WisGate OS2: The new benchmark for LoRaWAN gateways

In a world where the Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming increasingly important, having a robust and scalable software solution to manage your LoRaWAN gateways is essential. RAKWireless, a leading player in the IoT ecosystem, is innovating once again with WisGate OS2 . This open-source platform, designed to simplify administration, strengthen security and optimize the performance of your gateways, is now a benchmark for professionals. Discover in this article all the technical aspects, advantages and use cases of WisGate OS2.

1. Context and challenges of LoRaWAN gateways

The LoRaWAN protocol, thanks to its extended range and low power consumption, allows millions of sensors and objects to be connected to the internet. However, managing thousands of gateways distributed across a geographical network requires:

• A unified interface for deployment and monitoring
• Secure remote updates
• Modularity to adapt the OS to specific needs
• Real-time health and connectivity monitoring

WisGate OS2 addresses these challenges by offering a modern, OpenWRT-based software base, designed for the industrial and professional world.

2. Architecture and key components of WisGate OS2

At the heart of WisGate OS2 are several software building blocks:

1. OpenWRT 21.02 : Lightweight and modular Linux kernel, widely proven in routers and gateways.
2. RAK OS Manager : Command line interface and REST API to deploy, configure and monitor gateways.
3. Telemetry agent : collects metrics (CPU, memory, traffic) and reports them to a central server.
4. OTA update mechanism : encrypted download and authentication of images before installation.

This modular architecture makes it easy to add plugins, adapt to different WisGate models (Edge Lite, Edge Pro, Developer Series) and guarantees stability even in a constrained environment.

2.1 OpenWRT 21.02: solid and extensible foundation

OpenWRT is chosen for its lightweight design and active community. WisGate OS2 integrates:

• NAT, firewall, VPN and QoS support
• Advanced IPv4/IPv6 network management
• An OPKG package system to quickly install or uninstall modules

2.2 RAK OS Manager: centralization and automation

The RAK OS Manager tool allows:

• Creating configuration “profiles” to be deployed on one or more devices
• Scheduling maintenance windows
• Automatic reporting of statuses and error logs

3. Advanced Features and Highlights

3.1 Enhanced security

WisGate OS2 implements several layers of security:

• Secure Boot : Firmware integrity verification at startup using a cryptographic signature.
• Communications encryption : TLS 1.3 for exchanges between the gateway and the management server.
• Key management : automatic rotation angles and protected storage in TPM or secure module.

3.2 Observability and telemetry

Monitoring the health and performance of your gateways is crucial. With the built-in telemetry agent:

• Your indicators (CPU, RAM, temperature, uptime) are sent to your dashboard in real time.
• Alerts can be configured to prevent anomalies (loss of connectivity, CPU overload, etc.).
• Compatible with third-party solutions like Grafana, Prometheus or Datadog.

3.3 Energy management and low power modes

For installations on remote sites, often powered by battery or solar panels, WisGate OS2 offers:

• Customizable consumption profiles (deep sleep, periodic wake-up).
• Controlled shutdown of unused radio modules.
• A detailed energy assessment to optimize autonomy.

4. Installation and configuration

Installing WisGate OS2 is done in a few simple steps:

1. Download the appropriate image for your model from the WisGate OS2 GitHub repository.
2. Flash the image to SD card or internal memory via dd or balenaEtcher .
3. First start: configuration via serial console or onboard web interface.
4. Connect to RAK OS Manager to deploy your profiles.

4.1 Network Configuration Examples

5. Use cases and feedback

Several sectors benefit from WisGate OS2:

• Smart City : environmental sensor management, connected parking and waste monitoring.
• Precision agriculture : irrigation control, livestock monitoring and agricultural drone tracking.
• Industry 4.0 : production line supervision, predictive maintenance and inventory monitoring.

Companies like GreenFields Agri and CityLink Solutions have seen a 30% reduction in network administration costs thanks to the automation offered by WisGate OS2.

6. Integration with IoT platforms

WisGate OS2 is compatible with major LoRaWAN servers and IoT platforms:

• ChirpStack
• Oriole
• The Things Network (TTN)
• Actility
• Azure IoT, AWS IoT Core via MQTT

Configuration is done via a config.toml file and additional modules installable via OPKG.

7. Update and maintenance

The WisGate OS2 OTA (Over-The-Air) process ensures:

• Verifying the GPG signature before deployment.
• The possibility of automatic rollback in case of failure.
• Scheduling updates outside of production hours.

8. Roadmap and upcoming developments

RAKWireless has announced several improvements for the coming months:

• Enhanced web graphical interface for local control.
• Native Docker/Podman container support for additional services.
• Integration of edge artificial intelligence algorithms.

9. Conclusion

By combining the stability of OpenWRT, the modularity of an OPKG system, and centralized management tools, WisGate OS2 positions itself as the leading software solution for professional LoRaWAN gateways. Whether deploying a Smart City network, managing connected farms, or optimizing industrial facilities, WisGate OS2 offers the features, security, and flexibility expected by IoT integrators and operators.