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nRF 802.15.4 sniffer

This repository contains firmware and Wireshark extcap script that can be used with nRF52840 chip as an 802.15.4 sniffer.

Note: this project is experimental.

The software provided has been tested with the nRF52840-DK board and the following operating systems:

  • Ubuntu 18.04 (Wireshark 2.4.5 from the official package, Wireshark 2.6.4)
  • Windows 10 (Wireshark 2.6.3)
  • macOS Mojave (Wireshark 2.6.4)

Dependencies

  • Wireshark (Ubuntu package wireshark)
  • pySerial (Ubuntu package python-serial or python3-serial)

Quick start guide

To start using the sniffer, you must flash the firmware, install the script, and configure the sniffer in Wireshark.

Flash firmware

nRF52840-DK (PCA10056)

  1. Connect the nRF52840-DK to the PC with an USB cable by connecting it to the J2 USB port.
  2. Flash the firmware with the following command:
nrfjprog -f nrf52 --program nrf802154_sniffer/nrf802154_sniffer.hex --chiperase -r
  1. J2 USB port can now be optionally disconnected.
  2. Connect the nRF52840-DK to J3 nRF USB port.

Note: Sniffer firmware can no longer transport captured packets over J2 USB port. Capture can be carried out using only the J3 nRF USB port.

nRF52840-Dongle (PCA10059)

  1. Download and install nRF Connect for Desktop.
  2. Click Add/remove apps and install Programmer application.
  3. Plug the dongle to USB port and click reset button to enter DFU mode. Red diode should start blinking.
  4. Select Nordic Semiconductor DFU Bootloader device from the list.
  5. Click Add HEX file and select nrf802154_sniffer_dongle.hex from nrf802154_sniffer directory.
  6. Verify that the selected application begins at the 0x00001000 address to avoid overwriting the MBR section.
  7. Click Write to flash the device.
  8. Unplug the dongle from the USB port and plug it again. Do not click the reset button.

Install extcap script

To find the correct installation path of the extcap utility on any system please see:

"Help" -> "About Wireshark" -> "Folders" -> "Extcap path"

Copy the provided nrf802154_sniffer.py script to the extcap directory.

Note to Windows users: nrf802154_sniffer.bat has to be copied to the same directory as well. Ensure that Python directory is included in your PATH system environment variable.

Start sniffing

  1. Run Wireshark.
  2. Click the gear icon next to the 'nRF 802.15.4 sniffer'.
  3. Select the 802.15.4 channel.
  4. Select the format for out-of-band meta-data.
  5. Click 'Start'.

Wireshark configuration for Thread

Decryption key

In order to decode packets exchanged on the Thread network it is necessary to configure the Wireshark to use correct decryption keys. To set decryption keys go to Edit -> Preferences... -> Protocols -> IEEE 802.15.4 -> Decryption Keys. The default decryption key used by nRF5 SDK for Thread and Zigbee examples is 00112233445566778899aabbccddeeff. Set decryption key index to 0 and Key hash to Thread hash value.

CoAP port configuration

Thread uses CoAP protocol on port 61631 for internal purposes. To correctly decode packets sent over that port you can either:

  • apply the setting globally by editing CoAP protocol settings in Preferences and changing the CoAP UDP port value to 61631.
  • apply it on per-capture basis by adding an entry to Analyze -> Decode as.... Set Field column to UDP port, Value to 61631 and decode using CoAP dissector (Current column).

6loWPAN contexts

Go to 6loWPAN settings in Preferences window and add correct values. Contexts may vary depending on the Thread Network Data. Below values are used by Thread examples in nRF5 SDK.

  • Context 0: fdde:ad00:beef:0::/64
  • Context 1: fd11:22::/64

Disable unwanted protocols (optional)

If Wireshark uses incorrect dissectors to decode a message you have an option to disable unwanted protocols. Go to Analyze -> Enabled protocols and uncheck unwanted protocols. Suggestions below.

  • LwMesh
  • ZigBee
  • ZigBee Green Power

Configuring Wireshark for Zigbee

To capture the data for Zigbee examples in SDK, you must manually configure Wireshark:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + P to enter the Wireshark preferences.
  2. Go to Protocols -> Zigbee.
  3. Click the Edit button next to Pre-configured Keys. The Pre-configured Keys window appears.
  4. Add two entries by clicking on the "+" button:
    • Key: 5A:69:67:42:65:65:41:6C:6C:69:61:6E:63:65:30:39, Byte Order: Normal, Label: ZigbeeAlliance09
    • Key: ab:cd:ef:01:23:45:67:89:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00, Byte Order: Normal, Label: Nordic Examples

Out-Of-Band meta-data

The sniffer can provide additional information such as channel, RSSI and LQI for every packet. The format used for this is configurable in the Interface Options dialog (the gear icon next to the 'nRF 802.15.4 sniffer'). Depending on the Wireshark version this can be configured in two ways:

  1. For Wireshark 3.0 and later: Select "IEEE 802.15.4 TAP".
  2. For Wireshark 2.4 and 2.6: Install a custom Lua dissector and select "Custom Lua dissector".

Install Lua dissector

Copy the provided script to the appropriate directory (it can be found in About Wireshark -> Folders -> Personal Lua Plugins):

sudo cp nrf802154_sniffer/nrf802154_sniffer.lua /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/wireshark/plugins/