💬 Building a Raspberry Pi Gateway

[OliverDog]

@marceloaqno I already use Home Assistant with a Serial Gateway connected on pi USB.

[marceloaqno]

@OliverDog Home Assistant supports ethernet gateways, I recommend you go with that.

./configure --my-gateway=ethernet --my-transport=nrf24

(The default settings is to use ethernet and nrf24, so you could omit them)

and add to it any of your custom options.

[Madhias]

I have a question regarding the --my-serial-groupname option: since I start the gateway under an user account with sudo, the gateway device ([EDIT] symlink) will be created with ownership root:root. Shouldn't it be created with root:dialout (as I chose dialout as group in my case)?

[DELETED]

[marceloaqno]

@Madhias /dev/pts/2 it's the one who holds the specified group ownership

[Madhias]

@marceloaqno OK, many thanks for that hint!

I was wrong from the beginning on, since I thought my configuration for the gateway was correct because of --my-serial-groupname=dialout - but that was not compiled. I edited now the mysgw.cpp manually (there was tty instead of dialout; and of course there was all the time the warning when compiling...). Now it works! Without chmod, or chowning anything later!

[macvictor]

@marceloaqno Thank's for you help. I have other question.. general I try configure my gateway to work with security & signing, but they doesn't work. Where is problem? On the bottom i send point what it do it:

Gateway:

1. ./configure --my-gateway=mqtt --my-controller-ip-address=127.0.0.1 --my-mqtt-publish-topic-prefix=mysensors-out --my-mqtt-subscribe-topic-prefix=mysensors-in --my-mqtt-client-id=mygateway1 --my-mqtt-password=PASS --my-mqtt-user=USER --my-rf24-encryption-enabled --my-signing=software --my-signing-request-signatures --my-signing-request-gw-signatures-from-all
2. make
3. sudo make install
4. sudo systemctl enable mysgw.service
5. sudo systemctl start mysgw.service
6. sudo mysgw --gen-soft-hmac-key
7. sudo mysgw --set-soft-hmac-key=02417628BC1573CC380...
8. sudo mysgw --gen-soft-serial-key
9. sudo mysgw --set-soft-serial-key=00762CD152B868F7EB
10. sudo mysgw --gen-aes-key
11. sudo mysgw --set-aes-key= A790AD78B2D8B4DBBB5B2C4B9DD6DAF3

Node:

1. Load script SecurityPersonalizer.ino
2. Uncomment and send sketch to arduino

#define USE_SOFT_SIGNING
#define STORE_SOFT_KEY
#define USER_SOFT_KEY
#define STORE_SOFT_SERIAL
#define STORE_AES_KEY
#define USER_AES_KEY

#define MY_SOFT_HMAC_KEY 0X2,0X41,0X76,0X28,0XBC,0X15,0X73,0XCC,0X38...
#define MY_AES_KEY 0XA7,0X90,0XAD,0X78,0XB2,0XD8...

2. Read all value from EPROM (test save):

Personalization sketch for MySensors usage.
-------------------------------------------
EEPROM configuration:
SOFT_HMAC_KEY | 02417628BC1573CC380DE0FADF7C87D7D3C77272A783E6E438786A07C3A8C6CF
SOFT_SERIAL   | 39BB1370C289643251
AES_KEY       | A790AD78B2D8B4DBBB5B2C4B9DD6DAF3
--------------------------------
Personalization is now complete.

3. Send sample sketch to arduino:

//!< Enable debug prints to serial monitor
#define MY_DEBUG
//!< Enable signing related debug prints to serial monitor
#define MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE_SIGNING
// Enable NRF24L01 radio type
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24

// Select soft signing
#define MY_SIGNING_SOFT

// Enable lockdown of node if suspicious activity is detected
//-->> #define MY_NODE_LOCK_FEATURE

// Enable node whitelisting
//#define MY_SIGNING_NODE_WHITELISTING {{.nodeId = GATEWAY_ADDRESS,.serial = {0x09,0x08,0x07,0x06,0x05,0x04,0x03,0x02,0x01}}}

// Enable this if you want destination node to sign all messages sent to this node.
#define MY_SIGNING_REQUEST_SIGNATURES

// SETTINGS FOR MY_SIGNING_SOFT
#define MY_SIGNING_SOFT_RANDOMSEED_PIN 7 //!< Unconnected analog pin for random seed

// Add repeater function to this sensor
#define MY_REPEATER_FEATURE


#include <SPI.h>
#include <MySensors.h>
#include <Bounce2.h>

#define RELAY_PIN  4    // Arduino Digital I/O pin number for relay 
#define BUTTON_PIN  3   // Arduino Digital I/O pin number for button 
#define CHILD_ID 1      // Id of the sensor child
#define RELAY_ON 1
#define RELAY_OFF 0

Bounce debouncer = Bounce();
int oldValue = 0;
bool state;

MyMessage msg(CHILD_ID, V_LIGHT);

void setup()
{
  // Setup the button
  pinMode(BUTTON_PIN, INPUT);
  // Activate internal pull-up
  digitalWrite(BUTTON_PIN, HIGH);

  // After setting up the button, setup debouncer
  debouncer.attach(BUTTON_PIN);
  debouncer.interval(5);

  // Make sure relays are off when starting up
  digitalWrite(RELAY_PIN, RELAY_OFF);
  // Then set relay pins in output mode
  pinMode(RELAY_PIN, OUTPUT);

  // Set relay to last known state (using eeprom storage)
  state = loadState(CHILD_ID);
  digitalWrite(RELAY_PIN, state ? RELAY_ON : RELAY_OFF);
}

void presentation()  {
  // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
  sendSketchInfo("Relay & Button", "1.0");
  
  // Register all sensors to gw (they will be created as child devices)
  present(CHILD_ID, S_LIGHT, "Switch Secure Sensor", false);
}

/*
   Example on how to asynchronously check for new messages from gw
*/
void loop()
{
  debouncer.update();
  // Get the update value
  int value = debouncer.read();
//  if (value != oldValue && value == 0) {
    send(msg.set(state ? false : true), true); // Send new state and request ack back
//  }
//  oldValue = value;
  delay(5000);
}

void receive(const MyMessage &message) {
  // We only expect one type of message from controller. But we better check anyway.
  if (message.isAck()) {
    Serial.println("This is an ack from gateway");
  }

  if (message.type == V_LIGHT) {
    // Change relay state
    state = message.getBool();
    digitalWrite(RELAY_PIN, state ? RELAY_ON : RELAY_OFF);
    // Store state in eeprom
    // saveState(CHILD_ID, state);

    // Write some debug info
    Serial.print("Incoming change for sensor:");
    Serial.print(message.sensor);
    Serial.print(", New status: ");
    Serial.println(message.getBool());
  }
}

And finally in Arduino Serial Monitor I see:

0 MCO:BGN:INIT REPEATER,CP=RNNRAS-,VER=2.1.1
4 TSM:INIT
5 TSF:WUR:MS=0
11 TSM:INIT:TSP OK
13 TSF:SID:OK,ID=105
15 TSM:FPAR
16 Will not sign message for destination 255 as it does not require it
58 TSF:MSG:SEND,105-105-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
2065 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
2067 TSM:FPAR
2068 Will not sign message for destination 255 as it does not require it
2110 TSF:MSG:SEND,105-105-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
4117 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
4119 TSM:FPAR
4120 Will not sign message for destination 255 as it does not require it
4162 TSF:MSG:SEND,105-105-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
6169 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
6171 TSM:FPAR
6172 Will not sign message for destination 255 as it does not require it
6214 TSF:MSG:SEND,105-105-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
8221 !TSM:FPAR:FAIL
8222 TSM:FAIL:CNT=1
8224 TSM:FAIL:PDT

and in gateway i see:

sudo mysgw -d
mysgw: Starting gateway...
mysgw: Protocol version - 2.1.1
mysgw: MCO:BGN:INIT GW,CP=RNNG-S-,VER=2.1.1
mysgw: TSF:LRT:OK
mysgw: TSM:INIT
mysgw: TSF:WUR:MS=0
mysgw: TSM:INIT:TSP OK
mysgw: TSM:INIT:GW MODE
mysgw: TSM:READY:ID=0,PAR=0,DIS=0
mysgw: MCO:REG:NOT NEEDED
mysgw: MCO:BGN:STP
mysgw: MCO:BGN:INIT OK,TSP=1
mysgw: Attempting MQTT connection...
mysgw: connected to 127.0.0.1
mysgw: MQTT connected
mysgw: Sending message on topic: mysensors-out/0/255/0/0/18
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,171-107-54,s=221,c=2,t=131,pt=4,l=25,sg=0:-1418183441
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:PVER,3=2
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,135-23-172,s=20,c=3,t=200,pt=7,l=25,sg=0:-0.00000178
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:PVER,1=2
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,34-66-89,s=168,c=1,t=9,pt=1,l=25,sg=0:56
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:PVER,1=2
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,223-46-240,s=112,c=5,t=192,pt=5,l=11,sg=1:1407647670
mysgw: TSF:MSG:REL MSG
mysgw: !TSF:RTE:240 UNKNOWN
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:SEND,223-0-240-240,s=112,c=5,t=192,pt=5,l=11,sg=1,ft=0,st=NACK:1407647670
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,183-139-129,s=37,c=6,t=155,pt=1,l=21,sg=0:48
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:PVER,0=2
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,139-214-233,s=61,c=3,t=193,pt=7,l=0,sg=1:0.00000000
mysgw: TSF:MSG:REL MSG
mysgw: !TSF:RTE:233 UNKNOWN
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:SEND,139-0-233-233,s=61,c=3,t=193,pt=7,l=0,sg=1,ft=0,st=NACK:0.00000000
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,83-33-7,s=179,c=2,t=27,pt=4,l=25,sg=1:-2057270722
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:PVER,3=2
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,110-148-67,s=113,c=0,t=158,pt=1,l=9,sg=1:251
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:PVER,1=2
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,75-209-102,s=204,c=7,t=25,pt=1,l=11,sg=1:52
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:PVER,0=2
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,184-209-235,s=58,c=1,t=140,pt=6,l=23,sg=1:1DC404A5401119FACF0000000000000000000000000000
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:PVER,3=2
mysgw: TSF:MSG:READ,172-203-51,s=140,c=2,t=173,pt=0,l=1,sg=1:?
mysgw: TSF:MSG:REL MSG
mysgw: !TSF:RTE:51 UNKNOWN
mysgw: !TSF:MSG:SEND,172-0-51-51,s=140,c=2,t=173,pt=0,l=1,sg=1,ft=0,st=NACK:?

Where is problem?

[marceloaqno]

@macvictor Did you also enable encryption on your node? (#define MY_RF24_ENABLE_ENCRYPTION)

[macvictor]

@marceloaqno Thanks for help :+1: This was my problem 😀

[gohan]

how do I set user and password to access the mqtt broker? I tried do add --my-mqtt-password=PASS --my-mqtt-user=USER other parameters but they get ignored

[macvictor]

@gohan edit configure file and add this code:

--my-mqtt-user=*)
    CPPFLAGS="-DMY_MQTT_USER=\\\"${optarg}\\\" $CPPFLAGS"
    ;;
--my-mqtt-password=*)
    CPPFLAGS="-DMY_MQTT_PASSWORD=\\\"${optarg}\\\" $CPPFLAGS"
    ;;

after this code:

--my-signing-request-gw-signatures-from-all*)
        signing_request_signatures=true
        CPPFLAGS="-DMY_SIGNING_GW_REQUEST_SIGNATURES_FROM_ALL $CPPFLAGS"
        ;;

this is about 408 number line and use flag --my-mqtt-password and --my-mqtt-client-id when you run configure, thats all. =)

[blacey]

@macvictor It would be great if you would submit this as a GitHub Pull Request. If you aren't comfortable with that, then I would encourage you to at least open a MySensors issue to add these RPI configuration options.

[Teknor]

When using RPI as a GW for MySensors, the CPU load increases from 18% to around 80 %. I am using a RPI II model B. I'd love the have the GW running on the Raspberry, and avoid a USB connected Arduino.

Does somebody else experience the same?

[macvictor]

@Teknor I use RPI III as GW and all node connect with gw used nRF24L01. My CPU now usage 5-10%, but I installed "Home Assistance" + homebridge + some plugins.

[Teknor]

@macvictor Thanks. My RPI 2 is running Domoticz, RFXcom GW and 2x 3MP cameras with motion detection using Motioneye. Might be something wrong with my MySensors GW setup...

[carlyler]

@Teknor I tend to agree something is wrong, but I think it really on depends how many nodes and how often you're sending data.
rpi3 + GPIO nrf24l01 + openhab2 + 8 nodes + packet received, on average 1 / 5s :

top - 06:29:37 up 2 days, 22:33,  2 users,  load average: 0.26, 0.24, 0.19
KiB Mem:    947732 total,   903420 used,    44312 free,   175364 buffers
KiB Swap:   102396 total,     4496 used,    97900 free.   391360 cached Mem

  PID USER      PR  NI    VIRT    RES    SHR S  %CPU %MEM     TIME+ COMMAND                                                               
  681 root      20   0  208840  56532  23684 S   8.9  6.0 214:23.60 Xorg                                                                  
  527 root      20   0   39448  21532  11264 S   4.3  2.3  69:34.28 vncserver-x11-c                                                       
 1154 pi        20   0   50548  17628  12196 S   3.0  1.9  64:05.96 lxterminal                                                            
30426 openhab   20   0  441764 197592  14960 S   1.6 20.8 284:18.70 java                                                                  
 2467 root      20   0   20024   2456   2300 S   1.3  0.3  62:55.17 mysgw                                                                 
25634 root      20   0       0      0      0 S   1.0  0.0   0:00.21 kworker/u8:0                                                          
  688 root      20   0   13720   9432   8828 S   0.7  1.0   2:04.96 vncagent                                                              
25855 pi        20   0    5232   2584   2140 R   0.7  0.3   0:00.49 top                                                                   
    7 root      20   0       0      0      0 S   0.3  0.0   9:15.35 rcu_sched                                                             
   78 root     -51   0       0      0      0 S   0.3  0.0   5:16.50 irq/92-mmc1                                                           
  967 pi        20   0   95656  17716  12028 S   0.3  1.9   6:41.87 lxpanel                                                               
    1 root      20   0   24620   4688   2716 S   0.0  0.5   0:13.08 systemd                                                               
    2 root      20   0       0      0      0 S   0.0  0.0   0:00.27 kthreadd                                                              

[gohan]

@macvictor
That worked, thanks. But to configure channel, power, AES key, and so on, do you think it is better to use command line like you posted above or customize myconfig.h?

[marceloaqno]

@gohan You can also set mqtt username and password in examples_linux/mysgw.cpp

[gohan]

@marceloaqno
I'm trying to understand where is the best place to avoid file gets overwritten in case of upgrades

[marceloaqno]

@gohan There is a open github pull request very similar to what @macvictor proposed, but for now I recommend using the examples_linux/mysgw.cpp file.

[gohan]

@marceloaqno
Ok I can you that file, but where is the best place to set Power Level and channel ?