Nofan Tasi

How to build your own version of Linux, you can read these links.
 
http://docs.khadas.com/
 
http://www.linux-meson.com/doku.php
 
http://openlinux.amlogic.com/

Test versions images (20170401) server and mate  kernel 4.10.8. When run from SD card the system starts up and allows you to log in through the console UART. Network and USB does not work yet. Error with the eMMC. Note that these images are for experienced users only, if you would be willing to help with debugging and testing.

A test image of Ubuntu with the Mate-4.9 (test\4_9\20170329) if you wish to see , let the poor, but the image of the desktop (the image is doubling, how to cure, I have not yet found). Console output not working, but the graphic image appears. Initial configuration you need to perform either via SSH or via UART. After the initial setting, after restarting there is a DE.

Run the command "make menuconfig" and remove from the configuration Assembly u-boot. This set of files not needed for normal use for TV boxes. To replace the stock u-boot in the TV box for this option is risky. It probably not support all the features of the TV box (buttons on the remote control and the inclusion of a number of other features of this particular iron TV box).

Hi Marc.
1. linux.img is the kernel image + initrd , which is automatically generated Assembly environment Armbian for use when installing to the internal memory. I haven't tested, but most likely here it does not work, just comes automatically when you build the image. You can delete it.
2. the scripts start and activate the multi-boot the same and does not depend on the engine.
3. the module mali.ko in this Assembly not included.

During the compilation, was built a file: mali.ko, Which is placed in the file system /output/target  In folder /lib/modules/3.14.29/kernel/amlogic/gpu
 
gpu r6p1 Installing to target
 
In folder buildroot-openlinux-20170310/output/mesongxm_q200/build created folder /gpu-r6p1

Compiled a test version of Ubuntu server-4.9. Want to try - website catalog test\4.9 . Note that you need to download another dtb file and add the media with the name of the dtb.img. Monitor not working yet, but you can connect over the network via SSH or through the console UART. I checked the work on s905x, the network is working SSH, you can manage the system.
 
 
p.s. Who is interested in the kernel sources - I GIT s905 in the thread "test".

I thought S912 has Mali T820...

It seems transition to repo correctly is imminent,  but for now one can still download from
http://openlinux.amlogic.com:8000/download/ARM/filesystem/buildroot-openlinux-20170310.tar.gz
Then one can go from step:
% source buildroot/build/setenv.sh
no password needed.
I am doing this right now...
 

For me more interesting is a mali driver for S912...

So can I remove this option from source that he would not mislead others ?
 
Sometimes this bug I see when connected via HDMI adapter. Perhaps when you activate the port of the TV box can not set the correct parameters.
 
 
While the BT support is not the main priority. Perhaps in future versions it to appear, but I do not guarantee.

info
I connect 60Gb 2.5" IDE HDD via Jmicon USB-PATA-SATA bridge with ext power supply
image S9xxx_4G_ICEWM_MATE_XFCE_LXDE_LXQT_20170129.img
The system is booted up and running
Also using gparted I ran a swap of 4GB  partition sda3
Using QEMU successfully launched winxpsp3 , 512 Mb RAM , with networking
Sandra 2005 determined the Pentium2-333 processor, the speed is about 70-200 MIPS
SoC S905X / TVBox MiniM8II / SZTomatoto vim v1.2
 

Version update 5.27 (test 20170314).

Some news from my side ... I wasn't able to boot on the openlinux kernel (different method used but no boot at all or keeping on the first beelink logo, or black screen ... )
But ... I didn't have uart wired so ... I'm probably not seeing what the system is asking to me ...
 
@Nofan Tasi I built it with the simple make, with the q200_2g config (which is perhaps not the best config, but which should I think work ? ) build process is ok on my side with no errors, just warnings.

The new backup/restore script is ready and tested.
Not a new script really, just some usefull additions.
Some proof here
You can download it from here
All the changes are in the script's comments as usual.
Hope it helps.

New image (dir Test 20170303) correction module mali. Checked on S905X - everything works, the temperature is over 70 degrees, the system is not falling. Please check at home. Please check the work WiFi network.

Test version "5.26".

Changed kernel configuration. I'll see in the next version.

A little test of the effectiveness of active cooling and the potential use as a media center with KODI. Install network of rap KODI (15.2). Prescribed in the file .xinitrc to run KODI (straight run only KODI, without DM). Started the system from USB stick on i7Pro (PCB without housing, standard radiator + USB fan with separate power supply). Mode 720. Playback test clips (from the image Armbian) occurs in fullscreen mode. The smoothness of the video is not the best, but I was interested in temperature. Connection via UART console , run "armbian -m". Monitoring shows the average temperature when playing video 49-55 Degrees, a frequency of about 2000. The temperature in the idle drops to 35-38 degrees (at a frequency of 250). Thus it is possible to consider this option - a very early alpha for Libreelec on the basis of the usual  Ubuntu, with advantages in a standard package management system and the ability to run as required graphical desktop (XFCE MATE DM etc) with all the advantages of standard office systems. I think if we solve the problem of not properly start the graphical environment for the authorization of entrance and selection of used DM (xdm lightdm lxdm etc), then you can create an easy to use universal system. If you need media center - chose KODI (or other similar systems), you need the desktop version - chose a convenient DM (XFCE MATE KDE, LXQT LXDM etc). 

Update images. (20170205) TEST
 
Changes.
 
1. Added a lot of kernel modules for peripheral devices (DVB DTV Net Touchscreen etc)
2. Added script dd_backup_x to create a compressed copy of the internal memory (by xXx details about the script on the forum armbian in the subject s905\s905x)
3. Added a script to evaluate the performance of the CPU aml_cpu.sh in the /root directory
4. In the image MATE added a number of packages (screensaver, screenshot, multimedia, utility etc)

It would be nice to be tested on different devices, users, to have more data for evaluation.

The difference in temperature decrease is noticeable only with a good cooling system. The problem with all TV boxes - very bad cooling system when shipped from the factory. Closed plastic case, very small heatsink, bad thermal pad / tape. All of this gives a very large thermal inertia (heat dissipation processor has long since reduced, but the overall temperature is reduced very slowly, the heat no where to go). I ran some tests.
1. Staffing the state TV of the box (no changes in the hull and the cooling system).
2. Without housing, but the cooling system is normal (did not change the heatsink and thermal pads).
3. Without housing, replace the thermal pads on kachestvenno thermal grease.
4. Without housing, high-quality thermal grease, replacement of standard radiator is increased.
5. Without housing, thermal grease, increased radiator + fan.
And now can definitely say the potential of all platforms (S905 S905X S912), is severely limited by the poor heat dissipation system. 5 are very well visible link to reduce the frequency and temperature decrease from maximum load to minimum. The difference is 10-20 Degrees for a long period of time. The worse the heat dissipation , the less noticeable the difference between the minimum and maximum temperature.
 
https://yadi.sk/i/AXsVyyk-3CnRGN

Image update CPU_OVER (fixed armbianmonitor at S912).
 
Specially made a video of how to change frequencies for different load s905x and s912.
Note that in s912 (Vega S96) is used dtb from the regular firmware, and s905x (i7Pro) is used dtb from the image (gxl_p212_2G).
 
https://yadi.sk/d/VKM8oWhI3C2ob3
 
 
Replaced the zImage file to the fixed version (directory FIX) for manual replacement into existing images.

The trial version of images, "3.14.29_CPU_OVER" (The TEST directory). Changed the range of available CPU frequencies 0-2000. Please check these images on the S905 S905X and S912 with the necessary control over the temperature and frequency of the processor (run in terminal as user "root" command "armbianmonitor -m"). According to my subjective feelings playing a test video even at full resolution works better than a range 500-1536. The overall temperature , it seemed to me , was below.