http://lkcl.net/reports/odroid-u2.html
this is an install report (successful one!) with full bootstrap instructions on how to get from android to debian GNU/Linux (armhf variant) on an ODroid-U2 device. it's got quirks (the hardware) but the sheer tiny size for something that has 3 USBs and Ethernet is just... i couldn't resist. Software Freedom Caveats: a) i'm deeply unhappy to have learned that Hardkernel have enabled DRM in the bootloader, and require that, if you want to modify u-boot, you must send them the u-boot image and *they* will sign it with their private key. this is deeply unimpressive but at least they will actually sign it... unlike e.g. the fucked-up arrangement with UEFI boot and microsoft and the linux foundation. try asking microsoft "excuse me could you please sign my linux kernel i built" and see how far that gets. regardless of that screw-up-of-an-arrangement, i found that the pre-installed pre-built u-boot did not need modifying so i did not need to contact hardkernel.com: the default parameters of the default pre-built u-boot will look for a kernel on the NAND partition first, followed by looking for one on the SD Card partition. personally i feel this should be the other way round, but hey, it worked. b) the HDMI framebuffer appears to need a proprietary library (as usual) to compile up the X11 driver. as this qualifies as a "System Library" and thus is covered by the GPL Exceptions Clauses it's kinda ok, only not really if you know what i mean. i've spoken to libv on #lima and he's got an odroid-x2 which he's just started playing with, and will be getting the mali wrapper library back up-and-running in order to start tackling xorg. anyway: the process didn't need to install android developer tools under debian, and, amazingly, all the compilation was done *native* on the Odroid-U2 itself. all this "cross-compiling" bollocks, that's all out the window. kernel including modules took around 10 to 15 minutes using "make -j6", which is not bad. specifications of the odroid u2, for $85 (!) * Quad-Core 1.7ghz (!) ARM Cortex A9 * 2gb of RAM * 2 USB ports, 1 Micro-USB (OTG) * 1 10/100 Ethernet RJ45 * 1 Micro-HDMI * Micro-SD slot * Optional ($25 for an 8gbyte chip) NAND Flash module (eMMC) * Headphone socket (which i've not been able to get to work yet) limitations found so far: * Ethernet you *must* boot up with the cable plugged in, it looks like auto-detect doesn't work * the HDMI framebuffer is hard-coded in the kernel source to 1280x720 apparently. * the sound chip comes up only with switches, no volumes (!) in alsamixer. * Android's ethernet support is unstable if you push the transfer sizes a bit hard, but Debian seems fine overall conclusion: some quirks but for $85+$25+MicroHDMI cable it's not bad! l. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [email protected] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [email protected] Archive: http://lists.debian.org/capweedxafhw9zkhh7qlhsxg4pngjhbegz8m7ziy5k7xbeyi...@mail.gmail.com
