esp-idf/examples/openthread/ot_zb_multipan/README.md

Supported Targets	ESP32	ESP32-C3	ESP32-C5	ESP32-C6	ESP32-S3

OpenThread + Zigbee Multipan Example

This example starts the OpenThread and Zigbee stacks side-by-side on a single host SoC, sharing one 802.15.4 RCP over UART. The host runs both stacks; the RCP firmware multiplexes them via Spinel IIDs.

What It Demonstrates

• Shared RCP backend initialization via esp_radio_spinel_multipan_init() before either stack starts. This opens the UART RCP once; OpenThread and Zigbee then attach as clients.
• OpenThread stack startup via esp_openthread_start()
• Zigbee 2.0 stack startup via esp_zigbee_init() + esp_zigbee_start()
• Shared UART-RCP usage with OpenThread multipan (CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_MULTIPAN_HOST_ENABLE=y)
• Auto-start of the OpenThread Border Router on top of multipan

Hardware Setup

You need two chips:

• Host chip running this example
• 802.15.4 RCP chip running examples/openthread/ot_rcp, built with:
  • CONFIG_IEEE802154_MULTI_PAN_ENABLE=y
  • CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_MULTIPAN_RCP_ENABLE=y

Default UART wiring:

Host pin	RCP pin
GPIO4	TX
GPIO5	RX
GND	GND

The current RCP cannot receive on two 802.15.4 channels at once, so Zigbee and OpenThread must use the same channel. This example forms Zigbee on channel 13. Shared UART pins/port/baud and OT/ZB defaults are in main/esp_multipan_config.h.

Build and Flash

Flash the RCP first, then this example on the host:

# RCP — enable CONFIG_IEEE802154_MULTI_PAN_ENABLE and CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_MULTIPAN_RCP_ENABLE
cd $IDF_PATH/examples/openthread/ot_rcp
idf.py set-target <rcp-target>
idf.py menuconfig
# Component config → IEEE 802.15.4 → Enable multi-pan feature for frame filter
# Component config → OpenThread → Thread Core Features → Enable Multipan RCP
idf.py build flash

# Host
cd $IDF_PATH/examples/openthread/ot_zb_multipan
idf.py set-target <your-target>
idf.py build flash monitor

Default Behaviour

sdkconfig.defaults ships with:

• CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_MULTIPAN_HOST_ENABLE=y
• CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_BORDER_ROUTER=y
• CONFIG_ZB_ZCZR=y (Zigbee coordinator/router)
• CONFIG_ZB_RADIO_SPINEL_UART=y (Zigbee uses the shared UART RCP)

On boot you should see, in order:

1. OpenThread stack started.
2. Zigbee stack started followed by Zigbee network formed: pan_id=....

Testing Zigbee Join

Flash another ESP32 (capable of 802.15.4) with examples/zigbee/light_sample/HA_on_off_light. After this host forms the Zigbee network and opens the network for 180 s, the light sample should join automatically.

Then bring up Wi-Fi and Thread the usual way:

> ot wifi connect -s <ssid> -p <password>
> ot dataset init new
> ot dataset channel 13
> ot dataset commit active
> ot ifconfig up
> ot thread start