Devices may relay data to other devices not in direct radio range of the originating device. In this way, mesh networks can span very large physical areas and contain large numbers of devices. It is ideally suited for building automation, sensor networks, and other IoT solutions where tens, hundreds, or thousands of devices need to reliably and securely communicate with one another.
Bluetooth mesh is not a wireless communications technology, but a networking technology. This technology is dependent upon Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) - a wireless communications protocol stack.
Built on top of Zephyr Bluetooth Mesh stack, the ESP-BLE-MESH implementation supports device provisioning and node control. It also supports such node features as Proxy, Relay, Low power and Friend.
Please see the :doc:`ble-mesh-architecture` for information about the implementation of ESP-BLE-MESH architecture and :doc:`ESP-BLE-MESH API Reference <../../api-reference/bluetooth/esp-ble-mesh>` for information about respective API.
ESP-BLE-MESH is implemented and certified based on the latest Mesh Profile v1.0.1, users can refer `here <https://launchstudio.bluetooth.com/ListingDetails/94304>`_ for the certification details of ESP-BLE-MESH.
If you are looking for Wi-Fi based implementation of mesh for {IDF_TARGET_NAME}, please check another product by Espressif called ESP-WIF-MESH. For more information and documentation see :doc:`ESP-WIFI-MESH <../../api-reference/network/esp-wifi-mesh>`.
We are going to demonstrate process of setting and operation of a small ESP-BLE-MESH network of three nodes. This process will cover device provisioning and node configuration, and then sending on/off commands to Generic OnOff Server Models on specific nodes.
If you are new to ESP-IDF, please first set up development environment, compile , flash and run example application following top level ESP-IDF :doc:`../../get-started/index` documentation.
This is a detailed roadmap to walk you through the installation process.
.._get-started-ble-mesh-check-hardware:
Step 1. Check Hardware
""""""""""""""""""""""
Both `ESP32-DevKitC`_ and `ESP-WROVER-KIT`_ development boards are supported for ESP-BLE-MESH implementation. You can choose particular board through menuconfig: :code:`idf.py menuconfig` > ``Example Configuration`` > ``Board selection for ESP-BLE-MESH``
..note::
If you plan to use `ESP32-DevKitC`_, connect a RGB LED to GPIO pins 25, 26 and 27.
Enter the :example:`bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_node/onoff_server` example directory, run :code:`idf.py menuconfig` to select your board and then run :code:`idf.py build` to compile the example.
After the :example:`bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_node/onoff_server` example is compiled successfully, users can run :code:`idf.py flash` to upload the same generated binary files into each of the three development boards.
In this section, we will use the **nRF Mesh Android** App to demonstrate how to provision an unprovisioned device. Users can also get its iOS version from the App Store.
4.1 Scanner
^^^^^^^^^^^
The Scanner is App's functionality to search for unprovisioned devices in range. Open the App, press **Scanner** at the bottom and the search will start. After a short while we should see three unprovisioned devices displayed.
..figure:: ../../../_static/ble-mesh-scanner.png
:align:center
:height:370
nRF Mesh - Scanner
4.2 Identify
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Users can select any unprovisioned device, then the App will try to set up a connection with the selected device. After the BLE connection is established successfully (sometimes users need to try multiple times to get connected), and proper ESP-BLE-MESH GATT Service is discovered, users can see the **IDENTIFY** interface button on the screen. The IDENTIFY operation can be used to tell users which device is going to be provisioned.
..note::
The IDENTIFY operation also needs some cooperation on the device side, then users can see which device is in the provisioning process. Currently when pressing the **IDENTIFY** interface button, no signs can been seen from the device except from the log on the serial monitor.
After the **IDENTIFY** interface button is pressed, users can see the **PROVISION** interface button.
Then, the App will try to provision the unprovisioned device. When the device is provisioned successfully, the RGB LED on the board will turn off, and the App will implement the following procedures:
#. Disconnect with the node
#. Try to reconnect with the node
#. Connect successfully and discover ESP-BLE-MESH GATT Service
#. Get Composition Data of the node and add AppKey to it
When all the procedures are finished, the node is configured properly. And after pressing **OK**, users can see that unicast address is assigned, and Composition Data of the node is decoded successfully.
Sometimes in procedure 2, the App may fail to reconnect with the node. In this case, after pressing **OK**, users can see that only unicast address of the node has been assigned, but no Composition Data has been got. Then users need to press **CONNECT** on the top right, and the previously provisioned node will be displayed on the screen, and users need to choose it and try to connect with the node.
If the device is the second or the third one which has been provisioned by the App, and after pressing **CONNECT**, users can see two or three nodes on the screen. In this situation, users can choose any device to connect with, once succeed then go back to the main screen to choose the node which needs to be configured.
Here an example of three devices listed.
* The left picture shows that the third device is provisioned successfully, but the App failed to connect with it. When it tries to reconnect with the third node, three nodes are displayed on the App.
* The right picture shows that after connecting with any node successfully, the App displays the information of the three nodes. Users can see that the App has got the Composition Data of the first and the second nodes, but for the third one, only the unicast address has been assigned to it while the Composition Data is unknown.
When provisioning and initial configuration are finished, users can start to configure the node, such as binding AppKey with each model with the elements, setting publication information to it, etc.
Example below shows how to bind AppKey with Generic OnOff Server Model within the Primary Element.
In the :example:`bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_node/onoff_server` example, the first Generic OnOff Server Model is used to control the **RED** color, the second one is used to control the **GREEN** color and the third one is used to control the **BLUE** color.
For **nRF Mesh** iOS App [version 1.0.4], when the node contains more than one element, the App is not behaving correctly. If users try to turn on/off the second or the third Generic OnOff Server Model, the message sent by the App is destinated to the first Generic OnOff Server Model within the Primary Element.
* :example_file:`ESP-BLE-MESH Node OnOff Server <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_node/onoff_server/tutorial/BLE_Mesh_Node_OnOff_Server_Example_Walkthrough.md>` - shows the use of ESP-BLE-MESH as a node having a Configuration Server model and a Generic OnOff Server model. A ESP-BLE-MESH Provisioner can then provision the unprovisioned device and control a RGB LED representing on/off state, see :example:`example code <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_node/onoff_server>`.
* :example_file:`ESP-BLE-MESH Node OnOff Client <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_node/onoff_client/tutorial/BLE_Mesh_Node_OnOff_Client_Example_Walkthrough.md>` - shows how a Generic OnOff Client model works within a node. The node has a Configuration Server model and a Generic OnOff Client model, see :example:`example code <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_node/onoff_client>`.
* :example_file:`ESP-BLE-MESH Provisioner <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_provisioner/tutorial/BLE_Mesh_Provisioner_Example_Walkthrough.md>` - shows how a device can act as an ESP-BLE-MESH Provisioner to provision devices. The Provisioner has a Configuration Server model, a Configuration Client model and a Generic OnOff Client model, see :example:`example code <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_provisioner>`.
* ESP-BLE-MESH Fast Provisioning - :example_file:`Client <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_fast_provision/fast_prov_client/tutorial/BLE_Mesh_Fast_Prov_Client_Example_Walkthrough.md>` and :example_file:`Server <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_fast_provision/fast_prov_server/tutorial/BLE_Mesh_Fast_Prov_Server_Example_Walkthrough.md>` - this example is used for showing how fast provisioning can be used in order to create a mesh network. It takes no more than 60 seconds to provision 100 devices, see :example:`example client code <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_fast_provision/fast_prov_client>` and :example:`example server code <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_fast_provision/fast_prov_server>`.
* :example_file:`ESP-BLE-MESH and Wi-Fi Coexistence <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_wifi_coexist/tutorial/BLE_Mesh_WiFi_Coexist_Example_Walkthrough.md>` - an example that demonstrates the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (BLE/BR/EDR) coexistence feature of {IDF_TARGET_NAME}. Simply put, users can use the Wi-Fi while operating Bluetooth, see :example:`example code <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_wifi_coexist>`.
* ESP-BLE-MESH Console - an example that implements BLE Mesh basic features. Within this example a node can be scanned and provisioned by Provisioner and reply to get/set message from Provisioner, see :example:`example node code <bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_console>`.
*`Provisioning of ESP-BLE-MESH nodes using Smartphone App <https://download.espressif.com/BLE_MESH/Docs4Customers/esp-ble-mesh-demo.mp4>`_
*`Espressif Fast Provisioning using ESP-BLE-MESH App <https://download.espressif.com/BLE_MESH/BLE_Mesh_Demo/V0.4_Demo_Fast_Provision/ESP32_BLE_Mesh_Fast_Provision.mp4>`_
*`Espressif ESP-BLE-MESH and Wi-Fi Coexistence <https://download.espressif.com/BLE_MESH/BLE_Mesh_Demo/V0.5_Demo_Coexistence/ESP_BLE_MESH_%26_WIFI_Coexistence.mp4>`_
-`An Intro to Bluetooth Mesh Part 1 <https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/an-intro-to-bluetooth-mesh-part1>`_ / `Part 2 <https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/an-intro-to-bluetooth-mesh-part2>`__
-`The Fundamental Concepts of Bluetooth Mesh Networking, Part 1 <https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/the-fundamental-concepts-of-bluetooth-mesh-networking-part-1>`_ / `Part 2 <https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/the-fundamental-concepts-of-bluetooth-mesh-networking-part-2>`__
-`Provisioning a Bluetooth Mesh Network Part 1 <https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/provisioning-a-bluetooth-mesh-network-part-1>`_ / `Part 2 <https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/provisioning-a-bluetooth-mesh-network-part-2>`__
