Setup OpenThread Border Router on Raspberry Pi

OTBR

A Thread Border Router connects a Thread network to other IP-based networks, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. A Thread network requires a Border Router to connect to other networks. A Thread Border Router minimally supports the following functions:

  • Bidirectional IP connectivity between Thread and Wi-Fi/Ethernet networks.

  • Bidirectional service discovery via mDNS (on Wi-Fi/Ethernet link) and SRP (on Thread network).

  • Thread-over-infrastructure that merges Thread partitions over IP-based links.

  • External Thread Commissioning (for example, a mobile phone) to authenticate and join a Thread device to a Thread network.

OpenThread Border Router (OTBR) released by Google is an open-source implementation of the Thread Border Router.

Tutorials

Follow the CodeLab tutorial on openthread.io to set up your OpenThread Border Router on a Raspberry Pi 3 or Raspberry Pi 4 device. Ubuntu and debian hosts are also supported. The CodeLab uses Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF52840 DK as the Border Router RCP device.

  • See this guide for configuring the nRF52840 Dongle as an RCP device.

  • See this guide for creating Silicon Labs RCP devices.