Getting Started with Matter SiW917 RCP Linux Host#

This guide describes how to get started developing a Matter Linux application with a Linux host device and a SiWx917 running in RCP mode. The application and connectivity stack run on the Linux host (Raspberry Pi), while the Wi-Fi and BLE link layers run on the SiWx917 RCP.

Check Prerequisites#

To run this Matter over Wi-Fi example, check for the following prerequisites:

Hardware Requirements#

The following hardware devices are required for this example:

SiWx917 WiFi 6 and Bluetooth LE Co-processor Radio Board
- BRD4346A
Adapter board for co-processor
- BRD8045B
Raspberrypi Board with Ubuntu version 24.04 LTS (64-bit) and above

Firmware Images#

Download the application and configuration files from Matter Artifacts page.

Building and running the Matter Linux with RCP App#

Get the relevant code and binaries

$ git clone https://github.com/SiliconLabs/si91x-rcp-driver.git

Install the dependencies

$ sudo apt install -fy \
      linux-headers-$(uname -r) \
      wireless-tools \
      net-tools \
      iw \
      rfkill \
      isc-dhcp-client \
      device-tree-compiler \
      bluez \
      build-essential

Boot Configuration Changes

Generate the dtbo file from the dts

$ dtc -@ -I dts -O dtb -o wfx-sdio-overlay.dtbo wfx-sdio-overlay.dts

Copy the generated dtbo file to /boot/firmware/overlay folder
```
$ sudo cp wfx-sdio-overlay.dtbo /boot/firmware/overlays/
```

Add the following text in the config.txt file present in /boot/firmware folder

$ sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt

#############################################
# Following lines were added by Silabs team #
############################################# 
# Disable core_freq change because it impacts SPI bus speed
# For details see https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux/issues/2094
# 250MHz was chosen to have a bus frequency of 41.6MHz
core_freq=250
core_freq_min=250

# Allow EEPROM access
dtparam=i2c_vc=on

# Disable UART, Broadcom integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
dtoverlay=disable-uart
# The below two lines to be uncommented once the RCP driver
# is upgraded with the latest Kernel to resolve the BLE issue
# dtoverlay=disable-bt
# dtoverlay=disable-bt-pi5
dtoverlay=disable-wifi
dtoverlay=disable-wifi-pi5

# Enable Silabs Wi-Fi (only one bus may be enabled at a time)
# Notes:
#   -SDIO frequency is limited to 25MHz to ensure compatiblity with all
#    Raspberry Pi versions
#   -If using a Raspberry Pi 4B with SPI, please limit frequency to 25000000
#   -For more information, please contact Silabs support
dtoverlay=wfx-sdio-overlay,sdio_overclock=25

Reboot the pi.

Update the startup script to bypass network credential prompts, as it will connect through the Matter network.
```
$ cd si91x-rcp-driver/release
$ nano start_SiWT917.sh
```
Comment from line number 379 to 432 and 436, 437
Compilation steps for the RCP driver
- Run the below commands in root
```
$ sudo su
```
- Go to the release directory in si91x-rcp-driver
```
$ cd release
$ ./start_SiWT917.sh <mode>

For example,
$ ./start_SiWT917.sh STA
```
  Note: mode to be selected STA or STA_BLE
  For now, STA to be used due to BLE issue which will be resolved in the upcoming 917 RCP release.
- Now the remaining steps can be run without root privileges.
Check if there is a wlan0 interface is created via
```
$ ifconfig -a
```
Running the matter app
- Copy the firmware i.e., chip-all-cluster-app from the artifacts provided above to the raspberrypi.
- To build the Matter project, please refer to the BUILDING.md guide. For building other Linux Matter applications, follow the README of the applications, for example, lighting-app/linux directory.
- Add a default ipv6 address to the wlan0 interface using the below commands
```
$ ip -6 addr show
$ sudo ip -6 addr add <ipv6_address>/64 dev wlan0

For example,
$ sudo ip -6 addr add fd12:3456:789a:1::1/64 dev wlan0
```
- Run the matter application using the following command
```
$ ./chip-all-cluster-app --wifi --ble-device 0
```
- Now the application is running on the Raspberry Pi with the SiWx917 RCP connected. With the help of another Pi/Linux setup (Matter Hub/Controller) running chip-tool, the commissioning can be performed
```
$ ./chip-tool pairing ble-wifi <node-id> <ssid> <psk> 20202021 3840
$ ./chip-tool onoff on <node-id> 1
```

For more information about the RCP documentation, refer to the RCP driver documentation.