Wl18xx kernel 3.13.7 performance problem

Hi Tuan,

First of all, I am worried about the version that you are using:

[ 68.162776] wlcore: PHY firmware version: Rev 8.2.0.0.163
[ 68.260049] wlcore: firmware booted (Rev 8.5.0.0.55)

This indicates that the build was not correct. Possibly you are using the wrong driver/firmware versions.

Are you following the build script from http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/WL18xx_System_Build_Scripts ?
This should build the R8.4 driver/firmware versions (Fw version: 8.9.0.0.17)

Regards,
Gigi Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

I downloaded it from https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git with version "7f388b4885cf64d6b7833612052d20d4197af96f"

I also try it form here https://github.com/TI-OpenLink/firmwares/blob/master/ti-connectivity/wl18xx-fw-2.bin

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen

Hi Tuan,

That is not the correct version...
Please take it from: git://git.ti.com/wilink8-wlan/wl18xx_fw.git (git tag: ol_r8.a9.14 )

You would also need to update the driver (compat-wireless build).
The latest release notes is available at: http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/WiLink8_Release_Notes/R8.4

Build Steps: http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/WL18xx_System_Build_Scripts

Regards,
Gigi Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

I use internal ti-driver, it mean I use ti-driver in kernel 3.13.7, not compat-wireless, because the compat-wireless does not support for kennel 3.13, only work with 3.15 above.

and when I put your firmware (git://git.ti.com/wilink8-wlan/wl18xx_fw.git ), my device show:

[  479.243236] wlcore: ERROR Your WiFi FW version (8.6.0.0.20) is invalid.
[  479.243236] Please use at least FW 8.5.*.*.39.
[  479.243236] You can get the latest firmwares at:
[  479.243236] git://github.com/TI-OpenLink/firmwares.git
[  479.265107] wlcore: ERROR error getting static data

I think I need to update TI-driver in my kernel, but I wonder what is kernel version support for this firmware

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen

Hi Tuan,

Yes, you must use the compat-wireless build. The latest release (R8.4) was verified on Linux Kernel : 3.12.10+. So I don't know why it cannot work with 3.13.7 kernel. Please upgrade your driver as well.

You should not get any issue as you mentioned in the post.

Regards,
Gigi Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

What is "compat-wireless version" that you mention, could you give a link for download it.

I did try the compat-wireless that openwrt support (compat-wireless-2014-10-08.tar.bz2) but it required the linux kernel over 3.15 if kernel lower that the wlcore_sdio.ko isn't built. 

in /drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/Kconfig

config WLCORE_SDIO
	depends on !BACKPORT_KERNEL_3_15
	tristate "TI wlcore SDIO support"
	depends on m

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen

Hi Tuan,

I already gave you the build script: http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/WL18xx_System_Build_Scripts
This script will ensure that you get the wl18xx drivers as modules (ko). You need to insmod them in your platform.

The script would need the CROSS COMPILER location and the path to your kernel/filesystem.

Steps to build:

git clone git://git.ti.com/wilink8-wlan/build-utilites.git
cd build-utilites/
Update setup-env with the parameters specific to your build
./build_wl18xx.sh init
./build_wl18xx.sh update ol_r8.a9.14

Regards,
Gigi Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

One more question, this branch https://git.ti.com/ti-linux-kernel/ti-linux-kernel/commits/linux-3.14.y, is it upgrade with newest driver (R8.4) ?

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen

Hi Tuan,

I don't think it is.
Please use the build script only (that I shared).

Regards,
Gigi Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

I am trying to patch "compat-wireless" (downloaded in build script) to my kernel.

Could you explain what is difference between PHY firmware and firmware booted version?

I tried with another kernel (3.18.0 rc6) and got that

root@OpenWrt:/# ifconfig wlan0 up
[ 5960.498618] wlcore: PHY firmware version: Rev 8.2.0.0.195
[ 5960.625025] wlcore: firmware booted (Rev 8.8.0.0.13)

I got the same performance result :

 iperf -c 10.0.0.216 -i1 -w320k -t20
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to 10.0.0.216, TCP port 5001
TCP window size:  416 KByte (WARNING: requested  320 KByte)
------------------------------------------------------------
[  3] local 10.0.0.126 port 42523 connected with 10.0.0.216 port 5001
[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth
[  3]  0.0- 1.0 sec   384 KBytes  3.15 Mbits/sec
[  3]  1.0- 2.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3]  2.0- 3.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3]  3.0- 4.0 sec  0.00 Bytes  0.00 bits/sec
[  3]  4.0- 5.0 sec  0.00 Bytes  0.00 bits/sec
[  3]  5.0- 6.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3]  6.0- 7.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3]  7.0- 8.0 sec   256 KBytes  2.10 Mbits/sec
[  3]  8.0- 9.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3]  9.0-10.0 sec  0.00 Bytes  0.00 bits/sec
[  3] 10.0-11.0 sec   256 KBytes  2.10 Mbits/sec
[  3] 11.0-12.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3] 12.0-13.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3] 13.0-14.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3] 14.0-15.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3] 15.0-16.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3] 16.0-17.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3] 17.0-18.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3] 18.0-19.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3] 19.0-20.0 sec   128 KBytes  1.05 Mbits/sec
[  3]  0.0-21.7 sec  2.75 MBytes  1.06 Mbits/sec

May I got wrong firmware ?

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen

Hi Tuan,

One is the MAC fw version, the other is the PHY version.
It is not the latest (latest is 8.9.0.0.17) - but it is not too old either. You should be getting better result than that. How about the antenna? Have you connected one?

Regards,
Gigi Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

Here is my antenna

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen

Hi Tuan,

That looks okay too... Do you get this low TP only during multirole? What are the iPerf numbers during single role (STA or AP)? Can you share the exact commands that you are executing?

For AP, it would help if you set: ieee80211n=1 in the hostapd.conf file.

Regards,
Gigi Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

I  tested with STA mode. I created a simple config file for wpa_supplicant:

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
 
network={
  ssid="the_router_ssid"
  scan_ssid=1
  key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
  psk="the_wpa_key"
}

and run command: wpa_supplicant -Dnl80211 -iwlan0 -c wpa.conf &

after that I run iperf server in my device with command: iperf -s -i1

in my computer, I run the command : iperf -c "ip_device" -i1 -t30

I tried to create a new wl18xx-conf.bin follow that guide: http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Open_Source_Wireless_Connectivity_wlconf

and I got a better performance (about 10Mbit/s) when I configured like that:

wl18xx.ht.mode=0x00
wl18xx.phy.board_type=4
core.rx.irq_pkt_threshold=4
core.rx.irq_timeout=1200

But when I test with AP mode with configuration referred from: http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/WiLink8_WLAN_Demo:_Linux#AP_.28create_AP_with_no_security.29

interface=wlan1
driver=nl80211
channel=3
hw_mode=g
preamble=1
dtim_period=2
beacon_int=100
logger_syslog=-1
logger_syslog_level=2
logger_stdout=-1
logger_stdout_level=2
dump_file=/tmp/hostapd.dump
ctrl_interface=/var/run/hostapd
ctrl_interface_group=0
supported_rates=60 90 120 180 240 360 480 540
basic_rates=60 90 120 180 240
ssid=Multirole_Demo
max_num_sta=5
macaddr_acl=0
tx_queue_data3_aifs=7
tx_queue_data3_cwmin=15
tx_queue_data3_cwmax=1023
tx_queue_data3_burst=0
tx_queue_data2_aifs=3
tx_queue_data2_cwmin=15
tx_queue_data2_cwmax=63
tx_queue_data2_burst=0
tx_queue_data1_aifs=1
tx_queue_data1_cwmin=7
tx_queue_data1_cwmax=15
tx_queue_data1_burst=3.0
tx_queue_data0_aifs=1
tx_queue_data0_cwmin=3
tx_queue_data0_cwmax=7
tx_queue_data0_burst=1.5
wme_enabled=1
wme_ac_bk_cwmin=4
wme_ac_bk_cwmax=10
wme_ac_bk_aifs=7
wme_ac_bk_txop_limit=0
wme_ac_bk_acm=0
wme_ac_be_aifs=3
wme_ac_be_cwmin=4
wme_ac_be_cwmax=10
wme_ac_be_txop_limit=0
wme_ac_be_acm=0
wme_ac_vi_aifs=2
wme_ac_vi_cwmin=3
wme_ac_vi_cwmax=4
wme_ac_vi_txop_limit=94
wme_ac_vi_acm=0
wme_ac_vo_aifs=2
wme_ac_vo_cwmin=2
wme_ac_vo_cwmax=3
wme_ac_vo_txop_limit=47
wme_ac_vo_acm=0
auth_algs=3
ieee80211d=1
country_code=US
uapsd_advertisement_enabled=1
wep_rekey_period=0
own_ip_addr=127.0.0.1
wpa_group_rekey=0
wpa_strict_rekey=0
wpa_gmk_rekey=0
wpa_ptk_rekey=0
#ap_table_max_size=255
#ap_table_expiration_time=60
eap_server=1
disassoc_low_ack=1
ap_max_inactivity=4294967295
ieee80211n=1
ht_capab=[SHORT-GI-20]

Using the same command with STA mod, I got performance just around 1,5Mbit/s.

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen

Hi Joseph,

I patched my kernel with new compat-wireless, I tried to test with default config and got result:

[    8.521221] wlcore: wl18xx HW: 183x or 180x, PG 2.2 (ROM 0x11)
[    8.546468] wlcore: loaded
[    8.549365] wlcore: driver version: ol_r8.a9.14
[    8.554240] wlcore: compilation time: Mon Dec  1 15:45:02 2014

STA mode:

root@OpenWrt:/# wpa_supplicant -Dnl80211 -iwlan0 -c wpa.conf &
root@OpenWrt:/# Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
[   34.103117] wlcore: PHY firmware version: Rev 8.2.0.0.212
[   34.193941] wlcore: firmware booted (Rev 8.9.0.0.17)
[   34.209128] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
wlan0: SME: Trying to authenticate with b4:75:0e[   38.056760] wlan0: authenticate with b4:75:0e:55:d6:eb
:55:d6:eb (SSID='VEriK' freq=2462 MHz)
[   38.069386] wlan0: send auth to b4:75:0e:55:d6:eb (try 1/3)
[   38.096705] wlan0: authenticated
wlan0: Trying to associate with b4:75:0e:55:d6:e[   38.100802] wlan0: associate with b4:75:0e:55:d6:eb (try 1/3)
b (SSID='VEriK' freq=2462 MHz)
[   38.141284] wlan0: RX AssocResp from b4:75:0e:55:d6:eb (capab=0x411 status=0 aid=13)
[   38.156150] wlan0: associated
wlan0: Associated with b4:75:0e:55:d6:eb[   38.160314] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready

wlan0: WPA: Key negotiation completed with b4:75[   38.662270] wlcore: Association completed.
:0e:55:d6:eb [PTK=CCMP GTK=TKIP]
wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-CONNECTED - Connection to b4:75:0e:55:d6:eb completed [id=0 id_str=]

root@OpenWrt:/# udh
root@OpenWrt:/# udhcpc -i wlan0
udhcpc (v1.22.1) started
Sending discover...
Sending select for 10.0.0.167...
Lease of 10.0.0.167 obtained, lease time 86400
udhcpc: ifconfig wlan0 10.0.0.167 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 10.0.0.255
udhcpc: setting default routers: 10.0.0.1
root@OpenWrt:/# 
root@OpenWrt:/# iperf
root@OpenWrt:/# iperf -is -i1
------------------------------------------------------------
Server listening on TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 85.3 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[  4] local 10.0.0.167 port 5001 connected with 10.0.0.165 port 49965
[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]  0.0- 1.0 sec  1.18 MBytes  9.89 Mbits/sec
[  4]  1.0- 2.0 sec  1.25 MBytes  10.5 Mbits/sec
[  4]  2.0- 3.0 sec  1.14 MBytes  9.53 Mbits/sec
[  4]  3.0- 4.0 sec  1023 KBytes  8.38 Mbits/sec
[  4]  4.0- 5.0 sec  1009 KBytes  8.27 Mbits/sec
[  4]  5.0- 6.0 sec  1.23 MBytes  10.3 Mbits/sec
[  4]  6.0- 7.0 sec   944 KBytes  7.73 Mbits/sec
[  4]  7.0- 8.0 sec  1.29 MBytes  10.8 Mbits/sec
[  4]  8.0- 9.0 sec  1.27 MBytes  10.6 Mbits/sec
[  4]  9.0-10.0 sec  1.49 MBytes  12.5 Mbits/sec
[  4] 10.0-11.0 sec  1.47 MBytes  12.3 Mbits/sec
[  4] 11.0-12.0 sec  1.39 MBytes  11.6 Mbits/sec
[  4] 12.0-13.0 sec  1.27 MBytes  10.7 Mbits/sec
[  4] 13.0-14.0 sec  1.53 MBytes  12.9 Mbits/sec
[  4] 14.0-15.0 sec  1.51 MBytes  12.7 Mbits/sec
[  4] 15.0-16.0 sec  1.18 MBytes  9.88 Mbits/sec
[  4] 16.0-17.0 sec  1.38 MBytes  11.6 Mbits/sec
[  4] 17.0-18.0 sec  1.22 MBytes  10.2 Mbits/sec
[  4] 18.0-19.0 sec  1.34 MBytes  11.3 Mbits/sec
[  4] 19.0-20.0 sec  1.43 MBytes  12.0 Mbits/sec
[  4] 20.0-21.0 sec  1.45 MBytes  12.1 Mbits/sec
[  4] 21.0-22.0 sec  1.34 MBytes  11.2 Mbits/sec
[  4] 22.0-23.0 sec  1.39 MBytes  11.7 Mbits/sec
[  4] 23.0-24.0 sec  1.39 MBytes  11.7 Mbits/sec
[  4] 24.0-25.0 sec  1.37 MBytes  11.5 Mbits/sec
[  4] 25.0-26.0 sec  1.50 MBytes  12.5 Mbits/sec
[  4] 26.0-27.0 sec  1.54 MBytes  12.9 Mbits/sec

AP mode:

root@OpenWrt:/# hostapd hostapd.conf &
root@OpenWrt:/# Configuration file: hostapd.conf
Line 12: DEPRECATED: 'dump_file' configuration variable is not used anymore
[  709.895136] wlcore: down
wlan1: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UP[  709.910849] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
DATE
Using interface wlan1 with hwaddr 84:dd:20:66:9f:3e and ssid "Multirole_Demo"
[  714.942360] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan1: link becomes ready
wlan1: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->ENABLED
wlan1: AP-ENABLED 

root@OpenWrt:/# ip
root@OpenWrt:/# ip
root@OpenWrt:/# hostapd hostapd.conf &
root@OpenWrt:/# vim hostapd.conf
root@OpenWrt:/# ls
root@OpenWrt:/# iperf -s -i1
------------------------------------------------------------
Server listening on TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 85.3 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
wlan1: STA 54:35:30:bd:6a:c7 IEEE 802.11: authenticated
wlan1: STA 54:35:30:bd:6a:c7 IEEE 802.11: associated (aid 1)
wlan1: AP-STA-CONNECTED 54:35:30:bd:6a:c7
wlan1: STA 54:35:30:bd:6a:c7 RADIUS: starting accounting session 547C3CDF-00000000
[  4] local 10.22.22.1 port 5001 connected with 10.22.22.17 port 49687
[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]  0.0- 1.0 sec   759 KBytes  6.22 Mbits/sec
[  4]  1.0- 2.0 sec  1.44 MBytes  12.0 Mbits/sec
[  4]  2.0- 3.0 sec  3.18 MBytes  26.7 Mbits/sec
[  4]  3.0- 4.0 sec  3.40 MBytes  28.5 Mbits/sec
[  4]  4.0- 5.0 sec  3.64 MBytes  30.5 Mbits/sec
[  4]  5.0- 6.0 sec   736 KBytes  6.03 Mbits/sec
[  4]  6.0- 7.0 sec   502 KBytes  4.11 Mbits/sec
[  4]  7.0- 8.0 sec   196 KBytes  1.60 Mbits/sec
[  4]  8.0- 9.0 sec  97.6 KBytes   799 Kbits/sec
[  4]  9.0-10.0 sec  2.73 MBytes  22.9 Mbits/sec
[  4] 10.0-11.0 sec  3.34 MBytes  28.0 Mbits/sec
[  4] 11.0-12.0 sec  3.74 MBytes  31.3 Mbits/sec
[  4] 12.0-13.0 sec  3.60 MBytes  30.2 Mbits/sec
[  4] 13.0-14.0 sec  3.99 MBytes  33.5 Mbits/sec
[  4] 14.0-15.0 sec  3.42 MBytes  28.7 Mbits/sec
[  4] 15.0-16.0 sec  1.97 MBytes  16.5 Mbits/sec
[  4] 16.0-17.0 sec  1007 KBytes  8.25 Mbits/sec
[  4] 17.0-18.0 sec  1.24 MBytes  10.4 Mbits/sec
[  4] 18.0-19.0 sec  1.46 MBytes  12.2 Mbits/sec
[  4] 19.0-20.0 sec  2.22 MBytes  18.7 Mbits/sec
[  4] 20.0-21.0 sec  1.79 MBytes  15.0 Mbits/sec
[  4] 21.0-22.0 sec  1015 KBytes  8.31 Mbits/sec
[  4] 22.0-23.0 sec   938 KBytes  7.68 Mbits/sec
[  4] 23.0-24.0 sec  1.52 MBytes  12.7 Mbits/sec
[  4] 24.0-25.0 sec  1.67 MBytes  14.0 Mbits/sec
[  4] 25.0-26.0 sec  1.03 MBytes  8.63 Mbits/sec
[  4] 26.0-27.0 sec  1.03 MBytes  8.66 Mbits/sec
[  4] 27.0-28.0 sec   988 KBytes  8.10 Mbits/sec
[  4] 28.0-29.0 sec   889 KBytes  7.28 Mbits/sec
[  4] 29.0-30.0 sec  1.42 MBytes  11.9 Mbits/sec
[  4]  0.0-30.3 sec  55.0 MBytes  15.2 Mbits/sec

Is it limited, if not, how to improve it.

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen

Hi Tuan,

These are the multirole numbers, right? TCP or UDP?
I see that there is a significant improvement from the previous results.

You can configure to MIMO as well, and try. It should be better. Please see this page: http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Open_Source_Wireless_Connectivity_wlconf for configuring MIMO.

Regards,
Gigi Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

I just tested with TCP packet. I tried to change "wl18xx.ht.mode=0x00" and "wl18xx.phy.board_type=0x04" and result are good now:

STA: ~10 MBits/sec

AP: ~20MBits/sec

Thanks

Tuan Nguyen