Is there just one fuctioning Debian Desktop image?

[KNERD]

I have tried numerous and they all have had problems.

Armbian ( https://dl.armbian.com/pine64/) : just loads up to a certain point then starts just spewing "Call trace:" Even their Ubuntu image won't boot (Kernel panic).



The Ayunfan current image ( https://github.com/ayufan-pine64/linux-b...tag/0.7.19 ) boots, but requires additional files from an repo to install a desktop which is no longer available.

Older versions seem to get that Kernel Panic also.

The only one I can get up and running, is the one listed on the Wiki, but is not stable at all.

http://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/Pine_A6...essie_Mate


Another other suggestions?

[desai_amogh]

I too need this. I installed armbian and had to add mate, but couldnt get it to start at boot with default.target or init 5 or anything.

[pfeerick]

I have tried numerous and they all have had problems.

Armbian ( https://dl.armbian.com/pine64/) : just loads up to a certain point then starts just spewing "Call trace:" Even their Ubuntu image won't boot (Kernel panic).



The Ayunfan current image ( https://github.com/ayufan-pine64/linux-b...tag/0.7.19 ) boots, but requires additional files from an repo to install a desktop which is no longer available.

Older versions seem to get that Kernel Panic also.

The only one I can get up and running, is the one listed on the Wiki, but is not stable at all.

http://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/Pine_A6...essie_Mate


Another other suggestions?

I know it's not "Debian", but did you try the xenial-mate image? (xenial-mate-pinebook-bspkernel-0.7.19-118.img.xz)

And for the debian images, you probably need to fix up the package repository list as it's changed. It's got nothing to do with the install_desktop script, as it only needs an extra repo added when doing elementary.

If you pull the install_desktop script appart, you'll see there isn't actually much to it.

1) Install these packages by default:

Code:

xserver-xorg-video-fbturbo
xserver-xorg-video-armsoc-sunxi
libmali-sunxi-utgard0-r6p0
mesa-utils-extra
glmark2-es2
libvdpau-sunxi1
vdpauinfo
aisleriot
geany
gnomine
gnome-sudoku
mplayer
scratch
smplayer
smplayer-themes
smtube
chromium-browser

2) If installing mate, add these ones:

Code:

ubuntu-mate-core
ubuntu-mate-desktop
ubuntu-mate-lightdm-theme
ubuntu-mate-wallpapers-xenial
lightdm

3) Do some tweaks:

Code:

# Kill parport module loading, not available on arm64.
if [ -e "/etc/modules-load.d/cups-filters.conf" ]; then
echo "" >/etc/modules-load.d/cups-filters.conf
fi

# Disable Pulseaudio timer scheduling which does not work with sndhdmi driver.
if [ -e "/etc/pulse/default.pa" ]; then
sed -i 's/load-module module-udev-detect$/& tsched=0/g' /etc/pulse/default.pa
fi

4) And if install_desktop is being used to setup a GUI image, systemctl set-default graphical.target is run also. 

Now, since this is debian, the packages with ubuntu in their name probably aren't available. So, maybe something like this will work instead? Completely untested so use at your own risk.

[S265]

I have tried numerous and they all have had problems.

Armbian ( https://dl.armbian.com/pine64/) : just loads up to a certain point then starts just spewing "Call trace:" Even their Ubuntu image won't boot (Kernel panic).



The Ayunfan current image ( https://github.com/ayufan-pine64/linux-b...tag/0.7.19 ) boots, but requires additional files from an repo to install a desktop which is no longer available.

Older versions seem to get that Kernel Panic also.

The only one I can get up and running, is the one listed on the Wiki, but is not stable at all.

http://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/Pine_A6...essie_Mate


Another other suggestions?

Yes - see my recent post under "General".  Using Armbian 5.65 Stable UBUNTU 16.04.5 LTS 3.10.107-pine64 did not prove to be as good as I had hoped.
I would love to see a Stable error free Debian build for Desktop and Headless that can be used for Pine64 fans. It appears we have nothing to go to.

[Luke]

There are both Armbian and DietPi Debian-based images for the Pine A64

[codetonic]

So far trying to install and use a Rock64 with any of the OS's has been very disappointing.

In contrast, last week I pulled an original Raspberry Pi out of storage, installed Raspbian, Apache, and RealVNC. 
Launched a headless KDE desktop and started serving web pages in about 4 hours. No hitches or glitches.

I'm going to put this Rock64 into storage and let you determined experimenters iron out the kinks.
So far the only saving grace is that this SBC is not very expensive.

[e3k]

i have now tried multiple images on rockpro64: armbian stretch or bionic does not boot at all. libreelec starts but unfortunately it is a closed OS and you cant install anything. finaly this started successfully: http://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/ROCKPro...an_Stretch

but only from SD. eMMC does not boot at all.

[desai_amogh]

I have tried numerous and they all have had problems.

Armbian ( https://dl.armbian.com/pine64/) : just loads up to a certain point then starts just spewing "Call trace:" Even their Ubuntu image won't boot (Kernel panic).



The Ayunfan current image ( https://github.com/ayufan-pine64/linux-b...tag/0.7.19 ) boots, but requires additional files from an repo to install a desktop which is no longer available.

Older versions seem to get that Kernel Panic also.

The only one I can get up and running, is the one listed on the Wiki, but is not stable at all.

http://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/Pine_A6...essie_Mate


Another other suggestions?

 I finally gave up on Armbian as the latest version wouldn't boot with the micro usb connector and 3.2 Amp charger on my pine64 A+.  While Auyfan's Debian minimal booted without any issues.  I finally managed to resolve all the errors with repos and dependencies  with Mate desktop and get a stable Debian Stretch with Mate Desktop up and running.

For reference I have collated all the steps here, if anyone is stuck like me.
https://amoghdesai.com/technology/how-to...-pine64-a/

---

So far trying to install and use a Rock64 with any of the OS's has been very disappointing.

In contrast, last week I pulled an original Raspberry Pi out of storage, installed Raspbian, Apache, and RealVNC. 
Launched a headless KDE desktop and started serving web pages in about 4 hours. No hitches or glitches.

I'm going to put this Rock64 into storage and let you determined experimenters iron out the kinks.
So far the only saving grace is that this SBC is not very expensive.

If you see my last post under this thread..  I posted this issue 1 year back and threw my pine64 in storage too..  I dont have another sbc.  This is just a timepass fun thing that I do and use it with some SDR transceiver.

Almost an year later I pulled out my pine 64A+ and was determined to get it up with a stable desktop and could finally achieve it.  Just follow my above blog post for the dependency issues.  You should be good.

I ahve added this issue on Ayufan's github for your reference: https://github.com/ayufan-pine64/linux-build/issues/82