What is the purpose of using this core? Several people have already tried to build a real-time kernel here on the forum. They all face some challenges. Perhaps, if the tasks that such a core should perform are of a general nature, we can provide a configuration for its assembly. You built it yourself. Can you provide a difference in the configuration file for the same kernel version? As diff -u command.

Thank you for your response. I pulled down one of the "Standard Support" images. I enabled the overlay, and brought the interface up, but scanning does not return anything: root@bananapim4zero:~# iw dev wlan0 scan root@bananapim4zero:~# I wanted a 6.12 kernel that had real time extensions built in. I didn't realize 'current' would handle that. I will end up replacing this with a current kernel. I can't remember how anything < 6.12 handles real time patches. Maybe Armbian does it automatically as part of its patch set.

I used this image as base and from there did in-place full-upgrade: It used to lock-up with a kernel crash after 2 - 3 days, kernel 6.6.44 till 6.6.75. I have no HDMI connected anymore, only serial console cable, SD-card, microUSB power, RJ45 and SATA 8T HDD. Now with kernel 6.12.20-current-sunxi uptime already 6 days. I have radically modified partition setup, use Btrfs for rootfs, I do not use Armbian initial repartition scripts, that seems to be the point where your M1 fails. You need serial console cable and post clear text output where it fail. Still then, it might be too complicated to or time consuming fix. You could prepare/create/build a new own image using Armbian build. Or just stick to that older working image. It could be that the GUI drivers like it was in older kernels is dropped after 5.10 kernels or so, that happens to older hardware unfortunately. What is the kernel version where it still does work?

I have installed Armbian 25.02 via an official Armbian image for Armbian 25.02 (Debian 12) Vendor Kernel 6.1.xx, is it possible (and sane) to upgrade to Armbian 25.05 (Debian 12) Vendor Kernel 6.1.xx? If so besides downloading the new image and installing fresh what are one's options?

A little clarification. Just install the EDGE core. The version must be 6.13.11 or higher.