Possible support S905?

[flymike]

I have got a S905 TV box (Beelink MiniMX 2G/16G) and I tried the closest build (s905x) with the correct dtb file(p200-2G-1Gbit), and copied u-boot-s905.bin to u-boot.ext. The box boots up but stuck at "Starting kernel ..."
Is it possible to make this build work with S905 box? Thx

Updates

Thanks @ophub, my Mini MX box works perfect now.

Summary

• Using 5.10.x kernel and meson-gxbb-vega-s95-telos.dtb, Gigabit ethernet and WiFi work

• Enabled snapd for Debian and insgtalled AdGuard Home snapapp (Personally prefer it over Pi-Hole)

   apt update
   apt install snapd
   snap install core
   snap install snapd
  
   snap install adguard-home
  

  Once installed, use http://<tvbox_ip>:3000 to setup.

  • More snap apps can be installed this way if needed, e.g. docker

• Installed WireGuard using wireguard-manager script

  • Using all default settings except DNS (Custom to <tvbox_ip> to use AdGuard or Pi-Hole)
  • On your Internet router, port forwarding 51820 to <tvbox_ip> then setup WireGuard client (Scan QR Code) to connect from the outside of your local network

Warning: Install to internal eMMC is not supported for this box, doing so will brick it!

[ophub]

try 5.4 kernel. don’t mod.

https://github.com/ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian/releases/download/Armbian_Aml_bullseye_2021.12.28.0135/Armbian_22.02.0_Aml_s905x_bullseye_5.4.168_2021.12.28.0129.img.gz

[flymike]

That is exact build I've tried, boot loop if not copy u-boot-s905.bin to u-boot.ext.

[ophub]

Starting kernel It is a hint that the dtb file is incorrect.

s905 is meson-gxbb, try dtb from: https://github.com/ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian/tree/main/build-armbian/amlogic-dtb

meson-gxbb_p201_2G.dtb
meson-gxbb_p200_2G.dtb
meson-gxbb-p200.dtb
meson-gxbb-p201.dtb

[flymike]

OK, this combination works :)

• Copy u-boot-s905.bin to u-boot.ext
• Using meson-gxbb-vega-s95-telos.dtb in uEnv.txt

Now, question is, can I install to eMMC?
I was using balbes150 build before, sd/usb installation worked fine but "brick" the box after installed to eMMC... yes I will try your build, hope the internal installation works.

[ophub]

You try 5.10 kernel is available. Download the firmware of the 5.10 kernel of s905d, and modify dtb and u-boot according to yours.

If you can restore the system, you can write emmc without any worries.

I searched on the Internet. There are several models of this model. You can easily send an accurate model with a link that looks like this: beelink-gt-king

Based on your feedback, I added this box to the support list, and it can be generated directly by default when building armbian next time.

[flymike]

Thank your very much. I will try 5.10 kernel. Yes I don't mind "brick" the box and I can unbrick it anytime :)
It was an old box I just want make it as pihole server etc., This is where I bought it...
https://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_321409.html?wid=1433363#goodsDetail
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/beelink-minimx-tv-box-amlogic-s905-antutu-v6-0.3269912/

[ophub]

Thank you for being a pioneer, trying to match the appropriate dtb, your contribution will be recorded in CONTRIBUTOR.md

Before writing the emmc test, check the information to make sure that this box can be used to restore the system by short-circuiting, etc. There is a ddbr tool in armbian, which can backup the current system, and restore it if there is a problem.

[ophub]

local file: /usr/sbin/armbian-install

https://github.com/ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian/blob/main/build-armbian/common-files/files/usr/sbin/armbian-install#L74

When writing emmc test, first add the installation script to this box, the content is as follows:

# Amlogic GXBB Family(s905)
61:Beelink MiniMX:s905:meson-gxbb-vega-s95-telos.dtb:u-boot-s905.bin:NA:NA:Beelink Mini MX Ver 1.0

[flymike]

Good news and bad news :)
Good news:

• 5.10 kernel with s905 u-boot and gxbb-vega-s95-telos.dtb work perfect with SD
• Ethernet and wifi all work

Bad news:

• Install to emmc failed
• ddbr failed
• Probably all because the mmcblk2 io error
  [ 87.108847] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev mmcblk2, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ ) flags 0x80700 phys_seg 1 prio class 0 [ 87.119105] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev mmcblk2, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 0 [ 87.127651] Buffer I/O error on dev mmcblk2, logical block 0, async page read

The box is "dead" for now... I need time to unbrick it.

[ophub]

local file: /usr/sbin/armbian-install

There is no corresponding option for this box in the existing armbian-install script, you add a 61, the content is as follows:

# Amlogic GXBB Family(s905)
61:Beelink MiniMX:s905:meson-gxbb-vega-s95-telos.dtb:u-boot-s905.bin:NA:NA:Beelink Mini MX Ver 1.0

[ophub]

Some boxes are locked to prevent writing, such as MXQ PRO+ of s905.

You can also try this dtb on your box: meson-gxbb-mxq-pro-plus.dtb

[flymike]

Yes I did add the 61 entry to armbian-install script.

I read this forum on Armbian before and tried that trick but couldn't accomplished... maybe you can get some idea from there
https://forum.armbian.com/topic/18902-s905-failed-to-boot-from-emmc/?do=findComment&comment=132455

I can use both builds in SD/USB, I just want the internal emmc installation working... I can test if you want to implement but it is OK if it is too complicated (probably no one still using this box...)

Even boot from SD and system on eMMC is OK for me...

[ophub]

Several s905 boxes I have seen so far do not support writing emmc.

Generally speaking, I recommend using armbian on TF/SD/USB, because emmc is not written so it will not affect the original system. And you can choose a larger capacity TF card according to your needs.

There is a famous saying that it is my right not to write emmc, but it is your fault not to let me write emmc.

[ophub]

According to your feedback, I have already packaged the s905 firmware, which can be used directly in the future without manual modification of dtb and u-boot.

https://github.com/ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-armbian/releases/tag/Armbian_Aml_bullseye_2021.12.28.1621

[flymike]

The s905 build works great, thx.
FYI, the wifi seems no longer works in this build? I do not use wifi anyway, just noticed that in the armbian_config...
Still try to find a way to utilize the eMMC for system, 16G is wasted otherwise, also performance would be better than SD.
Also, you may want to put "_2G" suffix for the model name, The 1G model will not boot...

[ophub]

Thanks for reminding, the device description and link have been updated.

[flymike]

s905 firmware #2021.12.28.1621

• First boot no IP, reboot fixes it
• Has to set the locale (en_CA in my case) during the first time setup, then WiFi is detected, and works fine

[ophub]

u-boot will be reloaded, so the ip obtained at the first boot will be disconnected immediately, and the system will automatically start the second boot and obtain the final ip. This is done to be compatible with kernel above 5.10.y+