Files
Jonathan Hui 9ae0442920 [nexus] reduce poll period in on-mesh prefix test (#13685)
In `TestOnMeshPrefix()`, `sed` was configured with a 1000 ms external
data poll period, matching the default 1000 ms `aResponseTimeout` of
`Core::SendAndVerifyEchoRequest()`.

When `leader` pings `sed` at Step 4, `leader` first resolves `sed`'s
SLAAC address via multicast `ADDR_QRY.ntf` and `ADDR_NTF.ans` before
forwarding the ICMPv6 Echo Request to `router` (taking ~2-5 ms due to
CSMA backoffs). If `sed`'s periodic poll timer aligns near the
1000 ms boundary, `sed` either polls `router` just before the Echo
Request is queued for indirect transmission, or polls near the end of
the 1000 ms window without enough time remaining for the 4-frame data
poll, Echo Request, and Echo Reply exchange to complete before
`AdvanceTime(1000)` expires.

This commit reduces `kPollPeriod` to 500 ms so that at least one data
poll occurs well within the 1000 ms echo response timeout window.
2026-10-05 18:04:22 -07:00
..

Nexus test framework

Nexus is a test framework for OpenThread testing.

Design Goals

  • Faster and more scalable network simulation: Enable faster and more efficient simulations of OpenThread networks involving a large number of nodes over extended durations.
  • Enhanced control: Achieve greater control and scalability over simulated tests.

Features

  • Includes the Nexus platform implementation that emulates platform behavior, allowing multiple nodes running the OpenThread core stack to be simulated and interact with each other within the same process.
  • Unlike the simulation platform (under examples/platforms/simulation), where nodes run in separate processes and interact via POSIX sockets, Nexus nodes are simulated within a single process.
  • Nexus tests can interact directly with the C++ or C OT core APIs, providing more control than the simulation platform's CLI-based interactions.
  • The flow of time in Nexus tests is directly controlled by the test itself, allowing for quick time interval advancement.

How to build and run tests

To build Nexus test cases, the tests/nexus/build.sh script can be used:

top_builddir=nexus_test ./tests/nexus/build.sh

By default, the script builds for IEEE 802.15.4. To build for TREL tests, use the trel argument:

top_builddir=nexus_test ./tests/nexus/build.sh trel

Automated testing and packet verification

The tests/nexus/run_nexus_tests.sh script automates the process of running tests and performing packet verification using corresponding Python scripts.

To run all default tests:

top_builddir=nexus_test ./tests/nexus/run_nexus_tests.sh

To run a specific test:

top_builddir=nexus_test ./tests/nexus/run_nexus_tests.sh 5_1_1

The script runs the Nexus C++ test (which generates a JSON file and optionally a PCAP file) and then executes the Python verification script (e.g., verify_5_1_1.py) if it exists. Artifacts for each test are preserved in a temporary directory if the test fails.

Manual execution

Each test can be run directly from the build directory. C++ tests typically take a topology name (if applicable) and a JSON output filename as arguments.

./nexus_test/tests/nexus/nexus_6_1_1 A test_6_1_1.json

The verification script can then be run manually:

python3 ./tests/nexus/verify_6_1_1.py test_6_1_1.json