# Debian: Getting Started with the Wandboard

**URL:** <https://forum.digikey.com/t/debian-getting-started-with-the-wandboard/12707>\
**Category:** Linux Guides\
**Created:** [March 15, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.digikey.com/t/debian-getting-started-with-the-wandboard/12707 "2021-03-15T19:36:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RobertCNelson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/digikey/user_avatar/forum.digikey.com/robertcnelson/32/12_2.png) [@RobertCNelson](https://forum.digikey.com/u/RobertCNelson)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.digikey.com/t/debian-getting-started-with-the-wandboard/12707/1 "2021-03-15T19:36:12Z")

</div>

This is a page about NXP’s based i.MX6; Wandboard.

# Availability

Boards:

- [Wandboard SOLO](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0001-ND) at DigiKey
- [Wandboard DUAL](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0004-ND) at DigiKey
- [Wandboard QUAD](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0005-ND) at DigiKey
- [Wandboard SOLO (WB-IMX6S)](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0009-ND) at DigiKey
- [Wandboard DUAL (WB-IMX6U-BW)](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0008-ND) at DigiKey
- [Wandboard QUAD (WB-IMX6Q-BW)](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0010-ND) at DigiKey
- [Wandboard QUADPLUS (WB-IMX6QP-BW)](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0011-ND) at DigiKey  
Accessories:
- [Wandboard Antenna Kit](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0002-ND) at DigiKey
- [Wandboard Enclosure](https://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?keywords=1406-0003-ND) at DigiKey

# Vendor Documentation

- TechNexion: [https://www.technexion.com/](https://www.technexion.com/)
- [WANDBOARD.ORG](http://WANDBOARD.ORG): [https://www.wandboard.org/](https://www.wandboard.org/)

# Basic Requirements

- Running a recent supported release of Debian, Fedora or Ubuntu on a x86 64bit based PC; without OS Virtualization Software.
- Many of the listed commands assume /bin/bash as the default shell.
- ARM Cross Compiler – Linaro: [https://www.linaro.org](https://www.linaro.org)
  - Linaro Toolchain Binaries: [https://www.linaro.org/downloads/](https://www.linaro.org/downloads/)

- Bootloader
  - Das U-Boot – the Universal Boot Loader: [http://www.denx.de/wiki/U-Boot](http://www.denx.de/wiki/U-Boot)
  - Source: [https://github.com/u-boot/u-boot/](https://github.com/u-boot/u-boot/)

- Linux Kernel
  - Linus’s Mainline tree: [https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git)

- ARM based rootfs
  - Debian: [https://www.debian.org](https://www.debian.org)

# ARM Cross Compiler: GCC

This is a pre-built (64bit) version of GCC that runs on generic linux, sorry (32bit) x86 users, it’s time to upgrade…  
Download/Extract:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
wget -c https://releases.linaro.org/components/toolchain/binaries/6.5-2018.12/arm-linux-gnueabihf/gcc-linaro-6.5.0-2018.12-x86_64_arm-linux-gnueabihf.tar.xz
tar xf gcc-linaro-6.5.0-2018.12-x86_64_arm-linux-gnueabihf.tar.xz
export CC=`pwd`/gcc-linaro-6.5.0-2018.12-x86_64_arm-linux-gnueabihf/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-

```

Test Cross Compiler:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
${CC}gcc --version

```

```bash
#Test Output:
arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc (Linaro GCC 6.5-2018.12) 6.5.0
Copyright (C) 2017 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

```

# Bootloader: U-Boot

Das U-Boot – the Universal Boot Loader: [http://www.denx.de/wiki/U-Boot](http://www.denx.de/wiki/U-Boot)  
Depending on your Linux Distrubution, you will also need a host gcc and other tools, so with Debian/Ubuntu start with installing the build-essential meta package.  
[eewiki.net](http://eewiki.net) patch archive: [https://github.com/eewiki/u-boot-patches](https://github.com/eewiki/u-boot-patches)  
Download:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
git clone -b v2019.04 https://github.com/u-boot/u-boot --depth=1
cd u-boot/

```

Patches:

```bash
#user@localhost:~/u-boot$
wget -c https://github.com/eewiki/u-boot-patches/raw/master/v2019.04/0001-wandboard-uEnv.txt-bootz-n-fixes.patch
 
patch -p1 < 0001-wandboard-uEnv.txt-bootz-n-fixes.patch

```

Configure and Build:

```bash
#user@localhost:~/u-boot$
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} distclean
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} wandboard_defconfig
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=${CC}

```

# Linux Kernel

This script will build the kernel, modules, device tree binaries and copy them to the deploy directory.  
Download:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
git clone https://github.com/RobertCNelson/armv7-multiplatform ./kernelbuildscripts
cd kernelbuildscripts/

```

For v5.4.x (Longterm 5.4.x):

```bash
#user@localhost:~/kernelbuildscripts$
git checkout origin/v5.4.x -b tmp

```

For v5.4.x-rt (Longterm 5.4.x + Real-Time Linux):

```bash
#user@localhost:~/kernelbuildscripts$
git checkout origin/v5.4.x-rt -b tmp

```

For v5.10.x (Longterm 5.10.x):

```bash
#user@localhost:~/kernelbuildscripts$
git checkout origin/v5.10.x -b tmp

```

For v5.10.x-rt (Longterm 5.10.x + Real-Time Linux):

```bash
#user@localhost:~/kernelbuildscripts$
git checkout origin/v5.10.x-rt -b tmp

```

For v5.15.x (Longterm 5.15.x):

```bash
#user@localhost:~/kernelbuildscripts$
git checkout origin/v5.15.x -b tmp

```

For v5.15.x-rt (Longterm 5.15.x + Real-Time Linux):

```bash
#user@localhost:~/kernelbuildscripts$
git checkout origin/v5.15.x-rt -b tmp

```

Build:

```bash
#user@localhost:~/kernelbuildscripts$
./build_kernel.sh

```

# Root File System

### Debian 11

| User | Password |
| --- | --- |
| debian | temppwd |
| root | root |

Download:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
wget -c https://rcn-ee.com/rootfs/eewiki/minfs/debian-11.3-minimal-armhf-2022-04-15.tar.xz

```

Verify:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
sha256sum debian-11.3-minimal-armhf-2022-04-15.tar.xz

```

```bash
#sha256sum output:
575738843651de2962f251447f4742d4f33313d6f7f5edf282a401207f5e6646 debian-11.3-minimal-armhf-2022-04-15.tar.xz

```

Extract:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
tar xf debian-11.3-minimal-armhf-2022-04-15.tar.xz

```

# Setup microSD card

We need to access the External Drive to be utilized by the target device. Run lsblk to help figure out what linux device has been reserved for your External Drive.

```bash
#Example: for DISK=/dev/sdX
lsblk
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 465.8G 0 disk
├─sda1 8:1 0 512M 0 part /boot/efi
└─sda2 8:2 0 465.3G 0 part / <- Development Machine Root Partition
sdb 8:16 1 962M 0 disk <- microSD/USB Storage Device
└─sdb1 8:17 1 961M 0 part <- microSD/USB Storage Partition

```

```bash
#Thus you would use:
export DISK=/dev/sdb

```

```bash
#Example: for DISK=/dev/mmcblkX
lsblk
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 465.8G 0 disk
├─sda1 8:1 0 512M 0 part /boot/efi
└─sda2 8:2 0 465.3G 0 part / <- Development Machine Root Partition
mmcblk0 179:0 0 962M 0 disk <- microSD/USB Storage Device
└─mmcblk0p1 179:1 0 961M 0 part <- microSD/USB Storage Partition

```

```bash
#Thus you would use:
export DISK=/dev/mmcblk0

```

Erase partition table/labels on microSD card:

```bash
sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=${DISK} bs=1M count=10

```

Install Bootloader:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
sudo dd if=./u-boot/SPL of=${DISK} seek=1 bs=1k
sudo dd if=./u-boot/u-boot.img of=${DISK} seek=69 bs=1k

```

Create Partition Layout:  
With util-linux v2.26, sfdisk was rewritten and is now based on libfdisk.

```bash
#Check the version of sfdisk installed on your pc is atleast 2.26.x or newer.
sudo sfdisk --version

```

```bash
#Example Output
sfdisk from util-linux 2.27.1

```

```bash
#sfdisk >= 2.26.x
sudo sfdisk ${DISK} <<- __EOF__
1M,,L,*
__EOF__

```

Format Partition:

```auto
for: DISK=/dev/mmcblkX
sudo mkfs.ext4 -L rootfs ${DISK}p1
 
for: DISK=/dev/sdX
sudo mkfs.ext4 -L rootfs ${DISK}1

```

Mount Partition:  
**On most systems these partitions may be auto-mounted…**

```bash
sudo mkdir -p /media/rootfs/
 
for: DISK=/dev/mmcblkX
sudo mount ${DISK}p1 /media/rootfs/
 
for: DISK=/dev/sdX
sudo mount ${DISK}1 /media/rootfs/

```

# Install Kernel and Root File System

To help new users, since the kernel version can change on a daily basis. The kernel building scripts listed on this page will now give you a hint of what kernel version was built.

```bash
-----------------------------
Script Complete
eewiki.net: [user@localhost:~$ export kernel_version=5.X.Y-Z]
-----------------------------

```

Copy and paste that “export kernel\_version=5.X.Y-Z” exactly as shown in your own build/desktop environment and hit enter to create an environment variable to be used later.

```bash
export kernel_version=5.X.Y-Z

```

### Copy Root File System

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
sudo tar xfvp ./*-*-*-armhf-*/armhf-rootfs-*.tar -C /media/rootfs/
sync

```

### Set uname\_r in /boot/uEnv.txt

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
sudo sh -c "echo 'uname_r=${kernel_version}' >> /media/rootfs/boot/uEnv.txt"

```

### Video

See other hints: [Making sure you're not a bot!](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/Documentation/fb/modedb.rst)

```bash
sudo sh -c "echo 'cmdline=video=HDMI-A-1:1024x768@60e' >> /media/rootfs/boot/uEnv.txt"

```

### Copy Kernel Image

Kernel Image:

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
sudo cp -v ./kernelbuildscripts/deploy/${kernel_version}.zImage /media/rootfs/boot/vmlinuz-${kernel_version}

```

### Copy Kernel Device Tree Binaries

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
sudo mkdir -p /media/rootfs/boot/dtbs/${kernel_version}/
sudo tar xfv ./kernelbuildscripts/deploy/${kernel_version}-dtbs.tar.gz -C /media/rootfs/boot/dtbs/${kernel_version}/

```

### Copy Kernel Modules

```bash
#user@localhost:~$
sudo tar xfv ./kernelbuildscripts/deploy/${kernel_version}-modules.tar.gz -C /media/rootfs/

```

### File Systems Table (/etc/fstab)

```bash
#user@localhost:~/$
sudo sh -c "echo '/dev/mmcblk2p1 / auto errors=remount-ro 0 1' >> /media/rootfs/etc/fstab"

```

### WiFi

_Dual/Quad only (Solo has no WiFi module installed)_  
see: [Making sure you're not a bot!](https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmfmac/dhd_sdio.c?id=refs/tags/v3.11-rc3#n317)

```bash
wget -c https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/brcm/brcmfmac4329-sdio.bin
wget -c https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/brcm/brcmfmac4330-sdio.bin
 
wget -c https://rcn-ee.com/repos/git/meta-fsl-arm-extra/recipes-bsp/broadcom-nvram-config/files/wandboard/brcmfmac4329-sdio.txt
wget -c https://rcn-ee.com/repos/git/meta-fsl-arm-extra/recipes-bsp/broadcom-nvram-config/files/wandboard/brcmfmac4330-sdio.txt
 
sudo mkdir -p /media/rootfs/lib/firmware/brcm/
 
sudo cp -v ./brcmfmac43*-sdio.bin /media/rootfs/lib/firmware/brcm/
sudo cp -v ./brcmfmac43*-sdio.txt /media/rootfs/lib/firmware/brcm/

```

Status:

```bash
debian@arm:~$ dmesg | grep brcm
[4.798229] brcmfmac: F1 signature read @0x18000000=0x9934329
[4.799328] brcmfmac: brcmf_sdio_chip_drivestrengthinit: No SDIO Drive strength init done for chip 4329 rev 3 pmurev 6
[5.058286] brcmfmac: brcmf_c_preinit_dcmds: Firmware version = wl0: Sep 2 2011 14:48:19 version 4.220.48
[5.082280] brcmfmac: brcmf_fil_cmd_data: Failed err=-23
[5.087654] brcmfmac: brcmf_fws_init: failed to set bdcv2 tlv signaling
debian@arm:~$ /sbin/ifconfig -a
wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 40:2c:f4:ae:17:91
          BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)

```

### Remove microSD/SD card

```bash
sync
sudo umount /media/rootfs

```

### 2D/3D Video Acceleration via Etnaviv Project

Vivante GC320/GC880 (quad GC320/GC355/GC2000) 2D/3D Acceleration via [Etnaviv · GitHub](https://github.com/etnaviv)  
This sections assumes you have already installed your favorite xorg based window manager, such as lxde, lxqt, xfce, kde, gnome, etc… These are packages that need to be installed on top of your selected windows manager and an xorg.conf needed to correctly setup the video interface.  
Verify your kernel has etnaviv support:

```bash
#SOLO/DUAL
debian@arm:~$ dmesg | grep etnaviv
[4.047928] etnaviv gpu-subsystem: bound 134000.gpu (ops gpu_ops)
[4.047955] etnaviv gpu-subsystem: bound 130000.gpu (ops gpu_ops)
[4.047968] etnaviv-gpu 134000.gpu: model: GC320, revision: 5007
[4.090180] etnaviv-gpu 130000.gpu: model: GC880, revision: 5106

```

```bash
#QUAD
debian@arm:~$ dmesg | grep etnaviv
[4.025841] etnaviv gpu-subsystem: bound 134000.gpu (ops gpu_ops)
[4.025868] etnaviv gpu-subsystem: bound 130000.gpu (ops gpu_ops)
[4.025887] etnaviv gpu-subsystem: bound 2204000.gpu (ops gpu_ops)
[4.025899] etnaviv-gpu 134000.gpu: model: GC320, revision: 5007
[4.070139] etnaviv-gpu 130000.gpu: model: GC2000, revision: 5108
[4.120479] etnaviv-gpu 2204000.gpu: model: GC355, revision: 1215
[4.120492] etnaviv-gpu 2204000.gpu: Ignoring GPU with VG and FE2.0

```

edid parsing still seems hit and miss on the quad board, override default 1024x768 resolution via the video variable in uEnv.txt.  
See other hints: [Making sure you're not a bot!](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/Documentation/fb/modedb.rst)

```bash
cmdline=video=HDMI-A-1:1024x768@60e

```

1080p

```bash
cmdline=video=HDMI-A-1:1920x1080@60e

```

```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-armada-etnaviv

```

```bash
#/etc/X11/xorg.conf
Section "Monitor"
        Identifier "Builtin Default Monitor"
EndSection
Section "Device"
        Identifier "Builtin Default fbdev Device 0"
        Driver "armada"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Builtin Default fbdev Screen 0"
        Device "Builtin Default fbdev Device 0"
        Monitor "Builtin Default Monitor"
EndSection
Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier "Builtin Default Layout"
        Screen "Builtin Default fbdev Screen 0"
EndSection

```

# Comments

Any questions or comments please go to our TechForum: [TechForum](https://forum.digikey.com/c/support/linux-discussions/5)