Installing Armbian SD --> eMMc boots frpm eMMc [soLved]

[davemusic]

Armbian Bookworm 25.8.1. (minimal)
Odroid XU4 with 32GB eMMc

 

After lots of searching and trying 2017 Hardkernel solutions and github etc - And this forum suggestions - I could never get get it to boot. I think this is partly because things have changed since 2016/17.

 

I did not have my eMMc on an usb adapter. Just installed, brand new (untouched from China) eMMc and a imaage  install on MicroSD of Armbian.

 

The method  I believed should work was "armbian-install".  But, it had errors while using mkpartimage.
I put debug statements in the script and found the particular instance of invoking mkpartimage.
Actually the issue is; 2 files are missing from /boot folder.

Current SD installation image of Armbian minimal only creates one fdisk (MBR) partition on which /boot is a folder.
I tried for ages to create a separate /boot partition. Maybe, since I have now succeeded with an eMMc install, I might try doing a separate root and boot.

The 2 missing files are 
armbianEnv.txt and boot.cmd

 

If one "touch"es armbianEnv.txt then - if it doesn't exist it will be created -  if it does then no harm done. 

If one copies boot.ini to boot.cmd then these two things will satisfy armbian-install.

 

Amrbian-install correctly changes the R/O of mmcblkXboot1 (where X is emmc device number) write the boot stuff and markit back R/O.

It also ensures that armbianEnv.txt has got correct entries in it.

In summary

1. Install eMMc and Micro SD in XU4
2. Ensure SD/eMMc switch set to SD and boot armbian from SD
3. Login as root or use sudo

4. touch /boot/armbianEnv.txt
   cp /boot/boot.ini  /boot/boot.cmd
   armbian-install

5. choose the install and boot from eMMc option
6. shutdown
7. change switch to boot armbian from eMMc
8. boot