Amlogic S905 S912 Armbian Ubuntu Mate, Debian Linux Desktop Dual Boot Install Guide
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- Опубликовано: 25 июн 2024
- All credit goes to balbes150 over on freaktab for this epic port of Armbian Ubuntu/Debian desktop for S905,S905X,S912 Amlogic TV box's.
The system runs significantly faster than the S805 port we did a install guide for, a few days ago.
This guides a little long, it cover the installation guide as well as a intro into how the system performs, including running the system from internal storage.
S905 / S905X / S912 Linux Image - yadi.sk/d/5_32km_EsCV2A/ARMBIAN - These are compatible with all 3 amlogic processors mentioned.
Win32disk - mxqproject.com/files/win32disk/ - Can also use Rufus etc as well as downloading from other sources.
Free unzip tool, 7zip - www.7-zip.org/download.html - can also use winzip etc
Exact DTB i used for MXQPRO S905 - Write IMG to SD card and enter the folder named DTB - File is named - gxbb_p201.dtb - Rename to dtb.img
Forum Threads
Armbian - forum.armbian.com/index.php?/...
Freaktab - freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-s...
mxqproject.com - For more reviews and guides
Website -
Forums -
Facebook -
/ 1000230693405502
Twitter - / mxqproject
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Thanks for this tutorial, I was able to boot from both USB and SD card by following your instruction. I have the box that looks exactly like yours and meson-gxbb-p201.dtb works, however, it doesn't allow to copy the system to internal storage. I can't even mount /dev/mmcblk0 when in Armbian. I do see it worked for you, but you used different images though.
Again thanks for the video!
Not advisable to install to internal, to many unknowns
Very good!!!
Confirmed working on Tanix Tx3 Max used tanix mini dtb running debian stretch
Thanks you fast replying
Thank you very much for the tutorial. I did it on my Leelbox MXQ Pro 4K and it works like a charm.
I have just a question to ask: currently, Armbian is installed in and booted from the external SD card, and of course in the future I have the possibility to upgrade the OS or to install another one. What if I flash the OS in place of Android in the internal memory instead? How could I boot from the SD in that case?
Great video. Do you know of a image to install Open Media Vault or Xpenonolgy for these boxes? Or a way it could be accomplished? Possibly make a video for it?
Not familiar with those systems - They would need to be ported to Amlogic
Thank you
Thanks so much for this, i want to run the debian jessie to install roon bridge. Im spending 70% cognition on your accent! I'm not used to it haha!
Looks cool! Does the port work with the Beelink GT1 (standard/regular) box?
And just as I type, he holds up a GT1. lol. Nice. Still, this video is definitely relevant for the standard model? (Most forums I see mention the Ultimate or Mini)
And which would you recommend for general streaming/media consumption? I have an Android 7.1 build right now but would like to upgrade at some point to keep the box secure and functional.
I have old Beelink Mini MXIII s905. In order to make it work I had to change the env.txt inside boot partition. I have noticed that changing the dtb.img doesn't work, it seems that it does not find the dtb and always use the one linked in the env.txt file. So you need to edit env.txt with the dtb you want to try. In this way my device boot into Armbian and everything works fine (WiFi ecc).
Exelente video! Ojala estubiera en español ... :(
Hello, when we talk about 'not working' usually due to incorrect DTB file, do we mean it loads the stock OS / Android and not from the SD card? This is what mine is doing. I'm not sure if its supposed to (fault loading and just stall) or load Android on DTB error. Please can anyone advise what happens on fault, I need to make sure its the correct fault. I don't know the boot order which is concerning.
Saludos des de Colombia, amigo que bueno un tutorial en español
Ve sabes donde descargar las imagenes las paginas de mxq estan caidas y la del video tambien
Good day, the Yandisk folder is not avail? please advise alternative download place. Thank youi
I have one that is labeled s905xq d1j/f8j tha's bricked, can't find the right dtb or even a stock firmware. Any clue?
Plese some help, after putting the user name and password for making the Desktop acount it says "starting desktop enviroment" and then it is only showned a black screen with cursor on the to left corner.
I am using it on a TV, may that be a problem?
Can you help me? I've done all the steps, created a user (twice now even), but when i'm done setting up the user it won't boot and stays in the black welcome screen. Do you know what i'm doing wrong and how to fix it?
It now says: Root@aml:^#
At minutes 4:08 i see DTB File ...but "try 1 at a time"....which are the other file that i can try ?
I have the mini m8s II which has the s905x chipset. Could someone tell me which firmware I could use since they aren't labeled anymore in the yandex site? thanks
I would love to get this working on my h96 pro plus, but it looks like others have had issues with the dtbs. I've got the manufacturer's android rom for it, and that has a dtb in it (or extractable from it, at any rate) should that work? I presume the architecture is the same, since whether it's Android or Ubuntu it's still fundamentally linux underneath it all. If the dtb is correct for one, it should be correct for the other, right? From other responses it look like you can install it to the box itself too, which was going to be my other question. I assume it's much faster that way, yes? Finally, once it's all working, can I use Kodi as the desktop environment? I believe that's what openelec effectively does. And if I can, is it easy enough to set things up so I can access other applications via Kodi's Program menu? If I'm right about the dtb, I'll happily put it up somewhere so others can use it, as long as it's not infringing anyone's copyright or anything.
not particularly faster just a better opportunity to brick it . Eth0 wlan0 ect can be at different addresses on different models of boxes or use different support chips. thats what the dtd list is really alist of support chips and locations in the memory map. Chinese want to sell boxes if you want a box with A95X on it they will silk screen it onto the box, if you want to run android it works! it takes the right dtb for the hardware in your hand to boot linux. Just hope it still has Amlogic board and not rockchip :)
who knows anything about the apk parsec for game streaming? i have the same android box and a i cant run parsec
Hy, have a method, to use this system At dual boot. To change ubunto or original tvbox image on boot?
The Tv Box, must to have the original firmware?.
Can we extract dtb files from the box with Android and use them ?
Thank You for Such a wonderful video - Followed each step of this tutorial and load up the Ubuntu Armbian Distro at my Beelink GT1 (2/16GB) variant....but my piece stuck to the Login and loop it back again and again - can't pass beyond....If I gave command startx at the command prompt it load up but the color of the desktop is black....What to do ? Please share some thoughts..
Not entirely sure what you mean - Can put your question with an example over on our forum or facebook group
Look if the selection is not "Kodi" instead of "MATE" or other graphic session (sorry for my English, i'm french)
Greetings ! Is there any way to run Linux or Windows games on coreelec ?
It's possible to install a WebOS on MXQ 4K and 4k PRO?
Isn't there a tool to find the right dtb file?
Something called dtb multiple tool.
Any way you could possibly update the links? I am trying to find the file for the mecool bb2 s912 box. also is there a way to add instruction for armhf? I would like to connect to citrix but they only have a armhf release.
Have you tried Armbian, might be a file available from the archives that may work
Hola un gusto ya no está disponible la img Linux para el tv box me dice no existe. Sería amable de para el link para descargar
Hey,, i already have libreelec on a sd card, is it possible to have this on the same SD card, or do i absolutely have to use two different sd cards? Thanks
Need to use another SD card
I got it working on the H96 Pro+ (S912). Had to leave dtb.img out altogether. There is a default configuration it uses if dtb.img is not present. Seems to work, but there is no wifi and no video acceleration. It did work with a generic 2.4ghz N USB wifi dongle that had the chipset support baked into the kernel. I think the rom maker said video acceleration isn't out for S912 (yet?).
I also flashed the zip file inside the rom maker provided from the android update tool so it tries booting linux off the MicroSD before trying the android image on the EMMC
Yeah it is still a work in progress
I've got a H96 Pro, which is a stick, not a box, but it's still an S912. I've tried pretty much everything I can think of and still can't get it to work. Without a dtb it will boot up to a point, but it never starts X, just flashes the screen a few times as if it's trying different configurations (I seem to remember from the days when X was less friendly that it used to do this on PCs too). Eventually it settles down but I can't interact with it. There's no login prompt and I can't switch to a different console to get one. I know your device is slightly different, but is there anything you can think of that I could try?
There are a lot of folders on yandex link. Wich one contains files for amlogic s912 ?
here is armbian for S905 / S912 - yadi.sk/d/5_32km_EsCV2A/ARMBIAN/20171226 - devive trees are located inside the file itself once written to SD
After picking up a model:Z69 tv box which was supposed to be a retropie emulator i find out it's got a mix of libreelec/kodi/emulationstation/retroarch and after trying to get the info from the seller on ebay for the username, password for the install on the box so i can edit files i gave up and decided to try another route because he was very vague on info and was holding back the info i needed for the password, username etc..
So i initially thought send it back then thought reflash libreelec and get emulationstation back on and set it up myself but then after seeing you can install Linux on the device that's even better.
Once the sd card has finished writing ill be booting up Linux, reflashing the internal memory, installing Linux then ill just install retropie, get it all configured with emulators, roms, using ps3 pad, set hotkey etc, change linux to autoboot into retropie on start up and that's my emulation box set up and ready to go.
Thanks for the quick and simple guide as i was using Linux on my desktop already (Mint) so will be a flash in setting up i just used the USB imagine writer and away i go. :)
your welcome, let us no how you get on with it all - would recommend libreelec and our fully configured retro gaming system for emulating on amlogic thought
I did an A95x and its making a handy little NAs box it even can run off a usb battery pack even with a 2.5" 4TB hard drive connected to the Port It's also handy with its own adhoc network which lets me connect iPad to it in the field. really would be better if It could be dedicated Linux but the way the chinese produce these boxes...
I'm trying to install this on my A95x (S905x with 2G) but it doesn't boot. Can you tell me which dtb file you used?
gxbb_p201.dtb that probably will not help you. Hardware is mapped to memory addresses inside the box. As a made up example eth0 may be addressed at FFE0 on on one box and somewhere else on another. The DTD file is essentially a list saying what is where for a box. The problem is lots of boxes all given the same name but slightly different hardware and locations. So my version had 30 dtb files which i had to place in root one by one and call dtb.img i also renamed the source dtb with a suffix as i tried each one .n if it didnt work and .y if it did.
3 dtb files allowed the box to boot. I gave each one about 10 minutes to decide if it booted or not till i found 1 that started (in a couple of minutes) this then let me go through the rest with just a couple of minutes between each test. If it didnt startup in 2 minutes its not going to start. So in the end i found 3 candidates with 1 that supported all (most of) the hardware. i didnt get the remote to work but who cares.
The other thing to note is a fast class 10 card starts faster than a slower card (if the slower card starts at all) I bought a fast card after no luck with my original card. Once i had a working dtd I was able to boot with the slower card too. Estimate around 5 hours to give every dtd 10 minutes but in the end i would say it took 2 1/2 hours to test all of them once i found one that booted testing was much faster.
The dtd i used finally is stored with .best at the end if i try a different distro this will be the first dtd file i try. It's a pain but once done it is done. unfortunately if i buy another box even if it looks the same i will have to do the same unless i get lucky. My box is labeled A95X but so are lots of others. People want an A95X box the chinese makers label an androidtv box A95X :) Their firmware runs android so it works :) unfortunately we want to run linux and those internal differences matter. They are bargains for the price but no one is producing them to run linux :)
The desktop video driver is rubbish, the kodi desktop driver is good enough to watch movies but it would be best to boot android for that just remove the sd card and its a normal android tv box again.
is still not possible to install on the NAND?
Nexbox a95x (s905x) both 1G and 2G version, after login it crash and boots into kodi 17.3, where is this "kodi" coming from? Do I have a faulty SD card, or is this coming from the image?
erm, boots into kodi ?
select in top for ubunto or kodi
Please post a new link of those images, the download links are no longer work anymore :((
Is it possible to install Retropie on an android box? I've seen Retropie being run on Ubuntu but was on a PC. I love how the themes look when looking through games.
ushilives3 can use our gaming system scottelec for amlogic boxes, achieves same as retropi
MXQ PROJECT thanks will check it out
Retro X
Can you try this if it works, i only want to use my huion 420 in an mxq pro 4k.
I researched a little and found that there is a wrapper for windows device drivers so it can work on linux.
Would it so happen that an
huion 420 work on a : mxq pro 4k + armbian + windows device driver wrapper for linux
You would just have to give it a try
Good day. the links to the files are broken. Please advise
So I have followed this video, downloaded the image and burnt to sd card and on my TV Box M8S pro W, there is an option to update from SD card and when I go through this firmware update, I need to select a zip file. I selected the zip file that was on the SD card called aml_autoscript.zip but this did not work. Can you please tell me if I should make a zipfile using something else to be able to use this option? for example should i put a dtb / img in a zip file? thanks very much. To clarify I used the image file named Armbian_5.37_S9xxx_Ubuntu_xenial_3.14.79_mate_20180209.img from the download to burn. so is there any methos to use the built in update app when android is running? and if so what file should i put on the SD please,
I am not sure what you mean ? Can you break down how far you have got to booting Ubuntu on your M8S Pro W
Hey. What keyboard was used to enter the login password at the installation stage? Will the wireless keyboard work? What dtb to use for my S912 2 / 16Gb device?
Any keyboard will do - need try DTBs named q200 in name
How can i hability the wi-fi function? Can you help me?
Why, after I've installed Ubuntu, and after logged in ubuntu mate, it ports me to kodi? (sorry bad english), I want Ubuntu desktop, not Kodi...
you have a choice of desktops select at login screen, but you login automatically so logout select desktop and login again :)
How much time wait for desktop start?
The reason the mp4 file wouldn't play the first time is due to you multiple clicking on it opening 4 instances of the process which locked up the OS .. they say these OS's are multitasking but they are not really ... they crash / loop or just have trouble with recursive operations which is a fundamental attitbute of a multitasking OS
Olá Poderia fazer um video instalando no Amlogic S805c
can u help me to get the file : Armbian_5.44_S9xxx_Ubuntu_xenial_3.14.29_mate_20180515.img.xz
i cant find the link for thies file
I did all the tutorial steps in an M18 beelink box with Amlogic s905 processor, but it does not start. The screen is blank and does nothing else.
the dtb file is gxbb_201p?
The firwmare currently installed in the box is not the original. Is that why I can't?
Thank you for your help
Ok try another dtb
@@MXQPROJECT I've also tried it with gxbb_p200 but it didn't work either. Do I have to do firmware restoration?
What is the update_U_Boot_odroid_n2? Do I have to install this? How is it done? Any tutorial that you can provide? Thanks a lot for the help
@@MXQPROJECT
When I boot without any external device connected I go to Twrp. Is that why I can't? Can I use twrp to install linux?
Esse Linux Da certo na box mecool Pro l ???
Hi dear o looking for install Linux on my s905w eMMC, but i dont found on any place how to do this.
I`m trying to do the same for s805, but it seems not possible/no one did it
Hey mat, im doing a project for a school on Brazil and im having trouble to make these boxes functional, i cant make the image boot, the firmware they came dont have the app update&backup and because of that they dont boot, can you help me with that? Thnx
What box's are you trying to boot ? and what are you trying to boot ?
if you can make a specific process for gt1 ultimate thank you!
I have a custom rom and twrp and can not do the procedure
Could i run it on amlogic x96s ?
Hey friend. Is there a way to install this on the rom itself other than an external sd card? While still maintaining the android recovery?
Can install onto the TV box, think I show this towards end of this video
@@MXQPROJECT Also you said kodi could be installed? If so can you direct me to the commands for the terminal. Tried this with linux ubuntu terminal code but no success
.Thanks again Brother!
Can't remember which repository I used but just type.
sudo apt-get install kodi
May need to use update command first.
Hey which kodi version would I have to insall on ubuntu os on my GT1? I don't want just libreelec! I need a kodi version I can install on that ubunto!
may need to try another repo - open terminal and type - install apt-get install kodi
MXQ PROJECT Thank You for your answer. Don't I have to take a special one because of that 912 core? For the dual boot libre I had to take developers build because of the 912...
Hi
I want to install Ubuntu on MECOOL KIII PRO.
What dtb.img should I install?
Thanks in advance
Ull need Q201 or Q200 DTB's
The linux image url is no longer working. :(
I'm wondering how to get back to the Android
Hola tienen el manual en español?
I cant seem to find images with Ubuntu anymore. The new images are armbian only.
Armbian is just the distro built for Arm based systems, this still has Ubuntu on top.
Hello I have a question , i have a beelink gt1 ultimate wich file must i copy to the root of sd card ?
Why dont you watch the video? lol some people man...
Hey is it possible to grab current up to date links for the Download for the MXQ Pro 4k
and what dtb file would i need to use
Cheers
can I also install classic ubuntu programs and emulators?
Most simple programs seem to run fine and emulation is ok, but a would be emulating on libre-elec for amlogic rather than this. It on a cheap ARM processor so don't expect anything amazing.
Hi MXQ PROJECT it is work in X96MINI (s905W) Thanks.
Yeah should do, need choose right dtb file as shown in video
@@MXQPROJECT thanks for your reply but in dtb folder not have any file like your video , im download the lastest and have some new file call s905w , i tried all dtb files but not work , alway have a ton of error like EXT4-fs error failed over and over again , can you make a video with lastest ubuntu ? Thaks
i have my A95X Max and i dissapointed with its firmware, can i run this on my OTT Box?
Probably
I can not understand this, I did everything that is in the tutorial but when I try to start the installation in the box tv (mxq pro 4k) nothing happens, I realized that in your tutorial there is a file called linux that is not in my. (I already downloaded other versions but the same thing) I do not know what to do, I'm using an 8GB pen drive, I do not have a memory card of this size, if you can help me, I'll thank you.
Pen drives can only be booted from one USB port, ull have to try them all
MXQ PROJECT Thanks for the reply. I know which usb port supports otg, but I also tried on all other ports and it did not work.
the command sudo /root/install.sh doesn't work or doesn't exists
no such a file called install.sh
and windows 10 LOT?
gxbb_p200_1G_wetek_hub.dtb works for T95 1G
Working internal wifi?
The resource is gone, the folder is empty. Any known mirror sites?
looking for mirrors too
@@pokemon17007 Ditto!
The download link is not working!!!
Pls help!!
Hey, when i run the installation, it takes me to kodi? How do i fix this. Thank you
What do you mean ?
I figured it out but in essence, when you get to the login page at the top right of the screen there is a drop down menu that was selected to kodi, you have to click on it and select MATE. Cheers
did not work with mxq-4k. please do a tutorial to install linux on mxq-4k.
any answers?
MXQ PROJECT, please, can you help us with this?.
MXQ 4k is rockchip box, this instruction for AMLogic boxes. No linux on rockchip boxes available.
@@andrewb7794 Nonsense here is the buid mega.nz/#F!j9QSDQSQ!6WpasOlbZYIInfw6yo4phQ!yhRGFKQJ
IS THERE ANOTHER OPERATIONAL SYSTEM THAT I CAN INSTALL?
Not on rockchip processors at the moment
Why for s905L?
so you cant do this with usb? only sd card?
On S805 it is limited to SD only
Which dtb to use for S912? i don't see it in the filenames?
P201 dtbs
@@MXQPROJECT It works, kinda. It comes till the login, but it doesnt respond to the usb keyboard so i can't login.
Any chance you heard this before?
@@ViezeVingertjes Did you manage to fix that?
@@brycesoker601 Yes, not sure if i used P200 or P201 but it works, there is no harm in just testing them out.
It will boot to the terminal from the SD card, so nothing is modified on the system from only booting so if it doesnt work, you can just power it down and try again with a different file. USB flashing did not work here, apparently you need to short out some pins togetter to get that to work but i wouldnt recommend that if sd card flashing works.
@@ViezeVingertjes Thank you Ive been trying a whole lot of files but all of them seem to have the keyboard problems which is directly related to the USBs.
k2 pro s905 not working
Links no longer work... :(
I tired all dtb imeges on mxq 4k pro but it did not work.
Win32 imager divides the SD card 2 separated drivers. Exp ( 5.4 gb H and 3.6gb F ) Is it normal ?
Takes a good 5 minutes to boot, did you leave long enough.
@@MXQPROJECT screen lights off and TV gets eco mode then TV count 5 mins to turning of its self.
Should I wait longer after screen off whitout eco mode
Might be the SD card comes slow can I try whit USB driver too
Which SOC does your TV box have S905, S905X or S905W ?
@@MXQPROJECT s905w
Is it possible to watch netflix full hd on armlinux or other os?
Nope
@@MXQPROJECT Other streaming services like Prime Video, Shudder, etc...will they work?
When you start, in the part where you ask the user and password, I choose root and I accept it but after asking me to change the password tells me
"Authentication Token manipulation Error"
Before I see a mistake: error created a user id 0
I have only tried Ubuntu and Debian in a MXQ Pro 4 K (p201)
The bug is usually resolved with the following command:
Mount-0 remount,rw /
But how do I avoid being asked to login to write the command?
when it ask you to change password you need to enter 1234 again - read carefully, same errors I made way back.
thanks for you answer
I've tried, but it fails again.
The log has a fault record :
[X] failed starting user manager for uid 0
Only happens with Armbian Debian and Ubuntu, with Armbian openSUSE starts very well but does not connect WiFi, but Ubuntu is what interests me.
I'm going to try another old firmware.
thanks!
Format my SD with the tool SDfortmater at low level and it worked.
The SD card presented a problem with the sectors.
the error ""Authentication Token manipulation Error"" is solved
Works fine, only wifi not work more... not can connect. How enable wifi? wlan0 device not found
Need to try other DTB files
ok, i will try this. Now research this. If have success, i return how fix that in my case and post for you do one new video. thanks for reply. :)
link caido o links incorrectos puden compartir los liks porfavor
🥺😭
Can I install pihole or OpenVPN on this?
yes
sabem dizer se a tx6 e da familia S905
instala o AIDA64 nele e ve as informações de hardware que ele te da do processador. Se for Rockship o site Armbian tem sistema para ele também.
Architecture 4x ARM Cortex-A7 model rk322x_box
You have a rockchip 3229 mxqpro which does not have Linux available, this tutorial is for AMlogic devices
To install picuntu? Can you do a tutorial?
rockchip boxes do not have drivers , the Amlogic devices do, do not buy rockchip based boxes.
Mine the keyboard doesn't work, would you please help me?
erm ok need try another keyboard or another usb port
how to install wifi on s905w ?
where i find dtb for other diveces?
DTB's are built into the IMG files once written onto a SD card
the device tree used for libreelec are the same? like these " sx05.eu/s912/8.2/device_trees/ "
hi, is it possible to put linux in Emmc after?
Rémi LE GUEN do you mean NAND?
watch the end of the video, shows you how to do it
MXQ PROJECT sorry I m french and I don't understand everything in the video... Maybe have you a link for a tutorial or something like this. Regards
yes to replace android?
Follow the linux terminal commands at end of the video
How about x96 mini?
Should work just follow the guide
What about Unity? Is it possible to install? Thx
Unity the game engine? I highly doubt it would run
I have a T95Z plus Can I install armbian on this?
Yes
@@MXQPROJECT I burn the iso and move the dtb file in the root location but the t95z plus did not even boot :(
ubuntu gonna run everytime we turn MXq on?
Yeah, need remove SD to boot android
dual boot sem perder tv box?
mano conseguiu instalar algo?
hallo link does not worl