ESP-NOW

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Overview

ESP-NOW is a kind of connectionless Wi-Fi communication protocol that is defined by Espressif. In ESP-NOW, application data is encapsulated in a vendor-specific action frame and then transmitted from one Wi-Fi device to another without connection.

CTR with CBC-MAC Protocol (CCMP) is used to protect the action frame for security. ESP-NOW is widely used in smart light, remote controlling, sensor, etc.

Frame Format

ESP-NOW uses a vendor-specific action frame to transmit ESP-NOW data. The default ESP-NOW bit rate is 1 Mbps.

Currently, ESP-NOW supports two versions: v1.0 and v2.0. The maximum packet length supported by v2.0 devices is 1490 (ESP_NOW_MAX_DATA_LEN_V2) bytes, while the maximum packet length supported by v1.0 devices is 250 (ESP_NOW_MAX_DATA_LEN) bytes.

The v2.0 devices are capable of receiving packets from both v2.0 and v1.0 devices. In contrast, v1.0 devices can only receive packets from other v1.0 devices.

However, v1.0 devices can receive v2.0 packets if the packet length is less than or equal to 250 (ESP_NOW_MAX_IE_DATA_LEN).For packets exceeding this length, the v1.0 devices will either truncate the data to the first 250 (ESP_NOW_MAX_IE_DATA_LEN) bytes or discard the packet entirely.

For detailed behavior, please refer to the documentation corresponding to the specific IDF version.

The format of the vendor-specific action frame is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| MAC Header | Category Code | Organization Identifier | Random Values | Vendor Specific Content |   FCS   |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  24 bytes         1 byte              3 bytes               4 bytes             7-x bytes        4 bytes

  • Category Code: The Category Code field is set to the value (127) indicating the vendor-specific category.

  • Organization Identifier: The Organization Identifier contains a unique identifier (0x18fe34), which is the first three bytes of MAC address applied by Espressif.

  • Random Value: The Random Value filed is used to prevents relay attacks.

  • Vendor Specific Content: The Vendor Specific Content contains several (at least one) vendor-specific element fields. For version v2.0, x = 1532(1490 + 6*7), for version v1.0, x = 257(250 + 7).

The format of the vendor-specific element frame is as follows:

ESP-NOW v1.0:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Element ID | Length | Organization Identifier | Type | Reserved | Version |    Body    |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         7~4 bits | 3~0 bits
    1 byte     1 byte            3 bytes         1 byte        1 byte         0-250 bytes

ESP-NOW v2.0:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Element ID | Length | Organization Identifier | Type | Reserved | More data |Version |    Body    |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         7~5 bits |   1 bit   |3~0 bits
    1 byte     1 byte            3 bytes         1 byte             1 byte                0-250 bytes

  • Element ID: The Element ID field is set to the value (221), indicating the vendor-specific element.

  • Length: The length is the total length of Organization Identifier, Type, Version and Body, the maximum value is 255.

  • Organization Identifier: The Organization Identifier contains a unique identifier (0x18fe34), which is the first three bytes of MAC address applied by Espressif.

  • Type: The Type field is set to the value (4) indicating ESP-NOW.

  • Version: The Version field is set to the version of ESP-NOW.

  • Body: The Body contains the actual ESP-NOW data to be transmitted.

As ESP-NOW is connectionless, the MAC header is a little different from that of standard frames. The FromDS and ToDS bits of FrameControl field are both 0. The first address field is set to the destination address. The second address field is set to the source address. The third address field is set to broadcast address (0xff:0xff:0xff:0xff:0xff:0xff).

Security

ESP-NOW uses the CCMP method, which is described in IEEE Std. 802.11-2012, to protect the vendor-specific action frame. The Wi-Fi device maintains a Primary Master Key (PMK) and several Local Master Keys (LMKs, each paired device has one LMK). The lengths of both PMK and LMK are 16 bytes.

  • PMK is used to encrypt LMK with the AES-128 algorithm. Call esp_now_set_pmk() to set PMK. If PMK is not set, a default PMK will be used.

  • LMK of the paired device is used to encrypt the vendor-specific action frame with the CCMP method. If the LMK of the paired device is not set, the vendor-specific action frame will not be encrypted.

Encrypting multicast vendor-specific action frame is not supported.

Initialization and Deinitialization

Call esp_now_init() to initialize ESP-NOW and esp_now_deinit() to de-initialize ESP-NOW. ESP-NOW data must be transmitted after Wi-Fi is started, so it is recommended to start Wi-Fi before initializing ESP-NOW and stop Wi-Fi after de-initializing ESP-NOW.

When esp_now_deinit() is called, all of the information of paired devices are deleted.

Add Paired Device

Call esp_now_add_peer() to add the device to the paired device list before you send data to this device. If security is enabled, the LMK must be set. You can send ESP-NOW data via both the Station and the SoftAP interface. Make sure that the interface is enabled before sending ESP-NOW data.

The maximum number of paired devices is 20, and the paired encryption devices are no more than 17, the default is 7. If you want to change the number of paired encryption devices, set CONFIG_ESP_WIFI_ESPNOW_MAX_ENCRYPT_NUM in the Wi-Fi component configuration menu.

A device with a broadcast MAC address must be added before sending broadcast data. The range of the channel of paired devices is from 0 to 14. If the channel is set to 0, data will be sent on the current channel. Otherwise, the channel must be set as the channel that the local device is on.

Send ESP-NOW Data

Call esp_now_send() to send ESP-NOW data and esp_now_register_send_cb() to register sending callback function. It will return ESP_NOW_SEND_SUCCESS in sending callback function if the data is received successfully on the MAC layer. Otherwise, it will return ESP_NOW_SEND_FAIL. Several reasons can lead to ESP-NOW fails to send data. For example, the destination device does not exist; the channels of the devices are not the same; the action frame is lost when transmitting on the air, etc. It is not guaranteed that application layer can receive the data. If necessary, send back ack data when receiving ESP-NOW data. If receiving ack data timeouts, retransmit the ESP-NOW data. A sequence number can also be assigned to ESP-NOW data to drop the duplicate data.

If there is a lot of ESP-NOW data to send, call esp_now_send() to send less than or equal to 250 bytes of data once a time. Note that too short interval between sending two ESP-NOW data may lead to disorder of sending callback function. So, it is recommended that sending the next ESP-NOW data after the sending callback function of the previous sending has returned. The sending callback function runs from a high-priority Wi-Fi task. So, do not do lengthy operations in the callback function. Instead, post the necessary data to a queue and handle it from a lower priority task.

Receiving ESP-NOW Data

Call esp_now_register_recv_cb() to register receiving callback function. Call the receiving callback function when receiving ESP-NOW. The receiving callback function also runs from the Wi-Fi task. So, do not do lengthy operations in the callback function. Instead, post the necessary data to a queue and handle it from a lower priority task.

Config ESP-NOW Rate

Call esp_wifi_config_espnow_rate() to config ESP-NOW rate of specified interface. Make sure that the interface is enabled before config rate. This API should be called after esp_wifi_start().

Config ESP-NOW Power-saving Parameter

Sleep is supported only when ESP32-C3 is configured as station.

Call esp_now_set_wake_window() to configure Window for ESP-NOW RX at sleep. The default value is the maximum, which allowing RX all the time.

If Power-saving is needed for ESP-NOW, call esp_wifi_connectionless_module_set_wake_interval() to configure Interval as well.

Please refer to connectionless module power save to get more detail.

Application Examples

  • wifi/espnow demonstrates how to use the ESPNOW feature of ESP32-C3's Wi-Fi, including starting Wi-Fi, initializing ESP-NOW, registering ESP-NOW sending or receiving callback function, adding ESP-NOW peer information, and sending and receiving ESP-NOW data between two devices.

API Reference

Header File

  • components/esp_wifi/include/esp_now.h

  • This header file can be included with:

    #include "esp_now.h"

  • This header file is a part of the API provided by the esp_wifi component. To declare that your component depends on esp_wifi, add the following to your CMakeLists.txt:

    REQUIRES esp_wifi

    or

    PRIV_REQUIRES esp_wifi

Functions

esp_err_t esp_now_init(void)

Initialize ESPNOW function.

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_INTERNAL : Internal error

esp_err_t esp_now_deinit(void)

De-initialize ESPNOW function.

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

esp_err_t esp_now_get_version(uint32_t *version)

Get the version of ESPNOW. Currently, ESPNOW supports two versions: v1.0 and v2.0. 

       The v2.0 devices are capable of receiving packets from both v2.0 and v1.0 devices. In contrast, v1.0 devices can only receive packets from other v1.0 devices.
       However, v1.0 devices can receive v2.0 packets if the packet length is less than or equal to ESP_NOW_MAX_IE_DATA_LEN.
       For packets exceeding this length, the v1.0 devices will either truncate the data to the first ESP_NOW_MAX_IE_DATA_LEN bytes or discard the packet entirely.
       For detailed behavior, please refer to the documentation corresponding to the specific IDF version.
Parameters

version -- ESPNOW version

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

esp_err_t esp_now_register_recv_cb(esp_now_recv_cb_t cb)

Register callback function of receiving ESPNOW data.

Parameters

cb -- callback function of receiving ESPNOW data

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_INTERNAL : internal error

esp_err_t esp_now_unregister_recv_cb(void)

Unregister callback function of receiving ESPNOW data.

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

esp_err_t esp_now_register_send_cb(esp_now_send_cb_t cb)

Register callback function of sending ESPNOW data.

Parameters

cb -- callback function of sending ESPNOW data

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_INTERNAL : internal error

esp_err_t esp_now_unregister_send_cb(void)

Unregister callback function of sending ESPNOW data.

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

esp_err_t esp_now_send(const uint8_t *peer_addr, const uint8_t *data, size_t len)

Send ESPNOW data.

Attention

1. If peer_addr is not NULL, send data to the peer whose MAC address matches peer_addr

Attention

2. If peer_addr is NULL, send data to all of the peers that are added to the peer list

Attention

3. The maximum length of data must be less than ESP_NOW_MAX_DATA_LEN

Attention

4. The buffer pointed to by data argument does not need to be valid after esp_now_send returns

Parameters

  • peer_addr -- peer MAC address

  • data -- data to send

  • len -- length of data

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_INTERNAL : internal error

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NO_MEM : out of memory, when this happens, you can delay a while before sending the next data

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_FOUND : peer is not found

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_IF : current Wi-Fi interface doesn't match that of peer

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_CHAN: current Wi-Fi channel doesn't match that of peer

esp_err_t esp_now_add_peer(const esp_now_peer_info_t *peer)

Add a peer to peer list.

Parameters

peer -- peer information

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_FULL : peer list is full

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NO_MEM : out of memory

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_EXIST : peer has existed

esp_err_t esp_now_del_peer(const uint8_t *peer_addr)

Delete a peer from peer list.

Parameters

peer_addr -- peer MAC address

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_FOUND : peer is not found

esp_err_t esp_now_mod_peer(const esp_now_peer_info_t *peer)

Modify a peer.

Parameters

peer -- peer information

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_FULL : peer list is full

esp_err_t esp_wifi_config_espnow_rate(wifi_interface_t ifx, wifi_phy_rate_t rate)

Config ESPNOW rate of specified interface.

Deprecated:

please use esp_now_set_peer_rate_config() instead.

Attention

1. This API should be called after esp_wifi_start().

Attention

2. This API only work when not use Wi-Fi 6 and esp_now_set_peer_rate_config() not called.

Parameters

  • ifx -- Interface to be configured.

  • rate -- Phy rate to be configured.

Returns

  • ESP_OK: succeed

  • others: failed

esp_err_t esp_now_set_peer_rate_config(const uint8_t *peer_addr, esp_now_rate_config_t *config)

Set ESPNOW rate config for each peer.

Attention

1. This API should be called after esp_wifi_start() and esp_now_init().

Parameters

  • peer_addr -- peer MAC address

  • config -- rate config to be configured.

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_INTERNAL : internal error

esp_err_t esp_now_get_peer(const uint8_t *peer_addr, esp_now_peer_info_t *peer)

Get a peer whose MAC address matches peer_addr from peer list.

Parameters

  • peer_addr -- peer MAC address

  • peer -- peer information

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_FOUND : peer is not found

esp_err_t esp_now_fetch_peer(bool from_head, esp_now_peer_info_t *peer)

Fetch a peer from peer list. Only return the peer which address is unicast, for the multicast/broadcast address, the function will ignore and try to find the next in the peer list.

Parameters

  • from_head -- fetch from head of list or not

  • peer -- peer information

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_FOUND : peer is not found

bool esp_now_is_peer_exist(const uint8_t *peer_addr)

Peer exists or not.

Parameters

peer_addr -- peer MAC address

Returns

  • true : peer exists

  • false : peer not exists

esp_err_t esp_now_get_peer_num(esp_now_peer_num_t *num)

Get the number of peers.

Parameters

num -- number of peers

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

esp_err_t esp_now_set_pmk(const uint8_t *pmk)

Set the primary master key.

Attention

1. primary master key is used to encrypt local master key

Parameters

pmk -- primary master key

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG : invalid argument

esp_err_t esp_now_set_wake_window(uint16_t window)

Set wake window for esp_now to wake up in interval unit.

Attention

1. This configuration could work at connected status. When ESP_WIFI_STA_DISCONNECTED_PM_ENABLE is enabled, this configuration could work at disconnected status.

Attention

2. Default value is the maximum.

Parameters

window -- Milliseconds would the chip keep waked each interval, from 0 to 65535.

Returns

  • ESP_OK : succeed

  • ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT : ESPNOW is not initialized

Structures

struct esp_now_peer_info

ESPNOW peer information parameters.

Public Members

uint8_t peer_addr[ESP_NOW_ETH_ALEN]

ESPNOW peer MAC address that is also the MAC address of station or softap

uint8_t lmk[ESP_NOW_KEY_LEN]

ESPNOW peer local master key that is used to encrypt data

uint8_t channel

Wi-Fi channel that peer uses to send/receive ESPNOW data. If the value is 0, use the current channel which station or softap is on. Otherwise, it must be set as the channel that station or softap is on.

wifi_interface_t ifidx

Wi-Fi interface that peer uses to send/receive ESPNOW data

bool encrypt

ESPNOW data that this peer sends/receives is encrypted or not

void *priv

ESPNOW peer private data

struct esp_now_peer_num

Number of ESPNOW peers which exist currently.

Public Members

int total_num

Total number of ESPNOW peers, maximum value is ESP_NOW_MAX_TOTAL_PEER_NUM

int encrypt_num

Number of encrypted ESPNOW peers, maximum value is ESP_NOW_MAX_ENCRYPT_PEER_NUM

struct esp_now_recv_info

ESPNOW packet information.

Public Members

uint8_t *src_addr

Source address of ESPNOW packet

uint8_t *des_addr

Destination address of ESPNOW packet

wifi_pkt_rx_ctrl_t *rx_ctrl

Rx control info of ESPNOW packet

Macros

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_BASE

ESPNOW error number base.

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_INIT

ESPNOW is not initialized.

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_ARG

Invalid argument

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NO_MEM

Out of memory

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_FULL

ESPNOW peer list is full

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_NOT_FOUND

ESPNOW peer is not found

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_INTERNAL

Internal error

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_EXIST

ESPNOW peer has existed

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_IF

Interface error

ESP_ERR_ESPNOW_CHAN

Channel error

ESP_NOW_ETH_ALEN

Length of ESPNOW peer MAC address

ESP_NOW_KEY_LEN

Length of ESPNOW peer local master key

ESP_NOW_MAX_TOTAL_PEER_NUM

Maximum number of ESPNOW total peers

ESP_NOW_MAX_ENCRYPT_PEER_NUM

Maximum number of ESPNOW encrypted peers

ESP_NOW_MAX_IE_DATA_LEN

Maximum data length in a vendor-specific element

ESP_NOW_MAX_DATA_LEN

Maximum length of data sent in each ESPNOW transmission for v1.0

ESP_NOW_MAX_DATA_LEN_V2

Maximum length of data sent in each ESPNOW transmission for v2.0

Type Definitions

typedef struct esp_now_peer_info esp_now_peer_info_t

ESPNOW peer information parameters.

typedef struct esp_now_peer_num esp_now_peer_num_t

Number of ESPNOW peers which exist currently.

typedef struct esp_now_recv_info esp_now_recv_info_t

ESPNOW packet information.

typedef wifi_tx_rate_config_t esp_now_rate_config_t

ESPNOW rate config.

typedef void (*esp_now_recv_cb_t)(const esp_now_recv_info_t *esp_now_info, const uint8_t *data, int data_len)

Callback function of receiving ESPNOW data.

Attention

esp_now_info is a local variable，it can only be used in the callback.

Param esp_now_info

received ESPNOW packet information

Param data

received data

Param data_len

length of received data

typedef void (*esp_now_send_cb_t)(const uint8_t *mac_addr, esp_now_send_status_t status)

Callback function of sending ESPNOW data.

Param mac_addr

peer MAC address

Param status

status of sending ESPNOW data (succeed or fail)

Enumerations

enum esp_now_send_status_t

Status of sending ESPNOW data .

Values:

enumerator ESP_NOW_SEND_SUCCESS

Send ESPNOW data successfully

enumerator ESP_NOW_SEND_FAIL

Send ESPNOW data fail

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