Install OS into eMMC

All VIM series boards have onboard eMMC storage, so you can install the OS into the eMMC using the USB upgrade tool.

Preparation

  1. Dowload the USB Upgrade Tool and extract it.
  2. Description of the USB Upgrade Tool’s directory contents:
    image
  • The V2 and V3 folders hold the original burning tool files
  • The burn tool folder stores burning tools and drivers for different boards
  1. Description of the burn tool directory contents:
    image
  • Driver-VIM1_2_3 Driver files for VIM1/VIM2/VIM3/VIM3L boards
  • Driver-VIM4 Driver files for the VIM4 board
  • VIM1_2_3.exe Burning tool for VIM1/VIM2/VIM3/VIM3L boards
  • VIM4.exe Burning tool for the VIM4 board

Installation

Driver Installation

  1. Enter the Driver-VIM1_2_3 directory, and install dpscat.exe. The installation process is quick, and there’s is no GUI display.
  2. Install dpinst64.exe. After the installation is successful, you can burn the firmware.

Make sure the driver is installed correctly, then follow the steps below to burn firmware:

  1. Enter the burn tool directory, open VIM1_2_3.exe, click File-->Import Image, then choose an image for your board.

  2. Connect your board to your PC with a USB-C data cable (the board will power on automatically).

  3. Put your board into Upgrade Mode.

  4. If you have performed steps 2 and 3 correctly, your PC will automatically discover your board as an attached USB-device.

    Now all you need to do is to click the Start button and wait for burning to complete:
    Image of USB_Upgrade_Tool_Interface_v217

Driver Installation

  1. Enter the Driver-VIM4 directory, install dpscat.exe. The installation process is quick, and there is no GUI display.
  2. Install dpinst64.exe. After the installation is successful, you can burn the firmware.

Make sure the driver is installed correctly, then follow the steps below to upgrade:

  1. Enter the burn tool directory, open VIM4.exe, click Setup-->Load Image, then choose an image for your board.

  2. Connect your board to your PC with a USB-C data cable (the board will power on automatically).

  3. Put your board into Upgrade Mode.

  4. If you have performed steps 2 and 3 correctly, your PC will automatically discover your board as an attached USB-device.

    Now all you need to do is to click the Start button and wait for burning to complete:
    Image of USB_Upgrade_Tool_Interface_v217

Tips
  • To interrupt burning, click the Stop button, then close the USB Upgrade Tool. Note that the eMMC may already have been completely erased if you went past the 15% mark
  • An External Power Supply may be required in cases where your PC cannot provide enough electrical power for the burning process
  • If your system is a 32-bit system, please select dpinst32.exe when installing the driver
Note

Tools were verified to function properly on Ubuntu only, we make no guarantees for other Linux distributions!

Preparation

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$ sudo apt-get install libusb-dev git parted

Download Burning Tool

Image burning tool for Ubuntu is in this repository utils.

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$ git clone https://github.com/khadas/utils

Or just pull it (if you have already cloned this repository).

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$ cd /path/to/utils
$ git pull

Install Burning Tool

You need to install USB rules and create some links.

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$ cd /path/to/utils
$ sudo ./INSTALL

You will see this print-out if it was successful.

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Installing Amlogic flash-tool...

===============================================

Host PC: Ubuntu 16.04

===============================================

Installing USB rules...
[sudo] password for User:
Installing flash-tool...
Done!

Installing Rockchip flash-tool...

===============================================

Host PC: Ubuntu 16.04

===============================================

Installing USB rules...
Installing flash-tool...
Done!
Installing Khadas burn-tool...
Done!
Note

Root privilege is required.

Check the USB Driver

You must now place your board into Upgrade Mode. See how to enter upgrade mode.
Check to see if Ubuntu has detected your board as an attached USB-device.

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$ lsusb | grep Amlogic
BUS 002 Device 036: ID 1b8e:c003 Amlogic, Inc.

The message above means that your board is connected and recogized by Ubuntu.

Install the System on Ubuntu

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$ aml-burn-tool -i /path/to/image

You will see these teminal logs if successful.

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Rebooting the board ........[OK]
Unpacking image [OK]
Initializing ddr ........[OK]
Running u-boot ........[OK]
Create partitions [OK]
Writing device tree [OK]
Writing bootloader [OK]
Wiping  data partition [OK]
Wiping  cache partition [OK]
Writing boot partition [OK]
Writing data partition [OK]
Writing logo partition [OK]
Writing system partition [OK]
Do you want to reset the board? y/n [n]? y
Resetting board [OK]
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$ aml-burn-tool -b VIM3 -i /path/to/image

You will see these Terminal logs if successful.

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Rebooting the board ........[OK]
Unpacking image [OK]
Initializing ddr ........[OK]
Running u-boot ........[OK]
Create partitions [OK]
Writing device tree [OK]
Writing bootloader [OK]
Wiping  data partition [OK]
Wiping  cache partition [OK]
Writing boot partition [OK]
Writing data partition [OK]
Writing logo partition [OK]
Writing system partition [OK]
Do you want to reset the board? y/n [n]? y
Resetting board [OK]
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$ aml-burn-tool -b VIM4 -i /path/to/image

For more information please refer to docs.

Uninstall Burning Tool

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$ cd /path/to/utils
$ sudo ./UNINSTALL

See Also