Simply Explained: Wi-Fi Managers in RDK-B

Considering Wi-Fi Managers in RDK-B, let’s take a look at WifiAgent (ccsp-wifi-agent) and its newer counterpart, OneWifi (ccsp-one-wifi). Check out the video below or read on to learn more about considerations for Wi-Fi management in RDK-B devices.

What is RDK-B?

RDK-B (Reference Design Kit for Broadband) is an embedded Linux environment that powers home broadband devices like routers. It provides a standardised framework, making building and maintaining products easier for multiple vendors.

WiFiAgent

WifiAgent has long been the core Wi-Fi manager within RDK-B. It includes:

• A steering framework to guide devices to the best access point
• Monitoring tools to keep an eye on the network’s health
• A Wi-Fi Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), lets the software communicate with the router’s hardware
• Persistent Storage Manager (PSM) for data storage
• A data harvester (a separate component) that collects usage data, traffic info, and network details

Because WifiAgent relies on vendor-supplied components like hostapd or a proprietary solution, it can be time-consuming to integrate across multiple devices. Nevertheless, it has a strong track record and continues to serve many existing systems well.

Introducing OneWifi

OneWifi is the next-generation Wi-Fi manager in RDK-B. It consolidates various components:

• Integrated Harvester: No separate tool is needed for data collection
• Internal data management: Replaces PSM with its own Wi-Fi Database
• hostapd support: Provided via an RDK recipe called RDK Wi-Fi libhostap (rdk-wifi-libhostap), making integration more straightforward
• Open-Source Wi-Fi HAL: Enhances flexibility and community-driven improvements with common HAL functionality provided as RDK Wi-Fi HAL (rdk-wifi-hal)

With these changes, OneWifi aims to be more unified, maintainable, and less dependent on individual vendors. However, it’s still relatively new and requires integration work—particularly if your device previously relied on WifiAgent.

Which Should You Choose?

Your best option depends on what you need:

• WifiAgent is proven, stable, and widely used for older hardware.
• OneWifi is modern, streamlined, and focuses on the future with features like Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi Sensing.

If you’re planning new hardware and want the latest features, OneWifi might be the way forward. For existing devices that already work well with WiFiAgent, sticking with the familiar could be simpler.

Need More Details?

You can explore both solutions in depth on RDK Central.