How to Make Mobian Boot to Command Line

[Ubermunchen]

So after a bit of experimenting, I have found a method to turn Mobian into a command line version of Debian. It may not be the best way to get this done, but it works. I am always open to other approaches. There may also be extraneous packages remaining, but I’ll leave any further tinkering to your discretion.

   
1. Flash the latest version of Mobian

2. Boot the phone and setup the phone, including wifi (I haven’t tested ethernet with this process, but I assume it would work also).

3. Open King’s Cross Terminal

4. Install ssh service: sudo apt install ssh (The package may be called “openssh” in some repositories and/or builds).

5. Start sshd: sudo systemctl start sshd

6. Ssh to device from another computer: ssh mobian@[ip address] (the default password should be “1234”)

7. switch to su: sudo su (the default password should be “1234”)

8. Remove gnome / phosh: apt autoremove *gnome*

9. Update the system: apt update

10. Upgrade the system: apt upgrade

11. Reboot the system: reboot now (this should reboot to command line, but it will still have the splash, and no console output).

12. Ssh in again: ssh mobian@[ip address] (the default password should be “1234”)

13. Switch to su: sudo su (the default password should be “1234”)

14. Edit boot arguments:

      a. nano /etc/default/u-boot
 
      b. in U_BOOT_PARAMETERS= remove the argument “splash” and add the argument “console=tty1”
      (so the argument line should looks as follows: U_BOOT_PARAMETERS="console=ttyS0,115200 consoleblank=0 loglevel=7 rw plymouth.ignore-serial-console vt.global_cursor_default=0 console=tty1")

      d. save the file

15. Write the boot arguments:

a. cd /sbin
b. u-boot-update


16. Reboot: reboot


That’s it. It should now boot to command line with console output.

[Ubermunchen]

I should add that if you don't want console output, don't include the boot argument "console=tty1". Be sure to run u-boot-update in /sbin after making any changes to u-boot.

[ryo]

You could as well have pressed CTRL + Alt + F2 on a USB keyboard though.
The other question is, unless you want to keep your PinePhone docked forever and always carry around a USB keyboard and portable battery (to power the dock), why would you do that?

[Ubermunchen]

I've seen many people ask how they could find a lite image of Debian for the Pinephone. Now they have one. They can do whatever they want with it. For example, they could install a desktop with a virtual keyboard and a working phone. I've done it in Arch using KDE Plasma Desktop. So we're not as limited as you represent. That's why many of us bought this phone.

[ryo]

I've seen many people ask how they could find a lite image of Debian for the Pinephone. Now they have one. They can do whatever they want with it. For example, they could install a desktop with a virtual keyboard and a working phone. I've done it in Arch using KDE Plasma Desktop. So we're not as limited as you represent. That's why many of us bought this phone.

Ah, now I see why you would do that.
In that case, nice!