[REQUEST] Silabs Zigbee EmberZNet SDK 7.2 NCP experimental builds for testing?

[Hedda]

Missed this but Silicon Labs have on December 15, 2022 released Gecko SDK (GSDK) 4.2.0 with Zigbee EmberZNet SDK 7.2.0.0 GA:

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/releases/tag/v4.2.0

Any chance you would consider releasing some experimental builds if zigpy and zigbee-herdsman developers want to test 7.2?

That is, EmberZNet 7.2.0.0 is probably not ready for general use yet but great if firmware images were available to test for issues.

EmberZNet 7.2 looks to use EZSP v9 (EmberZNet Serial Protocol version 9) same as Zigbee EmberZNet 7.1 (or does it not?)?

https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/release-notes/emberznet-release-notes-7.2.0.0.pdf

New features in it are mostly related to Dynamic Multiprotocol and multi-PAN 802.15.4 in RCP mode:

• Secure key storage support for MG2x parts that support Secure Vault-High.
• Dynamic Multiprotocol Bluetooth and multi-PAN 802.15.4 in RCP mode.
• Dynamic Multiprotocol Zigbee-NCP + Bluetooth-NCP (experimental).
• Manufacturing Library (MfgLib) support for Concurrent Multiprotocol RCP.
• Zigbee + OpenThread Concurrent Lis-tening on MG24 parts (experimental).
• Zigbee on Host (ZigbeeD) support for 32 bit and 64 bit x86 architecture (experimental).
• MGM240S SiP Module Support.

They also added simultaneous Dual-Band and Dual-PHY for Zigbee Smart Energy on MG24/MG12:

• MG24+Si4468 Dual-PHY Zigbee Smart Energy support.
• MG12 Dual-Band 2.4GHz + Sub-GHz Zigbee Smart Energy support.

Deprecated in release 7.2.0.0:

• The Secure EZSP feature will be removed in a future release.

PS: Silicon Labs has also released Gecko SDK Version 4.1.4.0 as a stable bug-fix release containing Zigbee EmberZNet SDK 7.1.4.0:

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/releases/tag/v4.1.4

https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/release-notes/emberznet-release-notes-7.1.4.0.pdf

[grobasoz]

Sure, can make a 7.2.0 version...

[MattWestb]

Very likely GSDK 4.2.1 is being released very soon then its need some critical bug fixes (for RCP / zigbeed) but i dont knowing if some EZSP / NCP fixes is planed in it.

[Hedda]

FYI, read someone spotted that EZSP protocol version has been incremented to EZSP v10 in Gecko SDK v4.2 / Zigbee EmberZNet v7.2 and that EZSP v10 was not mentioned in the latest UG100 (EZSP Reference Guide) documentation from Silicon Labs which SiLabs only updated for EZSP v9 and state that no additions was added between EmberZNet PRO Release 7.1.1 and 7.2.0:

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/blob/gsdk_4.2/protocol/zigbee/app/util/ezsp/ezsp-protocol.h

https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/user-guides/ug100-ezsp-reference-guide.pdf)

Gecko SDK v4.2:

• https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/blob/gsdk_4.2/protocol/zigbee/app/util/ezsp/ezsp-protocol.h
• EZSP_PROTOCOL_VERSION = 10

Gecko SDK v4.1:

• https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/blob/gsdk_4.1/protocol/zigbee/app/util/ezsp/ezsp-protocol.h
• EZSP_PROTOCOL_VERSION = 9

Gecko SDK v4.0:

• https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/blob/gsdk_4.0/protocol/zigbee/app/util/ezsp/ezsp-protocol.h
• EZSP_PROTOCOL_VERSION = 8

For reference, Nabu Casa is already officially offering downloads for both "stable" EmberZNet 7.1.x.x (EZSP v9) firmware images as well as "beta" EmberZNet 7.2.x.x (EZSP v10) firmware image for their recently released Home Assistant SkyConnect adapter/dongle/stick:

https://www.home-assistant.io/skyconnect/

https://github.com/NabuCasa/silabs-firmware/tree/main/EmberZNet

https://github.com/NabuCasa/silabs-firmware/tree/main/EmberZNet/beta

xsp1989 is also offering EmberZNet 7.1.x.x (EZSP v9) and EmberZNet 7.2.x.x (EZSP v10) firmware image builds for his ZB-GW04 USB stick (a.k.a. "easyiot Zigbee dongle") that he designed based on "SM-011 V1.x" (ZYZBP008) radio module from CoolKit-Technologies (which in turn has an EFR32MG21 SoC).

https://github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware/tree/master/firmware/Zigbee3.0_Dongle-NoSigned/EZSP

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002791666029.html

PS: xsp1989 firmware images for easyiot ZB-GW04 are compatible with Sonoff ZBDongle-E by ITead (though not optimized for it!):

https://itead.cc/product/zigbee-3-0-usb-dongle/

https://github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware/tree/master/firmware/Zigbee3.0_Dongle-NoSigned/EZSP

[Hedda]

Very likely GSDK 4.2.1 is being released very soon then its need some critical bug fixes (for RCP / zigbeed) but i dont knowing if some EZSP / NCP fixes is planed in it.

FYI, latest bug-fix version is now Silicon Labs Zigbee EmberZNet SDK 7.2.2.0 from Gecko SDK version 4.2.2.0 from March 10, 2023:

https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/release-notes/emberznet-release-notes-7.2.2.0.pdf

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/releases/tag/v4.2.2

PS: EZSP protocol version has once again been incremented to EZSP v11 in Gecko SDK v4.2.2.0 / Zigbee EmberZNet v7.2.2.0 and once again that EZSP v11 was not mentioned in the latest UG100 (EZSP Reference Guide) documentation from Silicon Labs which SiLabs still has only updated for EZSP v9 and state that no additions were added between EmberZNet PRO Release 7.1.1 or 7.2.2:

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/blob/gsdk_4.2/protocol/zigbee/app/util/ezsp/ezsp-protocol.h#L33

0x0B hexadecimal = 11 in decimal.

https://www.silabs.com/developers/zigbee-emberznet?tab=documentation

[grobasoz]

@Hedda - Not sure why this would be necessary. Seems like host side of development (Z2M, ZHA, Tasmota etc) is lagging behind EZSP versions?

[Hedda]

Seems like host side of development (Z2M, ZHA, Tasmota etc) is lagging behind EZSP versions?

That is not true any longer.

The "bellows" radio library for zigpy to interface Silicon Labs Zigbee EmberZNet EZSP has been updated to support EZSP v11:

• Zigbee Home Automation (ZHA) integration for Home Assistant (which as you might know depends on zigpy).
• Domoticz via the Zigbee for Domoticz Plugin (see Domoticz-Zigbee, which is also depends on zigpy).
• Jeedom via official Zigbee plugin for Jeedom (which is also depends zigpy as well).

zigbee-herdsman is not lagging far behind as has already been updated to EZSP v10 (and EZSP v11 soon as only a minor change):

• Zigbee2MQTT (that is depending on zigbee-herdsman).
• ioBroker (ioBroker adapter for Zigbee devices that also depends on zigbee-herdsman).

The only large project that was lagging behind is OpenHAB but its dependency was at least updated to EZSP v11 last month:

• OpenHAB via official OpenHAB ZigBee Binding (that depends on the "com.zsmartsystems.zigbee" framework library)
  • FYI, there are also a few other lesser-known projects that also depend on the same "com.zsmartsystems.zigbee" library.

PS: Another well-known niche open-source project in the DIY home-automation community that is lagging behind those in EZSP versions support is Zigbee2Tasmota (Zigbee to Tastmota) project and that is only because Tasmota lead Zigbee developer is currently fully focusing on getting initial support working for the new Matter standard in Tasmota, (which in turn might later also lead to a wish for him wanting to add Thread / OpenThread radio support in Tasmota in order to support Matter over Thread with native Thread Border Router / OpenThread Border Router firmware).

[Hedda]

FYI, Silabs Zigbee EmberZNet SDK 7.2.3.0 has now been released as part of Silicon Labs Gecko SDK (GSDK) Version 4.2.3.0

https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/release-notes/emberznet-release-notes-7.2.3.0.pdf

Silicon Labs Zigbee EmberZNet 7.2.3.0 release states that it is specifically targeting quality improvements and bug fixes.

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/releases/tag/v4.2.3

[grobasoz]

@Hedda - thanks - I have installed 4.2.3 now so will do some testing :)

[Hedda]

@grobasoz should this and the others maybe have been closed as ”not planned” instead of as ”completed? Closing as ”completled” mean that they are done while closing as ”not planned” means they will never be done.