Debugging Relay Node operation in Mesh network

[Dragon Lai]

Hi All,

I am testing the performance of a Relay Node in a mesh network.However it seems don't work.

I would like to show that the Relay node operation such as Rx and Re-TX message . Where is the location to indicate the operation in the code, I may add __log to debug the operation.

Thanks

Dragon

[tesc]

Hi,

How does it not work? (What makes you think it does not work?)

Remember that you need to provision the node into the network in order for it to participate in the network and relay messages.

All code needed for relaying packets are behind preprocessor directives checking for MESH_FEATURE_RELAY_ENABLED. One possible location to add a debug log line is in packet_relay() in network.c. You will see there that there is already a warning message if there is not enough memory for storing the packet to be relayed. You could for instance add a log message in the case where a packet is queued up and sent as well.

Regards,
Terje

[Dragon Lai]

Hi Terje

Thank you for your reply, our project is based on the example Light_switch_server and we added the model onoff_switch_client  to the project.

attached picture is the testing structure.

1) we limited the TX-power to -40dbm to limited the testing space.

2) the distance between the node1 and node 2 about 30cm . and the distance between the node2 and node 3 about 30cm

3) the message flow is that:

i) connected the node1( always send unicast address to the connected node)

ii) We modified the payload of the mode OnOff_server, that the payload included the target node address.

iii) App send the message ( genericOnOfftset ) to unicast address node1 , and the data of the message point to send to node 3.

iv) when the node1 (connected node) received the message, it will publish the message to node3(pointed form message)

4) we add the __Log on the code before packet_relay and in the should_relay()

#if MESH_FEATURE_RELAY_ENABLED
        if (should_relay(&net_metadata))
        {
           __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Relay (packet_relay)  ,ttl:%d \n",net_metadata.ttl);
            packet_relay(&net_metadata, p_net_payload, payload_len);
        }
#endif

static bool should_relay(const network_packet_metadata_t * p_metadata)
{
    /* Relay feature must be enabled */
#if EXPERIMENTAL_INSTABURST_ENABLED
    if (!core_tx_instaburst_is_enabled(CORE_TX_ROLE_RELAY))
#else
    if (!core_tx_adv_is_enabled(CORE_TX_ROLE_RELAY))
#endif
    {
      __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "should_relay 1\n");
        return false;
    }
    /* TTL must be 2 or greater */
    if (p_metadata->ttl < 2)
    {
       __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "should_relay 2:%d\n",p_metadata->ttl);
        return false;
    }

5) we found some case today, and we take the log on Node2 with j-link.

   i) when the node1 publish to node 3. It seems work for relay node. and  it will log some message when there is packet_in:

     Relay (packet_relay)  ,ttl:4 

of Relay (packet_relay)  ,ttl:8 

   it seems the ttl will be 4 and 8 if the relay function work.

ii) when the node3 publish to node 1. It seems don't work for relay node. and  it always log the message as follow when there is packet_in

   should_relay 2:1

  it seems the ttl always 1.

best Regards,

Dragon

  

   

[tesc]

Hi,

You can configure what TTL should be used. There are both a general setting for the node, and a setting for publications from the particular model. Both of these are easily configured from the nRF Mesh app, if that is what you use for provisioning and configuration.

Regards,
Terje

[Dragon Lai]

Hi

I don't see the interface for show the TTL configuration on the the model configuration such as Generic On Off server /Generic On Off Client. and there is a Relay item on the m model "configuration sever" such as Retransmit Count and Retransmit Interval. 

May I set the TTL value on my code?

Thanks

Dragon

[tesc]

Hi,

You find the TTL setting by selecting the node, then under the element you select the model, then under Publish tap "set publication". E.g. the same settings page as where you set Publish Address, Publish Period, Publish Retransmission, etc.

There is also a Default TTL on the main page for the node. Default is used if the Publish TTL of the model is set to 0xFF (which means "use default ttl value).

Regards,
Terje