Hqnicolas

Hello,
Just compiled and installed Armbian 24.11 (6.1.75 vendor kernel for rk35xx) on this H96 MAx TV Box (m9S version) following instructions in this post. Thanks to @Hqnicolas, @cmuki, @hzdm et al.  Everything running smoothly (except BT, as usual with the tv boxes). I had to recompile the vendor kernel with this patch applied to solve an issue reported here (applications crashing, system not responding) related to  the maximum number of threads allowed by the kernel.
 
Will try to run some RKNN stuff, to check the NPU and see it in action. My use case requires running some computer vision and style transfer models with a reasonable frame rate.

In a groundbreaking development, the Armbian team has officially announced the Armbian Unified Kernel Initiative (AUKI), a revolutionary step towards simplifying Linux on ARM single-board computers. Starting with Armbian kernel v6.14, all previous kernel variants will be merged into a single, all-encompassing kernel that supports every single board and hardware feature out of the box.
One Kernel to Rule Them All
Gone are the days of fragmented kernel versions, custom patches, and hardware-specific quirks. With the new AUKI framework, users no longer have to worry about selecting the right kernel for their device—it just works. Whether you’re running an old Allwinner-based board or a cutting-edge Rockchip or NXP system, the same kernel will seamlessly handle all drivers, features, and optimizations.
UEFI Standardization for All Boards
The traditional ARM boot process has been one of the biggest pain points for Linux users, requiring board-specific U-Boot implementations and patches. Armbian’s new boot method fully adopts UEFI standards, making it possible to boot any supported board just like an x86 PC. This means:
Unified bootloader across all platforms
Secure Boot & TPM support on compatible hardware
Multi-boot from USB, NVMe, and SD cards with no extra configuration
Real-Time Kernel Switching
Armbian kernel v6.14 also introduces instant real-time kernel switching. Whether you need a standard kernel for everyday tasks or a real-time kernel for low-latency applications, you can now toggle between the two by simply adding a kernel command-line switch—no recompiling, no reinstallation. Users can also switch modes effortlessly via armbian-config.
AI & Video Acceleration—Out of the Box
For the first time ever, hardware-accelerated AI inference and video decoding will be universally available on all supported ARM platforms. Whether you’re using Mali, Vivante, or Adreno GPUs, your web browser will automatically leverage full acceleration for machine learning and video tasks—without the need for extra drivers or proprietary blobs.
Unmatched Performance: Instant Boot, 50% Speed Boost
Thanks to deep optimizations and contributions from over 1,000 developers, Armbian kernel v6.14 delivers:
Boot times under 2 seconds on most SBCs
50% overall performance improvement across the board
Enhanced power efficiency, extending battery life on mobile setups
Powered by the Bates Foundation

These remarkable advancements were made possible by the Bates Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding open-source initiatives where traditional businesses and governments fall short. Their generous support has enabled a global team of 1,000+ engineers to bring this vision to life.

What’s Next?
The new kernel will roll out in Armbian’s next major release, with preview builds available starting today. Existing users will be automatically migrated via armbian-config. The future of Armbian—and ARM Linux as a whole—has never looked brighter.
The post Armbian Unified Kernel Initiative (AUKI): One Kernel to Power Them All first appeared on Armbian.
View the full article

It won't work, openvfd is another driver and wants things a different way.
Not to blame the author, but unfortunately openvfd is badly designed. tm16xx driver instead is very well designed, and is the way to go. 👌

In my H96 TV box I have been running Armbian for over an year. Works great. Today I did a fresh install of:

Armbian_community_25.5.0-trunk.256_Rk3318-box_bookworm_current_6.12.19_minimal.img.xz

uname -a shows:

rk3318-box> uname -a
Linux rk3318-box 6.12.19-current-rockchip64 #2 SMP PREEMPT Thu Mar 13 12:02:20 UTC 2025 aarch64 GNU/Linux

It is my understanding that Linux 6.12+ kernel already have all the real-time patches in the mainline kernel sources. All one needs to do is to 

1. rebuild the kernel after configuring for FULL PREEMPT-RT  support

or (if kernel already built with this configured)
1a. reboot after providing to 'grub'  a boot option "preempt=full"

If any one has had experience running the full PREEMPT-RT kernel on rk3318 (or any Armbian box)?  

What are the best steps to get and natively build a new kernel for 6.12.19 on my rk3318 box (only show 27 Gb free though, may not be enough.)

 

Continuing on the topic of replacing the LPDDR4 memory chip.
Here is a successful experience of replacement.

Desktop installation: (XFCE and Gnome at the moment)
 

 

 
https://docs.armbian.com/User-Guide_Armbian-Software/Desktops/
 
automatic install and uninstall on code changes and daily modular packages assembly https://github.com/armbian/configng/blob/main/tools/modules/system/module_desktop_packages.sh clean and minimal (will be cleaned more, PR is welcome)

DNS ad blocker section:


 
https://docs.armbian.com/User-Guide_Armbian-Software/DNS/ 
containerized with official images tested with networkd and Network Manager tested on arm64  
 
 

Mission: provide easy way to configure OS and install services
 
armbian-config provides configuration and installation routines for customizing and automating tasks within Armbian Linux environment. These utilities help streamline setup processes for various use cases.
 

 
 
Key Advantages
Lightweight: Minimal dependencies for optimal performance. Flexible: Supports JSON, TUI, CLI, and API interfaces. Modern: A fresh approach to configuration. Low entropy: Byte clean uninstall for most targets. Features
System Configuration: Kernel management, headers, hardware tweaks. NFS and ZFS storage management. SSH user access tweaks. System updates, rolling / stable, containers update. Network Management: Fixed / dynamic IP configuration. Connecting to wireless network. Access point management. Localization Settings: Configure time zone. Set language and locales. Change hostname. Software Management: Software installation and removal. Native and containerized environment. Standardised, updatable, maintained.  
Compatibility
This tool is tailored to works best with Armbian Linux but it has also been automatically tested on:
Debian Bookworm Ubuntu Jammy Ubuntu Noble  
In theory it should work on all systemd APT based Linux distributions: Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Kali Linux, MX Linux, Parrot OS, Proxmox, Raspberry Pi OS, ...

Getting Started
Armbian config is preinstalled on Armbian. Open or login into your terminal and run:
 
armbian-config  
 
End users:
Request new software title
 
Documentation:
Armbian config | Optimised software
 
Developers:
Adding a new feature or software install title

We don't have this board, but you can find users with this model in this link
you could also find people on https://www.t95plus.com/
use other topics as development path

@dfahren 
I see that you have a lot to add here,
I would like you to participate in the integration of this board in Joshua Riek's project to enable RKNPU,
where the board already works but there is the problem of the maskrom button, micro stuttering and the memory clock.
 
edit: the u-boot 2025.01 for h96max v56 was merged, also wifi works out of the box, no patch needed. 
@maka @mvpwar @hzdm @dfahren @Vincenzoernst1 @pessimism
please keep a copy from next armbian release for this board.
 

@dfahren 
I see that you have a lot to add here,
I would like you to participate in the integration of this board in Joshua Riek's project to enable RKNPU,
where the board already works but there is the problem of the maskrom button, micro stuttering and the memory clock.
 
edit: the u-boot 2025.01 for h96max v56 was merged, also wifi works out of the box, no patch needed. 
@maka @mvpwar @hzdm @dfahren @Vincenzoernst1 @pessimism
please keep a copy from next armbian release for this board.
 

@Hqnicolas    Thanks! Yes and yes. 😀
I'd like to have others test this u-boot, too, if you don't mind. In due time, you will get a PR for your repo and may include it in Armbian. However, I think it is too special for inclusion right into Armbian source code, but you can decide once you looked at the PR.

@tnt

i also didnt get the the sd slot running. i soldered 3 NEW slots and none of them worked. since i ordered a 10 pack from china i didnt mind to dump them after unsoldering.
i always got a dmesg error (logs somewhere above).
 
there are 2 errors possible:
bad china quality slots there is something on the board missing.  
also i dont think there was somthing wrong with the soldering since im an enineer and solder on daily basis. btw. i uses a hot air gun for solderding, therefor it i also should be working.

if there are now 2 of us having problems i might thingk its no problem on my side.....

You're the first reporting, so, if when you have Armbian in your device, and it shows 8gb, it's 8gb.
about the wifi/ethernet problem:
it's a BUG made by the chinese developer that misconfig pinout's in dtb, that we can fix here...
 
 
50% of the problem is recognizing the problem, 45% is fighting it and 5% is talent you are at 50% already.
start your journey against the other 45% and find the 5% along the way.

I bought a similar chip for ~15$ on Taobao:
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=828400739165
 
But it is profitable to buy on Taobao if let's say order something else say in the amount of 1kg - that the delivery (about 20$, of course, shipping is only through an intermediary) paid for itself.

Fantastic,
 
I just booted Armbian with a 6.12 kernel, and for the first time since august I have a desktop system on my OPI 5's.
 
And of course armbian-config work.
 
It was right before my OPI5's went to recycling......
 
Happy
 
Gullik
 

After applying patch from previous post, it updated to latest version without complaining about unhealthy status:

the Github actions still working, it will be released in 5 hours.
 
 

Stay on Armbian Mainline 6.6.  I'ts stable and updated,

the Joshua Riek h96 v56 max 6.1 Project is for iA that uses the RKnpu. and it's old and unstable.

@DreamDreams @dfahren
 

this is already the second patch update for joshua riek that I made so now I will send an board add request.
https://github.com/Joshua-Riek/ubuntu-rockchip/pull/1179
https://github.com/Joshua-Riek/linux-rockchip/pull/40
https://github.com/Joshua-Riek/linux-rockchip/pull/39
 

TV Box Name: H96 MAX V56
CPU: RockChip RK3566
Armbian build file name: Armbian_community_24.8.0-trunk.6_H96-tvbox-3566_jammy_current_6.6.32_gnome_desktop.img.xz
Kernel Version: 6.6.32 
Kernel Version: 6.12.6
Distribution Installed (focal, buster, etc): Jammy
Working Ethernet (Yes/No): yes
Max Ethernet Speed that works (100/1000): 1000 Gigabit
Does wifi work (Yes/No): Yes
Does bluetooth work (Yes/No): depends on User WorkAround
Does HDMI audio work (Yes/No): Yes
Additional Comments (provide any additional information you feel is important):
 
No TF-Card Boot and No USB boot
all done by Rockchip Hardware flash
Topic 4/32gb
Topic 8/64gb

Updated Links for this topic with Unofficial images Kernel 6.12.6
server noble https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ulAH8sqdGkkWeAEFSHqTZaWg1N1Yrqnh/view?usp=sharing
desktop noble https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sVKe_HbmxcSpuls_AAGIOnyaxcYKTkKl/view?usp=sharing
jammy server https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C_P2ojuMdtTgT9aMAjoblPDSVw1tD8Wr/view?usp=sharing
jammy desktop https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pmOXNiedEWzHetJZ4CmASZKZsgAElQag/view?usp=sharing
bookworm server https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NvUwikDr08RdY6oJj3PFtx-N16_QkMtR/view?usp=sharing
bookworm desktop https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VtHnIidMDT8P-wzL_Wwv4v6TUzrgNC2z/view?usp=sharing
How to flash:
Same as V1.1
 
 
 
 

@DreamDreams I will try to update this Joshua Riek Patch File
Joshua Riek Kernel Files
Kernel 6.1
Kernel 5.1
KernelConfig
Old Test Report
 

We are very sorry that your device was damaged, I suggest you contact the manufacturer of the product so that they can give you all the support you deserve as a paying consumer of the product.
If the manufacturer is listed in the link below, I believe you will have better luck with your device.
https://www.armbian.com/partners/
 
I would like you to replace your device with a device from my preferred manufacturer
https://www.banana-pi.org/

 

Hello @Hồng Thao Vũ Welcome to armbian

the latest releases
Full tutorial
@GBEM Have a Tutorial to

 

What a rare thing I am. Maybe a trasgo, I don't know. Got chromium from apt and worked like a charm.