NXP Semiconductors 88W8987 User manual

UM11512
Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK
with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
Rev. 1 — 3 December 2020 User manual
Document information
Information Content
Keywords 88W8987-based wireless modules, Wi-Fi features, Bluetooth features,
guidelines, driver debug information
Abstract Describes Wi-Fi/Bluetooth features and configurations for i.MX 8M Nano EVK

NXP Semiconductors UM11512
Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
Rev Date Description
v.1 20201203 Initial version
Revision history
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NXP Semiconductors UM11512
Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
1 About this document
1.1 Purpose
This document details the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth features and configurations for i.MX 8M Nano
evaluation kit (EVK). The Wi-Fi features include scanning and configuring the access
points, connecting to the access point, Wi-Fi security, Wi-Fi direct and the iPerf test. The
Bluetooth features comprise scan, pair, connect to a Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy
(LE) device, A2DP profile, handsfree profile and Bluetooth LE device as a GATT server.
Guidelines to get the driver debug information are also provided.
1.2 Scope
This document specifies the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth features and configurations on i.MX
8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based wireless module. It covers the initialization and
configuration of the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth interface. The host platform setup and build
of the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth software for the platform interfaces is covered in i.MX Linux
documentation. The Release Notes included in NXP driver software package provides
the list of the features supported by 88W8987-based wireless module.
1.3 Considerations
This document describes the Wi-Fi features on the Linux-based i.MX 8M Nano EVK
interfacing with the 88W8987-based wireless module. The Wi-Fi features demonstrated
in this document are configured with the open source program wpa_supplicant and the
Linux utilities.
The pre-built binary files include the following configuration files:
•Wi-Fi driver kernel module configuration file (wifi_mod_para_sd8987.conf) is located in
/lib/firmware/nxp repository
•Wpa_supplicant configuration file (wpa_supplicant.conf) is located in /etc repository
•Hostapd configuration file (hostapd.conf) is located in /etc repository
This document refers to the nano editor included in the pre-built image to create or edit
the configuration files.
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NXP Semiconductors UM11512
Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
1.4 References
Reference type Description
Datasheet NXP - DS - 88W8987 2.4/5 GHz Dual-Band 1x1 Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5 Solution (link)
User manual NXP - UM11513 - Getting Started with 88W8987-based Wireless Module on i.MX 8M Nano EVK
Running Linux OS
Explains how to bring up the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interfaces of 88W8987-based wireless module
on i.MX 8M Nano EVK (link).
Application Nordic Semiconductor - nRF Connect for Desktop
The application can be used for Bluetooth LE operations.
Link: nRF Connect for Desktop.
Specification Bluetooth Special Interest Group - Bluetooth Core Specification v5.2
Details Bluetooth Classic/Bluetooth LE RF Test commands.
Link: bluetooth.com/specifications
Technical note NXP - TN00070 - 88W8987 Feature List
Lists 88W8987 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth supported features. (link)
Table 1. References
1.5 Pre-requisites
The user should first read the reference document Getting Started with 88W8987-
based Wireless Module on i.MX 8M Nano EVK Running Linux OS before using this user
manual, as it provides the guidelines to set up the pre-built Linux image on i.MX 8M Nano
EVK and bring up the Wireless and Bluetooth interfaces.
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NXP Semiconductors UM11512
Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
2 Wi-Fi features and considerations
2.1 Scan for visible Access Points
This section describes the scanning for visible Access Points using 88W8987-based
wireless module. Linux operating system provides the standard utilities iw and wpa_cli to
view and edit the wireless module configurations.
2.1.1 Using iw command
iw command is used to scan visible access points.
root@imx8mnevk:~# iw dev mlan0 scan
Command output example showing one SSID scan result:
[11204.740176] wlan: mlan0 START SCAN
[11207.573646] wlan: SCAN COMPLETED: scanned AP count=1
BSS 44:82:e5:10:2c:38(on mlan0)
TSF: 11207445411 usec (0d, 03:06:47)
freq: 2427
beacon interval: 100 TUs
capability: ESS Privacy ShortPreamble ShortSlotTime RadioMeasure
(0x1431)
signal: -56.00 dBm
last seen: 0 ms ago
SSID: destin
Supported rates: 1.0* 2.0* 5.5* 6.0 9.0 11.0* 12.0 18.0
DS Parameter set: channel 4
Country: in Environment: Indoor/Outdoor
Channels [1 - 13] @ 21 dBm
TPC report: TX power: 20 dBm
ERP: NonERP_Present Use_Protection
RSN: * Version: 1
* Group cipher: TKIP
* Pairwise ciphers: CCMP TKIP
* Authentication suites: PSK
* Capabilities: 1-PTKSA-RC 1-GTKSA-RC (0x0000)
WPA: * Version: 1
* Group cipher: TKIP
* Pairwise ciphers: CCMP TKIP
* Authentication suites: PSK
WMM: * Parameter version 1
* BE: CW 15-1023, AIFSN 3
* BK: CW 15-1023, AIFSN 7
* VI: CW 7-15, AIFSN 2, TXOP 3008 usec
* VO: CW 3-7, AIFSN 2, TXOP 1504 usec
Extended supported rates: 24.0 36.0 48.0 54.0
BSS Load:
* station count: 4
* channel utilisation: 52/255
* available admission capacity: 0 [*32us]
HT capabilities:
Capabilities: 0x11ed
RX LDPC
HT20
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
TX STBC
RX STBC 1-stream
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NXP Semiconductors UM11512
Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
HT operation:
* primary channel: 4
* secondary channel offset: no secondary
* STA channel width: 20 MHz
* RIFS: 0
* HT protection: nonmember
* non-GF present: 1
* OBSS non-GF present: 1
* dual beacon: 0
* dual CTS protection: 0
* STBC beacon: 0
* L-SIG TXOP Prot: 0
* PCO active: 0
* PCO phase: 0
Overlapping BSS scan params:
* passive dwell: 20 TUs
* active dwell: 10 TUs
* channel width trigger scan interval: 300 s
* scan passive total per channel: 200 TUs
* scan active total per channel: 20 TUs
* BSS width channel transition delay factor: 5
* OBSS Scan Activity Threshold: 0.25 %
Extended capabilities:
* HT Information Exchange Supported
* BSS Transition
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Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
2.1.2 Using wpa_supplicant and wpa_cli commands
You can also use wpa_supplicant and wpa_cli to scan the visible access points.
To edit the configuration file:
root@imx8mnevk:~# nano /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
Configuration file content:
ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
ctrl_interface_group=0
update_config=1
network={
key_mgmt=NONE
}
Start wpa_supplicant in the background
root@imx8mnevk:~# wpa_supplicant -B -i mlan0 -c /etc/
wpa_supplicant.conf
Start wpa_cli for the scan
root@imx8mnevk:~# wpa_cli
Command output:
wpa_cli v2.9
Copyright (c) 2004-2019, Jouni Malinen <[email protected]> and
contributors
This software may be distributed under the terms of the BSD
license.
See README for more details.
Selected interface 'mlan0'
Interactive mode
To start scanning:
> scan
Command output example showing the scanned AP count and the SCAN COMPLETE
event
[ 253.835605] wlan: mlan0 START SCAN
<3>CTRL-EVENT-SCAN-STARTED
> [ 258.910760] wlan: SCAN COMPLETED: scanned AP count=1
<3>CTRL-EVENT-SCAN-RESULTS
<3>CTRL-EVENT-NETWORK-NOT-FOUND
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NXP Semiconductors UM11512
Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
To get the scan results:
> scan_results
Command output example showing one SSID:
bssid / frequency / signal level / flags / ssid
44:82:e5:10:2c:38 2442 -93 [WPA-PSK-CCMP+TKIP][WPA2-PSK-CCMP
+TKIP][ESS] destin
2.2 Configure and start the Access Point
This section provides the steps to start the Access Point from 88W8987-based wireless
module. The Linux operating system provides the hostapd user space utility for the
access point and authentication servers.
The configurations for hostapd are stored in the hostapd.conf file located in /etc/
directory.
2.2.1 Get the hostpad version
Use the following command to get the hostpad version:
root@imx8mnevk:~# hostapd -v
Command output example:
hostapd v2.9
User space daemon for IEEE 802.11 AP management,
IEEE 802.1X/WPA/WPA2/EAP/RADIUS Authenticator
Copyright (c) 2002-2019, Jouni Malinen <[email protected]> and contributors
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Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
2.2.2 Configure the Access Point
To edit the configuration file for the 2.4 GHz Access Point:
root@imx8mnevk:~# nano /etc/hostapd-2.4g.conf
Parameters in the configuration file:
interface=uap0
hw_mode=g
channel=0
country_code=US
ssid=NXP_Demo
ieee80211n=1
To edit the configuration file for the 5 GHz Access Point:
root@imx8mnevk:~# nano /etc/hostapd-5g.conf
Parameters in the configuration file:
interface=uap0
hw_mode=a
channel=0
country_code=US
ssid=NXP_Demo
ieee80211n=1
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Wireless Feature Configuration Guide for i.MX 8M Nano EVK with 88W8987-based Wireless Module
2.2.3 Start the Access Point
Commands to run prior to starting the Access Point:
root@imx8mnevk:~# killall wpa_supplicant
root@imx8mnevk:~# killall hostapd
root@imx8mnevk:~# ifconfig uap0 192.168.1.2 netmask 255.255.255.0 up
root@imx8mnevk:~# route add default gw 192.168.1.1
Command to start the 2.4 GHz Access Point:
root@imx8mnevk:~# hostapd /etc/hostapd-2.4g.conf
Command output example:
Configuration file: /etc/hostapd-2.4g.conf
rfkill: Cannot open RFKILL control device
uap0: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UPDATE
ACS: Automatic channel selection started, this may take a bit
[ 9618.998539] wlan: SCAN COMPLETED: scanned AP count=1
uap0: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->ACS
uap0: ACS-STARTED
[ 9619.479337] wlan: SCAN COMPLETED: scanned AP count=1
[ 9619.959539] wlan: SCAN COMPLETED: scanned AP count=0
[ 9620.439382] wlan: SCAN COMPLETED: scanned AP count=0
[ 9620.919360] wlan: SCAN COMPLETED: scanned AP count=1
uap0: ACS-COMPLETED freq=2412 channel=1[ 9620.933098] wlan: Starting
AP
Using interface uap0 with hwaddr 00:50:43:24:84:c4 and ssid
"NX[ 9620.939164] Get ht_cap from beacon ies: 0xc
P_Demo"
[ 9620.960100] wlan: AP started
[ 9620.964230] Set AC=3, txop=47 cwmin=3, cwmax=7 aifs=1
[ 9620.971787] Set AC=2, txop=94 cwmin=7, cwmax=15 aifs=1
[ 9620.979077] Set AC=0, txop=0 cwmin=15, cwmax=63 aifs=3
[ 9620.986466] Set AC=1, txop=0 cwmin=15, cwmax=1023 aifs=7
uap0: interface state ACS->ENABLED
uap0: AP-ENABLED
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