Skip to main content

End Device Activation

LoRaWAN Device Activation Methods Explained​

Before any guest (end device) can join the LoRaWAN network (the party) and start exchanging messages (data), they must complete an activation process, similar to receiving an official party invitation. There are two methods for activating devices:

Over-The-Air Activation (OTAA)​

OTAA is the most secure and widely recommended activation method. In this approach:

  • Guests (devices) go through a join procedure with the network.
  • They receive a dynamic device address and negotiate security keys.
  • This process is ideal for flexible and secure network access.

How OTAA Works in LoRaWAN 1.1​

In LoRaWAN 1.1, the join process includes interaction with a Join Server:

  • JoinEUI: Identifies the Join Server
  • DevEUI: The unique ID of the device
  • DevNonce: A counter value to prevent replay attacks

The device sends a Join-request message in plaintext to the Network Server, which forwards it to the Join Server.

Steps for Join Acceptance:

  1. The Network Server forwards the Join-request.
  2. The Join Server verifies the request and generates all session keys.
  3. The Network Server sends back an encrypted Join-accept message.
  4. The end device decrypts the message, generates the session keys, and completes the activation.

This dynamic and secure process makes OTAA the best choice for scalable and secure LoRaWAN deployments.

Activation By Personalization (ABP)​

ABP is like giving guests hardcoded invitations to the party:

  • Devices are pre-loaded with static keys and addresses.
  • It's faster but less secure and offers less flexibility than OTAA.
  • Devices cannot easily switch to another network without reprogramming.

ABP in LoRaWAN Versions:​

  • LoRaWAN 1.0.x: The device stores DevAddr, NwkSKey, and AppSKey.
  • LoRaWAN 1.1: The device stores DevAddr, FNwkSIntKey, SNwkSIntKey, NwkSEncKey, and AppSKey, skipping the Join Server entirely.

✅ Summary​

Activation MethodSecurity LevelFlexibilityBest For
OTAA🔒 High✅ DynamicSecure, scalable deployments
ABP⚠️ Lower❌ StaticFixed, offline, or rapid testing scenarios

Whether using OTAA or ABP, the goal is the same: secure, seamless, and reliable communication for all devices on the LoRaWAN network.s