DART-SD410 Android Getting Started

From Variscite Wiki
DART-SD410 - First Time? Start Here.

This WIKI describes:

  • Variscite's FTP tree explanatioon.
  • Switching between Android and Linux.
  • How to start using your VAR-DT410CustomBoard.

Variscite's FTP

The Variscite's FTP directory tree is as following:

dart-sd410
├── Software
│   ├── Android
│   │   ├── LL.1.2.4-01810-8x16.0-3
│   │   ├── ...
│   │   └── RescueImages
│   ├── Yocto
│   │   ├── ...
│   │   └── RescueImages
│   ├── Ubuntu
│   │   ├── ...
│   │   └── RescueImages
│   ├── Windows
│   │   ├── ...
│   │   └── RescueImages
│   └── RescueDiskImage
└── Hardware
    ├── Schematics
    ├── Datasheets
    └── Layout
  • dart-sd410 -> Software -> RescueDiskImage directory contains a recovery SD Card image for switching OSes and Recovery
  • dart-sd410 -> Software -> OS -> RescueImages directory contains prebiult last version of the system together with partition table file and boot loaders.
 The partition table file and bootloaders are supplied in binary format and cannot be altered by the customers.
 Please contact variscite support for changes.

Switching between OSes

In this section each supported OS has it's own subdirectory.
Additional directory named RescueDiskImage holds inside the rescue disk for switching between different OSes.
The partition table of Android and Linux is different and this image will help update the needed partition table.
To use this image it should be burnt into SD Card, to do so please follow:

Preparing rescue SD-Card

  • Plug your SD card to your Linux machine, run dmesg and see what device is added (i.e. /dev/sdX)

Run the following command to write the image file to the SD card

$ sudo dd if=~/Downloads/DART-DT410_sd_rescue.img of=/dev/sdX bs=128k
Change the /dev/sdX with your SD card device.

After the write process is finished run
$ sudo sync
  • Remove the SD card from your PC and insert it into the SD card slot of the VAR-DT410CustomBoard
  • Set Boot Select switch (SW3) to the ON position. This directs the DART-SD410 to boot from an external SD card.
  • Cycle the power of the VAR-DT410CustomBoard

After this step the system will read the image from external SD card and boot into a fastboot mode. Now you are ready to burn the correct partiotion table.

  • Navigate to the RescueImages folder of the choosen OS
  • Run flashall script
  • Set Boot Select switch (SW3) to the OFF position. This tells the DART-SD410 to boot from internal eMMC device.
  • Cycle the power of the VAR-DT410CustomBoard

The needed OS will start

Start using your VAR-DT410CustomBoard

  • Upack the contents of the package
  • Veryfy that the DART-SD410 SoM is connected properly into VAR-DT410CustomBoard card
  • Connect the screen LVDS cable to the LCD (the red wires should be at pin 1 position)
  • Connect the other side of the cable to VAR-DT410CustomBoard J11 (the red wires should be at pin 1 position i.e. closer to HDMI connector)
  • Connect the touch screen flat cable to J4 (the copper contacts should face PCB card)
  • Connect USB cable to a PC
  • Connect the Micro USB plug to VAR-DT410CustomBoard J21. Wait for USB device enumeration and driver installation
  • Open any serial port console program (we suggest using Putty) and set it to 115200,8,1,n baudrate
  • Plug in the power supply to 100/220V
NOTE:
If Camera adapter was purchased then it should be plugged in before the first power up. Otherwise the Android will remove Camera program and it will not be accessible untill system re-flash
  • Plug in the power adapter 5V to VAR-DT410CustomBoard J18

Immideately the serial console will show the booting process and after about a minute the LCD will show the boot animation and Android will be started

NOTE:
The first Boot up of the Android takes more time because of database initialization

Switching display options

To switch between LCD and HDMI the following fastboot commands should be run

To switch to HDMI

$ fastboot oem select-display-panel adv7533_1080p

To switch to LCD

$ fastboot oem select-display-panel