In our current product portfolio we use dedicated (host-less) wifi modules.These allow us to go up to 16Mbps throughput.
We now want to move to a better performing wifi link in one of our new products. For this we’re evaluating the Verdin AM62 module. We’re currently running Torizon OS with pairing ( 6.6.1+build.14 (kirkstone)).
We’ve set up an AP with hostapd (the NetworkManager way didn’t seem to work). Clients are able to connect but current performance is really slow. Even below the 16Mbps from our previous modules.
We’re still playing around with it to see how it can be improved.
We already used different wifi channels to set up the AP but that didn’t show any significant improvements
A few questions:
What is the performance that we can expect from this wifi setup? Are there any data throughput numbers available?
Routing and network traffic is going to be very important in our application. Are there different OS releases/configurations that focus on this kind of performance over wifi/ethernet?
Mobile devices seem to have better connection over the wifi then our laptops. Any feedback on that?
All help/information guiding us to better tests are very welcome
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Hello Gerrit,
For the Verdin AM62 module running Torizon OS, the WiFi performance can vary based on several factors including the WiFi module used, the environment, and the configuration. Since the Verdin AM62 itself is a versatile module, the expected WiFi performance would largely depend on the specific WiFi hardware you’ve chosen to interface with the module, as well as the software configuration.
Expected WiFi Performance: Without specific details on the WiFi module being used with the Verdin AM62, it’s challenging to provide exact throughput numbers. Generally, WiFi modules compatible with the Verdin family can support a wide range of performances, from 802.11n up to 802.11ac, potentially offering throughput from tens of Mbps to several hundred Mbps under optimal conditions. It’s crucial to consult the datasheet of the specific WiFi module you’re using for theoretical performance metrics.
OS Releases/Configurations for Network Performance: Torizon OS is designed to be versatile and can be optimized for different use cases, including high-performance networking. While TorizonCore provides a solid base, performance tuning for specific applications like high-throughput WiFi or Ethernet can involve adjusting kernel parameters, network stack configurations, and ensuring you’re using the latest drivers and firmware for your WiFi module. For routing and network traffic optimization, consider exploring kernel parameters related to networking, such as TCP window sizes and queue lengths. However, there isn’t a specific Torizon OS release focused solely on network performance; optimizations would generally be done at the application and system configuration level.
Device Connectivity Variations: The difference in WiFi performance between mobile devices and laptops could be attributed to several factors, including differences in WiFi hardware capabilities, antenna design, and power management settings. Mobile devices are often optimized for efficient and robust WiFi connectivity, which might not be the case for all laptops. To mitigate this, ensure that the WiFi AP configuration is optimized for the broadest compatibility, including channel selection, bandwidth settings, and avoiding crowded WiFi channels.
For improving your current setup, consider the following steps:
Ensure that the WiFi driver and firmware for the module used with the Verdin AM62 are up to date.
Experiment with different hostapd configurations, focusing on parameters that can impact performance, such as HT/VHT capabilities, channel widths, and transmit power.
Analyze the environment for interference from other wireless devices and try to minimize it.
Use tools like iw and iwconfig to monitor the WiFi connection’s quality and adjust your setup accordingly.
Please, also check if these links can help you solve your problem:
We did some tests on a Dahlia board with the Verdin iMX8M Plus. There the NetworkManager approach was working and we were able to get 80Mbps (internetspeed test) over wifi. We could see the wifi was connected over 802.11n (144Mbps/144Mbps)
We saw the AM62 was using 802.11g with the hostapd approach and we adjusted the hostapd.conf file with the settings for 802.11n. On the iMX8M Plus we got the same performance as with the NetworkManager setup.
When moving to the AM62 we use the same adjusted hostapd.conf file and we saw the wifi was now also on 802.11n but only on 72Mbps/72Mbps. Also the wifi connection is very unstable and drops away constantly. This is also happening when using 802.11g on AM62
So currently we see a big stability difference between AM62 and iMX8M Plus . Als performance wise there are big differences.
Below is the hostapd.conf file that we’re currenlty using:
# Basic configuration
interface=uap0
#driver=nl80211
ssid=Tori_Wifi_UAP_n
hw_mode=g
channel=6 # Choose a channel that can support HT40
# Enable 802.11n
ieee80211n=1
wmm_enabled=1
# 802.11n Configuration
ht_capab=[HT40+][SHORT-GI-20][SHORT-GI-40][RX-STBC1]
# Security settings
auth_algs=1
wpa=2
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
# WPA Passphrase
wpa_passphrase=Pwd12345
We’ve started from a clean install with OS pairing and followed these steps:
First we would like to tackle these stability issues.
Any advice on this?
Thanks for the question and for sharing these results from your tests.
I am checking internally to see if we have any performance benchmarking for WiFi AP mode for verdin AM62.
Just to be clear about the tests you performed, you created an AP (with speed 144Mbps) on Verdin iMX8MP using NetworkManager and the clients were connected at a speed of 80 Mbps. On AM62, you modified the hostapd.conf file to use 802.11n and found it has a speed of only 72Mbps. However, on Verdin iMX8MP it performs the same way with both hostapd and NetworkManager approach. Is that correct?
You can see on the iMX8M Plus we’re able to get connected on 802.11n with 144Mbps/144Mbps and the connection is stable.
On the AM62 the NetworkManager approach is not working and the hostapd 802.11g and n approach is not stable
Thanks for providing us with the results of your extensive tests. For now, we could only confirm that our tests on Verdin AM62 are in line with your tests. Setting up the AP in 5GHz would improve things slightly. Have you tried that already? We are still working on getting information on this behavior.
Thanks for the feedback. I assume you mean that your findings align with my tests?
Module selection is currently ongoing and we prefer (need) the AM62 due to it’s large amount of IO.
I know it’s hard to give a time estimate for a solution but maybe you can share how high this is on the priority list internally? This is most of the time a good time indicator.
We conducted extensive tests on the WiFi performance in both client and AP mode for the Verdin AM62. As I mentioned earlier, our results align with yours. We found that part of the speed limitation is related to the IW416 chipset, which can only use one antenna for WiFi. In contrast, the IW8997 chipset included in our other modules can use two antennas, resulting in better throughput. This explains why you see better performance on the Verdin iMX8MP.
We also performed tests using the MXM mwifiex driver, which consistently provided better throughput results (at least 20%, and sometimes more than double). However, this driver is not enabled by default in our BSP, and we do not plan to enable it in the future. You will need to compile the module and load it into the image.
The performance with the MXM driver is likely closer to the theoretical limit of what this hardware can achieve. It’s also clear that the best performance can be achieved by using the 5GHz band on an uncongested channel, with HT40 channels providing even better performance numbers.
Could you please share your exact requirements for WiFi throughput? What’s the end goal?
Connected over wifi with the basic 802.11g we get about a max throughput of 20Mbps. On the Verdin we got up to 80Mbps on the 802.11n. This is more the performance we’re looking for.
Did you also notice the connection got unstable over 802.11n? We were not able to get a very stable 802.11n connection on the AM62. If you did, could you share your hostapd.config file?
Also tried with the 6.6.0+build.12 (kirkstone) without Torizon and had similar results. But there we didn’t even succeed in getting the 802.11n working.
We haven’t noticed any unstable connection over 802.11n. Could you please try with this hostapd configuration file?
# Basic configuration
interface=uap0
#driver=nl80211
ssid=testwifi
hw_mode=a
channel=44 # Choose a channel that can support HT40
# Enable 802.11n
ieee80211n=1
wmm_enabled=1
# 802.11n Configuration
ht_capab=[HT40+][SHORT-GI-20][SHORT-GI-40][RX-STBC1]
# Security settings
auth_algs=1
wpa=2
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
wpa_passphrase=testwifipw
# Without a country code, none of the 5GHz channels are free for AP mode
country_code=BE
This hostapd.config file seems to work.
I have two AM62 modules here for testing.
One has TorizoCore 6.6.1.build14 on it.
The other has the latest pure Linux build on it (Kirkstone).
I’ve put a 100MB file on both units and tried to download it with a wifi client while the module performs the AP functionality.
On the TorizonCore module I only get up to about 4-8Mbps and on the Kirkstone one I go up to 92Mbps.
Any idea what could explain these huge difference?
It seems like some external factor is limiting the performance or getting in the way.
Since you said you tested the AP mode on two different hardware, could you please check if you stopped the AP on the BSP module before trying to use the Torizon one (or the other way around)?
Are you using the exact same hostapd configuration on these modules?
Also, did you make sure the AP interface is blacklisted in network manager for Torizon OS?
