xispita

Just wanted to report that I have been experimenting compiling the kernel for Oleg's various Armbian images for S9XXX TV boxes and have managed to compile and boot mainline kernel, but this required a small change in Oleg's S905_autoscript in /boot.
Basically I just added a  couple of lines that bootm the uImage if it is present. If there is no uImage it proceeds to booti Oleg's zImage:
 
setenv boot_start_ml bootm ${kernel_addr} ${initrd_addr} ${dtb_mem_addr} if fatload mmc 0 ${kernel_addr} uImage; then if fatload mmc 0 ${initrd_addr} uInitrd; then if fatload mmc 0 ${env_addr} uEnv.ini; then env import -t ${env_addr} ${filesize};fi; if fatload mmc 0 ${dtb_mem_addr} ${dtb_name}; then run boot_start_ml; else store dtb read ${dtb_mem_addr}; run boot_start_ml;fi;fi;fi; I wrote two documents - 1. HOWTO compile the Linux kernel (either Oleg's patched kernel or mainline kernel straight from kernel.org) and 2. How to install the Linux kernel - that can be found here: 
http://wiki.loverpi.com/faq:sbc:libre-aml-s805x-install-newly-compiled-kernel
 
Right now I am running mainline 4.19.20 on a S905 TV box:
andrew@mxqpro4k:~$ uname -a Linux mxqpro4k 4.19.20-adb9ml #1 SMP PREEMPT Sun Feb 10 19:29:08 CET 2019 aarch64 aarch64 aarch64 GNU/ Linux  
andrew@mxqpro4k:~$ uptime 22:25:55 up 23:52,  1 user,  load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00
Note that there are two distinct ways to compile the Linux kernel for any S9XXXX TV box: you can cross-compile the kernel on a PC running Linux, or you can natively compile the Linux kernel on the TV box itself. I am routinely doing native compiles, using distcc on a build farm to speed compilation.

Hi xispita, the Linux kernel always reserves some memory for its internal use so it's impossible to have the full 1GB for applications. Also, sometimes it's possible to disable the video driver and recover some RAM without having to recompile the kernel, just by passing some arguments on the kernel command line (that's found in the file uEnv.ini in the BOOT partition on Armbian images).
I would have to investigate this issue but have not had enough time yet. As soon as I have some news on this front I'll post here in this thread.
You can also do some research on your side by googling "running linux headless command line parameters" or something similar to see if you find some relevant information. Surely somebody must have investigated this before! 

Hello xispita,
 
Yes, the 3.14.29 kernel as configured by default reserves 256MB of RAM for video out of the installed 1GB. To get more RAM for these headless compile nodes I guess I have to recompile the kernel and disable video completely, but I have not tried it yet, it's on my TODO list. 
 
 And yes, these Km8P boxes only work with ethernet under Linux, the wifi is not available unless one is willing to hack a special device tree for them, but that's a lot of work and it's not guaranteed to work. Note that for a build farm, wifi is not recommended. On the other hand if you just need a TV box for multimedia applications, it's simpler to stay with Android.

2.) At Android/Settings/About Device/System/updates. Note: You may have the Update and Backup app in the App Drawer.
-From the Update and Backup App, under the UpdateLocale section, click Select, select aml_autoscript.zip, click update.
 
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s905/tronsmart-ac/firmware-roms-tools-at/565449-running-linux-from-sd-card-or-usb-flash-drive-using-balbes150-method-and-files
 
http://forum.khadas.com/t/instructions-installation-multios-3in1-android-libreelec-linux-from-balbes150/2107