Pine64 can run Ubuntu Server Arm, Ubuntu 15.10

[taros]

If there is a Linux kernel available, even an older version, then you can create an Ubuntu image (that compatible Linux kernel with the Ubuntu rootfs of your choice).

[tkaiser]

If there is a Linux kernel available, even an older version, then you can create an Ubuntu image (that compatible Linux kernel with the Ubuntu rootfs of your choice).

There is exactly one kernel available for the A64: A heavily patched 3.10.65 from Allwinner. And you will be surprised that everything that's really relevant for an ARM device to operate as an SBC does NOT depend on the contents of the rootfs.

I just walked through the SDK and had a laugh: http://forum.armbian.com/index.php/topic...#entry3173

If the Pine guys don't get this resolved rather sooner than later the 'linux experience' will be a bit crappy in the beginning 

[apritzel]

If there is a Linux kernel available, even an older version, then you can create an Ubuntu image (that compatible Linux kernel with the Ubuntu rootfs of your choice).

There is exactly one kernel available for the A64: A heavily patched 3.10.65 from Allwinner. And you will be surprised that everything that's really relevant for an ARM device to operate as an SBC does NOT depend on the contents of the rootfs.

I just walked through the SDK and had a laugh: http://forum.armbian.com/index.php/topic...#entry3173

If the Pine guys don't get this resolved rather sooner than later the 'linux experience' will be a bit crappy in the beginning 

Well, apart from that issue there seem to be much more severe problems with their kernel drop (in this dodgy lichee tarball): they apparently enter the kernel in EL3, which is forbidden by the Linux arm64 boot protocol. Any upstream kernel will just crash upon being started this way. On the other hand entering their kernel in EL2 (or EL1) will crash as well, so this has to be sorted out as soon as possible to avoid serious incompatibilities.
So we should find out why they need to run Linux in secure EL1 (which they drop to in kernel/head.S) and fix that to be able to run their kernel (which is probably the base of their Android system) in non-secure EL1 (and enter in EL2 to enable virtualization). If it's just about SMP bringup, implementing proper PSCI in firmware should be doable.

[peteforde]

My apologies if this is a dumb question:

If Ubuntu support is coming, can this be adapted to Debian without too much trouble?

I know that Ubuntu is at least loosely based on Debian but that's roughly where my knowledge taps out.

[minple]

I love Ubuntu. I research more more Pine64, but I not sure that pine64 can run Ubuntu Server for Arm, Ubuntu Mate, Ubuntu 15.04, 15.10, 16.04 (ubuntu core 15.04). If not, future can support?

We are currently working on Ubuntu Snappy Core first. If anybody interest on accelerating Ubuntu porting, please let us know and we can provide free Pine64 board and Linux BSP. The currently Linux kernel is 64bit version 3.10, and will release version 3.18 and version 4.2 in 3months and 6 months time.
There is a development already explored in CentOS by other party and will takes few months to port.

So to april, Pine64 can run which version Ubuntu (unity, mate, lubuntu). Ubuntu 14.04 or Ubuntu 15.10 or 16.04

[longsleep]

We are currently working on Ubuntu Snappy Core first. If anybody interest on accelerating Ubuntu porting, please let us know and we can provide free Pine64 board and Linux BSP. The currently Linux kernel is 64bit version 3.10, and will release version 3.18 and version 4.2 in 3months and 6 months time.
There is a development already explored in CentOS by other party and will takes few months to port.

I have ported Ubuntu Snappy to ODROID-C. I can do the same for Pine64. See https://github.com/longsleep/snappy-odroidc for example and https://www.stdin.xyz/2015/06/14/snappy-...odroid-c1/ for the story. Let me know if you are interested.

[tllim]

We are currently working on Ubuntu Snappy Core first. If anybody interest on accelerating Ubuntu porting, please let us know and we can provide free Pine64 board and Linux BSP. The currently Linux kernel is 64bit version 3.10, and will release version 3.18 and version 4.2 in 3months and 6 months time.
There is a development already explored in CentOS by other party and will takes few months to port.

I have ported Ubuntu Snappy to ODROID-C. I can do the same for Pine64. See https://github.com/longsleep/snappy-odroidc for example and https://www.stdin.xyz/2015/06/14/snappy-...odroid-c1/ for the story. Let me know if you are interested.

Yes, we are interested and always welcome on community support. Please PM me your address and I will ship out a Pine A64 board to you once available on early January.

[CoBillbr]

There is lots of work going on with ARM64 and the 4.4 kernel and Debian. I am anxious to get my PINE64 to try that work on it. It will be important to connect with Linaro if the team hasn't already.

[longsleep]

There is lots of work going on with ARM64 and the 4.4 kernel and Debian. I am anxious to get my PINE64 to try that work on it. It will be important to connect with Linaro if the team hasn't already.

ARM64 and whatever you refer to in Kernel 4.4 are generally not related to the A64 SoC here. Kernel 4.4 or any other mainline Kernel for that matter will not boot (not even close) on A64 no matter what distribution until someone went through a possibly lengthy mainlining process or has forward ported the Kernel 3.10 patch set as provided by Allwinner as an intermediate process. Also note that before the Kernel actually could boot, the same thing is required for U-Boot.

[tkaiser]

There is lots of work going on with ARM64 and the 4.4 kernel and Debian. I am anxious to get my PINE64 to try that work on it. It will be important to connect with Linaro if the team hasn't already.

Are you the guy doing the mainlining work for A64? Would love to escape from kernel 3.10.65 or even be able to boot Linux