Issue with OTBR Setup and sudo ot-ctl Command

RE: Issue with OTBR Setup and sudo ot-ctl Command

Amanda Hsieh — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:51:09 GMT

Happy to see it works as expected.

[quote user="Germain B"]why didn't the first solution work?[/quote]

I think it might be related to this

[quote user="Germain B"]

The guide tells me: "enter the OpenThread directory »

with : cd modules/lib/openthread

but I can't find this:

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ cd modules/lib/openthread

-bash: cd: modules/lib/openthread: No such file or directory

And: "Install the OpenThread dependencies:"

with: ./script/bootstrap

I already did "./script/bootstrap" in the ot-br-posix directory, so I guess I can ignore these steps.

Let's continue the guide.

[/quote]

The modules\lib\openthread is under NCS.

The bootstrap is under modules\lib\openthread\script.

RE: Issue with OTBR Setup and sudo ot-ctl Command

Germain B — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:12:12 GMT

Resolved ?

I also try with docker :

sudo apt update && sudo apt install docker.io

sudo systemctl start docker

sudo docker network create --ipv6 --subnet fd11:db8:1::/64 -o com.docker.network.bridge.name=otbr0 otbr

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ docker pull nrfconnect/otbr:fbde28a

permission denied while trying to connect to the Docker daemon socket at unix:// /var/run/docker.sock: Post "http://%2Fvar%2Frun%2Fdocker.sock/v1.24/images/creat e?fromImage=nrfconnect%2Fotbr&tag=fbde28a": dial unix /var/run/docker.sock: conn ect: permission denied

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

[restarting the rasp]

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ docker pull nrfconnect/otbr:fbde28a

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo modprobe ip6table_filter

gg@raspberrypi:~ $sudo docker run -it --rm --privileged --name otbr --network otbr -p 8080:80 \

--sysctl "net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=0 net.ipv4.conf.all.forwarding=1 net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding=1" \

--volume /dev/ttyACM0:/dev/radio nrfconnect/otbr:fbde28a --radio-url spinel+hdlc+uart:///dev/radio?uart-baudrate=1000000

Open http://192.168.181.170:8080/ from my Windows 11 on the same network as the Raspberry Pi.

On-Mesh Prefix :

fd11:22::

on a new windows :

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo ip -6 route add fd11:22::/64 dev otbr0 via fd11:db8:1::2

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo docker exec -it otbr sh -c "sudo service otbr-agent status"

* otbr-agent is running

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo docker exec -it otbr sh -c "sudo ot-ctl state"

disabled

Done

I got this on my first window.:

Jul 28 14:28:14 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:08:30.721 [I] P-Daemon------: Session socket is ready

Jul 28 14:28:14 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:08:30.721 [D] Cli-----------: Input: state

Jul 28 14:28:14 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:08:30.721 [D] Cli-----------: Output: disabled

Jul 28 14:28:14 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:08:30.722 [D] Cli-----------: Output: Done

Jul 28 14:31:32 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:11:49.163 [I] P-Daemon------: Session socket is ready

Jul 28 14:31:32 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:11:49.163 [D] Cli-----------: Input: state

Jul 28 14:31:32 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:11:49.163 [D] Cli-----------: Output: disabled

Jul 28 14:31:32 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:11:49.163 [D] Cli-----------: Output: Done

Jul 28 14:31:32 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:11:49.163 [W] P-Daemon------: Failed to write CLI output: Broken pipe

Jul 28 14:32:06 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:12:23.089 [I] P-Daemon------: Session socket is ready

Jul 28 14:32:06 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:12:23.089 [D] Cli-----------: Input: state

Jul 28 14:32:06 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:12:23.089 [D] Cli-----------: Output: disabled

Jul 28 14:32:06 41ef5f72c412 otbr-agent[199]: 00:12:23.089 [D] Cli-----------: Output: Done

Because I don't fully understand what the tutorial wants me to do, I modified the last command to enter in ot-ctl command line mode.

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo docker exec -it otbr sh -c "sudo ot-ctl"

dataset init new

Done

> dataset commit active

Done

> ifconfig up

Done

> thread start

Done

> state

leader

Done

> dataset active -x

0e08000000000001000000030000154a0300000f35060004001fffe0020800bf797a202ab0ae0708fd110dc8cb9ec73805102cf5188b107f7498b33d572d868027eb030f4f70656e5468726561642d653239610102e29a04106abb091034759e9789fa422d95c1f2a80c0402a0f7f8

Done

At this moment, I plug my nRF52840 with CLI firmwares. Here is my terminal in VS Code.

uart:~$ *** Booting nRF Connect SDK v3.0.0-3bfc46578e42 ***

*** Using Zephyr OS v4.0.99-3e0ce7636fa6 ***

ot dataset set active 0e08000000000001000000030000154a0300000f3506000400

1fffe0020800bf797a202ab0ae0708fd110dc8cb9ec73805102cf5188b107f7498b33d572d868027

eb030f4f70656e5468726561642d653239610102e29a04106abb091034759e9789fa422d95c1f2a8

0c0402a0f7f8

Done

uart:~$ ot state

disabled

Done

uart:~$ ot dataset commit active

Done

uart:~$ ot ifconfig up

Done

uart:~$ ot thread start

Done

uart:~$ ot state

detached

Done

uart:~$ ot state

child

Done

uart:~$ ot router table
| ID | RLOC16 | Next Hop | Path Cost | LQ In | LQ Out | Age | Extended MAC     | Link |
+----+--------+----------+-----------+-------+--------+-----+------------------+------+
| 45 | 0xb400 |       63 |         0 |     0 |      0 |   0 | e6e6b9e783753af3 |    0 |
| 55 | 0xdc00 |       63 |         0 |     3 |      3 |  13 | 7a32f8d576ba3b66 |    1 |

on the windows with ot-ctl command line:

> state
leader
Done

neighbor table
| Role | RLOC16 | Age | Avg RSSI | Last RSSI |R|D|N| Extended MAC     | Version |
+------+--------+-----+----------+-----------+-+-+-+------------------+---------+
|   R  | 0xb400 |   7 |      -51 |       -54 |1|1|1| e6e6b9e783753af3 |       5 |

Done

At the moment I am writing this, my OTBR has been running for 30 minutes without any problems. It looks like we have resolved my issue. But why didn't the first solution work?

RE: Issue with OTBR Setup and sudo ot-ctl Command

Germain B — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:23:45 GMT

I tried to follow the steps of https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-3.0.0/page/nrf/protocols/thread/tools.html#running_otbr_using_docker without Docker for the moment, and this is all I got :

(here all the command line from a new SD card with a clean environment)

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo apt update

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo apt upgrade

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo apt install git

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/openthread/ot-br-posix

gg@raspberrypi:~ $ cd ot-br-posix

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ git pull –unshallow

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ git checkout fbde28a

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ ./script/bootstrap

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ INFRA_IF_NAME=eth0 ./script/setup

Here, some errors appear:

[ … ]

otbr_uninstall

+ have systemctl

+ command -v systemctl

+ sudo systemctl stop otbr-web

Failed to stop otbr-web.service: Unit otbr-web.service not loaded.

+ true

+ sudo systemctl stop otbr-agent

Failed to stop otbr-agent.service: Unit otbr-agent.service not loaded.

+ true

+ sudo systemctl disable otbr-web

Failed to disable unit: Unit file otbr-web.service does not exist.

+ true

+ sudo systemctl disable otbr-agent

Failed to disable unit: Unit file otbr-agent.service does not exist.

+ true

+ sudo systemctl is-enabled otbr-web

Failed to get unit file state for otbr-web.service: No such file or directory

+ sudo systemctl is-enabled otbr-agent

Failed to get unit file state for otbr-agent.service: No such file or directory

+ sudo killall otbr-web otbr-agent

otbr-web: no process found

otbr-agent: no process found

[ … ]

+ sudo systemctl stop otbr-firewall

Failed to stop otbr-firewall.service: Unit otbr-firewall.service not loaded.

+ true

+ have systemctl

+ command -v systemctl

+ sudo systemctl disable otbr-firewall

Failed to disable unit: Unit file otbr-firewall.service does not exist.

+ true

+ have update-rc.d

+ command -v update-rc.d

+ sudo update-rc.d otbr

[ … ]

But I continue the guide :

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo service otbr-agent status

○ otbr-agent.service - OpenThread Border Router Agent

Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/otbr-agent.service; enabled; preset: enabled)

Active: inactive (dead)

I modified the file as the guide told me to:

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo nano /etc/default/otbr-agent

# Default settings for otbr-agent. This file is sourced by systemd

# Options to pass to otbr-agent

OTBR_AGENT_OPTS="spinel+hdlc+uart:///dev/ttyACM0?uart-baudrate=1000000"

OTBR_NO_AUTO_ATTACH=0

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo service otbr-agent status

● otbr-agent.service - OpenThread Border Router Agent

Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/otbr-agent.service; enabled; preset: enabled)

Active: active (running) since Mon 2025-07-28 10:32:50 BST; 1min 9s ago

Process: 19418 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/service mdns start (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)

Main PID: 19424 (otbr-agent)

Tasks: 1 (limit: 1568)

CPU: 138ms

CGroup: /system.slice/otbr-agent.service

└─19424 /usr/sbin/otbr-agent "spinel+hdlc+uart:///dev/ttyACM0?uart-baudrate=1000000"

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.148 [I] P-Netif-------: Deleting route for NAT64

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.148 [I] P-McastRtMgr--: Disable: OK

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: [INFO]-BA------: Publish meshcop service OpenThread BorderRouter #7C07._meshcop._udp.local.

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.149 [I] RouterTable---: Route table

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.149 [I] P-Netif-------: Host netif is down

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.149 [I] P-Netif-------: Succeeded to process request#1

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.149 [W] P-Netif-------: Failed to process request#2: No such process

Jul 28 10:32:51 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: [INFO]-MDNS----: Successfully registered service OpenThread BorderRouter #7C07._meshcop._udp

Jul 28 10:32:51 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: [INFO]-BA------: Result of publish meshcop service OpenThread BorderRouter #7C07._meshcop._udp.local: OK

Jul 28 10:32:51 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: [INFO]-BA------: Result of publish meshcop service OpenThread BorderRouter #7C07._meshcop._udp.local: OK

The guide tells me: "enter the OpenThread directory »

with : cd modules/lib/openthread

but I can't find this:

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ cd modules/lib/openthread

-bash: cd: modules/lib/openthread: No such file or directory

And: "Install the OpenThread dependencies:"

with: ./script/bootstrap

I already did "./script/bootstrap" in the ot-br-posix directory, so I guess I can ignore these steps.

Let's continue the guide.

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $./script/cmake-build posix

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $./script/cmake-build posix -DOT_DAEMON=ON

But here I got an error :

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo ./build/posix/src/posix/ot-daemon 'spinel+hdlc+uart:///dev/ttyACM0?uart-baudrate=1000000' --verbose -B eth0

sudo: ./build/posix/src/posix/ot-daemon: command not found

and

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo ./build/posix/src/posix/ot-cli 'spinel+hdlc+uart:///dev/ttyACM0?uart-baudrate=1000000' --verbose -B eth0

sudo: ./build/posix/src/posix/ot-cli: command not found

So I checked the status. :

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo service otbr-agent status

● otbr-agent.service - OpenThread Border Router Agent

Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/otbr-agent.service; enabled; preset: enabled)

Active: active (running) since Mon 2025-07-28 10:32:50 BST; 14min ago

Process: 19418 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/service mdns start (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)

Main PID: 19424 (otbr-agent)

Tasks: 1 (limit: 1568)

CPU: 274ms

CGroup: /system.slice/otbr-agent.service

└─19424 /usr/sbin/otbr-agent "spinel+hdlc+uart:///dev/ttyACM0?uart-baudrate=1000000"

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.148 [I] P-Netif-------: Deleting route for NAT64

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.148 [I] P-McastRtMgr--: Disable: OK

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: [INFO]-BA------: Publish meshcop service OpenThread BorderRouter #7C07._meshcop._udp.local.

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.149 [I] RouterTable---: Route table

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.149 [I] P-Netif-------: Host netif is down

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.149 [I] P-Netif-------: Succeeded to process request#1

Jul 28 10:32:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: 00:00:00.149 [W] P-Netif-------: Failed to process request#2: No such process

Jul 28 10:32:51 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: [INFO]-MDNS----: Successfully registered service OpenThread BorderRouter #7C07._meshcop._udp

Jul 28 10:32:51 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: [INFO]-BA------: Result of publish meshcop service OpenThread BorderRouter #7C07._meshcop._udp.local: OK

Jul 28 10:32:51 raspberrypi otbr-agent[19424]: [INFO]-BA------: Result of publish meshcop service OpenThread BorderRouter #7C07._meshcop._udp.local: OK

Try to set the OTBR despite the errors. :

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo ot-ctl

state

disabled

Done

dataset init new

Done

dataset commit active

Done

ifconfig upup

Done

thread start

Done

> read: Connection reset by peer [rejected at this moment]

I tried restarting the agent like you said →

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo service otbr-agent restart

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo service otbr-agent status

● otbr-agent.service - OpenThread Border Router Agent

Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/otbr-agent.service; enabled; preset: enabled)

Active: active (running) since Mon 2025-07-28 10:51:51 BST; 18s ago

Process: 20104 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/service mdns start (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)

Main PID: 20114 (otbr-agent)

Tasks: 1 (limit: 1568)

CPU: 133ms

CGroup: /system.slice/otbr-agent.service

└─20114 /usr/sbin/otbr-agent "spinel+hdlc+uart:///dev/ttyACM0?uart-baudrate=1000000"

Jul 28 10:51:56 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:05.287 [I] MeshForwarder-: src:[fe80:0:0:0:a0d6:d070:8061:7c07]:19788

Jul 28 10:51:56 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:05.287 [I] MeshForwarder-: dst:[ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2]:19788

Jul 28 10:52:01 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:10.652 [I] Mle-----------: Send Link Request (ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2)

Jul 28 10:52:01 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:10.660 [I] MeshForwarder-: Sent IPv6 UDP msg, len:82, chksum:24c6, ecn:no, to:0xffff, sec:no, prio:net

Jul 28 10:52:01 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:10.660 [I] MeshForwarder-: src:[fe80:0:0:0:a0d6:d070:8061:7c07]:19788

Jul 28 10:52:01 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:10.660 [I] MeshForwarder-: dst:[ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2]:19788

Jul 28 10:52:06 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:15.768 [I] Mle-----------: Send Link Request (ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2)

Jul 28 10:52:06 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:15.775 [I] MeshForwarder-: Sent IPv6 UDP msg, len:82, chksum:9e1d, ecn:no, to:0xffff, sec:no, prio:net

Jul 28 10:52:06 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:15.776 [I] MeshForwarder-: src:[fe80:0:0:0:a0d6:d070:8061:7c07]:19788

Jul 28 10:52:06 raspberrypi otbr-agent[20114]: 00:00:15.776 [I] MeshForwarder-: dst:[ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2]:19788

[Notice that the error in the first status has disappeared]

gg@raspberrypi:~/ot-br-posix $ sudo ot-ctl

state

detached

Done

> dataset init new

Done

> dataset commit active

Done

[at this moment I was rejected ]

Did I miss something? Do you want me to try using Docker this time? Thanks for your help

RE: Issue with OTBR Setup and sudo ot-ctl Command

Amanda Hsieh — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 20:26:42 GMT

[quote user=""]Issue:
The command sudo ot-ctl, which is supposed to allow access to the CLI of the RCP and OTBR, is not functioning correctly. Either the session opens and closes unexpectedly, or I receive a "connection refused" error. For the moments where the sessions allow me to write some instructions, it feels like, despite the 'done' message, these instructions never succeed; my OTBR is not working.[/quote]

I got a similar issue during the testing, and fixed it by restarting OTBR.

Could you follow the steps in the Installing OTBR manually (Raspberry Pi) and Running OTBR using Docker?

I get the log like this

amhs@raspberrypi:~$ sudo service otbr-agent status
● otbr-agent.service - OpenThread Border Router Agent
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/otbr-agent.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-07-25 13:12:54 MST; 8s ago
    Process: 3363 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/service mdns start (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
   Main PID: 3369 (otbr-agent)
      Tasks: 1 (limit: 3853)
     Memory: 920.0K (peak: 2.0M)
        CPU: 170ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/otbr-agent.service
             └─3369 /usr/sbin/otbr-agent -I wpan0 -B eth0 "spinel+hdlc+uart:///dev/ttyACM0?uart-baudrate=1000000"

Jul 25 13:06:45 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: [INFO]-MDNS----: Successfully registered service OpenThread BorderRouter #C97A._meshcop._udp
Jul 25 13:06:45 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: [INFO]-BA------: Result of publish meshcop service OpenThread BorderRouter #C97A._meshcop._udp.local: OK
Jul 25 13:06:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: 00:00:05.576 [I] Mle-----------: Send Link Request (ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2)
Jul 25 13:06:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: 00:00:05.580 [I] MeshForwarder-: Sent IPv6 UDP msg, len:82, chksum:78ab, ecn:no, to:0xffff, sec:no, prio:net
Jul 25 13:06:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: 00:00:05.581 [I] MeshForwarder-:     src:[fe80:0:0:0:a0a7:fb6:e2e5:c97a]:19788
Jul 25 13:06:50 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: 00:00:05.581 [I] MeshForwarder-:     dst:[ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2]:19788
Jul 25 13:06:54 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: 00:00:10.218 [I] Mle-----------: Send Link Request (ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2)
Jul 25 13:06:54 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: 00:00:10.224 [I] MeshForwarder-: Sent IPv6 UDP msg, len:82, chksum:43e7, ecn:no, to:0xffff, sec:no, prio:net
Jul 25 13:06:54 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: 00:00:10.224 [I] MeshForwarder-:     src:[fe80:0:0:0:a0a7:fb6:e2e5:c97a]:19788
Jul 25 13:06:54 raspberrypi otbr-agent[3275]: 00:00:10.224 [I] MeshForwarder-:     dst:[ff02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2]:19788
amhs@raspberrypi:~$ sudo ot-ctl state
detached
Done
amhs@raspberrypi:~$ sudo ot-ctl state
leader
Done
amhs@raspberrypi:~$ sudo ot-ctl commissioner start
Commissioner: petitioning
Done
amhs@raspberrypi:~$ sudo ot-ctl commissioner state
active
Done

RE: Issue with OTBR Setup and sudo ot-ctl Command

Germain B — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:00:18 GMT

Hi Amanda,

Thank you for your response.

I am using NCS version 3.0.0. I am connecting port J2 of my nRF52833DK to the Raspberry Pi. I just tried connecting port J3 as indicated by the user in the case you shared, but it seems like the board is not even powered. I must be doing something wrong ?

Although I am trying to set the nRF52833 as RCP and the nRF52840 as CLI, I flashed the nRF52840 (with the 52840 build conf.) as RCP just to test, and it didn't change anything. I also tried using pyspinel (https://github.com/openthread/pyspinel.git) but that didn't work either.

RE: Issue with OTBR Setup and sudo ot-ctl Command

Amanda Hsieh — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 14:27:52 GMT

Hi,

What NCS version are you using?

Which port of the DK are you connecting to the Raspberry Pi? You can take a look at this similar case Raspberry Pi + RCP setup fails .

Regards,
Amanda H.