Setting up OpenThread with the SLZB-MR01 key

Configuration
1

Hello,

I am trying to enable Matter with the SLZB-MR01 key but there are things I don’t understand.

To begin, here’s what I did:

The Thread Border Router is not recommended with PoE:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MatterProtocol/comments/1hl34i0/comment/m3js1kf/

I therefore don’t want to use the Thread Border Router with the SLZB-MR01 and depend on an Apple TV or another device that I don’t control.
For this I want to use OpenThread.
The SLZB-MR01 will be used only for the Thread radio.

For installing OpenThread on a VM that has its network configured in IPv4 and IPv6:

Installing OpenThread with Docker following this tutorial:

For the part about enabling IP forwarding:
I recommend downloading the file and modifying the interface name (By default wlan0) to the interface that is used, in my case ens18, and running the command « bash setup-host »

The OpenThread image does not work with TCP but a fork was made to be compatible with the TCP protocol since we connect the SLZB-MR01 over the network:
https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/1p73d9k/openthreadborderrouter_truenas_scale_docker/

Here is the docker-compose.yml file I created:

services:
  otbr:
    image: bnutzer/otbr-tcp
    network_mode: host
    restart: unless-stopped
    privileged: true
    cap_drop:
      - NET_ADMIN   # Should prevent iptables/ipset updates
      - NET_RAW     # No raw network access
    devices:
      - /dev/net/tun
    environment:
      - RCP_HOST=IP_DU_SLZB-MR01
      - OTBR_THREAD_IF=wpan0
      - OTBR_BACKBONE_IF=ens18
      - OTBR_WEB_ENABLE=1
      - OTBR_REST_LISTEN_ADDRESS=127.0.0.1
    volumes:
      - ./otbr-data:/var/lib/thread

Then I was able to connect to the OpenThread web interface on port 8080.
And this is where I don’t really understand anymore :sweat_smile:
When I go to Join, I have several Thread networks available:

image

I don’t know what these 3 networks correspond to, unfortunately.
I couldn’t link them to the SLZB-MR01 key because I can’t find a hardware address on the key’s web interface and nothing matches on the key’s label.

Can you help me clarify this please? :slight_smile:

2

Hi @prohand,

Nice work on your investigation :slight_smile:

I’m not an expert on the subject, I’ve never tested OpenThread so you’re further along than I am on this.

In my opinion, the 3 Thread networks you see in the « Join » interface are probably existing Thread networks detected in your environment (neighbors, other Thread devices, etc.).

You don’t need to « join » an existing network, you want to create your own Thread network. Instead go to the « Form » tab to create a new Thread network.

Do you see anything in the logs?

3

I don’t see much in the logs :frowning:
Actually I wouldn’t want the key SLZB-MR01 to already have a network created but maybe that’s not important ^^
I’ll try to look into the issue again early next week
In the meantime, if we have people who know the subject a bit I’d appreciate some help :slight_smile:
Thanks in advance

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