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.

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
    • v4.12.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 9 (stretch)

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

• Advanced Users only: BeagleBoard xM: Kernel source, used in these demo images: https://github.com/RobertCNelson/armv7-multiplatform

git clone https://github.com/RobertCNelson/armv7-multiplatform.git
cd armv7-multiplatform
git checkout origin/v4.16.x -b tmp
./build_kernel.sh

• Advanced Users only: BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/PocketBeagle: Kernel v4.14.x source, used in these demo images: https://github.com/RobertCNelson/ti-linux-kernel-dev/tree/ti-linux-4.14.y

git clone https://github.com/RobertCNelson/ti-linux-kernel-dev.git
cd ti-linux-kernel-dev
git checkout origin/ti-linux-4.14.y -b tmp
./build_kernel.sh

Debian (stretch)

Default username/password:

• username: debian
• password: temppwd

Image Updated:

• 2018-06-08
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.16.14-armv7-x0 kernel
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
• 2018-03-09
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.15.7-armv7-x1 kernel
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
• 2018-02-09
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.14.17-armv7-x4 kernel
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.17-ti-r32 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/2018-06-08/elinux/debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08.tar.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08.tar.xz
43543ccbe47f13ac79809b2c0e02c312080a7e425a18a98280bcdc1416107d6f  debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08.tar.xz

Unpack Image:

tar xf debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08.tar.xz
cd debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08

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 Varients - beaglebone
• OMAP5432 uEVM - omap5-uevm
• BeagleBoard-X15 - 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 v2018.06 -b tmp

Stable:

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

Testing:

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

Debian Testing (buster)

Image Updated:

• 2018-06-08
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.16.14-armv7-x0 kernel
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
• 2018-03-09
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.15.7-armv7-x1 kernel
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
• 2018-02-09
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.14.17-armv7-x4 kernel
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-06-08/elinux/debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-06-08.tar.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-06-08.tar.xz
5d28bd91bb60347104761dde5be268f06636573be3f409ebb10c587fe45bac72  debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-06-08.tar.xz

Unpack image:

tar xf debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-06-08.tar.xz
cd debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-06-08

Then follow the directions shown above with the other images...

Flasher

eMMC: All BeagleBone Varients 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 bootup 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:

• 2018-06-08
  • All BeagleBone Varients with eMMC: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
• 2018-03-09
  • All BeagleBone Varients with eMMC: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
• 2018-02-09
  • All BeagleBone Varients with eMMC: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-06-08/flasher/BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb*
7514b55757880fa9e57353769e7e4689eb584b3b849af2d9fb70788c62df8565  BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

eMMC: BeagleBoard-X15

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 bootup 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:

• 2018-06-08
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
• 2018-03-09
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
• 2018-02-09
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-06-08/flasher/bbx15-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum bbx15-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb*
7929e82247f2aed6727c1c9a568e447aaad5a512e96d9656655fe74856843b7f  bbx15-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat bbx15-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.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:

• 2018-06-08
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.16.14-armv7-x0 kernel
• 2018-03-09
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.15.7-armv7-x1 kernel
• 2018-02-09
  • BeagleBoard xM: v4.14.17-armv7-x4 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-06-08/microsd/bbxm-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum bbxm-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb*
ea85c7c8d37761ddf5d5b524562def1be5a65e71a58b9ebf231494f0a8cfc304  bbxm-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat bbxm-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

All BeagleBone Varients 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:

• 2018-06-08
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
• 2018-03-09
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
• 2018-02-09
  • All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-06-08/microsd/bone-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum bone-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb*
743b7a99049521782fa339d26be32779ec7839dee99738e8daf1a39157d3ff11  bone-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat bone-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

OMAP5432 uEVM

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:

• 2018-06-08
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
• 2018-03-09
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
• 2018-02-09
  • OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-06-08/microsd/omap5-uevm-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum omap5-uevm-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb*
16ac002968ca63bbd38b61a2f1145c256c1c62a361d423f41ca4d63e26b6aadf  omap5-uevm-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat omap5-uevm-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX

BeagleBoard-X15

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:

• 2018-06-08
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.44-ti-r51 kernel
• 2018-03-09
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.24-ti-r37 kernel
• 2018-02-09
  • BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.17-ti-r32 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-06-08/microsd/bbx15-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum bbx15-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb*
fc7ef6a31bc926a5d62e1996a3187d0896f2ad8cc7ab6688519fe2f0efd4efa9  bbx15-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat bbx15-debian-9.4-console-armhf-2018-06-08-2gb.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 <branch>
sudo apt-get install linux-image-<specific version>
sudo reboot

Latest kernel script

cd /opt/scripts/tools/
git pull
sudo ./update_kernel.sh <OPTIONS>

3.8.x

This is the first beagleboard.org long term kernel tree with capemanager support, it's been the default install for Debian Wheezy

beagleboard.org patchset: https://github.com/beagleboard/linux/tree/3.8

3.8.x BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black FULL Cape Support
--bone-channel --stable

3.8.x BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black FULL Cape Support + Xenomai
--bone-xenomai-channel --stable

4.9.x-ti

beagleboard.org patchset: https://github.com/beagleboard/linux/tree/4.9
Based on: http://git.ti.com/gitweb/?p=ti-linux-kernel/ti-linux-kernel.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/ti-linux-4.9.y

4.9.x-ti BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/BeagleBoard-X15
--ti-channel --lts-4_9

4.9.x-ti BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/BeagleBoard-X15 + RT
--ti-rt-channel --lts-4_9

4.9.x-ti BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/BeagleBoard-X15 + Xenomai
--ti-xenomai-channel --lts-4_9

4.14.x-ti

beagleboard.org patchset: https://github.com/beagleboard/linux/tree/4.14
Based on: http://git.ti.com/gitweb/?p=ti-linux-kernel/ti-linux-kernel.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/ti-linux-4.14.y

4.14.x-ti BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/BeagleBoard-X15
--ti-channel --lts-4_14

4.14.x-ti BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black/BeagleBoard-X15 + RT
--ti-rt-channel --lts-4_14

Mainline (4.9.x lts)

4.9.x BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black
--bone-kernel --lts-4_9

4.9.x BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black + RT
--bone-rt-kernel --lts-4_9

Mainline (4.14.x lts)

4.14.x BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black
--bone-kernel --lts-4_14

4.14.x BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black + RT
--bone-rt-kernel --lts-4_14

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 Drivers

SGX BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black

Note, these are FBDEV only, no xorg/x11/etc...

Install the "4.4.x" lts/bone kernel: http://elinux.org/BeagleBoardDebian#Mainline_.284.4.x_lts.29

Build SGX userspace for 4.4.x (must be done on an x86, due to the TI 5.01.01.02 blob extractor)

git clone https://github.com/RobertCNelson/bb-kernel.git
cd bb-kernel/
git checkout origin/am33x-v4.4 -b tmp-sgx
./sgx_create_package.sh

Copy ./deploy/GFX_5.01.01.02_es8.x.tar.gz to BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black and install

sudo tar xfv GFX_5.01.01.02_es8.x.tar.gz -C /
cd /opt/gfxinstall/
sudo ./sgx-install.sh
sudo reboot

Verify omaplfb & pvrsrvkm loaded

debian@arm:~$ lsmod | grep omaplfb
omaplfb                12065  0 
pvrsrvkm              178782  1 omaplfb

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