Manual build howto

This page describes the process to combine sunxi U-Boot, linux kernel and other bits together to create a useful SD-card from scratch, the basis for further hacking.

We of course do not build a whole distribution, we only build U-Boot, the kernel and a handful of tools, and then use an existing rootfs to get a useful system. Depending on the rootfs size, you might want to use a 2GB or larger SD Card. SD-card partitioning and formatting will be taken care of later.

= Getting a cross toolchain =

For this part, you need to refer to our toolchain page.

= Building u-boot = Please refer to U-Boot

= Building script.bin =

First, get the following repositories: git clone git://github.com/linux-sunxi/sunxi-tools.git git clone git://github.com/linux-sunxi/sunxi-boards.git

Descend into sunxi-tools and run the command 'make fex2bin'.

Then, get into the sunxi-board tree and find the fex file for your board. You also need to find out the MAC Address of Ethernet adapter, as you will need to fix the MAC in the [dynamic] section of the fex file, to match the one for your device: [dynamic] MAC = "000000000000" to, for example: [dynamic] MAC = "0123456789AB"

Note: If the [dynamic] section does not exist in your .fex file, you can just add it with your MAC address.

For more information see EMAC.

Now you can create the script.bin file: ../../../sunxi-tools/fex2bin .fex script.bin You will need this later on when finishing u-boot installation.

= Building the kernel = Please refer to our Kernel compilation guide. = Setting up the boot partition =

Please execute commands in Bootable_SD_card, Bootable_SD_card, Bootable_SD_card and Bootable_SD_card.

Now change to directory '/mnt' and create a file 'boot.cmd' with the following content: setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200 root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rootwait panic=10 ${extra} fatload mmc 0 0x43000000 script.bin fatload mmc 0 0x48000000 uImage bootm 0x48000000

If you have cubieboard2 you might need to insert following line into your boot.cmd (see Cubieboard2 wheezy image):

setenv machid 0x00000f35

Now you can generate boot.scr: mkimage -C none -A arm -T script -d boot.cmd boot.scr

= Setting up the rootfs = Please refer to Bootable_SD_card

As a last step you need to copy the kernel modules into the newly created rootfs. Change into the top level directory of the newly created rootfs and run: mkdir -p lib/modules rm -rf lib/modules/ cp -r /output/*. (Replace  with the directory you have built your kernel in as described above.)

= Boot! =

Now you should be able to unmount your SDCard filesystems, and you should be able to boot your brand new installation.