Armbian for tv box Z28

[r1kaomsk]

7 hours ago, Igor said:

You had luck booting Linux from SD card on this PRO version? 

no, have no luck at this point

[Da Alchemist]

I will check this out on monday 

 

[r1kaomsk]

Bad news for z28 pro owners.

There is no possible way to boot from micro sd card, because internal rockchip loader can only boot from SD card port 0 btw on z28 pro sd card module soldered out on port 1...

The only way to get working linux on z28 pro is flash it directry to eMMC from android, i will write step-by-step manual in few days.

 

 

Spoiler

 

[Da Alchemist]

Some Feedback. A short USBA-USBA (ca. 15cm) is not the solution. I could flash the z28 back to stock Firmware with the longer Cable before. eMMC Capacity is listed with 0kb in Android Tools.

[Fcs]

Hi all!

 

r1kaomsk, did you, by any chance, manage to make progress on the step-by-step flashing guide for the Z28 pro?  I would be very interested in trying it out!

 

Cheerio!

 

[boobypi]

Hi,

 

me too im asking if i buy Z28 or Z28Pro?

- According to this blog (http://tvboxstop.blogspot.com/2017/07/alfawise-z28-pro-android-71-rockchip.html) Z28 pro can be rooted with an update, so backup emmc seem to be possible before testing armbian. Emmc may give better performance to play youtube video in browser with crappy vpu mali support (i don't know how it's related but X2 belink user notice that...). Rockchip tool work on windows only, bad bad bad!

- Z28 cannot be rooted for now but can boot on sdcard (easy for testing armbian from linux desktop).
 

[Stuart Naylor]

Guess question between Z28 or Z28 pro is Fast ethernet or Gig.

If I was going armbian and tinkering then Z28 pro and presuming there is little difference between this and the Rock64?

Kwiboo & Longchair have made great inroads with the rockchip VOP & MALI the LibreElec guys have almost got it cracked but they are aiming for Leia for completion but much is working already.
https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread/4248-libreelec-krypton-leia-agile-build-for-odroid-c2-rock64-wetek-hub-wetek-play2/?pageNo=10

 

If you guys get armbian going on that for £26.25 wow that would be amazing bang for buck.

[r1kaomsk]

I have discovered there are FIVE versions of Z28 box is present, what's your version is? Some of they not able to boot from micro sd.

 

 

Edited September 17, 2017 by r1kaomsk

[Stuart Naylor]

Waiting for a Rock64 but the Z28 pro has been on my shopping list.
Not sure as its the RK3328 that I think dictates boot from SD0 so not sure how the others are working.

https://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_640682.html?vip=2663187&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImaXhqt2r1gIVr7_tCh2_0QHUEAAYASAAEgL32fD_BwE is the 1 I have been eyeing up with 2gb 8gb rom.

On the Rock64 if the eMMC isn't avail at sd0 then it will boot from the sd card at sd1 (I think)
Not sure how you can maybe short out or disable the eMMC if you can then it will prob boot from SD card.

[r1kaomsk]

[1] Original  Z28:

Can boot from micro SD

2 USB ports (1 x USB3, 1 x OTG)

WiFi provided by rtl8188.

PCB marked as "XJH-ZY168-V00".

 

Spoiler

 

 

[2] Cheaper Z28:

Can boot from micro SD (not sure)

2 USB ports (1 x USB3, 1 x OTG)

WiFi provided by ssv6051.

PCB marked as "XJH-ZY168-V01".

 

Spoiler

 

 

[3] Original Z28 Pro (Original Alfawise Z28 Pro):

Can't boot from micro SD.

3 USB ports (1 x USB3, 1 x OTG)

WiFi + Bluetooth provided by rtl8822. (placed inside fn6222B module)

Gigabit ethernet provided by rtl8211e.

PCB marked as "XJH-RK28-V10".
 

Spoiler

 

 

 

[4] Cheaper Z28 Pro (Cheaper Alfawise Z28 Pro):

Can't boot from micro SD.

3 USB ports (1 x USB3, 1 x OTG)

WiFi provided by rtl8189.

PCB marked as "XJH-RK28-V10".

 

Spoiler

 

 

[5] Cheaper 2 Z28 Pro (Cheaper 2 Alfawise Z28 Pro):

Can't boot from micro SD. (not sure)

3 USB ports (1 x USB3, 1 x OTG) (not sure)

WiFi provided by ssv6051.

PCB marked as "XJH-Q7L-V00".

[boobypi]

Many thks for information about differents versions.
Look like hard way to prepare a working FS on Z28 Pro with different wifi chip.

I read this :
https://www.blackhat.com/docs/us-17/wednesday/us-17-Etemadieh-Hacking-Hardware-With-A-$10-SD-Card-Reader-wp.pdf
about readind emmc from sdcard sdio.
In order to put sdcard insdead emmc it's seem to be possible to find DATA0-DATA3 CMD CLK on the board but it's need to desoldering emmc to find the resistances about emmc, then soldering / glue an sdcard socket to make some dev test.

When working resoldering emmc or buy new board...

[Da Alchemist]

Just as information, the latest ayufan images are not running on z28 and because  rock64 armbian is based on ayufans work it will also not boot.

So I would not recommend to buy such box at all, it is just another cheap chinese TV Box.

[r1kaomsk]

9 hours ago, Da Alchemist said:

the latest ayufan images are not running on z28 and because  rock64 armbian is based on ayufans work it will also not boot.

 

Still working well:

Spoiler

 

[exquisitus]

11 minutes ago, r1kaomsk said:

 

Still working well:

  Hide contents

 

which version is on the photo?

is that it https://www.banggood.com/Z28-RK3328-Quad-Core-2GB-RAM-16GB-ROM-Android-7_1-2_4G-WiFi-100M-LAN-4Kx2K-60fps-H_265-HEVC-Android-p-1133993.html

also, do you have a link for your (or somebody else's) tutorials on how to install armbian on rockchip boxes?

i have a need for a cheap *nix box with usb3 (can live without gbit) and, naturally, these rockchip boxes looks somewhat relevant, if i can put a *nix on them, that is...

Edited September 18, 2017 by exquisitus
add link

[r1kaomsk]

1 minute ago, exquisitus said:

also, do you have a link for your (or somebody else's) tutorials on how to install armbian on rockchip boxes?

I have wrote some manuals in russian language, you can use it if you can translate it - http://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=819860&st=340#entry63238627

 

2 minutes ago, exquisitus said:

which version is on the photo?

xenial-mate-rock64-0.5.10-118-arm64.img

[r1kaomsk]

1 hour ago, exquisitus said:

s that it https://www.banggood.com/Z28-RK3328-Quad-Core-2GB-RAM-16GB-ROM-Android-7_1-2_4G-WiFi-100M-LAN-4Kx2K-60fps-H_265-HEVC-Android-p-1133993.html

you must see on PCB and determine which version you have according this post -

 

[boobypi]

Hi!

Other way to may be possible boot, i have seen SV6051 wifi on Z28 Pro and MX9 MAX 2G 16G (a litle cheaper).
SV6051P can be easyly desoldered and give access to all pin for sdcard connector.
Do you know when the rock64 bootloader will change for more open? Now i understand it's work only in Maskroom mode.

Rock64 start to be mainline, so maybe it's not just an other chineese box

[r1kaomsk]

6 minutes ago, boobypi said:

SV6051P can be easyly desoldered and give access to all pin for sdcard connector.

for what? you can install linux in emmc if you have root on android, use termux and dd for writing ayufan's image to /dev/block/emmcblk0 directly from android

[boobypi]

8 minutes ago, r1kaomsk said:

for what? you can install linux in emmc if you have root on android, use termux and dd for writing ayufan's image to /dev/block/emmcblk0 directly from android

And if fail?
I have seen rkdumper utilty https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/rooting-roms/tool-rkdumper-utility-backup-firmware-t2915363
you made an backup of your android before?

In fail case, it's more fast with sdcard socket and i don't like onboard wifi, i also planing to use these SDIO as few gpio for external use (SW I2C).
 

[exquisitus]

3 hours ago, r1kaomsk said:

I have wrote some manuals in russian language, you can use it if you can translate it - http://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=819860&st=340#entry63238627

thanx for the link, some great info there, russian is no problem at all, i am on 4pda, it's a great forum

[Berni]

On 24.8.2017 at 11:44 PM, r1kaomsk said:

Bad news for z28 pro owners.

There is no possible way to boot from micro sd card, because internal rockchip loader can only boot from SD card port 0 btw on z28 pro sd card module soldered out on port 1...

The only way to get working linux on z28 pro is flash it directry to eMMC from android, i will write step-by-step manual in few days.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Do you already have more information about how to flash the eMMC? I'm thinking about buying some of these devices...

 

Another question: Does the Z28 Pro startup by itself after a power blackout? Or is there some way to achieve this? I want to use it as a server and obviously wouldn't want to press the on-button every time the power goes off

[boobypi]

The datasheet of RK3328 said there is only 2 sdio controler so if the sdio of sdcard is not the sdio 0 for booting, you have tu use the sdio used by wifi bt chip - useless because none have mainline driver.
There is datasheet for both module

- 622B module from fn-link : http://www.fn-link.com/uploadfile/2017/0426/20170426024705812.pdf

- SV6051P module from iComm :  https://www.iottech-corp.com/datasheet/iot/iTM1020_Datasheet_V1.6_12052016.pdf
These data give explicit pinout to soldering sdcard socket and should be on sdio 0 port for booting in maskmode

I think it's the easy way

[Da Alchemist]

Did an another test this morning  with xenial-minimal-rock64-0.5.10-118-arm64.img.xz from ayufans github.  It is not working on my z28 (XJH-ZY168-V00) , burned with etcher.  To test the SD card i took Kwiboos Openelec Image  LibreELEC-ROCK64.aarch64-8.2-devel-20170818172941-r26033-ge19c7b5.img and burned it to the same card.

Apart from no network and the annoying Heartbeat Led, this image is working.

[Stuart Naylor]

@Da Alchemist Have you tried raybuntu's libreelec as he has been grabbing and mixing some of the work done by Kwiboo, Longchair & omegamoon
https://github.com/Raybuntu/LibreELEC.tv

https://github.com/Raybuntu/LibreELEC.tv/releases/download/rb-krypton18/LibreELEC-ROCK64.arm-8.2-rb-krypton18.img.gz

Thats a z28 & not pro which has more similar layout to the Rock64 and maybe would have the network, anyone with a pro given it a go?
 

http://kszaq.libreelec.tv/sources/ssv6xxx-1041e7d.tar.gz?

[Rosimildo]

I have got a Z28 board ( 8188 wifi ),  and I have been able to boot Linux from SD card. 

I used the image from the begin of this thread. 

 

I'd like to help testing the VPU driver. Is there any  built image with VPU enabled, and possibly with gstreamer/FFMPEG using the VPU capabilities. 

No need for Mali stuff for now.

 

Any link with pointers would be nice.

 

Thanks.

[Stuart Naylor]

@rosimildo

http://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/ROCK64_Main_Page#ROCK64_Software_Images has it with links to github.

https://github.com/Raybuntu/LibreELEC.tv/releases has much done with the work from kwiboo, longchair & omegamoon

The majority is inplace and they aim to have it complete for the introduction of Kodi Leia.

http://linux-sunxi.org/Mali_binary_driver or https://developer.arm.com/products/software/mali-drivers

PS did you guys just disable the eMMC? Is it an easy job as if SD0 doesn't exist it should boot from SD1 like on the Rock64 or is it more involved.

The TV box that really interests me is the Bqeel MVR9 (NT-N9) as there is also a 4Gb version but finding it anywhere on sale apart from toaboa.com is another matter.

The teardown specs look really good.
https://www.cnx-software.com/2017/07/14/bqeel-mvr9-tv-box-review-part-1-specifications-unboxing-and-teardown/

[Rosimildo]

thanks for all links. I will browse them.

 

rock64@rock64:~$ uname -a
Linux rock64 4.4.77-rockchip-ayufan-118 #1 SMP Thu Sep 14 21:59:24 UTC 2017 aarch64 aarch64 aarch64 GNU/Linux
 

I forgot to mention what works and what don't on the image I used, even though, I upgraded using the "apt-get" commands.

 

1. "reboot" does not work. It hangs, and a power off is required to restart.

2.  Ethernet does not work, and "MAC address"  changes on each reboot.

3.  "Wi-Fi" is really bad, I need to place box close to the Router ( AP ).  Something no more then 5m  ( Chip is 8188 ).

 

 

[Stuart Naylor]

Yeah what is really interesting you got it working good job and +10 from me.
Dunno about reboot but you have access to start hacking why.
The ethernet "Mac address" change can be read about on the Rock64 forum as the early images where the same.
The rock64 has 128Mb SPIflash which with my dodgy memory is where the mac is being stored but prob doesn't exist on the z28.

Guess just hardwired mac address

 

/etc/init.d/networking stop

ifconfig eth0 hw ether 02:01:02:03:04:08

/etc/init.d/networking start

or is it

 

/etc/init.d/network stop

ip link set eth0 address 02:01:02:03:04:08

/etc/init.d/network start

I get all confussed what debian & ubuntu are using now.

Or create a permanent entry in /etc/network/interfaces
hwaddress ether 02:01:02:03:04:08

Apparently linux-image-4.13.0-rockchip-ayufan-130-g4f68418_0.5.13_arm64.deb will not load from eMMC but SD works prob due to the EVB inclusions in 4.12 dunno if that helps with those who are trying to load Linux.

[Berni]

@Rosimildo: So, do I understand right: When you plug in the power supply, it automatically starts but a reboot issued from console hangs and you have to unplug the power supply? What happens if you tell it to poweroff from console? For me, this sounds like some ACPI problem...there is a kernel parameter "reboot" which you could try:

reboot=b[ios] | s[mp] | t[riple] | k[bd] | e[fi] [, [w]arm | [c]old] | p[ci]

warm Don't set the cold reboot flag
cold Set the cold reboot flag
bios Reboot by jumping through the BIOS (only for X86_32)
smp Reboot by executing reset on BSP or other CPU (only for X86_32)
triple Force a triple fault (init)
kbd Use the keyboard controller. cold reset (default)
acpi Use the RESET_REG in the FADT
efi Use efi reset_system runtime service
pci Use the so-called "PCI reset register", CF9
force Avoid anything that could hang.

[Rosimildo]

@Berni,

Yes,  when I issue a "reboot" command from the console, it hangs. I have to unplug the power supply from the board for a couple of seconds and power it again.

Unfortunately I don;t have a serial console or something like that to display any errors. 

 

I think many of these options don;t apply to ARM, and since there is no BIOS/ACPI/PCI, etc.

 

R