OpenThread Border Router Setup

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This guide covers the basic build and configuration of OpenThread Border Router (OTBR). Upon completion of this procedure, you will have an OTBR that functions as a Full Thread Device (FTD) in a radio co-processor (RCP) design.

What you'll need

• A Raspberry Pi for the Thread border router.
• 2 Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 USB Dongles (one for the RCP and one for the Thread end device).

Build and flash RCP

OTBR depends on an IEEE 802.15.4 radio to send/receive Thread messages. This guide will focus on using a Radio Co-Processor (RCP).

Follow step 4 of the Build a Thread network with nRF52840 boards and OpenThread codelab to build and flash a nRF52840 RCP device.

Prepare Raspberry Pi

1. Install Raspberry Pi OS on the RPi. Both Desktop and Lite versions will work.

2. Once installed, boot up the RPi and open a terminal window and update the system:

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get upgrade
   

Attach the RCP

1. Attach the RCP device to the Raspberry Pi.

2. Determine the serial port name for the RCP device by checking /dev:

   ls /dev/tty*
   /dev/ttyACMO
   

Install OTBR on Raspberry Pi

To install OTBR using Docker, follow the OTBR Docker Install guide.

To install OTBR natively on Linux host, follow the OTBR Native Install guide.