visionfive2

Debian riscv64 Linux for the StarFive VisionFive 2

This Debian riscv64 Linux image is built directly from official packages using the Debian debootstrap utility, see: https://github.com/inindev/visionfive2/blob/main/debian/make_debian_img.sh#L132

Most patches are directly available from the Debian repos using the built-in apt package manager, see: https://github.com/inindev/visionfive2/blob/main/debian/make_debian_img.sh#L354-L361

Note: The kernel in this bundle is from kernel.org and will not get updates from debian.

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debian trixie setup

1. download image

wget https://github.com/inindev/visionfive2/releases/download/v13-6.6.5/visionfive2_trixie-v13-6.6.5.img.xz

2. determine the location of the target micro sd card

• before plugging-in device

ls -l /dev/sd*
ls: cannot access '/dev/sd*': No such file or directory

• after plugging-in device

ls -l /dev/sd*
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 8, 0 Apr 10 15:56 /dev/sda

• note: for mac, the device is /dev/rdiskX

3. in the case above, substitute 'a' for 'X' in the command below (for /dev/sda)

sudo su
xzcat visionfive2_trixie-v13-6.6.5.img.xz > /dev/sdX
sync

when the micro sd has finished imaging, eject and use it to boot the visionfive2 to finish setup

Note the boot switch configuration setting needed to select mmc boot.

4. login account

login id: debian
password: debian

5. take updates

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

6. create account & login as new user

sudo adduser youruserid
echo '<youruserid> ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL' | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/<youruserid>
sudo chmod 440 /etc/sudoers.d/<youruserid>

7. lockout and/or delete debian account

sudo passwd -l debain
sudo chsh -s /usr/sbin/nologin debian

sudo deluser --remove-home debian
sudo rm /etc/sudoers.d/debian

8. change hostname (optional)

sudo nano /etc/hostname
sudo nano /etc/hosts

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installing on m.2 nvme media

1. boot from removable mmc

Follow the instructions for creating bootable mmc media.

2. download and copy the image file on to the nvme media

wget https://github.com/inindev/visionfive2/releases/download/v13-6.6.5/visionfive2_trixie-v13-6.6.5.img.xz
sudo su
xzcat visionfive2_trixie-v13-6.6.5.img.xz > /dev/nvme0n1
sync

3. the u-boot partitions are not used on nvme media and can be removed

sfdisk --delete /dev/nvme0n1 1
sfdisk --delete /dev/nvme0n1 2
sfdisk -r /dev/nvme0n1

4. remove mmc media and reboot

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booting from spi nor flash

1. boot from removable mmc

Follow the instructions for creating bootable mmc media.

Note: Configure the boot switch setting needed to select mmc boot.

2. install mtd-utils

once linux is booted from the removable mmc, install mtd-utils

sudo apt update
sudo apt -y install mtd-utils

3. erase spi flash

sudo flash_erase /dev/mtd0 0 0
sudo flash_erase /dev/mtd1 0 0
sudo flash_erase /dev/mtd2 0 0
sudo flash_erase /dev/mtd3 0 0

4. write u-boot to spi flash

wget https://github.com/inindev/visionfive2/releases/download/v13-6.6.5/u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out
wget https://github.com/inindev/visionfive2/releases/download/v13-6.6.5/u-boot.itb
sudo flashcp -v u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out /dev/mtd0
sudo flashcp -v u-boot.itb /dev/mtd2

Once the spi flash has been written, the boot sequence should prefer removable mmc media if present, then boot m.2 nvme ssd.

Note: Configure the boot switch setting needed to select spi boot.

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building debian trixie riscv64 for the visionfive2 from scratch

The build script builds native riscv64 binaries, and thus needs to be run from an riscv64 device such as visionfive2 running a 64 bit risc-v linux.

1. clone the repo

git clone https://github.com/inindev/visionfive2.git
cd visionfive2

2. run the debian build script

cd debian
sudo sh make_debian_img.sh

• note: edit the build script to change various options: nano make_debian_img.sh

3. the output if the build completes successfully

mmc_2g.img.xz