Armbian for Amlogic s9xxx tv box

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The Armbian system is a lightweight Linux system based on Debian/Ubuntu built specifically for ARM chips. The Armbian system is lean, clean, and 100% compatible and inherits the functions and rich software ecosystem of the Debian/Ubuntu system. It can run safely and stably in TF/SD/USB and the eMMC of the device.

Now you can replace the Android TV system of the TV box with the Amlogic chip with the Armbian system, making it a powerful server. This project builds Armbian system for Amlogic s9xxx TV box. including install to EMMC and update related functions. Support Amlogic s9xxx tv box are a311d, s922x, s905x3, s905x2, s912, s905d, s905x, s905w, s905, etc. such as Belink GT-King, Belink GT-King Pro, UGOOS AM6 Plus, X96-Max+, HK1-Box, H96-Max-X3, Phicomm-N1, Octopus-Planet, Fiberhome HG680P, ZTE B860H, etc.

The latest version of the Armbian firmware can be downloaded in Releases. Welcome to Fork and personalize it. If it is useful to you, you can click on the Star in the upper right corner of the warehouse to show your support.

Armbian Firmware instructions

SoC	Device	Optional kernel	Armbian Firmware
a311d	Khadas-VIM3	All	armbian_aml_a311d_*.img
s922x	Beelink-GT-King, Beelink-GT-King-Pro, Ugoos-AM6-Plus, ODROID-N2	All	armbian_aml_s922x_*.img
s905x3	X96-Max+, HK1-Box, H96-Max-X3, Ugoos-X3, X96-Air, A95XF3-Air	All	armbian_aml_s905x3_*.img
s905x2	X96Max-4G, X96Max-2G, MECOOL-KM3-4G	All	armbian_aml_s905x2_*.img
s912	H96-Pro-Plus, Tanix-TX92, VORKE-Z6-Plus, T95Z-Plus, Octopus-Planet	All	armbian_aml_s912_*.img
s905d	MECOOL-KI-Pro, Phicomm-N1	All	armbian_aml_s905d_*.img
s905x	HG680P, B860H, TBee-Box	All	armbian_aml_s905x_*.img
s905w	X96-Mini, TX3-Mini	5.4.*	armbian_aml_s905w_*.img
s905	Beelink-Mini-MX-2G, MXQ-Pro+4K	All	armbian_aml_s905_*.img

💡Tip: The current box of s905 can only be used in TF/SD/USB, and other types of boxes can also be used in EMMC at the same time. The s905w boxs currently only support 5.4 kernels, Cannot use kernel version 5.10 and above, Other devices can be freely selected. Please refer to the instructions for dtb and u-boot of each device.

Install to EMMC and update instructions

Choose the corresponding firmware according to your box. Then write the IMG file to the USB hard disk through software such as Rufus or balenaEtcher. Insert the USB hard disk into the box. Common for all Amlogic s9xxx tv box.

• Install Armbian to EMMC

Login in to armbian (default user: root, default password: 1234) → input command:

armbian-install

The mainline u-boot is installed by default, In order to support the use of 5.10 and above kernels. If you choose not to install, specify it in the 1 input parameter, e.g. armbian-install no

• Update Armbian Kernel

Login in to armbian → input command:

# Run as root user (sudo -i)
# If no other parameters are specified, the following update command will update to the latest version of the current kernel of the same series.
armbian-update

If there is a set of kernel files in the current directory, it will be updated with the kernel in the current directory (The 4 kernel files required for the update are header-xxx.tar.gz, boot-xxx.tar.gz, dtb-amlogic-xxx.tar.gz, modules-xxx.tar.gz. Other kernel files are not required. If they exist at the same time, it will not affect the update. The system can accurately identify the required kernel files). If there is no kernel file in the current directory, it will query and download the latest kernel of the same series from the server for update. You can also query the optional kernel version and update the specified version: armbian-update 5.4.180. The optional kernel supported by the device can be freely updated, such as from 5.4.180 kernel to 5.15.25 kernel. When the kernel is updated, By default, download from stable kernel version branch, if you download other version branch, please specify according to the branch folder name in the 2 parameter, such as armbian-update 5.7.19 dev . The mainline u-boot will be installed automatically by default, which has better support for kernels using versions above 5.10. If you choose not to install, please specify it in the 3 input parameter, such as armbian-update 5.4.180 stable no

The headers files in the kernel is installed in the /use/local/include directory. When compiling the application, add -I /usr/local/include to the CFLAG parameter of GCC to find the headers files.

The kernel update script will be continuously updated during development. You can use this command to update the local script synchronously: wget -O /usr/sbin/armbian-update git.io/armbian-update . Or directly use the latest script on the server side to update the kernel: bash <(curl -fsSL git.io/armbian-update) 5.4.180

• Install Docker Service

Login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-docker

After installing docker, you can choose whether to install the portainer visual management panel. Users who intend to use the LAN IP for management can choose (h) to install the http://ip:9000 version; Users who intend to use the domain name for remote management can choose (s) to install the https://domain:9000 domain name certificate version (Please name the domain name SSL certificate as portainer.crt and portainer.key and upload it to the /etc/ssl/ directory); Users who do not need to install can choose (n) to end the installation.

• Modify Armbian Config

Login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-config

• Create swap for Armbian

If you feel that the memory of the current box is not enough when you are using applications with a large memory footprint such as docker, you can create a swap virtual memory partition, Change the disk space a certain capacity is virtualized into memory for use. The unit of the input parameter of the following command is GB, and the default is 1.

Login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-swap 1

• Use Armbian in TF/SD/USB

To activate the remaining space of TF/SD/USB, please login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-tf

According to the prompt, enter e to expand the remaining space to the current system partition and file system, and enter c to create a new third partition.

Or manually allocate the remaining space

View Operation screenshot

# 1. Confirm the name of the TF/SD/USB according to the size of the space. The TF/SD is [ `mmcblk` ], USB is [ `sd` ]
Command: Enter [ fdisk -l | grep "sd" ]

# 2. Get the starting value of the remaining space, Copy and save, used below  (E.g: 5382144)
Command: Enter [ fdisk -l | grep "sd" | sed -n '$p' | awk '{print $3}' | xargs -i expr {} + 1 ]

# 3. Start allocating unused space (E.g: sda, mmcblk0 or mmcblk1)
Command: Enter [ fdisk /dev/sda ] Start allocating the remaining space
Command: Select [ n ] to create a partition
Command: Select [ p ] to specify the partition type as primary partition
Command: Set the partition number to [ 3 ]
Command: The start value of the partition, enter the value obtained in the second step, E.g: [ 5382144 ]
Command: End value, press [ Enter ] to use the default value
Command: If there is a hint: Do you want to remove the signature? [Y]es/[N]o: Enter [ Y ]
Command: Enter [ t ] to specify the partition type
Command: Enter Partition number [ 3 ]
Command: Enter Hex code (type L to list all codes): [ 83 ]
Command: Enter [ w ] to save
Command: Enter [ reboot ] to restart

# 4. After restarting, format the new partition
Command: Enter [ mkfs.ext4 -F -L SHARED /dev/sda3 ] to format the new partition

# 5. Set the mount directory for the new partition
Command: Enter [ mkdir -p /mnt/share ] to Create mount directory
Command: Enter [ mount -t ext4 /dev/sda3 /mnt/share ] to Mount the newly created partition to the directory

# 6. Add automatic mount at boot
Command: Enter [ vi /etc/fstab ]
# Press [ i ] to enter the input mode, copy the following values to the end of the file
/dev/sda3 /mnt/share ext4 defaults 0 0
# Press [ esc ] to exit, Input [ :wq! ] and [ Enter ] to Save, Finish.

• Backup/restore the original EMMC system

Supports backup/restore of the box's EMMC partition in TF/SD/USB. It is recommended that you back up the Android TV system that comes with the current box before installing the Armbian system in a brand new box, so that you can use it in the future when restoring the TV system.

Please login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-ddbr

According to the prompt, enter b to perform system backup, and enter r to perform system recovery.

Detailed build compile command

Parameter	Meaning	Description
-d	Defaults	Compile all cores and all firmware types.
-b	BuildSoC	Specify the Build firmware type. Write the build firmware name individually, such as -b s905x3 . Multiple firmware use _ connect such as -b s905x3_s905d . You can use these codes: a311d, s905x3, s905x2, s905x, s905w, s905d, s905d-ki, s905, s922x, s922x-n2, s912, s912-t95z . Note: s922x-reva is s922x-gtking-pro-rev_a, s922x-n2 is s922x-odroid-n2, s912-t95z is s912-t95z-plus, s905d-ki is s912-mecool-ki-pro, s905x2-km3 is s905x2-mecool-km3.
-v	Version	Specify the version branch, Such as -v stable. The specified name must be the same as the branch directory name. The stable branch version is used by default.
-k	Kernel	Specify the kernel version, Such as -k 5.4.180 . Multiple kernel use _ connection such as -k 5.15.25_5.4.180
-a	AutoKernel	Set whether to automatically adopt the latest version of the kernel of the same series. When it is true, it will automatically find in the kernel library whether there is an updated version of the kernel specified in -k such as 5.4.180 version. If there is the latest version of 5.4 same series, it will automatically Replace with the latest version. When set to false, the specified version of the kernel will be compiled. Default value: true
-s	Size	Specify the size of the ROOTFS partition in MB. The default is 2748, and the specified size must be greater than 2000. Such as -s 2748

• sudo ./rebuild -d: Use the default configuration to pack all boxes.

• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3 -k 5.4.180: recommend. Use the default configuration, specify a kernel and a firmware for compilation.

• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3_s905d -k 5.15.25_5.4.180: Use the default configuration, specify multiple cores, and multiple firmware for compilation. use _ to connect.

• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3 -k 5.4.180 -s 2748: Use the default configuration, specify a kernel, a firmware, and set the partition size for compilation.

• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3 -v dev -k 5.7.19: Use the default configuration, specify the model, specify the version branch, and specify the kernel for packaging.

• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3_s905d: Use the default configuration, specify multiple firmware, use _ to connect. compile all kernels.

• sudo ./rebuild -d -k 5.15.25_5.4.180: Use the default configuration. Specify multiple cores, use _ to connect.

• sudo ./rebuild -d -k 5.15.25_5.4.180 -a true: Use the default configuration. Specify multiple cores, use _ to connect. Auto update to the latest kernel of the same series.

• sudo ./rebuild -d -s 2748 -k 5.4.180: Use the default configuration and set the partition size to 2748m, and only compile the armbian firmware with the kernel version 5.4.180.

• Local build instructions

1. Install the necessary packages (E.g Ubuntu 20.04 LTS user)

sudo apt-get update -y
sudo apt-get full-upgrade -y
sudo apt-get install -y $(curl -fsSL git.io/ubuntu-2004-server)

2. Clone the repository to the local. git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian.git

3. Create the build/output/images folder, and upload the Armbian image ( Eg: Armbian_21.11.0-trunk_Lepotato_current_5.15.25.img ) to this ~/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian/build/output/images directory. Please keep the release version number (e.g. 21.11.0) and kernel version number (e.g. 5.15.25) in the name of the original Armbian image file, It will be used as the name of the armbian firmware after rebuilding.

4. Enter the ~/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian root directory. And run Eg: sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3 -k 5.4.180 to build armbian for amlogic s9xxx. The generated Armbian image is in the build/output/images directory under the root directory.

• Use GitHub Actions to build

1. Workflows configuration in .yml files. Set the armbian SOC you want to build in Rebuild Armbian for amlogic s9xxx.

2. New compilation: Select Build armbian on the Actions page, According to the OS version officially supported by Armbian, In RELEASE, you can choose Ubuntu series: focal, or Debian series: bullseye / buster, and in BOARD, you can choose lepotato / odroidn2, etc., You can add more setting options for compile.sh in More build options as needed. Click the Run workflow button.

3. Compile again: If there is an Armbian_.*-trunk_.*.img.gz file in Releases, you do not need to compile it completely, you can directly use this file to build armbian of different soc. Select Use Releases file to build armbian on the Actions page. Click the Run workflow button.

• Only import GitHub Actions for Armbian rebuild

You can use other methods to build the Armbian system. Or use Armbian officially provided lepotato and other branch firmware. and only import the Actions from this repository in the process control file .yml to rebuild Armbian to adapt to the use of Amlogic S9xxx series boxes. In the Actions page, select Rebuild armbian, and enter the Armbian network download url such as https://dl.armbian.com/*/Armbian_*.img.xz, or in the process control file .yml, set the load path of the rebuild file through the armbian_path parameter. code show as below:

- name: Rebuild the Armbian for Amlogic s9xxx
  uses: ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian@main
  with:
    build_target: armbian
    armbian_path: build/output/images/*.img
    armbian_soc: s905d_s905x3_s922x_s905x
    armbian_kernel: 5.15.25_5.4.180

• GitHub Actions Input parameter description

The relevant parameters correspond to the local packaging command, please refer to the above description.

Parameter	Defaults	Description
armbian_path	no	Set the path of the original Armbian file, support the file path in the current workflow such as build/output/images/*.img, and also support the use of the network download address such as: https://dl.armbian.com/*/Armbian_*.img.xz
armbian_soc	s905d_s905x3	Set the SOC of the packaged box, function reference -b
version_branch	stable	Specify the name of the kernel version branch, function reference -v
armbian_kernel	5.15.25_5.4.180	Set kernel version, function reference -k
auto_kernel	true	Set whether to automatically use the latest version of the same series of kernels, function reference -a
armbian_size	2748	Set the size of the firmware ROOTFS partition, function reference -s

• GitHub Actions Output variable description

Parameter	For example	Description
${{ env.PACKAGED_OUTPUTPATH }}	out	OpenWrt firmware storage path
${{ env.PACKAGED_OUTPUTDATE }}	2021.04.13.1058	Packing date
${{ env.PACKAGED_STATUS }}	success	Package status: success / failure

Compile a custom kernel

For the compilation method of the custom kernel, see compile-kernel

- name: Compile the kernel for Amlogic s9xxx
  uses: ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian@main
  with:
    build_target: kernel
    kernel_version: 5.15.25_5.4.180
    kernel_auto: true
    kernel_sign: -meson64-dev

Armbian contributor list

First of all, I would like to thank 150balbes for his outstanding contributions and a good foundation for using Armbian in the Amlogic box. The armbian system compiled here directly uses the latest official source code for real-time compilation. The development idea of the program comes from the tutorials of authors such as ebkso. Thank you for your dedication and sharing, so that we can use the Armbian system in the Amlogic s9xxx box.

The kernel / u-boot and other resources used by this system are mainly copied from the project of unifreq/openwrt_packit, Some files are shared by users in Pull and Issues of amlogic-s9xxx-openwrt / amlogic-s9xxx-armbian / luci-app-amlogic / kernel / script and other projects. To thank these pioneers and sharers, From now on (This source code repository was created on 2021-09-19), I have recorded them in CONTRIBUTOR.md. Thanks again everyone for giving new life and meaning to the box.

Acknowledgments

• armbian/build
• unifreq/kernel
• kernel.org

License

The amlogic-s9xxx-armbian © OPHUB is licensed under GPL-2.0