Trouble booting in Gentoo
#1
Hello all!



I'm currently running Manjaro ARM (as the PBP was shipped with), and I have been trying to install Gentoo onto an sd card for my PBP, following Jannik2099's guide as well as Gentoo's AMD64 handbook. Here are my main 3 sources of information:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=8765

https://github.com/Jannik2099/gentoo-pinebookpro

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Handbook:AMD64



I have tried installing it twice now onto my 64GB sd card. I encounter no errors or problems during the installation process. But when I reboot the laptop, I am left with a boot loop. I know that /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf (on the sd card) is being read upon boot, because if I modify it and change the line

Code:
...
timeout 50
...
to

Code:
timeout 500
or something else, the time the laptop is powered on changes according to the timeout value. But either way, it still powers on, waits some time (as per the timeout), and then reboots, and repeats.



I've tried installing 2 times now, each with different partitioning.



Here are the partitions from my first install. I didn't copy it down unfortunately, so this is merely a guess. I think the only values that will be wrong are the sectors (start, end, & size), but they will still be close approximates.

Code:
root # parted /dev/mmcblk1 u S p

Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start     End         Size        Type      File system     Flags
1       2048s     526335s     524288s     primary   fat32           lba
2       526336    8914942     8388608s    primary   swap
3       8914943   123473886s  114558944s  primary   btrfs


Here are the partitions from my second (and current) install. I used this as a reference for my partitioning.

Code:
root # parted /dev/mmcblk1 u S p

Partition Table: gpt

Number  Start     End         Size        File system     Name               Flags
2      64s       16383s      16320s                      IDBLoader
3      16384s    24575s      8192s                       U-Boot
4      24576s    32767s      8192s                       TrustedFirmware-A
1      32768s    557055s     524288s     fat32           GENT-BOOT
5      557056s   8945663s    8388608s    linux-swap(v1)  GENT-SWAP          swap
6      8945664s  123473886s  114528223s  f2fs            GENT-ROOT




Most of the installation process probably did not play into my boot problems but I will quickly go through the steps I took on each installation:

1. Partioned SD card

2. Mounted root partion to /mnt/gentoo and boot partition to /mnt/gentoo/boot

3. Extracted stage3 archive.

4. Git cloned Jannik2099's repository (link at the top of this post)

5. Coppied DNS info and mounted the necessary filesystems exactly as the AMD64 handbook did.

6. Chrooted into /mnt/gentoo

7. Modified make.conf as such:

Code:
COMMON_FLAGS="-march=armv8-a+crc -mtune=cortex-a53 -O2 -pipe"
CFLAGS="${COMMON_FLAGS}"
CXXFLAGS="${COMMON_FLAGS}"
FCFLAGS="${COMMON_FLAGS}"
FFLAGS="${COMMON_FLAGS}"

CHOST="aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu"

MAKEOPTS="-j6 -l8"
EMERGE_DEFAULT_OPTS="--jobs 6 --load-average 8"
FEATURES="parallel-install"

LC_MESSAGES=C

ACCEPT_LICENSE="*"
USE=""


8. Ran Jannik2099's script (prepare.sh)

9. Selected the default profile (default/linux/arm64/17.0 (stable)) and updated @world set

10. Set timezone and locale stuff

11. Emerged sys-kernel/pinebookpro-manjaro-sources sys-kernel/genkernel sys-boot/extlinux sys-boot/u-boot

12. Installed U-Boot as such:

Code:
#FIRST INSTALLATION
dd if=/usr/share/u-boot/idbloader.img of=/dev/mmcblk1 seek=64 conv=notrunc
dd if=/usr/share/u-boot/u-boot.itb of=/dev/mmcblk1 seek=16384 conv=notrunc

#SECOND INSTALLATION
dd if=/usr/share/u-boot/idbloader.img of=/dev/mmcblk1p2
dd if=/usr/share/u-boot/u-boot.itb of=/dev/mmcblk1p3
13. Updated /etc/fstab for boot entry:

Code:
/dev/mmcblk1p1   /boot  vfat   defaults  0 2
14. eselected kernel and ran genkernel all
15. Went to /usr/src/linux and ran:

Code:
make dtbs && make dtbs_install
16. Ran u-boot-update

17. Updated fstab to:

Code:
#first entry of each line was different on both of my installations, but everything else was the same. On my first
installation I used both device names (i.e. /dev/mmcblk1p1) and UUIDs.

LABEL=GENT-BOOT         /boot           vfat            defaults,noatime        0 2
LABEL=GENT-SWAP         none            swap            sw                      0 0
LABEL=GENT-ROOT         /               f2fs            noatime                 0 1
18. Exited chroot environment and unmounted everything necessary and rebooted.

19. Boot loop Sad



Here is some other relevant information:



Code:
# /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf

default l0
menu title U-Boot menu
prompt 0
timeout 50


label l0
        menu label Gentoo Linux 5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64
        linux /vmlinuz-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64

        append  initrd=/initramfs-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64.img root=LABEL=GENT-ROOT console=tty1 rw video=eDP-1:1920x1080@60

label l0r
        menu label Gentoo Linux 5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64 (rescue target)
        linux /vmlinuz-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64

        append initrd=/initramfs-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64.img root=LABEL=GENT-ROOT console=tty1 rw video=eDP-1:1920x1080@60 systemd.unit=rescue.target
Code:
# /etc/default/u-boot

U_BOOT_UPDATE="true"

U_BOOT_ALTERNATIVES="default recovery"
U_BOOT_DEFAULT="l0"
U_BOOT_ENTRIES="all"
U_BOOT_MENU_LABEL="Gentoo Linux"
U_BOOT_PARAMETERS="console=tty1 rw video=eDP-1:1920x1080@60"
U_BOOT_ROOT=""
U_BOOT_TIMEOUT="50"
U_BOOT_FDT="rockchip/rk3399-pinebook-pro.dtb"
U_BOOT_FDT_DIR="dtbs"
Code:
root # ls -l /boot

drwxr-xr-x 3 root root      512 Jul 15 19:59 dtbs
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root      512 Jul 16 16:19 extlinux
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  9865720 Jul 16 14:05 initramfs-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64.img
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  5130930 Jul 16 14:05 System.map-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 26708480 Jul 16 14:05 vmlinuz-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64


I have also updated my Manjaro system and updated u-boot on it as well.



I've been at this for several days now and I feel like I am going to lose my mind trying to figure out what's wrong! I have scoured the internet and so far there hasn't been much helpful information.



I would sincerely appreciate any help my issues. Thank you!
  Reply
#2
Deleted the other thread.
  Reply
#3
You seem to be missing the line for the dtb,, often just after kernel/Image
fdt /some-path (fdt=flattened device tree)
it can be relative to extlinux,,, ../dtbs/etc OR if 2 partitions /dtbs/etc
OR if 1 partition /boot/dtbs/etc
Remember, dtb is loaded BEFORE initrd which is where filesystem becomes complete
uboot (which is what loads dtb) only knows about the partition where it found extlinux.conf (or boot.scr)
So, in a 2 partition setup thinks boot partiiton is /
  Reply
#4
(07-18-2021, 03:40 PM)wdt Wrote: You seem to be missing the line for the dtb,, often just after kernel/Image
fdt  /some-path  (fdt=flattened device tree)
it can be relative to extlinux,,,  ../dtbs/etc OR if 2 partitions /dtbs/etc
OR if 1 partition /boot/dtbs/etc
Remember, dtb is loaded BEFORE initrd which is where filesystem becomes complete
uboot (which is what loads dtb) only knows about the partition where it found extlinux.conf (or boot.scr)
So, in a 2 partition setup thinks boot partiiton is /

Thanks for the reply!


I added this line to my extlinux.conf
Code:
fdt /dtbs/5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64/rockchip/rk3399-pinebook-pro.dtb
so, the file now looks like this:
Code:
default l0
menu title U-Boot menu
prompt 0
timeout 50


label l0
    menu label Gentoo Linux 5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64
    linux /vmlinuz-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64
    fdt /dtbs/5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64/rockchip/rk3399-pinebook-pro.dtb
    append  initrd=/initramfs-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64.img root=LABEL=GENT-ROOT console=tty1 rw video=eDP-1:1920x1080@60

label l0r
    menu label Gentoo Linux 5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64 (rescue target)
    linux /vmlinuz-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64
    fdt /dtbs/5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64/rockchip/rk3399-pinebook-pro.dtb
    append initrd=/initramfs-5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64.img root=LABEL=GENT-ROOT console=tty1 rw video=eDP-1:1920x1080@60 systemd.unit=rescue.target

I wasn't sure which .dtb file to use, since there are so many (in the subdirs found in /boot/dtbs/5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64/). So i copied the the file "rk3399-pinebook-pro.dtb" from my Manjaro system to the gentoo sd card.

So after copying the file and the adding that line in my extlinux.conf, I am still unable to boot, but it no longer goes into a boot loop. It stays powered on until I force it off, and the screen never turns on. So hopefully this made some progress at least.

Do you think maybe I ought to use a different .dtb file in my extlinux.conf?

Here is a list of all of them found on the sd card. The files under the "rockchip" directory are ones I copied from my manjaro system.
Code:
gentoo # pwd
/boot/dtbs/5.11.16-pinebookpro-arm64

gentoo # ls -l
total 32
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root  512 Jul 15 23:33 amd
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 5632 Jul 15 23:33 amlogic
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root  512 Jul 15 23:33 apm
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Jul 15 23:33 arm
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Jul 15 23:33 broadcom
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root  512 Jul 15 23:33 cavium
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 5632 Jul 15 23:33 freescale
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Jul 15 23:33 hisilicon
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 2048 Jul 15 23:33 marvell
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1536 Jul 15 23:33 nvidia
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 5632 Jul 15 23:33 qcom
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 5632 Jul 19 08:55 rockchip
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 2048 Jul 15 23:33 xilinx

gentoo # ls *
amd:
amd-overdrive-rev-b0.dtb  amd-overdrive-rev-b1.dtb  amd-overdrive.dtb  husky.dtb

amlogic:
meson-a1-ad401.dtb                meson-g12b-s922x-khadas-vim3.dtb  meson-gxbb-vega-s95-telos.dtb     meson-gxl-s905w-p281.dtb             meson-gxm-q200.dtb
meson-axg-s400.dtb                meson-g12b-ugoos-am6.dtb          meson-gxbb-wetek-hub.dtb          meson-gxl-s905w-tx3-mini.dtb         meson-gxm-q201.dtb
meson-g12a-sei510.dtb             meson-gxbb-kii-pro.dtb            meson-gxbb-wetek-play2.dtb        meson-gxl-s905x-hwacom-amazetv.dtb   meson-gxm-rbox-pro.dtb
meson-g12a-u200.dtb               meson-gxbb-nanopi-k2.dtb          meson-gxl-s805x-libretech-ac.dtb  meson-gxl-s905x-khadas-vim.dtb       meson-gxm-s912-libretech-pc.dtb
meson-g12a-x96-max.dtb            meson-gxbb-nexbox-a95x.dtb        meson-gxl-s805x-p241.dtb          meson-gxl-s905x-libretech-cc-v2.dtb  meson-gxm-vega-s96.dtb
meson-g12b-a311d-khadas-vim3.dtb  meson-gxbb-odroidc2.dtb           meson-gxl-s905d-libretech-pc.dtb  meson-gxl-s905x-libretech-cc.dtb     meson-gxm-wetek-core2.dtb
meson-g12b-gtking-pro.dtb         meson-gxbb-p200.dtb               meson-gxl-s905d-p230.dtb          meson-gxl-s905x-nexbox-a95x.dtb      meson-sm1-khadas-vim3l.dtb
meson-g12b-gtking.dtb             meson-gxbb-p201.dtb               meson-gxl-s905d-p231.dtb          meson-gxl-s905x-p212.dtb             meson-sm1-odroid-c4.dtb
meson-g12b-odroid-n2-plus.dtb     meson-gxbb-vega-s95-meta.dtb      meson-gxl-s905d-phicomm-n1.dtb    meson-gxm-khadas-vim2.dtb            meson-sm1-sei610.dtb
meson-g12b-odroid-n2.dtb          meson-gxbb-vega-s95-pro.dtb       meson-gxl-s905d-sml5442tw.dtb     meson-gxm-nexbox-a1.dtb

apm:
apm-merlin.dtb  apm-mustang.dtb

arm:
foundation-v8-gicv3-psci.dtb  foundation-v8-psci.dtb  fvp-base-revc.dtb  juno-r2.dtb  rtsm_ve-aemv8a.dtb
foundation-v8-gicv3.dtb       foundation-v8.dtb       juno-r1.dtb        juno.dtb     vexpress-v2f-1xv7-ca53x2.dtb

broadcom:
bcm2711-rpi-4-b.dtb  bcm2837-rpi-3-a-plus.dtb  bcm2837-rpi-3-b-plus.dtb  bcm2837-rpi-3-b.dtb  bcm2837-rpi-cm3-io3.dtb

cavium:
thunder-88xx.dtb  thunder2-99xx.dtb

freescale:
fsl-ls1012a-frdm.dtb                    fsl-ls1028a-kontron-sl28.dtb  fsl-ls1088a-rdb.dtb          fsl-lx2160a-rdb.dtb          imx8mn-var-som-symphony.dtb    imx8mq-pico-pi.dtb
fsl-ls1012a-frwy.dtb                    fsl-ls1028a-qds.dtb           fsl-ls2080a-qds.dtb          fsl-lx2162a-qds.dtb          imx8mp-evk.dtb                 imx8mq-thor96.dtb
fsl-ls1012a-oxalis.dtb                  fsl-ls1028a-rdb.dtb           fsl-ls2080a-rdb.dtb          imx8mm-beacon-kit.dtb        imx8mq-evk.dtb                 imx8mq-zii-ultra-rmb3.dtb
fsl-ls1012a-qds.dtb                     fsl-ls1043a-qds.dtb           fsl-ls2080a-simu.dtb         imx8mm-ddr4-evk.dtb          imx8mq-hummingboard-pulse.dtb  imx8mq-zii-ultra-zest.dtb
fsl-ls1012a-rdb.dtb                     fsl-ls1043a-rdb.dtb           fsl-ls2088a-qds.dtb          imx8mm-evk.dtb               imx8mq-librem5-devkit.dtb      imx8qxp-ai_ml.dtb
fsl-ls1028a-kontron-kbox-a-230-ls.dtb   fsl-ls1046a-frwy.dtb          fsl-ls2088a-rdb.dtb          imx8mm-kontron-n801x-s.dtb   imx8mq-librem5-r2.dtb          imx8qxp-colibri-eval-v3.dtb
fsl-ls1028a-kontron-sl28-var2.dtb       fsl-ls1046a-qds.dtb           fsl-lx2160a-clearfog-cx.dtb  imx8mm-var-som-symphony.dtb  imx8mq-librem5-r3.dtb          imx8qxp-mek.dtb
fsl-ls1028a-kontron-sl28-var3-ads2.dtb  fsl-ls1046a-rdb.dtb           fsl-lx2160a-honeycomb.dtb    imx8mn-ddr4-evk.dtb          imx8mq-nitrogen.dtb
fsl-ls1028a-kontron-sl28-var4.dtb       fsl-ls1088a-qds.dtb           fsl-lx2160a-qds.dtb          imx8mn-evk.dtb               imx8mq-phanbell.dtb

hisilicon:
hi3660-hikey960.dtb  hi3670-hikey970.dtb  hi3798cv200-poplar.dtb  hi6220-hikey.dtb  hip05-d02.dtb  hip06-d03.dtb  hip07-d05.dtb

marvell:
armada-3720-db.dtb                 armada-3720-espressobin-v7-emmc.dtb  armada-3720-turris-mox.dtb  armada-8040-clearfog-gt-8k.dtb    armada-8040-mcbin.dtb        cn9130-db.dtb
armada-3720-espressobin-emmc.dtb   armada-3720-espressobin-v7.dtb       armada-3720-uDPU.dtb        armada-8040-db.dtb                armada-8040-puzzle-m801.dtb  cn9131-db.dtb
armada-3720-espressobin-ultra.dtb  armada-3720-espressobin.dtb          armada-7040-db.dtb          armada-8040-mcbin-singleshot.dtb  armada-8080-db.dtb           cn9132-db.dtb

nvidia:
tegra132-norrin.dtb      tegra194-p2972-0000.dtb             tegra210-p2371-0000.dtb  tegra210-p2571.dtb           tegra210-p3450-0000.dtb
tegra186-p2771-0000.dtb  tegra194-p3509-0000+p3668-0000.dtb  tegra210-p2371-2180.dtb  tegra210-p2894-0050-a08.dtb  tegra210-smaug.dtb

qcom:
apq8016-sbc.dtb               msm8992-msft-lumia-talkman.dtb           qcs404-evb-1000.dtb              sc7180-trogdor-lazor-r3.dtb            sdm845-cheza-r2.dtb
apq8096-db820c.dtb            msm8992-xiaomi-libra.dtb                 qcs404-evb-4000.dtb              sc7180-trogdor-r1-lte.dtb              sdm845-cheza-r3.dtb
apq8096-ifc6640.dtb           msm8994-angler-rev-101.dtb               qrb5165-rb5.dtb                  sc7180-trogdor-r1.dtb                  sdm845-db845c.dtb
ipq6018-cp01-c1.dtb           msm8994-msft-lumia-cityman.dtb           sc7180-idp.dtb                   sdm630-sony-xperia-ganges-kirin.dtb    sdm845-mtp.dtb
ipq8074-hk01.dtb              msm8994-sony-xperia-kitakami-sumire.dtb  sc7180-trogdor-lazor-r0.dtb      sdm630-sony-xperia-nile-discovery.dtb  sdm845-xiaomi-beryllium.dtb
msm8916-longcheer-l8150.dtb   msm8996-mtp.dtb                          sc7180-trogdor-lazor-r1-kb.dtb   sdm630-sony-xperia-nile-pioneer.dtb    sdm850-lenovo-yoga-c630.dtb
msm8916-mtp.dtb               msm8998-asus-novago-tp370ql.dtb          sc7180-trogdor-lazor-r1-lte.dtb  sdm630-sony-xperia-nile-voyager.dtb    sm8150-hdk.dtb
msm8916-samsung-a3u-eur.dtb   msm8998-hp-envy-x2.dtb                   sc7180-trogdor-lazor-r1.dtb      sdm636-sony-xperia-ganges-mermaid.dtb  sm8150-mtp.dtb
msm8916-samsung-a5u-eur.dtb   msm8998-lenovo-miix-630.dtb              sc7180-trogdor-lazor-r3-kb.dtb   sdm660-xiaomi-lavender.dtb             sm8250-hdk.dtb
msm8992-bullhead-rev-101.dtb  msm8998-mtp.dtb                          sc7180-trogdor-lazor-r3-lte.dtb  sdm845-cheza-r1.dtb                    sm8250-mtp.dtb

rockchip:
px30-engicam-px30-core-ctouch2-of10.dtb  rk3328-evb.dtb             rk3368-px5-evb.dtb          rk3399-hugsun-x99.dtb           rk3399-nanopi-neo4.dtb       rk3399-rock-pi-4c.dtb
px30-engicam-px30-core-ctouch2.dtb       rk3328-nanopi-r2s.dtb      rk3368-r88.dtb              rk3399-khadas-edge-captain.dtb  rk3399-nanopi-r4s.dtb        rk3399-rock960.dtb
px30-engicam-px30-core-edimm2.2.dtb      rk3328-roc-cc.dtb          rk3399-evb.dtb              rk3399-khadas-edge-v.dtb        rk3399-orangepi.dtb          rk3399-rockpro64-v2.dtb
px30-evb.dtb                             rk3328-rock-pi-e.dtb       rk3399-ficus.dtb            rk3399-khadas-edge.dtb          rk3399-pinebook-pro.dtb      rk3399-rockpro64.dtb
rk3308-evb.dtb                           rk3328-rock64.dtb          rk3399-firefly.dtb          rk3399-kobol-helios64.dtb       rk3399-puma-haikou.dtb       rk3399-sapphire-excavator.dtb
rk3308-roc-cc.dtb                        rk3368-evb-act8846.dtb     rk3399-gru-bob.dtb          rk3399-leez-p710.dtb            rk3399-roc-pc-mezzanine.dtb  rk3399-sapphire.dtb
rk3318-a95x-z2.dtb                       rk3368-geekbox.dtb         rk3399-gru-kevin.dtb        rk3399-nanopc-t4.dtb            rk3399-roc-pc.dtb            rk3399-station-p1.dtb
rk3326-odroid-go2.dtb                    rk3368-lion-haikou.dtb     rk3399-gru-scarlet-inx.dtb  rk3399-nanopi-m4.dtb            rk3399-rock-pi-4a.dtb        rk3399pro-rock-pi-n10.dtb
rk3328-a1.dtb                            rk3368-orion-r68-meta.dtb  rk3399-gru-scarlet-kd.dtb   rk3399-nanopi-m4b.dtb           rk3399-rock-pi-4b.dtb

xilinx:
avnet-ultra96-rev1.dtb  zynqmp-zc1275-revA.dtb       zynqmp-zc1751-xm017-dc3.dtb  zynqmp-zcu100-revC.dtb    zynqmp-zcu102-revB.dtb  zynqmp-zcu111-revA.dtb
zynqmp-zc1232-revA.dtb  zynqmp-zc1751-xm015-dc1.dtb  zynqmp-zc1751-xm018-dc4.dtb  zynqmp-zcu102-rev1.0.dtb  zynqmp-zcu104-revA.dtb
zynqmp-zc1254-revA.dtb  zynqmp-zc1751-xm016-dc2.dtb  zynqmp-zc1751-xm019-dc5.dtb  zynqmp-zcu102-revA.dtb    zynqmp-zcu106-revA.dtb
  Reply
#5
The dtb for a specific device will vary slightly for each different kernel, but only slightly
This device is a rockchip rk3399, so any other cpu-dtb will almost certainly be mismatched
Sometimes the uboot will have an effect, and also the compositer
For example, I have a debian10 that with tow-boot will not boot anything other than 5.5
unless the compositer is turned off, but with a bsp uboot will boot the default kernel (5.8)
(nearly all uboots will NOT show the menu, only samueldr/tow-boot)
Do be aware that if this is on SD, whatever uboot is on emmc will be found 1st and used
If you are 100% sure that you have a bootable SD, some other distro, that will boot for sure,,,
then copy mbr (1 sector old style, 34 sectors GPT style) ,1st 16M (of emmc), maybe to a usb stick,,
blank (/dev/zero) 1st 16M, restore mbr
Then the pbp will be forced to use uboot on SD, because there is no other
If you have a 100% bootable SD, you can easily restore the original 1st 16M
--more--
Are you saying that there was not a dtb for either pinebookpro or several rk3399 dtbs with the gentoo install?
  Reply
#6
(07-19-2021, 04:18 PM)wdt Wrote: The dtb for a specific device will vary slightly for each different kernel, but only slightly
This device is a rockchip rk3399, so any other cpu-dtb will almost certainly be mismatched
Sometimes the uboot will have an effect, and also the compositer
For example, I have a debian10 that with tow-boot will not boot anything other than 5.5
unless the compositer is turned off, but with a bsp uboot will boot the default kernel (5.8)
(nearly all uboots will NOT show the menu, only samueldr/tow-boot)
Do be aware that if this is on SD, whatever uboot is on emmc will be found 1st and used
If you are 100% sure that you have a bootable SD, some other distro, that will boot for sure,,,
then copy mbr (1 sector old style, 34 sectors GPT style) ,1st 16M (of emmc), maybe to a usb stick,,
blank (/dev/zero) 1st 16M, restore mbr
Then the pbp will be forced to use uboot on SD, because there is no other
If you have a 100% bootable SD, you can easily restore the original 1st 16M
--more--
Are you saying that there was not a dtb for either pinebookpro or several rk3399 dtbs with the gentoo install?


Quote:If you are 100% sure that you have a bootable SD, some other distro, that will boot for sure,,,
then copy mbr (1 sector old style, 34 sectors GPT style) ,1st 16M (of emmc), maybe to a usb stick,,
blank (/dev/zero) 1st 16M, restore mbr
Then the pbp will be forced to use uboot on SD, because there is no other
If you have a 100% bootable SD, you can easily restore the original 1st 16M
Would you mind elaborating on this? Sorry, I am still very new to ARM, u-boot, etc, and I am unsure what this means/how to do it.

Quote:Are you saying that there was not a dtb for either pinebookpro or several rk3399 dtbs with the gentoo install?
Correct. The only .dtb files that have "rk3399" or "pinebook" in the name are the ones I manually copied from my manjaro system.
  Reply
#7
Sometimes (but not that often) the dtb for a SPECIFIC device is appended to kernel,
but I doubt this is the case here
My pbp is setup this way (still)
using dd, copy 1st sector (mbr) somewhere, give name like emmc.mbr
copy 1st 16 MB somewhere (named as 1st-16.emmc.$DISTRO)
use something like dd if=/dev/emmc of=~/1st-16.emmc.manj bs=1M count=16,,,,, change emmc as appropriate
(that is emmc = mmcblk1 OR mmcblk2 OR maybe mmcblk0)
blank,,, dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/emmc bs=1M count=16
restore mbr,,,,, dd if=emmc.mbr of=/dev/emmc (emmc.mbr should only be 512 bytes
(unless GPT ,, use 34 sectors,,,, dd default bs is 512 bytes so only need count)
So, if you check with fdisk /dev/emmc should all show correctly
Rest of 1st 16 M is /dev/zero,, blank,,,, so only uboot on SD can be used, it is the only one
If you want to restore just dd 1st-16M back to emmc
---edit---
I have never seen (unless very old) an arm device without dtb,
except for specific devices only, appended to kernel,,
so I think the gentoo is broken
  Reply
#8
(07-19-2021, 04:18 PM)wdt Wrote: (nearly all uboots will NOT show the menu, only samueldr/tow-boot)

u-boot-rockchip 2021.07~rc4+dfsg-1 in Debian Experimental shows menu just fine, though I haven't tried using keyboard to actually select a kernel.
This message was created with 100% recycled electrons
  Reply
#9
@moonwalkers
Do you know?
is this something internal to the uboot or is there an arm compiled menu.c32 ?
  Reply
#10
What we need is a minimal & bootable Gentoo image. I too wanted to use Gentoo, but had to give up because of the complexities on ARM64.

Plus, the kernel would be minimal too. Only activate actual hardware and software necessary to boot a Pinebook Pro. With the intent that a user would customize things after, (like adding CIFS support).
--
Arwen Evenstar
Princess of Rivendale
  Reply


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