How to persistently save and load values in a mesh project?

[BlueMike]

Dear Mesh Experts.

As of 2021, using nRF5_SDK_17.0.2 and nRF5_SDK_for_Mesh_v4.2.0: What's the simplest way to persistently save and load some values in a mesh project?

Google recommends FDS (Flash Data Storage) library or flash_manager. What's your opinion on it? If you could share a link to a mesh related tutorial or demo, it would be appreciated as well.

Thank you.

[Joakim Jakobsen]

Hi.

Using the nRF5 SDK for Mesh I suggest using the Flash Manager to store data in Flash.

Br,
Joakim

[BlueMike]

Hi Joakim,

Oddly enough I can't find Flash manager in neither the 4.2.0 nor the 5.0.0 documentation. Is this intended? (Mesh SDK 1.0.1 (the one you've linked to) seems to be a little outdated...)

So, yesterday I've decided for the FDS approach, which is documented, but, if followed the documentation, causes the mesh_stack_init() to throw an assertion in flash_manager_add(). In other words: It's just not working.
A day wasted for something as common as saving and loading a value.... It might not be apparent to you guys, but the mesh documentation is a real big mess: OTA mesh DFU through proxy connection just not possible, but nowhere mentioned. Same here with persistent storage... A lot of information spread all over the place, but to find the one that's actually relevant and working, you need to get lucky. It's... frustrating!

Anyway, I'll migrate over to flash manager. Do you have a step-by-step tutorial about how to load and save a value? One that just works? It would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

[Joakim Jakobsen]

My mistake:

You can find the flash manager in the latest version of the documentation here:
https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/com.nordic.infocenter.meshsdk.v5.0.0/md_doc_user_guide_modules_flash_manager.html

Manually:
nRF5 SDK for Mesh v.5.0.0 -> Bluetooth mesh stack user guide -> Modules -> Flash manager

Br,
Joakim

[BlueMike]

Thank you!

[BlueMike]

You know, it would be really useful if the docs would either explain or include a working example of how to setup flash manager, and how to read/write values. The information that's spread through the various posts here on devzone is pretty much outdated...

[Joakim Jakobsen]

I can forward this internally. We always appreciate suggestions on how to improve.

Br,
Joakim