[REQUEST] Silicon Labs Concurrent Multiprotocol Zigbee in NCP mode and Open-Thread in RCP mode?

[Hedda]

FYI, looks like Nabu Casa developers are working on NCP + RPC combination "beta" firmware for Home Assistant SkyConnect:

https://github.com/NabuCasa/silabs-firmware

https://github.com/NabuCasa/silabs-firmware/tree/main/EmberZNetAndOpenThreadRCP/beta

The reason for also wanting OpenThread RPC support is that Home Assistant 2022.12 has now been released with initial multiprotocol support Zigbee and Thread (including Matter over Thread), as tested with "Home Assistant SkyConnect" USB adapter and "Home Assistant Yellow" embedded radio:

https://www.crowdsupply.com/nabu-casa/home-assistant-yellow/updates/more-yellows-shipping-and-thread-plus-matter-updates

https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2022/12/07/release-202212/

https://community.home-assistant.io/t/home-assistant-skyconnect-usb-stick-announced-will-be-compatible-with-both-zigbee-and-thread-including-matter-chip-over-thread/433594/

Silicon Labs Gecko SDK 4.1.0 was released with "Alpha Concurrent Multiprotocol Zigbee in NCP mode and OpenThread in RCP mode":

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/releases

I guess that mean could now build a unified firmware image that can support Zigbee in NCP mode and OpenThread in RCP mode?

If this is the case then such backwards-compatible firmware images might be interesting for users of existing applications that use "old school" Zigbee in NCP mode as it would open up the ability to concurrently also use the same radio adapter for OpenThread/Thread RPC (and thus also the upcoming Matter connectivity protocol), or does it not?

Please see a somewhat related discussion here (though it only discusses RPC mode and not NCP + RPC) -> zigpy/zigpy#894

Silabs Zigbee EmberZNet SDK 7.1.0.0

Please take note that because of its new (Alpha) support for concurrently running firmware with Zigbee NCP and OpenThread RPC at the same time announced in Silicon Labs Gecko SDK v4.1.0 I do believe that sooner or later going with EmberZNet 7.1.x firmware or even in the relatively near future for early adopters will be tempting to both manufacturers of Zigbee radio USB adapters and end-users owning existing Silicon Labs EFR32MG12, EFR32MG13, and EFR32MG21 adapters.

As such firmware will mean that could use the same EFR32MGxx adapter as a Zigbee Coordinator for existing Zigbee devices and an OpenThread Border Router (OTBR) for the upcoming Matter over Thread (formerly Project CHIP / Connected Home over IP). So in essence users could just flash their existing Silabs Zigbee Coordinator and have it also act as a radio for Matter over Thread.

https://github.com/SiliconLabs/gecko_sdk/releases/tag/v4.1.0

Component	Version	Summary	Details
OpenThread SDK	2.1.0.0	- Alpha SPI support for OpenThread RCP without CPC - Thread 1.2 and 1.3 support for OpenThread - Updated GCC compiler version to 10.3.1 - Alpha Concurrent Multiprotocol Zigbee in NCP mode and OpenThread in RCP mode - Alpha Dynamic Multiprotocol Bluetooth and multi-PAN 802.15.4 in RCP mode	Release Notes
Zigbee EmberZNet SDK	7.1.0.0	- 2.4GHz Zigbee Smart Energy support for xG24 - 802.15.4 Signal Identifier and MAC CCA Mode 2 and 3 support for xG24 - Zigbee Green Power Gateway Backup - Updated GCC and IAR compiler version - Alpha Concurrent Multiprotocol Zigbee in NCP mode and Open-Thread in RCP mode - Alpha Dynamic Multiprotocol Bluetooth and multi-PAN 802.15.4 in RCP mode	Release Notes

PS: Note that importantly this EmberZNet SDK 7.1.0 added an update to EZSP v9 (EmberZNet Serial Protocol version 9) which might break existing Zigbee implementation if user Silabs Zigbee EmberZNet SDK 7.1.0.0 NCP firmware before updated to EZSP v9.

[Hedda]

FYI, for more information about ongoing unofficial third-party progress see -> #5

[Hedda]

Closing as duplicate of #5