Introduction#

This application note is intended for software engineers who wish to develop an OpenThread Border Router (OTBR). It assumes some familiarity with OpenThread and basic Thread concepts. For an introduction to OpenThread and information on Thread concepts, visit https://openthread.io/. For information on OTBR setup and installation, refer to https://openthread.io/guides/border-router.

This application note assumes that you have downloaded Simplicity Studio 5 (SSv5) and the Silicon Labs OpenThread SDK and are generally familiar with the SSv5 Launcher perspective. SSv5 installation and getting started instructions, along with a set of detailed references, can be found in the online Simplicity Studio 5 User’s Guide and through the SSv5 help menu. Refer to QSG170: Silicon Labs OpenThread Quick Start Guide for more information about configuring, building, and flashing OpenThread sample applications.

This application note addresses the following topics:

  • Build and Installation Instructions for the RCP Images

    Explains the build and installation procedure for the Radio Co-Processor (RCP) image using UART as well as SPI interfaces.

  • Build and Installation Instructions for the OpenThread Border Router

    Defines the build and installation procedure for the OpenThread Border Router on POSIX-based platforms, including an option to deploy a pre-built Docker container for the Raspberry Pi.

  • OTBR Configuration Information

    Provides OTBR information such as how to configure various Border Router features and the Network Address Translation (NAT64) interface.

  • Additional OpenThread Resources

    Includes links to OpenThread Resources.

Hardware Requirements#

A Thread Border Router has two components:

  • A Raspberry Pi host with Thread Border Router support (Recommended: Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ or above)

  • A Thread-capable Silicon Labs Radio Co-processor (RCP)

The RCP in this application is only compatible with the Thread protocol and utilizes a serial connection (UART or SPI) to interface with the host. Spinel is used on top of this serial connection to facilitate communication. Provided that the OTBR is correctly configured on the host, the RCP should function seamlessly, making it effectively host-agnostic. For more information on supported host platforms, see OpenThread Border Router.

To create the RCP, you need the following:

Note: For information about Silicon Labs Precompiled RCP Images, see Use Precompiled RCP Images.