https://github.com/epsilon-0/openbsd-pine-a64-lts
Instructions to install OpenBSD (-current) on the Pine A64 LTS model
https://github.com/epsilon-0/openbsd-pine-a64-lts
openbsd pine64 soc
Last synced: 5 months ago
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Instructions to install OpenBSD (-current) on the Pine A64 LTS model
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/epsilon-0/openbsd-pine-a64-lts
- Owner: epsilon-0
- License: mit
- Created: 2019-04-26T22:31:41.000Z (over 6 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2020-11-15T01:23:06.000Z (almost 5 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-03-31T12:05:27.390Z (6 months ago)
- Topics: openbsd, pine64, soc
- Homepage:
- Size: 18.6 KB
- Stars: 5
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 1
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# Installing OpenBSD (-current) on the Pine A64-LTS model
This is a short guide for installing the OpenBSD latest snapshot on the [Pine A64-LTS](https://pine64.com/product/pine-a64-lts/?v=0446c16e2e66) SoC board.
The official installation instructions are present [here](https://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/arm64/INSTALL.arm64).
## Contents
0. [Requirements](#requirements)
1. [Flash `minirootXX.img`](#flash)
2. [Add `*.dtb` file](#dtb)
3. [Boot and install OpenBSD](#boot)
4. [Readd and reflash BOOT partition](#reflash)
## Requirements
This guide assumes that this is the first ever SoC computer that the reader has ever seen in life and has no clue how to even connect to this device.
This guide is designed for a basic introduction to working with SoC boards, along with the components needed for connecting (via a serial console):
- [Pine A64-LTS](https://pine64.com/product/pine-a64-lts/?v=0446c16e2e66) (along with a [power supply](https://pine64.com/?product=pine-a64-usa-power-supply&v=0446c16e2e66))
- [USB to TTL converter](https://store.pine64.org/?product=pinebook-serial-console) (cp2102)(needed for serial console access, also available on [amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AGDTA4/))
- micro-sd card (+ card reader, to read the micro-sd card from laptop/desktop)
- Access to another (unix/linux) computer for writing to the micro-sd card (this guide uses a linux computer to install OpenBSD on the pine, so the tty/mmcblk devices will be reflecting the linux nomenclature).
## Flash `minirootXX.img`
- Download [`minirootXX.img`](https://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/arm64/) for the `arm64` machines (Pine A64 is an armv8/aarch64 machine).
- Put the micro-sd card in the card reader and connect it to the laptop. Make sure the the partitions are **unmounted**.
- If this is the only mirco-sd card and in a dedicated card reader, it will most likely be found on `/dev/mmcblk0`
- Flash the `minirootXX.img`:
```
dd if=minirootXX.img of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=1M status=progress
```
- After flashing there will be BOOT partition of size 4MB i and a `ufs` partition of size 14MB.
- Download `u-boot-aarch64-YYYY.MMpX.tgz` from https://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/packages/amd64/ and extract the file `.../share/u-boot/pine64-lts/u-boot-sunxi-with-spl.bin`
- Flash the file `u-boot-sunxi-with-spl.bin` with the correct batch size and seek:
```
dd if=u-boot-sunxi-with-spl.bin of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=1024 seek=8
```
- The seek is to format the starting of the disk so that the machine can boot correctly.
NOTE: The download links are for `amd64`, even though the machine is `arm64`, as the package is actually an `arm64` package. The `amd64` links are used as they are updated and compiled more frequently.
## Add `sun50i-a64-pine64-lts.dtb`
- Download the file `dtb-X.YYpZ.tgz` from https://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/packages/amd64/ and extract the file `.../share/dtb/arm64/allwinner/sun50i-a64-pine64-lts.dtb`
- Mount the BOOT partition of the micro-sd card and copy the `*.dtb` file into a folder called `allwinner`, and make a copy of **ALL FILES** in the boot partition (needed again in step 4, so this creates a backup):
```
mkdir -p /tmp/tmpmnt
mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /tmp/tmpmnt
mkdir -p /tmp/tmpmnt/allwinner
cp sun50i-a64-pine64-lts.dtb /tmp/tmpmnt/allwinner
cp -r /tmp/tmpmnt ~/
umount /tmp/tmpmnt
```
## Boot and install OpenBSD
- Insert the micro-sd card into the pine.
- OpenBSD does not support HDMI I/O for the Pine A64 LTS so a serial console (the usb to ttl conenctor) is needed to connect to the board.
- This is the [UART connector](http://linux-sunxi.org/File:Pine64_UART0.jpg) for the pine, connect it to the RIGHT side pins, as shown in the picture (connecting to the left side can mess up voltages).
- THE TXD pin of the connector connects to the RXD pin of the board and the RXD connects to the TXD pin [RXD - receiver, TXD - transmitter].
- Remove the RXD pin of the board before booting. This means no data can be sent while booting. Connecting the wire during the boot phase can mess up voltages.
- Reconnect the RXD pin of the board after booting has finished.
- Connect the usb to your machine and to access the console you can use two commands `cu` or `screen`
- I will be using `screen` as that comes default in most linux distributions
- The serial console attaches itself to `ttyUSB0` in most cases and can be connected via
```
screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
```
- Don't forget to hard-boot the machine after connecting the serial console so that you can begin the boot process
## Re-add `u-boot.bin` and `sun50i-a64-pine64-lts.dtb` and re-flash `u-boot-sunxi-with-spl.bin`
- Now that you have finished the installation on `sd0`, if you try to reboot the machine you will end up with the following error
```
DRAM: 0 MiB
### ERROR ### Please RESET the board ###
```
- The reason is that the installation removes the `u-boot.bin` and the `sun50i-a64-pine64-lts.dtb` files from the BOOT partition
- Remove the micro-sd card from the pine and connect it to your laptop (you can safely remove the card when the above error is showing)
- Now we need to copy all the files from step 2 back into the boot directory, while making sure that other vender `*.dtb` files are **not** present.
- Anecdotal personal experience - having rpi `*dtb` files has made the `bsd.mp` kernel hang while booting, `bsd.sp` kernel still boots fine.
```
mkdir -p tmp/tmpmnt
mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /tmp/tmpmnt
cp -r ~/tmpmnt/* /tmp/tmpmnt
rm -f /tmp/tmpmnt/*.dtb
umount /tmp/tmpmnt
dd if=u-boot-sunxi-with-spl.bin of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=1024 seek=8
```
## Enjoy