure, as I am not clear about what is this interposer board. Is this an off the shelf board or something you got to design yourself to connect the nRF7002 DK to CM4?

The Interposer board is not included in the nRF7002 or nRF7001 Evaluation Kit and will need to be manufactured separately. The reference board design files for the same can be found here.

kaushalyasat said:

2. I couldn't find what is the EK as well. Is this same as DK?

No, EK only has nRF7002 without Host MCU.

kaushalyasat said:

3. Is this build natively in CM4?

No.

kaushalyasat said:

4. Can we cross build this in a PC?

Please use Ubuntu 22.04.03 LTS (64-bit) comes with 5.15.0-1037-raspi Linux kernel

kaushalyasat said:

5. Any comments about the build failure I get as mentioned earlier?

We have used "Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS" server variant (native to RPi4). Please use the same environment.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ uname -a

Linux ubuntu 5.15.0-1037-raspi #40-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT Fri Aug 25 16:42:00 UTC 2023 aarch64 aarch64 aarch64 GNU/Linux
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS
Release: 22.04
Codename: jammy
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

-Amanda H.

[kaushalyasat]

Hi Amanda, Could you please give me a link to the  5.15.0-1037-raspi image you used? I used https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+sourcefiles/linux-raspi/5.15.0-1037.40/linux-raspi_5.15.0.orig.tar.gz but RPi this doesn't have the MBR. So I need to create a bootable SD from this. Do you have the img file that I can use? Or else can you please let me know the steps to create the img file with MBR?

Thanks

Kaushalya

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

Basically the linux kernel that comes bundled with the Ubuntu Server 22.04.3 LTS for Raspberry PI is being used. The Ubuntu image can be found at: https://ubuntu.com/download/raspberry-pi/thank-you?version=22.04.3&architecture=server-arm64+raspi

Regards,
Amanda H.