Embedded SBC MBa8MP-RAS314 - Armbian Linux BSP documentation
Preface
Armbian is a base operationg system platform which provides a lightweight Debian or Ubuntu based Linux distribution specialized for ARM development boards. TQ extends the Armbian build system with a patch series to add the support for the MBa8MP-RAS314 board.
Prerequisites
Armbian requires a Ubuntu 22.04 build host, the basic requirements are documented in the armbian github repository The only packages that is required to work with armbian is git, all other requirements are downloaded during the build process.
Download Armbian Repository
All changes to the Armbian build system required for the MBa8MP-RAS314 are avialable in the armbian git repository. Just clone the armbian git repo to be able to build the image.
Clone the armbian repository into folder armbian-build folder e.g. in the home directory
git clone --branch=main https://github.com/armbian/build.git armbian-build
Armbian BSP Build Instructions
The Armbian build system provides the compile.sh build script to build images and has the option to create a debian or ubuntu based image with and without a desktop environment. As a lightweight option TQ recommends to use the Xfce desktop environment.
Build a minimal Image
Debian
./compile.sh build BOARD=mba8mpxl-ras314 BRANCH=edge BUILD_DESKTOP=no BUILD_MINIMAL=yes KERNEL_CONFIGURE=no RELEASE=bookworm
Ubuntu
./compile.sh build BOARD=mba8mpxl-ras314 BRANCH=current BUILD_DESKTOP=no BUILD_MINIMAL=yes KERNEL_CONFIGURE=no RELEASE=jammy
Build an image with Xfce desktop environment
As a lightweight option TQ recommends to use the Xfce desktop environment.
Debian
./compile.sh build BOARD=mba8mpxl-ras314 BRANCH=edge BUILD_DESKTOP=yes BUILD_MINIMAL=no DESKTOP_APPGROUPS_SELECTED= DESKTOP_ENVIRONMENT=xfce DESKTOP_ENVIRONMENT_CONFIG_NAME=config_base KERNEL_CONFIGURE=no RELEASE=bookworm
Ubuntu
./compile.sh build BOARD=mba8mpxl-ras314 BRANCH=current BUILD_DESKTOP=yes BUILD_MINIMAL=no DESKTOP_APPGROUPS_SELECTED= DESKTOP_ENVIRONMENT=xfce DESKTOP_ENVIRONMENT_CONFIG_NAME=config_base KERNEL_CONFIGURE=no RELEASE=jammy
Custom build Option
When executing the armbian build script without any parameter, the ncurses based menu will open. After closing build menu armbian shows the build script with selected parameters for later builds.
Create bootable SD Card
The Armbian Image is located in the output/images folder of the build directory. To write it on an SD Card the dd command (shell) or the gnome-disk-utility (GUI) can be used. The SD Card can also be written in Windows e.g. with Balena Etcher.
Create SD Card using dd command
The Image must be written onto the RAW device not into a partition.
Create SD Card using gnome-disk
See the officical gnome-disk-utility documentation how to use it.
Initial System Setup
When the board is started for the first time, a configuration is required. The debug interface (UART) X4 or the network interface (SSH) can be used for this. The initial system setup includes the following steps:
- Set Root Password
- Set Shell
- Creating a new user account
- Set Real Name
- Set Date Time and Timezone
Once the initial setup has been completed the system will be started.