nRF9160 lte passthrough

RE: nRF9160 lte passthrough

Håkon Alseth — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 12:45:23 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="fe-hadella"]To reiterate, it would be desired to have the LTE device look like Linux network interface.[/quote]

Unfortunately, our nRF9160 does not support this. You can use the serial lte modem to connect to a given server (and download data) using serialized AT commands, but you cannot hook into the nRF9160 as a network interface in your OS.

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: nRF9160 lte passthrough

fe-hadella — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 17:55:42 GMT

Is there another nordic device which supports this? We are revving the board soon and could migrate to another solution, if there is one.

Much of the documentation I've been reading through is confusing for our use case. To reiterate, it would be desired to have the LTE device look like Linux network interface.

RE: nRF9160 lte passthrough

Håkon Alseth — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 08:48:37 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="fe-hadella"]I can do some tasks now, but the systems I use are all in remote locations. One of the requirements I haven't figured out yet is how to update software (the Linux system software) using the nRF9160. Ideally, we would use this cloud based service to do this. I can do this on a system with wifi, but some systems just have the nRF9160. It's not clear at all how this can be done.[/quote][quote user="fe-hadella"]Is there another way to use the nRF9160 for something like Internet passthrough? For example, something like a USB wifi dongle?[/quote]

Unfortunately, we do not have support for PPP, so you cannot hook it into the OS as a network IF, and call apt directly.

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: nRF9160 lte passthrough

fe-hadella — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 17:06:35 GMT

Thanks Håkon.

I've been using the serial lte modem fw on our custom board for a few weeks. It's a ARM linux system connected to a nRF9160 via a UART interface. So far, I've been able to do basic AT commands, get the GPS position, and do thing like TLS and MQTT so far.

Is there another way to use the nRF9160 for something like Internet passthrough? For example, something like a USB wifi dongle?

I can do some tasks now, but the systems I use are all in remote locations. One of the requirements I haven't figured out yet is how to update software (the Linux system software) using the nRF9160. Ideally, we would use this cloud based service to do this. I can do this on a system with wifi, but some systems just have the nRF9160. It's not clear at all how this can be done.

Regards,

fe-hadella

RE: nRF9160 lte passthrough

Håkon Alseth — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 12:00:17 GMT

Hi,

The nRF9160 supports (D)TLS.

Are you going to download larger files? Note that NB1 and Cat M1 isn't "high throughput" transport layers, so I would strongly recommend that you test and see if the download speed is per your requirements.

The serial lte modem works as an extension to at_client, as described in the documentation here:

https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/1.3.1/nrf/applications/serial_lte_modem/README.html#

If you want to run TLS, you have to set this up on a socket level, similar to what is done here:

https://github.com/nrfconnect/sdk-nrf/blob/master/samples/nrf9160/https_client/src/main.c#L192

This specific function issues the CA certification using this function:

https://github.com/nrfconnect/sdk-nrf/blob/master/samples/nrf9160/https_client/src/main.c#L64

However, you can do this by calling the AT command directly:

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ref_at_commands/REF/at_commands/mob_termination_ctrl_status/cmng_set.html?cp=2_1_4_28_0

The "sec_tag" you store your certificates to is the one you should use when creating the socket:

https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/1.3.1/nrf/applications/serial_lte_modem/README.html#bsd-socket-at-commands

You can also use the LTE Link monitor to issue certificates: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_link_monitor/UG/link_monitor/lm_certificate_manager.html?cp=9_3_2_5

Kind regards,

Håkon