Debian Flash From Net

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DART-MX8M - Flash Debian images from network

Flashing a complete Debian system from Network using TFTP & NFS

NOTES:

1. Please make sure your host system is ready to use TFTP/NFS. Use our Wiki if required: Debian Setup TFTP/NFS
2. This is a concept Wiki. Please adapt it to your system and your requirements.

Build minimal file system

To setup a build environment follow steps 2 & 3 of the Build Debian from source code guide.
Then, disable all distro features listed in Distro Features to get a minimal file system.

And build the image:

$ sudo MACHINE=imx8mq-var-dart ./var_make_debian.sh -c all

Create a root file system and copy files:

$ mkdir ~/flash_rootfs
$ sudo tar xf ~/debian_imx8mq-var-dart_debian_bullseye/output/rootfs.tar.gz -C ~/flash_rootfs
$ sudo cp -a ~/flash_rootfs/boot/*.dtb /tftpboot
$ sudo cp ~/flash_rootfs/boot/zImage /tftpboot

Edit /etc/exports. E.g.

$ sudo gedit /etc/exports

...and add the following line to it (replace <uname> with the actual username):

/home/<uname>/flash_rootfs    *(rw,sync,no_root_squash,no_all_squash,no_subtree_check) 

Restart the NFS server:

$ sudo /etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server restart

Insert the recovery SD card into your host PC and copy the following files from it (assuming it is mounted at /media):

$ sudo cp -a /media/rootfs/opt/images ~/flash_rootfs/opt/
$ sudo cp /media/rootfs/usr/bin/*.sh  ~/flash_rootfs/usr/bin/

Boot the board, stop the autoboot to get to the U-Boot command line, and set the following environment variables:

=> setenv serverip <your host ip address>
=> setenv nfsroot /home/<your username>/flash_rootfs

If you want to set the fdt file yourself, instead of using the default auto detection:
=> setenv fdt_file <relevant device tree>

=> setenv bootcmd 'run netboot'
=> saveenv
=> boot

On the target flash your system:

# install_debian.sh

A complete system is flashed into the SOMs internal storage (NAND flash/eMMC).
Once the file system is built you can use it again and again to flash your DART-MX8M.
You can update the images to use your images and/or customize install_debian.sh to your requirements.