ROCK Pi 4 Linux system runs on M.2 NVME SSD

It is exciting that, on ROCK Pi 4, NVME is able to boot from SPI Flash. Here is the tutorial about Linux system running on M.2 NVME SSD.

Recommended : ROCK Pi 4 : Overview | Installation

Prerequisites

To follow this tutorial, you will need:

• A well-running ROCK Pi with eMMC or Micro SD Card

• Linux system image for ROCK Pi 4

• SPI Flash image (ROCK Pi 4 u-boot image)

• SPI Flash IC on ROCK Pi 4
  • Single power supply voltage range: 2.7~3.6V
  • Space: at least 4MB

• M.2 NVME SSD with M.2 NVMe SSD Reader Adapter
  • Support brand: HP, Intel, MaxMemory, KingSpec, etc

Step 1 Install ROCK Pi 4 u-boot image to SPI Flash

There are two methods for installing u-boot image to SPI Flash.

Method One: Write image to SPI flash from USB OTG port

Fitrstly, Get ROCK Pi 4 u-boot image from here

Select the target files, called uboot-trust-spi.img and rk3399_loader_spinor_v1.15.114.bin .

Then just follow Write image to SPI flash from USB OTG port to flash image.

Method Two: Write image to SPI flash using mtd tool

This method requires a running system on ROCK Pi 4 board. So now power on the ROCK Pi 4. Maybe your ROCK Pi system is running on eMMC module or uSD card. It is OK.

Firstly, add Radxa APT source. The latest version of u-boot and kernel are still in testing.

For Debian stretch

 $ export DISTRO=stretch-testing # update more frequently but maybe unstable
 $ echo "deb http://apt.radxa.com/$DISTRO/ stretch main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/apt-radxa-com.list

or Ubuntu server

 $ export DISTRO=bionic-testing # update more frequently but maybe unstable
 $ echo "deb http://apt.radxa.com/$DISTRO/ bionic main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/apt-radxa-com.list

Get the pub key

 $ wget -O -  apt.radxa.com/$DISTRO/public.key | sudo apt-key add -

Update APT

 $ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Install necessary packages

 $ sudo apt-get install -y rockchip-fstab
 $ sudo apt-get install -y rockchip-overlay
 $ sudo apt-get install -y rockpi4-dtbo
 $ sudo apt-get install -y linux-4.4-latest # Will update kernel
 $ sudo apt-get install -y rockpi4b-rk-u-boot-latest # Will get the newest version of u-boot package, but not update the u-boot on eMMC or uSD card

Modify file, /boot/hw_intfc.conf. Uncomment these lines.

 intfc:uart4=off
 intfc:spi1=on
 intfc:dtoverlay=spi1-flash

Reboot the machine.

After login, there is a device /dev/mtd0.

Since we have done a lot of preparation, now it is time to install the image to SPI Flash. Just follow the commands.

 $ sudo /usr/local/sbin/rockpi4b_write_spi_flash.sh

After that, something are shown to us.

 Doing this will overwrite data stored on SPI Flash
   and it will require that you use eMMC or SD
   as your boot device.
 
 Type YES to continue or Ctrl-C to abort.

We follow its suggestion and type YES. Now we just wait until the installation job is done.

Step 2 Install ROCK Pi 4 system image to M.2 NVME SSD

It is convenient to install system image to M.2 NVME SSD.

Put the M.2 NVME SSD into M.2 NVMe SSD Reader Adapter, and then insert them to PC.

When they are ready, use tool command dd or APP Etcher to install system image to M.2 NVME SSD.

Step 3 Test M.2 NVME SSD booting from SPI Flash

Power off ROCK Pi 4, remove eMMC module or uSD Card from ROCK Pi 4 since there is system image in eMMC module or uSD Card.

Insert M.2 NVME SSD into ROCK Pi 4.

Power on ROCK Pi 4.

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