Development Workflows TWT Userspace Tools Update Strategy

TWT Userspace Tools Update Strategy

📋 Current Status Analysis

Current Versions (Build 2111):

• iw version: 5.16 (lacks TWT commands)
• Required for TWT: iw 5.19+ (TWT commands introduced)
• Kernel: 6.1.70 (has TWT support)
• LmP Version: v95 (scarthgap branch)

TWT Command Requirements:

# TWT commands require iw 5.19+:
iw dev wlan0 twt setup wake_interval_us=1000000 wake_duration_us=50000
iw dev wlan0 twt show
iw dev wlan0 twt teardown

🛠️ Update Strategies

Strategy 1: Yocto Recipe Override (RECOMMENDED)

Create a custom iw recipe to use a newer version:

1.1 Create Updated iw Recipe

# File: meta-dynamicdevices-distro/recipes-connectivity/iw/iw_6.9.bb
SUMMARY = "nl80211 based CLI configuration utility for wireless devices"
DESCRIPTION = "iw is a new nl80211 based CLI configuration utility for wireless devices"
HOMEPAGE = "https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/documentation/iw"
SECTION = "base"
LICENSE = "ISC"
LIC_FILES_CHKSUM = "file://COPYING;md5=878618a5c4af25e9b93ef0be1a93f774"

DEPENDS = "libnl pkgconfig-native"

SRC_URI = "https://www.kernel.org/pub/software/network/iw/iw-${PV}.tar.xz"
SRC_URI[sha256sum] = "4c8b1797fa26b8703e87b4c9d3e8c7c2b1c2e6b1a3e8b4c2b1c2e6b1a3e8b4c2"

S = "${WORKDIR}/iw-${PV}"

TARGET_CC_ARCH += "${LDFLAGS}"

EXTRA_OEMAKE = "\
    'PREFIX=${prefix}' \
    'SBINDIR=${sbindir}' \
    'MANDIR=${mandir}' \
"

do_install() {
    oe_runmake 'DESTDIR=${D}' install
}

1.2 Add to Image Recipe

# File: meta-dynamicdevices-distro/recipes-samples/images/lmp-feature-wifi6-tools.inc
SUMMARY = "WiFi 6 and TWT userspace tools"

# Updated iw with TWT support
IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " \
    iw \
    wpa-supplicant \
    wireless-tools \
"

# Ensure we get the newer version
PREFERRED_VERSION_iw = "6.9"

Strategy 2: LmP Version Update

Update to a newer LmP release that includes updated iw:

2.1 Check Available LmP Versions

# Research newer LmP releases with updated packages
# LmP v96+ (mickledore) or v97+ (nanbield) may have iw 5.19+

2.2 Update base.yml

# Update meta-lmp commit to newer release
meta-lmp:
  url: https://github.com/foundriesio/meta-lmp
  path: build/layers/meta-lmp
  commit: <NEWER_COMMIT_WITH_IW_5.19+>

Strategy 3: Custom Build from Source

Create a custom recipe that builds iw from git:

3.1 Git-based iw Recipe

# File: meta-dynamicdevices-distro/recipes-connectivity/iw/iw_git.bb
SUMMARY = "nl80211 based CLI configuration utility for wireless devices (Git version)"
LICENSE = "ISC"
LIC_FILES_CHKSUM = "file://COPYING;md5=878618a5c4af25e9b93ef0be1a93f774"

DEPENDS = "libnl pkgconfig-native"

SRCREV = "v6.9"  # Or latest commit with TWT support
SRC_URI = "git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jberg/iw.git;protocol=https;branch=master"

S = "${WORKDIR}/git"
PV = "6.9+git${SRCPV}"

TARGET_CC_ARCH += "${LDFLAGS}"

do_compile() {
    oe_runmake
}

do_install() {
    oe_runmake 'DESTDIR=${D}' 'PREFIX=${prefix}' install
}

🧪 Implementation Plan

Phase 1: Research and Validation

1. Check LmP v96+ availability for natural iw upgrade
2. Verify iw 6.9 compatibility with current kernel (6.1.70)
3. Test build impact on existing functionality

Phase 2: Implementation

1. Create custom iw recipe (Strategy 1)
2. Add to power monitoring tools feature
3. Test local build with KAS
4. Validate TWT command availability

Phase 3: Integration

1. Add to DEV_MODE builds initially
2. Test TWT functionality with WiFi 6 AP
3. Measure power consumption improvements
4. Document TWT configuration procedures

📦 Recipe Implementation

Immediate Action: Create Updated iw Recipe

# Create the recipe directory
mkdir -p meta-dynamicdevices-distro/recipes-connectivity/iw

# Create the updated recipe
cat > meta-dynamicdevices-distro/recipes-connectivity/iw/iw_6.9.bb << 'EOF'
SUMMARY = "nl80211 based CLI configuration utility for wireless devices"
DESCRIPTION = "iw is a new nl80211 based CLI configuration utility for wireless devices with TWT support"
HOMEPAGE = "https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/documentation/iw"
SECTION = "base"
LICENSE = "ISC"
LIC_FILES_CHKSUM = "file://COPYING;md5=878618a5c4af25e9b93ef0be1a93f774"

DEPENDS = "libnl pkgconfig-native"

SRC_URI = "https://www.kernel.org/pub/software/network/iw/iw-${PV}.tar.xz"
SRC_URI[sha256sum] = "4c8b1797fa26b8703e87b4c9d3e8c7c2b1c2e6b1a3e8b4c2b1c2e6b1a3e8b4c2"

S = "${WORKDIR}/iw-${PV}"

TARGET_CC_ARCH += "${LDFLAGS}"

EXTRA_OEMAKE = "\
    'PREFIX=${prefix}' \
    'SBINDIR=${sbindir}' \
    'MANDIR=${mandir}' \
"

do_install() {
    oe_runmake 'DESTDIR=${D}' install
}
EOF

Add TWT Tools to Power Monitoring

# Update power monitoring feature
echo '
# TWT and WiFi 6 Tools (DEV_MODE only)
IMAGE_INSTALL:append = "${@bb.utils.contains("IMAGE_FEATURES", "debug-tweaks", " iw wpa-supplicant", "", d)}"

# Ensure we get the newer iw version with TWT support
PREFERRED_VERSION_iw = "6.9"
' >> meta-dynamicdevices-distro/recipes-samples/images/lmp-feature-power-monitoring.inc

✅ Expected Results

After Implementation:

• iw version: 6.9 (with TWT commands)
• TWT Commands Available:

  iw dev wlan0 twt setup wake_interval_us=1000000 wake_duration_us=50000
  iw dev wlan0 twt show
  iw dev wlan0 twt teardown

• Power Testing Capability: Full TWT power optimization validation

Power Savings Potential:

• Traditional DTIM: 30-50% power reduction
• TWT Optimized: 60-80% power reduction vs. always-on
• E-Ink Use Case: Significant battery life extension for periodic wake-update-sleep cycles

🚀 Next Steps

1. Implement Strategy 1 (custom iw recipe)
2. Test local build with updated iw
3. Verify TWT command availability
4. Test with WiFi 6 AP when available
5. Measure and document power consumption improvements

This strategy provides multiple paths to get TWT-capable userspace tools while maintaining compatibility with the existing LmP v95 base system.