RockPi E doesn't work with kernel 6.12

[Benik3]

Hi.

I have RockPi E v1.21 and I found, that I'm not able to boot image with new kernel 6.12 (tried minimal images 25.2.1 and 24.11.1, USBImager and Balena Etcher, 3 SD cards, different power supplies). With image 24.8.3 it boots normally.
Also I found, that after upgrading 24.8.3 to kernel 6.12 the RockPi boots, but Ethernet doesn't work (even LEDs are dead).
Another thing which I notice is, that I didn't find any option to disable kernel upgrades, but what I googled, it should be present in armbian-config->system->kernel->Y203. But this Y203 option is missing.

 

Here is successful boot log of 24.8.3: https://paste.armbian.com/ixuvimofis.sql
here is boot log of 24.8.3 upgraded to 6.12: https://paste.armbian.com/ahezanixol.sql

Here is failing boot of 25.2.1:  https://paste.armbian.com/onuhumomob.yaml

P.S. on the successful boot of 24.8.3 I didn't have ETH cable connected, that's why there is Network connection timeout!, but it works fine after connecting.
What's weird, that both 24.8.3 boots says on the beginning Net: Could not get PHY for ethernet@ff540000: addr -1 No ethernet found.
But I assume that's problem only of u-boot, because it's before kernel boot.

 

Thanks!

Edited March 14 by Benik3

[Benik3]

It looks like the problem with not working ethernet after upgrade is after 24.11.1 version, because I now noticed, that I have one device upgraded to 24.11.1 and ethernet is working...

[Benik3]

25.5.0-trunk.316_Rockpi-e_plucky_current_6.12.21_minimal boots, but the problem with ethernet persist.
Bootlog with level 7: https://paste.armbian.com/bimosoyupi.yaml

[Igor]

Confirmed, many thanks for reporting.

 

6.12.y has troubles with one of the NICs, but as regressions at major kernel upgrades are totally normal and expected in embedded Linux, we are providing you this: https://docs.armbian.com/User-Guide_Armbian-Config/System/#install-alternative-kernels

 

Use older kernels:

 

 

On 3/14/2025 at 4:56 PM, Benik3 said:

Another thing which I notice is, that I didn't find any option to disable kernel upgrades, but what I googled, it should be present in armbian-config->system->kernel->Y203. But this Y203 option is missing.

 

Make sure you update armbian-config package before doing that, then proceed with "Disable Armbian upgrades"

https://docs.armbian.com/User-Guide_Armbian-Config/System/#enable-armbian-firmware-upgrades

 

It was moved to armbian-config -> system -> updates

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

 

Verify in CLI:

 

igorp@rockpi-e:~$ sudo apt-mark showhold
linux-dtb-current-rockchip64
linux-image-current-rockchip64

 

 

[Benik3]

Hi and thanks for reply.

I tried to dig more into the ethernet problem.
I found that there was already similar problem: https://forum.radxa.com/t/rock-pi-e-board-version-1-21-ethhernet-not-working-in-armbian/15061/4

There are 2 boards of RockPi-E 1.2 (using RTL8211E) and 1.21 (using RTL8211F).

So I tested the provided dts and it really helped. After sme trial-tests I found, that the real thing which helps is the compatible = "ethernet-phy-id001c.c916";

 

So using dts:
 

/dts-v1/;
/ {
	compatible = "rockchip,rk3328";
	fragment@0 {
		target-path = "/ethernet@ff540000/mdio";
		__overlay__ {
			ethernet-phy@1 {
				compatible = "ethernet-phy-id001c.c916";
			};
		};
	};
};

 

ethernet 0 is working fine.

 

Problem is, that with this dts the older RTL8211E will probably stop to work...

 

Thanks for pointing to the System updates. On 25 Armbian I see it, but on 24.8.3 when I updated only armbian-config, the Updates option is missing:

[Igor]

2 hours ago, Benik3 said:

Problem is, that with this dts the older RTL8211E will probably stop to work...

Probably. This can be solved by adding an overlay, so user can enable this at will, manually or via armbian-config.

 

2 hours ago, Benik3 said:

On 25 Armbian I see it, but on 24.8.3 when I updated only armbian-config, the Updates option is missing:

 

armbian-config lives in its own repository. Always make sure your packages are up2date / latest. Or at least armbian-config.