OSMC Vero 4k (non plus) (2GB/16GB) (SD card needed)

[patientgamer]

TV Box Name: OSMC Vero 4k

CPU: Amlogic S905X

Armbian build file name:

• Armbian_community_25.5.0-trunk.301_Aml-s9xx-box_bookworm_current_6.12.20_minimal.img
• Armbian_community_25.5.0-trunk.301_Aml-s9xx-box_bookworm_current_6.12.20_xfce_desktop.img

DTB file used: meson-gxl-s905x-vero4k.dtb

U-Boot used: u-boot-s905x-s912

Kernel Version: 6.12.20

Distribution Installed: bookworm

Working Ethernet: Yes

Max Ethernet Speed that works: 100Mbps

Does wifi work: No

Does bluetooth work: Yes

Does HDMI audio work: No

Additional Comments (provide any additional information you feel is important):

 

WARNING: RISK OF BRICKING! Only proceed if you know what you're doing and are willing to accept the risk of bricking your device!

 

If your use case doesn't require Armbian or the latest Linux kernel, you may want to try these solutions first:

• Run `systemctl disable mediacenter` from the OSMC terminal and continue from there
• Simple X11 desktop: https://discourse.osmc.tv/t/testing-x11-simple-desktop-chromium-web-browser-in-a-simple-installer-for-stretch/16846
• Headless arm64 Docker: https://discourse.osmc.tv/t/non-official-headless-arm64-docker-solution-for-vero4k/108666/4

 

Toothpick method doesn't boot Armbian, because standard u-boot config expects kernel.img and dtb.img to be present in a different file format than Armbian provides.
Getting Armbian to boot requires changing the u-boot environment to the one provided by aml_autoscript. This can be done from a working OSMC installation or recovery.
The method below ensures you can still boot the original OSMC installation by removing the SD card.

 

Prerequisites:

• Terminal skills and patience
• Vero 4k with working OSMC installation (https://osmc.tv/wiki/vero-4k/reinstalling-osmc/)
• USB keyboard and HDMI monitor attached to Vero
• High quality micro SD card
• PC with SD card reader
• Toothpick or similar (non-conducting)

 

SD card preparation:

• Download latest image: https://www.armbian.com/amlogic-s9xx-tv-box/
• Write image to SD card as described in this post: https://forum.armbian.com/topic/33676-installation-instructions-for-tv-boxes-with-amlogic-cpus/

 

Let's get dangerous! To change the u-boot configuration on the Vero 4k:

• Boot Vero into recovery by applying power and holding the (left) shift button. This might take a few tries
• The device should prompt a tty screen. Login with user osmc and password osmc
• Run the following commands (these are from the aml_autoscript file in the Armbian /boot partition):

 

IMPORTANT: Make sure these lines are exactly correct, because if not it can mess up the boot process and brick your device!

fw_setenv bootcmd 'run start_autoscript; run osmcfromsd; run osmcfromusb; run storeboot'
fw_setenv start_autoscript 'if mmcinfo; then run start_mmc_autoscript; fi; if usb start; then run start_usb_autoscript; fi; run start_emmc_autoscript'
fw_setenv start_emmc_autoscript 'if fatload mmc 1 1020000 emmc_autoscript; then autoscr 1020000; fi;'
fw_setenv start_mmc_autoscript 'if fatload mmc 0 1020000 s905_autoscript; then autoscr 1020000; fi;'
fw_setenv start_usb_autoscript 'for usbdev in 0 1 2 3; do if fatload usb ${usbdev} 1020000 s905_autoscript; then autoscr 1020000; fi; done'

 

• To verify, run `fw_printenv | grep bootcmd` etc.

 

The fun part: boot into Armbian

• Power off the device: execute `poweroff` command, wait until device light is red and remove power.
• Insert the Armbian SD card into the Vero 4k. It should go in upside down and all the way until you hear a slight click sound.
• Apply power again
• After some u-boot and kernel logs the device should show the Armbian boot up screen
• Enjoy Armbian on your Vero 4k!
• Removing the SD card should boot into OSMC from eMMC again.

 

Many thanks to @SteeMan for helping me with the original troubleshooting here: https://forum.armbian.com/topic/49733-installing-armbian-on-vero-4k-does-not-boot-from-sd-card

 

Hardware video acceleration, HDMI audio and WiFi don't seem to work out of the box, but I can imagine that with some effort it's possible.

 

Edited April 2 by patientgamer