- Connect a computer to the SDR board via Ethernet cable. The computer should have static IP 192.168.10.1. Open a terminal on the computer, and then in the terminal:
```
ssh root@192.168.10.122
(password: openwifi)
cd openwifi
./wgd.sh
(Wait for the script completed)
./monitor_ch.sh sdr0 11
(Monitor on channel 11. You can change 11 to other channel that is busy)
insmod side_ch.ko
./side_ch_ctl g
```
You should see on board outputs like:
```
loop 64 side info count 61
loop 128 side info count 99
...
```
If the second number (61, 99, ...) is not zero and keeps increasing, that means the CSI (Chip State Information) is going to the computer smoothly.
The python script needs "matplotlib.pyplot" and "numpy" packages installed. Now you should see 3 figures showing run-time **frequency offset**, **channel state/response** and **constellation form equalizer**. Meanwhile the python script prints the **timestamp**.
While running, all information is also stored into a file **side_info.txt**. A matlab script **test_side_info_file_display.m** is offered to help you do analysis on the Chip State Information offline.
The CSI information is extracted via the openwifi **side channel** infrastructure. This figure explains the related modules (also related source code file name) and how the information goes from the SDR board to the computer.
![](./csi-architecture.jpg)
The CSI information format is shown in this figure.
![](./csi-information-format.jpg)
For each element, the actual size is 64bit.
- timestamp: 64bit TSF timer value, which is the same timestamp value shown by other sniffer software, like tcpdump, wireshark or openwifi printing in dmesg.
- freq_offset: Only the 1st 16bit is used.
- csi (channel state/response) and equalizer: Only the first two 16bit are used for I/Q of channel response and equalizer output. The remaining two 16bit are reserved for future multi-antenna cases.
The python and Matlab scripts are recommended for you to understand the CSI packet format precisely.
The quick start guide will monitor all CSI information of all packets decoded by the WiFi ofdm receiver. To monitor only specific packets that match the specific conditions: FC (Frame Control), addr1 (target MAC address), addr2 (source MAC address), configuration command should be issued before executing "**side_ch_ctl g**". The configuration command is realized by feeding a different parameter to "**side_ch_ctl**".
The parameter string format is explained in detail:
```
whXhY
```
The X is the register index, and the Y is the value in hex format. The remaining "w", "h" and "h" should be kept untouched.
- To turn on conditional capture, X should be 1. For Y: bit11~bit0 should be 001(hex), bit12: on/off of FC match, bit13: on/off of addr1 match, bit14 : on/off of addr2 match. Examples:
The num_eq (number of equalizer output) is configurable in case you don't need so many equalizer information. The valid value is 0~8. You should align the num_eq value at the side_ch.ko, side_info_display.py and test_side_info_file_display.m.
The openwifi CSI feature could run with not only monitor mode but also other modes, such as AP-Client or ad-hoc mode. After the communication functionality is fully up in those modes, you can start CSI feature from "**insmod side_ch.ko**" and "**./side_ch_ctl g**" on board as described in the previous sections to extract CSI to your computer.
If you want to relate the CSI information to the WiFi packet, you need to capture WiFi packets (tcpdump/wireshark/etc) while capturing CSI. Then you can match the timestamp (TSF timer value) between WiFi packet and CSI information, because this is the unique same identity of a Wifi packet and related CSI information.