XBee for Wi-SUN nodes communicate through an XBee Hive for Wi-SUN border router and have no direct connection to Remote Manager. For Remote Manager to see and manage each node individually, the border router must act as a proxy on their behalf. Bridge mode is the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN setting that enables this proxy behavior.

When Bridge mode is active, the border router registers every connected XBee for Wi-SUN node in Remote Manager as a separate, first-class device. Each node gains the same management capabilities as the border router such as configuration, firmware updates, reboots and automations.

Bridge mode is also a prerequisite for the border router to forward Wi-SUN authentication requests to Remote Manager. Forwarding only takes effect when the authorization mode is also set to Digi Remote Manager in the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN border router. See Control the security of the network.

Bridge mode is enabled by default on every XBee Hive for Wi-SUN, so connected nodes appear in Remote Manager automatically without any extra configuration.

Configure Bridge mode

To enable or disable Bridge mode on an XBee Hive for Wi-SUN:

  1. Open the configuration page of the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN. You can do it by:

    1. Using XBee Studio:

      1. Open XBee Studio and wait for your XBee Hive for Wi-SUN device to be automatically discovered.

      2. Click on the device to open its device page.

      3. Click on the Configuration option from the left navigation.

    2. Using the web interface:

      1. Open a browser and enter the IP address of the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN to open its web interface.

        You may see a Connection is not private warning when accessing the web interface. This is expected because the XBee Hive for Wi-SUN uses a self-signed certificate for its HTTPS server. You can safely bypass the warning and proceed to the web interface.

      2. Log in. The default username is admin. The default password is on the device label.

      3. Select Device Configuration from the left navigation.

  2. Select the Central Management category.

  3. Set Bridge mode to the desired state.

  4. Click Apply.

Enabling Bridge mode registers every XBee for Wi-SUN node communicating through this XBee Hive for Wi-SUN to Remote Manager. Disabling it does not remove the nodes from Remote Manager, but they will no longer be updated or managed through the border router.