Armbian for Amlogic TV Boxes

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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 Boxes are a311d, s922x, s905x3, s905x2, s905l3a, 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. Please refer to the Armbian Documentation for the usage method.

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, TX3, X96-Air, A95XF3-Air, Tencent-Aurora-3Pro(s905x3-b)	All	armbian_aml_s905x3_*.img
s905x2	X96Max-4G, X96Max-2G, MECOOL-KM3-4G	All	armbian_aml_s905x2_*.img
s912	Tanix-TX8-Max, Tanix-TX9-Pro, Tanix-TX92, Nexbox-A1, Nexbox-A95X-A2, A95X, H96-Pro-Plus, VORKE-Z6-Plus, Mecool-M8S-PRO-L, Vontar-X92, T95Z-Plus, Octopus-Planet, Phicomm-T1	All	armbian_aml_s912_*.img
s905d	MECOOL-KI-Pro, Phicomm-N1	All	armbian_aml_s905d_*.img
s905x	HG680P, B860H, TBee-Box, T95, TX9, Q96-mini(s905l-b)	All	armbian_aml_s905x_*.img
s905w	X96-Mini, TX3-Mini, W95	5.4.y/5.15.y	armbian_aml_s905w_*.img
s905	Beelink-Mini-MX-2G, Sunvell-T95M, MXQ-Pro+4K	All	armbian_aml_s905_*.img
s905l3a	E900V22C/D, CM311-1a-YST, M401A, M411A, UNT403A, UNT413A	All	armbian_aml_s905l3a_*.img
s905l3b/l2	M302A/M304A(s905l3-b), MGV2000(s905l2), Wojia-TV-IPBS9505(s905l2)	All	armbian_aml_s905l2_*.img
rk3588	Radxa-Rock5B	rk3588	armbian_rockchip_rock5b.img
rk3568	FastRhino-R66S, FastRhino-R68S	6.0.y	armbian_rockchip_r66s.img armbian_rockchip_r68s.img
rk3328	beikeyun, l1pro	All	armbian_rockchip_beikeyun.img armbian_rockchip_l1pro.img

💡Tip: The current s905w series of TV Boxes only support the use of the 5.4.y/5.15.y kernel, Other types of TV Boxes can use optional kernel versions. Currently s905 TV Boxes can only be used in TF/SD/USB, other types of TV Boxes also support writing to EMMC. 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 Boxes.

• Install Armbian to EMMC

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

armbian-install

Optional	Default	Value	Description
-m	no	yes/no	Use Mainline u-boot
-a	yes	yes/no	Use ampart tool
-l	no	yes/no	List show all

Example: armbian-install -m yes -a no

• Update Armbian Kernel

Login in to armbian → input command:

# Run as root user (sudo -i)
# If no parameter is specified, it will update to the latest version.
armbian-update

Optional	Default	Value	Description
-k	auto latest	kernel name	Set the kernel name
-v	stable	stable/dev	Set the kernel version branch
-m	no	yes/no	Use Mainline u-boot

Example: armbian-update -k 5.15.50 -v dev -m yes

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. The optional kernel supported by the device can be freely updated, such as from 5.10.125 kernel to 5.15.50 kernel.

• Install common software

Login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-software

Use the armbian-software -u command to update the local software center list. According to the user's demand feedback in the Issue, gradually integrate commonly used software to achieve one-click install/update/uninstall and other shortcut operations. Including docker images, desktop software, application services, etc. See more Description.

• 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

• Controlling the LED display

Login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-led

Debug according to LED screen display control instructions.

• 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.

• Compile the kernel in Armbian

For the usage of compiling the kernel in Armbian, see the compile-kernel documentation. please login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-kernel -update
armbian-kernel -d -k 5.10.125

• More instructions for use

To update all service scripts in the local system to the latest version, you can login in to armbian → input command:

armbian-sync

In the use of Armbian, please refer to armbian-docs for some common problems that may be encountered.

Local build instructions

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

2. Install the necessary packages (The script has only been tested on x86_64 Ubuntu-20.04/22.04)

sudo apt-get update -y
sudo apt-get full-upgrade -y
# For Ubuntu-22.04
sudo apt-get install -y $(cat compile-kernel/tools/script/ubuntu2204-build-armbian-depends)

3. Enter the ~/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian root directory, and then create the build/output/images folder, and upload the Armbian image ( Eg: Armbian_21.11.0-trunk_Odroidn2_current_5.15.50.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. 5.15.50) 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 then run Eg: sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3 -k 5.10.125 to build armbian for amlogic s9xxx. The generated Armbian image is in the build/output/images directory under the root directory.

• Description of localized packaging parameters

Optional	Meaning	Description
-d	Defaults	Compile all cores and all firmware types.
-b	Board	Specify the Build firmware type. Write the build firmware name individually, such as -b s905x3 . Multiple firmware use _ connect such as -b s905x3_s905d . Use all for all board models. You can use these codes: a311d, s905x3, s905x3-b, s905x2, s905l3a, s905x, s905w, s905d, s905d-ki, s905l2, s905, s922x, s922x-n2, s912, s912-m8s . Note: s922x-reva is s922x-gtking-pro-rev_a, s922x-n2 is s922x-odroid-n2, s912-m8s is s912-mecool-m8s-pro-l, s905d-ki is s905d-mecool-ki-pro, s905x2-km3 is s905x2-mecool-km3
-k	Kernel	Specify the kernel version, Such as -k 5.10.125 . Multiple kernel use _ connection such as -k 5.10.125_5.15.50
-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 5.10.125 version. If there is the latest version of 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
-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.
-s	Size	Specify the ROOTFS partition size for the firmware. The default is 2560MiB, and the specified size must be greater than 2048MiB. Such as -s 2560
-t	RootfsType	Set the file system type of the ROOTFS partition of the firmware, the default is ext4 type, and the options are ext4 or btrfs type. Such as -t btrfs
-n	CustomName	Set the signature part of the firmware name. The default value is empty. You can add signatures such as _server, _gnome_desktop or _ophub as needed. Do not include spaces when setting custom signatures.

• sudo ./rebuild -d: Use the default configuration to pack all TV Boxes.
• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3 -k 5.10.125: recommend. Use the default configuration, specify a kernel and a firmware for compilation.
• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3_s905d -k 5.10.125_5.15.50: Use the default configuration, specify multiple cores, and multiple firmware for compilation. use _ to connect.
• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3 -k 5.10.125 -s 2560: Use the default configuration, specify a kernel, a firmware, and set the partition size for compilation.
• sudo ./rebuild -d -b s905x3 -v dev -k 5.10.125: 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 5.10.125_5.15.50: Use the default configuration. Specify multiple cores, use _ to connect.
• sudo ./rebuild -d -k 5.10.125_5.15.50 -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 -t btrfs -s 2560 -k 5.10.125: Use the default configuration, set the file system to btrfs format and the partition size to 2560MiB, and only compile the armbian firmware with the kernel version 5.10.125.

Use GitHub Actions to build

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

2. New compilation: Select Build amlogic armbian on the Actions page, According to the OS version officially supported by Armbian, In RELEASE, you can choose Ubuntu series: jammy, or Debian series: bullseye, etc., 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 amlogic armbian of different board. Select Use Releases file to build armbian on the Actions page. Click the Run workflow button.

4. Use other Armbian firmware, such as odroidn2 provided by the official Armbian firmware download site armbian.tnahosting.net, only by introducing the script of this repository in the process control file .yml for Armbian reconstruction, it can be adapted to the use of Amlogic S9xxx series TV Boxes. In the Actions page, select Rebuild amlogic 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_board: s905d_s905x3_s922x_s905x
    armbian_kernel: 5.10.125_5.15.50

• GitHub Actions Input parameter description

For the related settings of GitHUB RELEASES_TOKEN, please refer to: RELEASES_TOKEN. The relevant parameters correspond to the local packaging command, please refer to the above description.

Optional	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_board	s905d_s905x3	Set the board of the packaged TV Boxes, function reference -b
armbian_kernel	5.10.125_5.15.50	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
version_branch	stable	Specify the name of the kernel version branch, function reference -v
armbian_size	2560	Set the size of the firmware ROOTFS partition, function reference -s
armbian_fstype	ext4	Set the file system type of the firmware ROOTFS partition, function reference -t
armbian_sign	no	Set the signature part of the firmware name, function reference -n

• GitHub Actions Output variable description

To upload to Releases, you need to add GITHUB_TOKEN and GH_TOKEN to the repository and set Workflow read and write permissions, see the instructions for details.

Parameter	For example	Description
${{ env.PACKAGED_OUTPUTPATH }}	out	OpenWrt firmware storage path
${{ env.PACKAGED_OUTPUTDATE }}	04.13.1058	Packing date(month.day.hour.minute)
${{ env.PACKAGED_STATUS }}	success	Package status: success / failure

Armbian firmware default information

Name	Value
Default IP	Get IP from the router
Default username	root
Default password	1234

Compile the kernel using GitHub Actions

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

- name: Compile the kernel for Amlogic s9xxx
  uses: ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian@main
  with:
    build_target: kernel
    kernel_version: 5.10.125_5.15.50
    kernel_auto: true
    kernel_sign: -ophub

Armbian Contributors

First of all, I would like to thank 150balbes for his outstanding contributions and a good foundation for using Armbian in the Amlogic TV Boxes. 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 TV Boxes.

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 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 CONTRIBUTORS.md. Thanks again everyone for giving new life and meaning to the TV Boxes.

Other distributions

• The amlogic-s9xxx-openwrt project provides the OpenWrt system used in the box, which is also applicable to the relevant devices that support Armbian.
• unifreq has made OpenWrt system for more boxes such as Amlogic, Rockchip and Allwinner, which is a benchmark in the box circle and is recommended for use.
• rockchip-armbian provides the method of making, installing and using Rockchip's Armbian system.
• Scirese tested the production, installation and use of Arch Linux ARM / Manjaro system in the Android TV boxes, please refer to the relevant instructions in his repository for details.
• 7Ji published some articles on reverse engineering and development on the Amlogic platform in his blog, such as installing the ArchLinux ARM system in the way of ArchLinux, and introducing the startup mechanism of the Amlogic platform. In his ampart project, he provided a partitioning tool that supports reading and editing Amlogic's eMMC partition table and DTB partitions, and can make 100% use of the eMMC space. The method of making and using Arch Linux ARM is provided in project amlogic-s9xxx-archlinuxarm.

Links

• armbian
• unifreq
• kernel.org

License

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