GwProvApp Documentation

The Gateway Provisioning Application (GwProvApp) is the RDK-B middleware component responsible for managing gateway device initialization, mode configuration, and provisioning state machine operations. It orchestrates the transition between different operational modes (router/bridge) based on configuration file parsing, system events, and provisioning requirements. GwProvApp serves as the central coordinator for device startup sequence, handling DOCSIS initialization, WAN connectivity management, and system configuration establishment. GwProvApp provides essential services to the RDK-B ecosystem by managing device provisioning workflows, coordinating with DOCSIS subsystems for cable modem functionality, and maintaining operational state transitions. At the device level, it ensures proper initialization sequence coordination, enables dynamic WAN mode switching between DOCSIS and Ethernet WAN (AutoWAN), and provides configuration management through TLV parsing and system configuration integration.

At the module level, GwProvApp implements a sophisticated state machine that handles provisioning events, manages eRouter operational modes, coordinates with HAL layers for hardware abstraction, and integrates with sysevent framework for inter-process communication across the RDK-B middleware stack.

graph LR
    subgraph "External Systems"
		HeadEnd[Cable Headend/CMTS]
    end

    subgraph "RDK-B Platform"
        WanMgr["WAN Manager"]
        GwProvApp[GwProvApp]
        rdkbComponent["Other RDK-B Components"]
        subgraph "Platform Layer"
            HAL["HAL(DOCSIS HAL, EthSwitch HAL, Platform HAL)"]
            Linux[Linux]
        end
    end

    %% External connections
    HeadEnd -->|DOCSIS Config File/TLV| GwProvApp

    %% WAN Manager to Interface Managers
    GwProvApp -->|IPC| WanMgr
    GwProvApp -->|IPC| rdkbComponent

    %% Interface Managers to HAL
    GwProvApp -->|HAL APIs| HAL

    %% System integration
    HAL -->|Drivers| Linux

    classDef external fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#ef6c00,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef GwProvApp fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976d2,stroke-width:3px;
    classDef rdkbComponent fill:#e8f5e8,stroke:#2e7d32,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef system fill:#fce4ec,stroke:#c2185b,stroke-width:2px;

    class HeadEnd external;
    class GwProvApp GwProvApp;
    class WanMgr,rdkbComponent rdkbComponent;
    class HAL,Linux,HW system;

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Key Features & Responsibilities:

• Gateway Provisioning State Machine: Orchestrates device initialization sequence from DOCSIS registration through operational readiness, managing transitions between unprovisioned, provisioning, and fully operational states
• Router/Bridge Mode Management: Dynamically switches between router mode (IPv4/IPv6/dual-stack) and bridge modes (primary/global bridge) based on configuration files, user preferences, and operational requirements
• AutoWAN Technology Selection: Automatically detects and configures optimal WAN connectivity method between DOCSIS cable modem and Ethernet WAN interfaces based on link availability and configuration policies
• DOCSIS Configuration File Processing: Parses and processes DOCSIS configuration files containing TLV (Type-Length-Value) encoded parameters for TR-069, eRouter modes, and operational parameters
• System Event Coordination: Integrates with sysevent framework to coordinate startup sequences, network interface management, and inter-component communication across the RDK-B middleware stack
• Hardware Abstraction Integration: Interfaces with multiple HAL layers including DOCSIS, Ethernet switch, platform HAL for hardware control and status monitoring

Design

GwProvApp follows a sophisticated event-driven state machine architecture designed to handle the complex initialization and operational mode management requirements of RDK-B gateway devices. The design emphasizes reliability, configurability, and seamless integration with both legacy DOCSIS infrastructure and modern Ethernet WAN deployments. The component implements a multi-threaded architecture with dedicated event handling threads, configuration processing modules, and hardware interface management layers.

The core design philosophy centers around maintaining system stability during mode transitions while providing flexibility for different deployment scenarios. The state machine handles asynchronous events from multiple sources including DOCSIS subsystem notifications, network interface status changes, user configuration updates, and external provisioning triggers. This design ensures that the gateway can adapt to changing network conditions and configuration requirements without requiring system restarts in most scenarios.

The north-bound interfaces integrate seamlessly with RDK-B middleware components through IPC methods (RBus), providing configuration updates, operational status, and event notifications. South-bound integration leverages HAL APIs for hardware control, syscfg for persistent configuration management, and sysevent for real-time system coordination. The design incorporates robust error handling, recovery mechanisms, and comprehensive logging to support field deployment requirements and troubleshooting scenarios.

graph TD
    subgraph "GwProvApp"

        subgraph "Main Module"
            MainSM[Gateway Provisioning State Machine]
            EventHandler[System Event Handler]
            ConfigMgr[Configuration Manager]
        end
        subgraph "Network Management"
            RouterMgr[Router Mode Manager]
            BridgeMgr[Bridge Mode Manager]
            InterfaceMgr[Interface Manager]
        end
        subgraph "AutoWAN Module"
            AutoWANSM[AutoWAN State Machine]
            LinkMonitor[Link Status Monitor]
            ModeSelector[WAN Mode Selector]
        end
        subgraph "DOCSIS Integration"
            TLVParser[TLV Configuration Parser]
            DOCSISEvents[DOCSIS Event Handler]
            ProvisioningMgr[Provisioning Manager]
        end
    end

    subgraph "External systems"
        SysEvent[Sysevent Framework]
        SysCfg[System Configuration]
        HALLayer[HAL Interfaces]
    end

    EventHandler --> SysEvent
    ConfigMgr --> SysCfg
    DOCSISEvents --> HALLayer
    InterfaceMgr --> HALLayer
    
    AutoWANSM --> LinkMonitor
    AutoWANSM --> ModeSelector
    LinkMonitor --> HALLayer

    MainSM --> EventHandler
    MainSM --> AutoWANSM
    MainSM --> TLVParser
    MainSM --> RouterMgr
    MainSM --> BridgeMgr

    TLVParser --> ProvisioningMgr

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Prerequisites and Dependencies

DISTRO_FEATURES-based Build Flags:

DISTRO_FEATURES Flag	Compile-time Macros	Purpose	Default State	Impact on Build
dslite	-DDSLITE_FEATURE_SUPPORT	Enable DS-Lite (Dual-Stack Lite) IPv6 transition technology support	Disabled	Adds IPv6/IPv4 tunneling capabilities

RDK-B Platform and Integration Requirements:

• RDK-B Components: CcspCommonLibrary for base CCSP functionality, Utopia for system service coordination, sysevent daemon for inter-process communication
• HAL Dependencies: Cable Modem HAL, Ethernet Switch HAL, Platform HAL, DHCP v4 Client HAL, required for hardware abstraction
• Systemd Services: sysevent service must be active, syscfg service for configuration persistence, platform-specific initialization services
• IPC Methods: Sysevent framework registration, RBus framework integration for middleware communication
• Configuration Files: /nvram/syscfg.db for persistent configuration, /etc/utopia/ scripts for system integration, TLV configuration file support
• Startup Order: Must initialize after sysevent, syscfg, and basic HAL services, before dependent middleware components like CcspPandM

Threading Model

GwProvApp implements a multi-threaded architecture optimized for event-driven operations and concurrent hardware interface management. The component uses dedicated threads for different operational aspects to ensure responsive system behavior and proper event handling isolation.

• Threading Architecture: Multi-threaded with event-driven main loop and specialized worker threads for different functional domains
• Main Thread: Handles primary state machine operations, configuration processing, and coordinated initialization sequence management
• Main worker Threads:
  • Sysevent Thread: Dedicated thread for sysevent notification handling and system event coordination
  • AutoWAN Thread: Monitors WAN interface status and handles automatic WAN mode selection logic
  • Link State Thread: Platform-specific thread for physical link status monitoring (Raspberry Pi/embedded platforms)
• Synchronization: Uses pthread mutexes for shared state protection, sysevent framework for inter-process coordination, atomic operations for status flags

Component State Flow

Initialization to Active State

GwProvApp follows a carefully orchestrated initialization sequence that coordinates with multiple system components and hardware interfaces. The component progresses through distinct phases from system startup through operational readiness, with each phase having specific prerequisites and validation checkpoints.

sequenceDiagram
    autonumber
    participant System
    participant GwProvApp
    participant Utopia
    participant DOCSIS
    participant HAL
    participant ConfigMgr
    participant NetworkSvcs

    System->>System: Start [*] → SystemInit
    Note right of System: Initialize logging framework<br>Open sysevent connections<br>Load persistent configuration<br>Register signal handlers

    System->>GwProvApp: Component Start → SystemInit
    GwProvApp->>Utopia: Load System Configuration → UtopiaInit
    Note right of Utopia: Load syscfg parameters<br>Initialize system services<br>Setup IPC connections

    Utopia->>DOCSIS: Initialize System Services → DOCSISWait
    Note right of DOCSIS: Wait for DOCSIS registration<br>Hardware interface discovery<br>Cable modem initialization

    DOCSIS->>HAL: DOCSIS Initialization Complete → DOCSISReady
    Note right of HAL: Cable modem registration<br>Hardware interface discovery<br>HAL initialization complete<br>Network device creation

    HAL->>ConfigMgr: Hardware Interfaces Available → ConfigParsing
    Note right of ConfigMgr: Parse TLV configuration<br>Process DOCSIS parameters<br>Validate settings

    ConfigMgr->>GwProvApp: TLV Configuration Processed → ModeSelection
    Note right of GwProvApp: Determine operational mode<br>Evaluate AutoWAN options<br>Select router/bridge mode

    GwProvApp->>NetworkSvcs: Operational Mode Determined → NetworkSetup
    Note right of NetworkSvcs: Configure network interfaces<br>Apply mode settings<br>Setup routing/bridging

    NetworkSvcs->>GwProvApp: Network Interfaces Configured → ServiceReady
    Note right of GwProvApp: Start dependent services<br>Initialize monitoring<br>Enable management interfaces

    GwProvApp->>System: All Services Active → OperationalReady
    Note right of System: LAN/WAN services active<br>Web interface available<br>TR-069 connectivity established<br>Monitoring services running

    System->>System: System Fully Operational → RuntimeOperation

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Runtime State Changes and Context Switching

GwProvApp handles dynamic operational mode changes and configuration updates during normal operation without requiring full system restart. The component supports seamless transitions between router and bridge modes, WAN technology switching, and configuration parameter updates.

State Change Triggers:

• DOCSIS configuration file updates triggering TLV re-parsing and potential mode changes affecting eRouter operational parameters
• User-initiated mode changes through web interface or TR-069 management causing bridge/router mode transitions
• AutoWAN events from link status changes requiring WAN technology switching between DOCSIS and Ethernet interfaces
• System restart events from configuration management triggering controlled service restart without full device reboot
• Network interface status changes necessitating service coordination and dependent component notification

Context Switching Scenarios:

• Router to Bridge mode transition involving eRouter disable, interface reconfiguration, and service coordination with dependent middleware
• AutoWAN failover switching between DOCSIS cable modem and Ethernet WAN based on link availability and configuration priorities
• IPv4/IPv6 operational mode changes based on ISP provisioning and configuration requirements affecting routing and firewall rules
• Factory reset scenarios requiring configuration restoration, mode validation, and coordinated service restart across middleware stack

Call Flow

Initialization Call Flow:

sequenceDiagram
    participant System as System Init
    participant GwProvApp as GwProvApp
    participant Sysevent as Sysevent Framework
    participant HAL as HAL Layer
    participant DOCSIS as DOCSIS Subsystem

    System->>GwProvApp: Start GwProvApp Process
    GwProvApp->>GwProvApp: Load Configuration & Initialize Logging
    GwProvApp->>Sysevent: Open Sysevent Connections
    Sysevent-->>GwProvApp: Connection Established
    GwProvApp->>GwProvApp: Create Event Handler Threads
    GwProvApp->>HAL: Initialize HAL Interfaces
    HAL-->>GwProvApp: HAL Ready
    GwProvApp->>DOCSIS: Register for DOCSIS Events
    DOCSIS-->>GwProvApp: DOCSIS Initialization Complete
    GwProvApp->>GwProvApp: Process Initial Configuration
    GwProvApp->>System: Signal Component Ready

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Configuration File Processing Call Flow:

sequenceDiagram
    participant DOCSIS as DOCSIS Subsystem
    participant GwProvApp as GwProvApp
    participant TLVParser as TLV Parser
    participant ConfigMgr as Config Manager
    participant TR069 as TR-069 Agent

    DOCSIS->>GwProvApp: Configuration File Available
    GwProvApp->>TLVParser: Parse TLV Configuration
    TLVParser->>TLVParser: Validate TLV Structure
    TLVParser-->>GwProvApp: TLV Parameters Extracted
    GwProvApp->>ConfigMgr: Update System Configuration
    ConfigMgr->>ConfigMgr: Validate Configuration Changes
    ConfigMgr-->>GwProvApp: Configuration Updated
    GwProvApp->>TR069: Update TR-069 Parameters
    TR069-->>GwProvApp: Parameters Applied
    GwProvApp->>GwProvApp: Trigger Mode Transition (if needed)

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Internal Modules

GwProvApp is organized into functionally distinct modules that handle specific aspects of gateway provisioning and operational management. Each module encapsulates related functionality while providing clear interfaces for integration with other components.

Module/Class	Description	Key Files
Gateway Provisioning State Machine	Core state machine managing device initialization, mode transitions, and operational state coordination	gw_prov_sm.c, gw_prov_sm.h
AutoWAN Management	Automatic WAN technology selection between DOCSIS and Ethernet interfaces based on availability and configuration	autowan.c, autowan.h
TLV Configuration Parser	Processes DOCSIS configuration files containing Type-Length-Value encoded parameters for system configuration	TLV parsing functions in gw_prov_sm.c
System Event Integration	Handles sysevent framework integration for inter-process communication and system coordination	Event handling functions in gw_prov_sm.c
HAL Interface Management	Abstracts hardware interface control for DOCSIS, Ethernet switching, and platform-specific operations	HAL API calls throughout source files

Component Interactions

GwProvApp serves as a central coordination point within the RDK-B middleware stack, interfacing with multiple components across different architectural layers. The component handles both north-bound integration with middleware services and south-bound integration with hardware abstraction and system services.

Interaction Matrix

Target Component/Layer	Interaction Purpose	Key APIs/Endpoints
RDK-B Middleware Components
CcspTr069Pa	TR-069 parameter configuration from TLV parsing results	dmcli eRT setvalues Device.ManagementServer.*
CcspPandM	Device operational status and configuration notifications	Device.X_CISCO_COM_DeviceControl.* parameters
OneWifi	Network readiness and operational mode notifications	lan-status, bridge-status, network-ready
WAN Manager	WAN interface selection and operational mode coordination	wan-start, wan-stop, wan-status events
System & HAL Layers
Sysevent Framework	Inter-process communication and system coordination	sysevent_set(), sysevent_get(), sysevent_setnotification()
System Configuration	Persistent configuration management and storage	syscfg_get(), syscfg_set(), syscfg_commit()
DOCSIS HAL	Cable modem control and status monitoring	eSafeDevice_*(), getDocsisDbFactoryMode()
Ethernet Switch HAL	Port control and link status management	CcspHalEthSwGetPortStatus(), CcspHalEthSwSetPortCfg()
External Systems
Cable Headend/CMTS	DOCSIS configuration file delivery and provisioning	Configuration file parsing via DOCSIS subsystem

Main events Published by GwProvApp:

Event Name	Event Topic/Path	Trigger Condition	Subscriber Components
gw_prov-status	gw_prov-status	Component initialization complete	System monitoring, dependent services
docsis-initialized	docsis-initialized	DOCSIS subsystem ready	Network services, middleware components
bridge_mode	bridge_mode	Operational mode change	Network stack, firewall, routing services
erouter_mode-updated	erouter_mode-updated	eRouter mode change completed	TR-069 agent, network services
phylink_wan_state	phylink_wan_state	WAN physical link status change	WAN services, monitoring systems

IPC Flow Patterns

Primary IPC Flow - Mode Change Processing:

sequenceDiagram
    participant WebUI as Web Interface/User
    participant Sysevent as Sysevent Framework
    participant GwProvApp as GwProvApp
    participant HAL as HAL Layer
    participant Services as Network Services

    WebUI->>Sysevent: Set bridge_mode configuration
    Sysevent->>GwProvApp: system-restart event
    Note over GwProvApp: Validate configuration & determine mode
    GwProvApp->>HAL: Update hardware configuration
    HAL-->>GwProvApp: Hardware configuration complete
    GwProvApp->>Sysevent: Publish bridge_mode event
    Sysevent->>Services: Notify network services
    GwProvApp->>Sysevent: Publish operational status

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Event Notification Flow - Network Status Updates:

sequenceDiagram
    participant HAL as HAL Layer
    participant GwProvApp as GwProvApp
    participant Sysevent as Sysevent Framework
    participant NetworkSvcs as Network Services
    participant Middleware as RDK-B Components

    HAL->>GwProvApp: Link status change notification
    Note over GwProvApp: Process link state change
    GwProvApp->>Sysevent: Publish phylink_wan_state
    Sysevent->>NetworkSvcs: Notify WAN services
    Sysevent->>Middleware: Notify dependent components
    NetworkSvcs-->>Sysevent: Service status update
    Sysevent->>GwProvApp: Service ready notification

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Implementation Details

Major HAL APIs Integration

GwProvApp integrates with multiple HAL interfaces to provide hardware abstraction and platform-specific functionality. The component leverages these APIs for cable modem control, Ethernet switching, and platform-specific operations.

Core HAL APIs:

HAL API	Purpose	Parameters	Return Values	Implementation File
eSafeDevice_Initialize()	Initialize DOCSIS eSafe device with MAC address	macaddr_t *macAddr	void	gw_prov_sm.c
eSafeDevice_SetProvisioningStatusProgress()	Update provisioning state in DOCSIS database	esafeProvStatusProgressExtIf_e status	void	gw_prov_sm.c
eSafeDevice_SetErouterOperationMode()	Configure eRouter operational mode	esafeErouterOperModeExtIf_e mode	void	gw_prov_sm.c
CcspHalEthSwGetPortStatus()	Get Ethernet port link status	port, *status, *linkRate, *duplexMode	CCSP_HAL_ETHSW_LINK_STATUS	autowan.c
getNetworkDeviceMacAddress()	Retrieve device MAC address for interface configuration	macaddr_t *macAddr	void	gw_prov_sm.c
parseTlv()	Parse DOCSIS TLV configuration data	unsigned char *buffer, unsigned int length	TlvParsingStatusExtIf_e	gw_prov_sm.c

Key Implementation Logic

• Gateway Provisioning State Machine Engine: Core state management implemented through event-driven callbacks and state transition functions with comprehensive error handling and recovery mechanisms. Main state machine logic in gw_prov_sm_main() function with initialization sequence coordination. State transition handlers in callback functions like GWP_act_DocsisInited_callback(), GWP_act_ProvEntry_callback().

• AutoWAN Decision Engine: Intelligent WAN technology selection based on link availability, configuration priorities, and operational requirements. AutoWAN main logic in AutoWAN_main() function with thread-based monitoring. Link status monitoring through CheckEthWanLinkStatus() and CheckWanConnection() functions. WAN mode selection algorithms in TryAltWan() and ManageWanModes() functions.

• TLV Configuration Processing: DOCSIS configuration file parsing with validation, parameter extraction, and system configuration updates. TLV parsing initiated in GWP_act_DocsisCfgfile_callback() with comprehensive error handling. Configuration parameter extraction through GW_Tr069PaSubTLVParse() callback function. TR-069 parameter updates handled in dedicated GWP_UpdateTr069CfgThread() thread.

• System Event Coordination: Multi-threaded event handling with dedicated threads for different event categories and comprehensive synchronization. Primary event handling in GWP_sysevent_threadfunc() with event registration and processing. Event type classification through Get_GwpThreadType() function mapping events to handlers. Thread synchronization using pthread mechanisms and sysevent framework coordination.

• Error Handling Strategy: Comprehensive error detection, logging, and recovery mechanisms for hardware failures, configuration errors, and system resource issues. Hardware error handling with automatic retry mechanisms and fallback configurations. Configuration validation with default value restoration and corruption detection. System resource monitoring with graceful degradation and error reporting through telemetry.

• Logging & Debugging: Multi-level logging with RDK Logger integration, telemetry event generation, and debug configuration support. Conditional logging through GWPROV_PRINT macro with RDK Logger integration when available. Telemetry event generation using t2_event_d() for operational metrics and error conditions. Debug configuration support through /etc/debug.ini file parsing and runtime log level control.

Key Configuration Files

GwProvApp relies on several configuration files and persistent storage mechanisms for operational parameters, system configuration, and runtime state management.

Configuration File	Purpose	Override Mechanisms
/nvram/TLVData.bin	Processed TLV configuration data from DOCSIS config file	DOCSIS configuration file updates, headend provisioning