AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 10/21/2020 silabs.com | Building a more connected world. 1 | Page AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 Table of Contents 1 About this Document............................................................................................................................................... 3 2 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 3 Prerequisites ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 3.1 Software .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 3.2 Hardware ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 4 Terminology (Acronyms/Abbreviations) ................................................................................................................ 6 5 Throughput ............................................................................................................................................................... 7 5.1 Description .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 5.2 Block Diagram ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 5.3 Use Case............................................................................................................................................................. 7 5.4 Benefits ............................................................................................................................................................... 7 6 Execution Steps ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 6.1 Configuration Parameters for Driver Package ..................................................................................................... 8 6.2 Compiling the Driver ............................................................................................................................................ 8 6.3 Installation of Driver ............................................................................................................................................. 9 6.4 Testing WiFi STA Mode....................................................................................................................................... 9 6.5 Access Point Configuration ............................................................................................................................... 14 7 Iperf Test for Throughput ...................................................................................................................................... 15 7.1 TCP Uplink ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 7.2 TCP Downlink .................................................................................................................................................... 17 7.3 UDP Uplink ........................................................................................................................................................ 18 7.4 UDP Downlink .................................................................................................................................................... 19 8 Expected Results ................................................................................................................................................... 20 9 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ 22 10 References and Related Documentation ............................................................................................................. 23 11 Troubleshooting..................................................................................................................................................... 24 12 Revision History .................................................................................................................................................... 25 silabs.com | Building a more connected world. 2 | Page AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 1 About this Document This document explains the procedure to measure throughput for RS9116N Module. silabs.com | Building a more connected world. 3 | Page AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 2 Introduction RS9116N n-link Open Source Driver implemented for RS9116N family of modules, it uses netlink sockets. The document will walk you through the steps with which user can bring up the RS9116N device to get the maximum throughput along with the details about software, Hardware, tools required for this. silabs.com | Building a more connected world. 4 | Page AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 3 Prerequisites 3.1 Software • WLAN driver – RS9116N n-link Open Source Driver for Linux Download the driver package from the below link: https://www.silabs.com/wireless/wi-fi/rs9116-wi-fi-transceiver-modules • Measurement Tool – Iperf 3.2 Hardware 1. RS9116-wi-fi-transceiver-modules with USB / SDIO connector 2. Linux PC (kernel versions 2.6.35 and above). silabs.com | Building a more connected world. 5 | Page AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 4 Terminology (Acronyms/Abbreviations) • NL 80211 - NL80211 is the new 802.11 netlink interface public header. • TCP - Transmission Control protocol. • UDP - User datagram protocol. • DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration protocol. • Uplink - Data transfer from station to access point • Downlink- Data transfer from access point to station. silabs.com | Building a more connected world. 6 | Page AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 5 Throughput 5.1 Description Throughput refers to how much data can be transferred from one device to another in a given amount of time. It is used to measure the performance wireless networks. 5.2 Block Diagram Figure 1: Throughput Setup Diagram 5.3 Use Case Throughput test will give assurance of the application performance like audio/video data using 9116N module 5.4 Benefits By measuring throughput, user can determine network performance, which will help in designing end- product. silabs.com | Building a more connected world. 7 | Page AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 6 Execution Steps 6.1 Configuration Parameters for Driver Package 1. Download the RS9116N driver package. https://www.silabs.com/wireless/wi-fi/rs9116-wi-fi-transceiver-modules 2. Unzip the driver. # unzip RS9116.NB0.NL.GNU.LNX.OSD.x.x.x.x.zip 3. Refer the section “Compilation Steps” of RS9116N Open Source Driver Technical Reference Manual which is available under TECH-DOCS section of https://www.silabs.com/wireless/wi-fi/rs9116-wi-fi-transceiver-modules. 6.2 Compiling the Driver Change the working directory to directory of the driver package and following are compilation steps. 1. Configure build flags in driver source. # cd rsi 2. Open Makefile and configure build flags. Below are the build flags to be set based on the usage of driver. Selecting the required options shall reduce the binary size which is important for kernel modules particularly on embedded platforms. a. KERNELDIR: Provide the kernel source path here. For example, on X-86 below path is used. KERNELRELEASE=$(Shell uname -r) KERNELDIR=/lib/modules/$(KERNELRELEASE)/build b. CONFIG_RSI_COEX_MODE: Enable this flag when Wi-Fi and BT coexistence mode is used. c. CONFIG_RSI_DEBUGFS: debugfs is used by driver to take dynamic configuration from user. Supported debugfs based configurations are listed in the corresponding feature sections in RS9116N Open Source Driver Technical Reference Manual. d. CONFIG_RSI_BT_ALONE: Enable this flag when only BT EDR/ BT LE only mode is used. 3. Build the driver using make command. # make After completion of compilation, the driver generates the following modules in the rsi folder according to the configuration. They are outlined below: • rsi_91x.ko • rsi_usb.ko • rsi_sdio.ko silabs.com | Building a more connected world. 8 | Page AN1278: Using RS9116N to Measure Wi-Fi Throughput Version 0.4 6.3 Installation of Driver In order to install the driver, use the following commands: 1.) Before installing driver install the dependencies using below commands: # modprobe mac80211 # modprobe cfg80211 # modprobe Bluetooth Insert rsi_91x.ko with the required module params (configuration) as shown below: # insmod rsi_91x.ko dev_oper_mode=<mode> rsi_zone_enabled=<val> . Select dev_oper_mode 1 for STA/AP modes. For all other supported modes please refer RS9116N Open Source Driver Technical Reference Manual. 2.) For USB interface, enter the below command: # insmod rsi_usb.ko 3.) For SDIO interface, enter the below command: # insmod rsi_sdio.ko sdio_clock=<clk_val> Here the clk_val is 1 to 50 in Mhz. You can install