Gabriel Becker

NanoPi M5 test report for 26.5.1 vendor images
 
Board: NanoPi M5
Boot media: SD card
Kernel branch tested: vendor 6.1.115
Test scope: quick first-boot / first-login / desktop smoke test only. I mainly tested the vendor kernel images because my intended use case requires vendor kernel support, especially for NPU-related use later.
 
1. Image: `Armbian_26.5.1_Nanopi-m5_resolute_vendor_6.1.115_gnome_desktop.img.xz`
 
Result: OK
 
What worked:
 
* Booted from SD card successfully.
* Armbian initial configuration completed successfully.
* After initial configuration, the GNOME desktop started normally.
* I was able to enter the desktop and open a few basic applications.
 
Notes:
 
* I did not do a full hardware validation in this round.
* I did not collect serial logs because the image reached the desktop successfully.
 
2. Image: `Armbian_26.5.1_Nanopi-m5_resolute_vendor_6.1.115_kde-plasma_desktop.img.xz`
 
Result: FAILED
 
What worked:
 
* Booted from SD card successfully.
* Armbian initial configuration started normally.
 
What did not work:
 
* The system got stuck at the Armbian first-login / initialization screen when it was supposed to start the desktop.
* It did not proceed to a usable KDE Plasma desktop.
 
Notes:
 
* I only did a basic desktop startup test.
* I have not collected serial logs yet, but I can retest and provide logs if needed.
 
3. Image: `Armbian_26.5.1_Nanopi-m5_trixie_vendor_6.1.115_minimal.img.xz`
 
Result: CLI OK, XFCE installation failed
 
What worked:
 
* Booted from SD card successfully.
* Armbian initial configuration completed successfully.
* Login to the terminal worked normally.
* Basic CLI usage appeared normal.
 
What did not work:
 
* I tried installing XFCE through `armbian-config`, using the XFCE mid option.
* The desktop package dependencies appeared to download successfully.
* After that, the screen switched to a black screen with a blinking terminal cursor in the top-left corner.
* I waited for about 10 minutes, but it stayed stuck there and did not continue to a usable desktop.
 
Notes:
 
* The base minimal image itself seemed to work correctly from the terminal.
* The issue happened during or after the XFCE installation/startup process via `armbian-config`.
* I have not collected detailed logs yet, but I can retest and provide logs if needed.
 
Summary:
 
* `resolute_vendor_6.1.115_gnome_desktop`: boots from SD card and reaches GNOME desktop successfully.
* `resolute_vendor_6.1.115_kde-plasma_desktop`: boots from SD card, but gets stuck at the Armbian first-login / initialization screen and does not reach KDE Plasma.
* `trixie_vendor_6.1.115_minimal`: boots from SD card and CLI works, but installing XFCE mid through `armbian-config` gets stuck on a black screen with a blinking cursor.