BeagleBoardDebian

This page is about running a (ARM EABIhf) Debian distribution at BeagleBoard. BeagleBoard will boot the (ARM EABIhf) Debian distribution from SD card. Debian's NetInstall will be used to install Debian onto your Beagle.

Note: Original Beagleboards work with the Debian Console image booted via holding user button down. Last tested 05/2020. Ref: https://github.com/beagleboard/Latest-Images/issues/48

= Help =

If you need any help:


 * Kernel related help:
 * Email Beagleboard user group *Recommended method
 * #beagle: Beagle irc on freenode, accessible also by web interface (logs)
 * Kernel Trees
 * v5.4.x kernel branch
 * BeagleBone
 * Development Kernel source code


 * When asking for help, please provide some debugging information:
 * U-Boot Version installed on board
 * Kernel Version: uname -a
 * pastebin dmesg
 * Copy from serial port or use "dmesg | pastebinit" (sudo apt-get install pastebinit)

= Official BeagleBoard.org Images for shipping with BeagleBone Black =
 * http://beagleboard.org/source

= Recommended Beagle Software =

Mainline U-Boot:
 * All old Ax, Bx, Cx and Dx boards are required to upgrade to at least these U-Boot versions.
 * XM Boards have no NAND, so MLO/u-boot.img is always required on the first partition
 * Directions: Upgrade X-loader and U-Boot

= Debian NetInstall =

Scripts: git clone https://github.com/RobertCNelson/netinstall.git cd netinstall

Device Options: BeagleBoard --dtb omap3-beagle BeagleBoard-xM --dtb omap3-beagle-xm BeagleBoard-X15 --dtb am57xx-beagle-x15 BeagleBone (serial) --dtb am335x-bone-serial BeagleBone (video via cape) --dtb am335x-bone-video BeagleBone Black --dtb am335x-boneblack PandaBoard (A1->A3) --dtb omap4-panda PandaBoard (A4->Ax) --dtb omap4-panda-a4 PandaBoard ES --dtb omap4-panda-es

You will need a 1GB SD card or greater. Standard System : ~455MB

Debian 10 (buster)
Quick Install script for "board" sudo ./mk_mmc.sh --mmc /dev/sdX --dtb "board" --distro stretch

So For the BeagleBoard xM: sudo ./mk_mmc.sh --mmc /dev/sdX --dtb omap3-beagle-xm --distro stretch


 * Options:
 * --firmware : installs firmware
 * --serial-mode : debian-installer uses Serial Port

= Demo Image =

git clone https://github.com/RobertCNelson/armv7-multiplatform.git cd armv7-multiplatform git checkout origin/v5.4.x -b tmp ./build_kernel.sh git clone https://github.com/RobertCNelson/ti-linux-kernel-dev.git cd ti-linux-kernel-dev git checkout origin/ti-linux-4.19.y -b tmp ./build_kernel.sh
 * Advanced Users only: BeagleBoard xM: Kernel source, used in these demo images: https://github.com/RobertCNelson/armv7-multiplatform
 * Advanced Users only: BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/PocketBeagle: Kernel v4.19.x source, used in these demo images: https://github.com/RobertCNelson/ti-linux-kernel-dev/tree/ti-linux-4.19.y

Debian (buster)
Default username/password:
 * username: debian
 * password: temppwd

Image Updated:
 * 2020-03-12
 * BeagleBoard xM: v5.4.24-armv7-x20 kernel
 * All BeagleBone Variants and PocketBeagle: v4.19.94-ti-r36 kernel
 * BeagleBoard-X15 (and BeagleBone AI): v4.19.94-ti-r36 kernel
 * 2019-04-10
 * BeagleBoard xM: v4.19.31-armv7-x31 kernel
 * All BeagleBone Variants and PocketBeagle: v4.14.108-ti-r104 kernel
 * BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.108-ti-r104 kernel
 * 2018-12-10
 * BeagleBoard xM: v4.19.8-armv7-x11 kernel
 * All BeagleBone Variants and PocketBeagle: v4.14.79-ti-r84 kernel
 * BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.79-ti-r84 kernel

Services Active: Note: Depending on your internal network these may work out of the box Apache, Port 80: http://arm.local/ (Bone: via usb) (Windows/Linux) http://192.168.7.2, (Mac/Linux) http://192.168.6.2 SSH, Port 22: ssh debian@arm.local (Bone: via usb) (Windows/Linux) debian@192.168.7.2, (Mac/Linux) debian@192.168.6.2 Getty, Serial Port

Default user: debian pass: temppwd

Get prebuilt image: wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2020-03-12/elinux/debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12.tar.xz

Verify Image with: sha256sum debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12.tar.xz b6f1ca53d67554d0381ca59fe9ecd50b5013a073abd2b2e133aa8be1784cdbc6 debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12.tar.xz

Unpack Image: tar xf debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12.tar.xz cd debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12

If you don't know the location of your SD card: sudo ./setup_sdcard.sh --probe-mmc

You should see something like:

Are you sure? I don't see [/dev/idontknow], here is what I do see... fdisk -l: Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes <- x86 Root Drive Disk /dev/sdd: 3957 MB, 3957325824 bytes <- MMC/SD card lsblk: NAME  MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT sda     8:0    0 465.8G  0 disk ├─sda1  8:1    0 446.9G  0 part /  <- x86 Root Partition ├─sda2  8:2    0     1K  0 part └─sda5  8:5    0  18.9G  0 part [SWAP] sdd     8:48   1   3.7G  0 disk ├─sdd1  8:49   1    64M  0 part └─sdd2  8:50   1   3.6G  0 part


 * In this example, we can see via mount, /dev/sda1 is the x86 rootfs, therefore /dev/sdd is the other drive in the system, which is the MMC/SD card that was inserted and should be used by ./setup_sdcard.sh...

Install Image:

Quick install script for [board] sudo ./setup_sdcard.sh --mmc /dev/sdX --dtb board

board options:
 * BeagleBoard Ax/Bx/Cx/Dx         - omap3-beagle
 * BeagleBoard xM                  - omap3-beagle-xm
 * All BeagleBone Variants         - beaglebone
 * OMAP5432 uEVM                   - omap5-uevm
 * BeagleBoard-X15 (BeagleBone AI) - am57xx-beagle-x15

So for the BeagleBoard xM: sudo ./setup_sdcard.sh --mmc /dev/sdX --dtb omap3-beagle-xm

Advanced: Build Image:

git clone https://github.com/RobertCNelson/omap-image-builder.git cd omap-image-builder git checkout v2020.03 -b tmp

Stable:

./RootStock-NG.sh -c rcn-ee_console_debian_buster_armhf

= Flasher =

eMMC: All BeagleBone Variants with eMMC
This image can be written to a 2GB (or larger) microSD card, via 'dd' on Linux or on Windows/Mac/Linux: https://etcher.io First press and hold the boot select button (next to the microSD card), then apply power. On boot-up the board should indicate it has started the flashing procedure visually via a Cylon Sweep pattern shown on the 4 LED's next to the Ethernet jack. Progress is reported on both the serial debug and HDMI connectors, once completed all 4 LED's should be full ON. Simply remove power, remove the microSD card and Debian will now boot directly from eMMC.

Script for reference: (this is the script that writes to the eMMC) https://github.com/RobertCNelson/boot-scripts/blob/master/tools/eMMC/init-eMMC-flasher-v3.sh

This script will only take about 5-6 Minutes after power on.

Notes:
 * If only two LED's stay lit and nothing happens, the board has crashed due to lack of power. Retry with a 5Volt DC power supply connected.
 * If the 4 LED's blink a constant pattern, the eMMC write has failed. First REMOVE ALL capes, then retry again.

User: debian pass: temppwd

Image Updated:
 * 2020-03-12
 * All BeagleBone Variants with eMMC: v4.19.94-ti-r36 kernel
 * 2019-04-10
 * All BeagleBone Variants with eMMC: v4.14.108-ti-r104 kernel
 * 2018-12-10
 * All BeagleBone Variants with eMMC: v4.14.79-ti-r84 kernel

Get prebuilt image: wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2020-03-12/flasher/bone-eMMC-flasher-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with: sha256sum bone-eMMC-flasher-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb* 12a449c3426d811765e8ef0236ae3ddc74fc645a482640984435452929ebf55d bone-eMMC-flasher-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd) xzcat bone-eMMC-flasher-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

eMMC: BeagleBoard-X15 and BeagleBone AI
This image can be written to a 2GB (or larger) microSD card, via 'dd' on Linux or on Windows/Mac/Linux: https://etcher.io First press and hold the boot select button (next to the microSD card), then apply power. On boot-up the board should indicate it has started the flashing procedure visually via a Cylon Sweep pattern shown on the 4 LED's next to the Ethernet jack. Progress is reported on both the serial debug and HDMI connectors, once completed all 4 LED's should be full ON. Simply remove power, remove the microSD card and Debian will now boot directly from eMMC.

Script for reference: (this is the script that writes to the eMMC) https://github.com/RobertCNelson/boot-scripts/blob/master/tools/eMMC/init-eMMC-flasher-v3.sh

This script will only take about 5-6 Minutes after power on.

Notes:
 * If only two LED's stay lit and nothing happens, the board has crashed due to lack of power. Retry with a 5Volt DC power supply connected.
 * If the 4 LED's blink a constant pattern, the eMMC write has failed. First REMOVE ALL capes, then retry again.

User: debian pass: temppwd

Image Updated:
 * 2020-03-12
 * BeagleBoard-X15 (and BeagleBone AI): v4.19.94-ti-r36 kernel
 * 2019-04-10
 * BeagleBoard-X15 (and BeagleBone AI): v4.14.108-ti-r104 kernel
 * 2018-12-10
 * BeagleBoard-X15 (and BeagleBone AI): v4.14.79-ti-r84 kernel

Get prebuilt image: wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2020-03-12/flasher/am57xx-eMMC-flasher-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with: sha256sum am57xx-eMMC-flasher-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb* b2d4600cfbeaad90e9d634f8f9671be1223d235e6581aac82897d3f28076d338 am57xx-eMMC-flasher-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd) xzcat am57xx-eMMC-flasher-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

= raw microSD img =

BeagleBoard xM
This image can be written to a 2GB (or larger) microSD card, via 'dd' on Linux or on Windows/Mac/Linux: https://etcher.io

User: debian pass: temppwd

Auto partition resize: cd /opt/scripts/tools git pull ./grow_partition.sh sudo reboot

Image Updated:
 * 2020-03-12
 * BeagleBoard xM: v5.4.24-armv7-x20 kernel
 * 2019-04-10
 * BeagleBoard xM: v4.19.31-armv7-x31 kernel
 * 2018-12-10
 * BeagleBoard xM: v4.19.8-armv7-x11 kernel

Get prebuilt image: wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2020-03-12/microsd/bbxm-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with: sha256sum bbxm-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb* 864cd6a45179e87c68087150597e18a1c12c81621da7735ee8d5c35094423845 bbxm-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd) xzcat bbxm-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

All BeagleBone Variants and PocketBeagle
This image can be written to a 2GB (or larger) microSD card, via 'dd' on Linux or on Windows/Mac/Linux: https://etcher.io

User: debian pass: temppwd

Auto partition resize: cd /opt/scripts/tools git pull ./grow_partition.sh sudo reboot

Image Updated:
 * 2020-03-12
 * All BeagleBone Variants and PocketBeagle: v4.19.94-ti-r36 kernel
 * 2019-04-10
 * All BeagleBone Variants and PocketBeagle: v4.14.108-ti-r104 kernel
 * 2018-12-10
 * All BeagleBone Variants and PocketBeagle: v4.14.79-ti-r84 kernel

Get prebuilt image: wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2020-03-12/microsd/bone-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with: sha256sum bone-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb* 6d898c473edc8a50597ed7da8342c899d88e07b8a6b4c7c143257e947cb5f52d bone-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd) xzcat bone-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

BeagleBoard-X15 and BeagleBone AI
This image can be written to a 2GB (or larger) microSD card, via 'dd' on Linux or on Windows/Mac/Linux: https://etcher.io

User: debian pass: temppwd

Auto partition resize: cd /opt/scripts/tools git pull ./grow_partition.sh sudo reboot

Image Updated:
 * 2020-03-12
 * BeagleBoard-X15 (and BeagleBone AI): v4.19.94-ti-r36 kernel
 * 2019-04-10
 * BeagleBoard-X15 (and BeagleBone AI): v4.14.108-ti-r104 kernel
 * 2018-12-10
 * BeagleBoard-X15 (and BeagleBone AI): v4.14.79-ti-r84 kernel

Get prebuilt image: wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2020-03-12/microsd/am57xx-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with: sha256sum am57xx-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb* 24bfaeac8d90ebd36790ba4c04a4117fe8c2e7aa28de5d1ff0a5ab164e32bb90 am57xx-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd) xzcat am57xx-debian-10.3-console-armhf-2020-03-12-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

= Debian Configuration =

Install Latest Kernel Image
General apt syntax for searching and installing a specific kernel: sudo apt-get update sudo apt-cache search linux-image | grep sudo apt-get install linux-image- sudo reboot

Latest kernel script cd /opt/scripts/tools/ git pull sudo ./update_kernel.sh 

4.19.x-ti
beagleboard.org patchset: https://github.com/beagleboard/linux/tree/4.19 Based on: http://git.ti.com/gitweb/?p=ti-linux-kernel/ti-linux-kernel.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/ti-linux-4.19.y

4.19.x-ti BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/BeagleBoard-X15 --ti-channel --lts-4_19

4.19.x-ti BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/BeagleBoard-X15 + RT --ti-rt-channel --lts-4_19

Mainline (4.19.x lts)
4.19.x BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black --bone-kernel --lts-4_19

4.19.x BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black + RT --bone-rt-kernel --lts-4_19

Debian 9: stretch
sudo apt-get install linux-image-armmp

Reboot with your new Kernel Image.

Xorg Drivers
Script: cd /opt/scripts/tools/ git pull

BeagleBoard/PandaBoard: cd /opt/scripts/tools/graphics/ ./ti-omapdrm.sh

BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black: cd /opt/scripts/tools/graphics/ ./ti-tilcdc.sh

SGX BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black
A page is dedicated for the installation and use of the graphics accelerator.

= Building Kernel =

Note, this section use to have a lot of details, but maintenance of the two wiki's became a pain, so for now on we will just link to my other pages:

Beagle/Beagle xM
http://eewiki.net/display/linuxonarm/BeagleBoard

BeagleBone
http://eewiki.net/display/linuxonarm/BeagleBone

BeagleBone Black
http://eewiki.net/display/linuxonarm/BeagleBone+Black

Panda/Panda ES
http://eewiki.net/display/linuxonarm/PandaBoard

= Upgrading from Debian 5 to Debian 6 =

Upgrading from Debian 5 to Debian 6 report and tutorial.

= Upgrading from Debian 6 (Squeeze) to Debian 7 (Wheezy) =

Note, this only goes over "armel" -> "armel"... For users wishing to switch from "armel" -> "armhf" just re-install...

sudo apt-get update ; sudo apt-get upgrade sudo sed -i -e "s/squeeze/wheezy/g" /etc/apt/sources.list sudo apt-get update ; sudo apt-get install -y apt aptitude udev dpkg sudo aptitude update ; sudo aptitude -y safe-upgrade ; sudo aptitude -y dist-upgrade