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

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/v4.18.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:

2018-09-11
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.18.7-armv7-x7 kernel
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
2018-08-10
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.17.12-armv7-x12 kernel
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
2018-07-14
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.17.6-armv7-x7 kernel
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.54-ti-r63 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/2018-09-11/elinux/debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11.tar.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11.tar.xz
43ba84ed6fa47e5cd1c2b8eb60451fd211d7171319c01766eb436116004b3841  debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11.tar.xz

Unpack Image:

tar xf debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11.tar.xz
cd debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11

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 v2018.09 -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:

2018-09-11
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.18.7-armv7-x7 kernel
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
2018-08-10
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.17.12-armv7-x12 kernel
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
2018-07-14
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.17.6-armv7-x7 kernel
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-09-11/elinux/debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-09-11.tar.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-09-11.tar.xz
d285a8b2b2a8b2a7a65c4021a7678283a23566d72afe82c334d30295191b8351  debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-09-11.tar.xz

Unpack image:

tar xf debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-09-11.tar.xz
cd debian-buster-console-armhf-2018-09-11

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:

2018-09-11
- All BeagleBone Varients with eMMC: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
2018-08-10
- All BeagleBone Varients with eMMC: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
2018-07-14
- All BeagleBone Varients with eMMC: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-09-11/flasher/BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb*
2af5c064e7601bd776bdcd9c19ba487f9cf9837185a6f7086c94495f59c7eb4d  BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat BBB-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.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:

2018-09-11
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
2018-08-10
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
2018-07-14
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-09-11/flasher/bbx15-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum bbx15-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb*
05cd023c46067ae071ea3d569b652ea309e1136949149cf5120a02adf118b6a0  bbx15-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat bbx15-eMMC-flasher-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.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:

2018-09-11
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.18.7-armv7-x7 kernel
2018-08-10
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.17.12-armv7-x12 kernel
2018-07-14
- BeagleBoard xM: v4.17.6-armv7-x7 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-09-11/microsd/bbxm-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum bbxm-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb*
548ff5fc44e776272bb2bbd18eab472c1aa20907a095b28f228cb0dce3bf70a6  bbxm-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat bbxm-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.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:

2018-09-11
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
2018-08-10
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
2018-07-14
- All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-09-11/microsd/bone-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum bone-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb*
b5530951040eff0061ab38854bbb92786f036d806a352de0dca114323837d3f9  bone-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat bone-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.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:

2018-09-11
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
2018-08-10
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
2018-07-14
- OMAP5432 uEVM: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-09-11/microsd/omap5-uevm-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum omap5-uevm-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb*
bdc648e22b4c4299ee0b2fe6112875b332f9fa11385e4c692844547163ecdba6  omap5-uevm-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat omap5-uevm-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.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:

2018-09-11
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.67-ti-r74 kernel
2018-08-10
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.62-ti-r69 kernel
2018-07-14
- BeagleBoard-X15: v4.14.54-ti-r63 kernel

Get prebuilt image:

wget https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/2018-09-11/microsd/bbx15-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Verify Image with:

sha256sum bbx15-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb*
ea5a2b9b18ba00089b8655f56af742c24fcf808a9949173c4a0ce53a097cc2b8  bbx15-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.img.xz

Windows/Mac/Linux gui

http://etcher.io

Linux: (dd)

xzcat bbx15-debian-9.5-console-armhf-2018-09-11-2gb.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

4.14.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 (4.14.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

BeagleBoardDebian

Contents

Help

Official BeagleBoard.org Images for shipping with BeagleBone Black

Recommended Beagle Software

Debian NetInstall

Debian 9 (stretch)

Demo Image

Debian (stretch)

Debian Testing (buster)

Flasher

eMMC: All BeagleBone Varients with eMMC

eMMC: BeagleBoard-X15

raw microSD img

BeagleBoard xM

All BeagleBone Varients and PocketBeagle

OMAP5432 uEVM

BeagleBoard-X15

Debian Configuration

Install Latest Kernel Image

3.8.x

4.14.x-ti

Mainline (4.14.x lts)

Debian 9: stretch

Xorg Drivers

SGX Drivers

SGX BeagleBone/BeagleBone Black

Building Kernel

Beagle/Beagle xM

BeagleBone

BeagleBone Black

Panda/Panda ES

Upgrading from Debian 5 to Debian 6

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

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