ath10k mesh + ap + encryption?

[Pedersen, Thomas]

On Tue, 2016-09-13 at 14:30 +0200, Simon Wunderlich wrote:
> On Tuesday, September 13, 2016 11:25:21 AM CEST Valo, Kalle wrote:
> > 
> > Simon Wunderlich <sw at simonwunderlich.de> writes:
> > > 
> > > On Tuesday, September 13, 2016 10:59:31 AM CEST Valo, Kalle
> > > wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > Simon Wunderlich <sw at simonwunderlich.de> writes:
> > > > > 
> > > > > we have done some experiments last week on ath10k, trying to
> > > > > run mesh
> > > > > (802.11s) and access point at the same time, both encrypted.
> > > > > 
> > > > > We have tested a recent LEDE (reboot-1519-g42f559e) but with
> > > > > firmware-5.bin_10.2.4.70.42-2 and the included
> > > > > wpa_supplicant, which
> > > > > gave
> > > > > us a working encrypted 802.11s network. However, starting an
> > > > > AP at the
> > > > > same time didn't work (AP doesn't beacon). This wasn't a
> > > > > problem when
> > > > > 802.11s was running unencrypted.
> > > > > 
> > > > > We also tested version 10.2.4.97 (from codeaurora), which is
> > > > > now
> > > > > default
> > > > > in
> > > > > LEDE. However, this version apparently doesn't support 11s
> > > > > mesh at all
> > > > > (WMI_SERVICE_MESH_11S is disabled in the service map, but
> > > > > cfg/mac80211
> > > > > advertises support).
> > > > > 
> > > > > So here are my questions:
> > > > >  * Did anyone succesfully run AP and mesh, both encrypted at
> > > > > the same
> > > > >  time?
> > > > >  * Do you have any pointers how we could fix this? Could it
> > > > > be fixable
> > > > >  in
> > > > >  the>
> > > > > 
> > > > > driver (i.e. not in firmware)?
> > > > > 
> > > > >  * Does anyone have an idea if 11s will be supported in
> > > > > future
> > > > >  versions? I
> > > > > 
> > > > > didn't find any changelogs, but having 11s mode no longer in
> > > > > the
> > > > > service
> > > > > map does not make me optimistic.
> > > > 
> > > > Why is LEDE using 10.2.4.97? It seems to be a quite old release
> > > > and I
> > > > have no knowledge if anyone even tests that firmware branch
> > > > with ath10k.
> > > > I recommend to only use firmware releases from ath10k-
> > > > firmware.git as we
> > > > use those internally with ath10k. In any case, don't make any
> > > > assumptions about future from that firmware branch as it's so
> > > > old.
> > > 
> > > This was introduced in December 25th, 2015 after some firmware-
> > > related
> > > problems. I'm CC'ing Martin Blumenstingl who suggested this
> > > change.
> > > 
> > > Since then, ath10k is pulling firmware from here (unless ct
> > > firmware is
> > > used):
> > > 
> > > https://source.codeaurora.org/quic/qsdk/oss/firmware/ath10k-firmw
> > > are/plain
> > > /
> > > 10.2.4/firmware-5.bin_10.2.4.97-1
> > > 
> > > However, I don't understand the numbering? 10.2.4.97 > 10.2.4.70,
> > > but you
> > > say 10.2.4.70.42-2 is more recent? I would have assumed otherwise
> > > from
> > > the numbers. However, 10.2.4.70 has much more sub-revisions.
> > 
> > As I said before, I just deliver the firmware files to the
> > community and
> > the firmware team creates the actual releases. But my understanding
> > is
> > that these are from different branches which are built
> > independently
> > (and might have different features, like in this case the mesh
> > support)
> > so I would not make any conclusions if any firmware is "better"
> > just
> > from the numbers alone.
> 
> you are right ... those numbers are not a good pointer. I found this
> repo, and 
> from the checkin dates it looks like 10.2.4.97 is indeed way older
> (from 
> September 2015) than 10.2.4.70.42 (April 2016):
> 
> https://source.codeaurora.org/quic/qsdk/oss/firmware/ath10k-firmware/
> log/10.2.4
> 
> I would agree that Changelogs would be helpful.
> 
> Thanks for the clarification. We will then stick to the 70's branch
> then.
> 
> Does anyone have pointers for the other questions? :) I would believe
> hat many 
> people would be interested in running AP + Mesh encrypted at the same
> time (at 
> least in the open source community ...).

We're testing encrypted AP + Mesh quite successfully right now with
this firmware: https://github.com/kvalo/ath10k-firmware/commit/307cb46b
06661ebd3186723b5002de769c7add83, of course that is for a QCA4019 chip.
Which chip are you using? I can poke the firmware guys for possibility
of getting a 10.4.3.2 firmware build for it.

thomas