missing environment variable bootfile

[tomjtoth]

Before You Open ISSUE, Make Sure You have Read Armbian Firmware Instructions and Documentation

Describe the bug
1st boot stuck, probably missing microSD preparation steps, about 2 months ago I successfully booted up jammy with the newer kernel. I cannot boot either Bullseye/Jammy no matter which kernel I try, I get the same messages on 1st boot

To Reproduce

1. burn the image to the microSD
2. mount the image, set FDT=/dtb/amlogic/meson-gxm-q201.dtb in uEnv.txt
3. copy u-boot-s905x-s912.bin as u-boot.ext
   a. and this is where I remember having +1 step a few months ago, having to do something with u-boot.sd
   b. I also remember something about usb and quirks and having to look up IDs from approx. lsusb
4. I unmount the microSD safely, insert it into KM8 P
5. connect ethernet, HDMI
6. boot it up and see the errors

Expected behavior
boot to login prompt

Screenshots

Armbian Version

• Kernel Version: 5.15.58, 5.15.59
• Release: jammy, bullseye
• Edition: server

Device:

• SOC: S912
• Brand: Mecool
• Model: KM8 P 1G/8G

[tomjtoth]

on the other hand when booting without ethernet plugged in I had time to capture the beginning of the output:

# Error inserting "stdin" variable, errno=22
...
"bootfromsd" not defined

will retry booting from a USB stick

[tomjtoth]

using a USB stick I get to this point, after the countdown the box reboots and I get back to the same countdown screen. Attaching the ethernet cable does not make a difference.

[tomjtoth]

I think the missing step was appending something on the APPEND=... line

[ophub]

s912-m8s-pro-l has generated firmware, you use USB to test, do not use SD card, Some devices have problems with SD cards.

[tomjtoth]

I tried Armbian_22.08.0_Aml_s912-m8s_jammy_5.15.59_server_2022.08.07 via both USB and microSD. USB seems to be more unstable, I was using microSD 2 months ago, too.

via USB the box reboots after this screen and the process repeats forever:

via microSD I get the same behavior as with the non m8s-specific image:

• before I connect the ethernet:
  

• and after I connect ethernet:
  

What are the USB/microSD preparation steps exactly? It seems copying the u-boot.ext is also missing currently from the instructions page.

[ophub]

The 5.4/5.15 kernel does not need u-boot.ext/.emmc, and the scripts are automatically installed for other kernels.
I found that this introduction has misunderstood many people, and some tutorials also directly teach you to change your name.
First of all, don't change the name. If you change the name, there will be no such file. After updating other kernels such as 5.10/5.18/5.19, it will not be available due to lack of files.
In addition, for unknown devices, copying may lead to failure to start.

[ophub]

#158

[tomjtoth]

Without creating the u-boot.ext it boots now, I did:

• dd if=Armbian_22.08.0_Aml_s912_jammy_5.15.59_server_2022.08.07.img of=/dev/sda
• set FDT=/dtb/amlogic/meson-gxm-q201.dtb in uEnv.txt
• unmount microSD from the laptop, insert into KM8 P and power it on
• boot process stops at login prompt (wants new pw for root)
• is unreachable via ethernet

And with the suggested m8s image:

• dd if=Armbian_22.08.0_Aml_s912-m8s_jammy_5.15.59_server_2022.08.07.img of=/dev/sda
• insert microSD into KM8 P and power it on
• boot process stops at login prompt (wants new pw for root)
• TV box is reachable via ethernet

Thank you very much!

[ophub]

Yes, the firmware with s912-m8s in the name is your dedicated firmware, you can use it without changing anything

[Victorhtf]

Hello, I'm experiencing this same issue while trying the first boot in my TX3 mini with S905w....Sometimes I get Kernel panic (when using a USB pendrive), but now I got this same error, error while inserting stdin followed by 'bootfromsd' not defined.

When I connect my ethernet cable it says 'missing environment variable: bootfile and 'serverip' not set and set'.

After burn the image with balenaEtcher I didnt do nothing, just checked the uEnv to see if dtb matches with my TVBox model.

Tanix TX3 mini
4GB/32GB
S905w

Trying to boot from Armbian_24.2.0_amlogic_s905w_bullseye_6.1.69_server_2024.01.01.img