VIM1 images for Ubuntu 22.04 and Debian 11 won't boot about fenix

[innovara]

This is the solution for those who may end up here asking themselves the same question.

The problem is that the images for Ubuntu 22.04 under the ‘generic’ folder (dl.khadas.com - Index of /products/vim1/firmware/ubuntu/generic/) which are meant to be for TF cards are in fact for eMMC.

However, those are not images that you would burn with the USB tool. Those are images that you burn with the handy oowow tool (https://dl.khadas.com/products/vim1/firmware/oowow/). Using oowow you can connect to the internet and download the images from dl.khadas.com - Index of /.images/vim1/ or you can download the image to a pendrive and burn it to the eMMC. I am not going to go into the details of how you go about either of those options but basically you need to burn the oowow image to a microSD card and boot from it, then the rest.

The Fenix script is what I guess they use to build those images, therefore they are also for the eMMC card (tested and confirmed). This is despite all the documentations and script saying to the contrary. It’s quite a shame that all that amount of work to put together so many pieces of code gets ruined by not documenting it at all or incorrectly. Or at least not keeping the documentation up to date.

Lastly, currently the pre-built images for Ubuntu and the Fenix script, use the linux kernel 6.1.y from the Khadas repository and their standard config file doesn’t include the nf_tables module. That is a massive problem in Ubuntu 22.04, and I imagine Debian 11, because it’s their default firewalling framework and according to my testing, the legacy iptables doesn’t work properly without it.

With a bit of editing, you can enable it, and then build the image with the Fenix script. I’m going to send a PR and hopefully they’ll enable it. The file is ./build/linux/arch/arm64/configs/kvims_defconfig and you have to add the following:

CONFIG_NF_TABLES=m
CONFIG_NF_TABLES_INET=y
CONFIG_NF_TABLES_NETDEV=y
CONFIG_NFT_NUMGEN=m
CONFIG_NFT_CT=m
CONFIG_NFT_CONNLIMIT=m
CONFIG_NFT_LOG=m
CONFIG_NFT_LIMIT=m
CONFIG_NFT_MASQ=m
CONFIG_NFT_REDIR=m
CONFIG_NFT_NAT=m
CONFIG_NFT_TUNNEL=m
CONFIG_NFT_OBJREF=m
CONFIG_NFT_QUEUE=m
CONFIG_NFT_QUOTA=m
CONFIG_NFT_REJECT=m
CONFIG_NFT_REJECT_INET=m
CONFIG_NFT_COMPAT=m
CONFIG_NFT_HASH=m
CONFIG_NFT_XFRM=m
CONFIG_NFT_SOCKET=m
CONFIG_NFT_OSF=m
CONFIG_NFT_TPROXY=m
CONFIG_NFT_SYNPROXY=m
CONFIG_NF_DUP_NETDEV=m
CONFIG_NFT_DUP_NETDEV=m
CONFIG_NFT_FWD_NETDEV=m
CONFIG_NFT_REJECT_NETDEV=m

[pascalbourges]

Hi, i am new with vim1, i have boot on oowow, and install vim1-ubuntu-22.04-server-linux-6.1-fenix-1.4-221229.img.xz from download. It seems ok but after reboot, the vim1 loop. I have nevers access ubuntu.
The only i can flash with usb burning tool is https://dl.khadas.com/products/vim1/firmware/ubuntu/emmc/vim1-ubuntu-18.04-xfce-linux-4.9-fenix-1.1.1-220725-emmc.img.xz
Can you detail me how to install ubuntu 22 or better last debian, but i have nevers get a debian ok.

[innovara]

Did you use the option 'Write Image to eMMC' to flash this image: https://dl.khadas.com/products/vim1/firmware/ubuntu/generic/vim1-ubuntu-22.04-server-linux-6.1-fenix-1.4-221229.img.xz?

[pascalbourges]

Yes, but i have loops on boot, there is a quick message about partition not found or something like this. Le mar. 3 oct. 2023 à 21:26, innovara ***@***.***> a écrit :

…

Did you use the option 'Write Image to eMMC' to flash this image: https://dl.khadas.com/products/vim1/firmware/ubuntu/generic/vim1-ubuntu-22.04-server-linux-6.1-fenix-1.4-221229.img.xz ? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#228 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A6BHVJAKE2VYBBY7ZQ5WUDLX5RRGLAVCNFSM6AAAAAAUE3J67GVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTONBVGU4DOOBRGI> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[innovara]

Unfortunately, the VIM1 that I use is on a remote location so I can't really test anything in this regard.

If I recall correctly, there is an option under Advance to wipe/format the eMMC memory. I would certainly do that before flashing the image.

I built my own image with the Fenix script because nftables is not enabled on theirs. But their image worked in terms of booting, etc. I can give you some details about how to do that but this is not the correct place for it, I think. It's better if you register on their forum to continue this conversation and ask for help under the VIM1 section: https://forum.khadas.com. Others might be able to help as well.

I have also just built the images for Ubuntu and Debian but as I said I can't test them. I only know that the Fenix script does its job and I could share them with you.

Lastly, a couple of links that may help you:
https://forum.khadas.com/t/ubuntu-22-04-on-vim1-doesnt-boot/18253/2
https://forum.khadas.com/t/how-to-add-uboot-to-vim1-ubuntu-generic-6-1-image/20286