View source for NixOS on ARM

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<!--T:1-->
<div style="font-size: 1.5rem; text-align: center;padding-bottom: 0.5rem;"><strong>NixOS supports 64-bit ARM.</strong></div>

<!--T:2-->
The support level for ARM overall varies depending on the architecture and the specific ecosystems and boards.

<!--T:3-->
The way the ARM integration is built into NixOS is by making '''generic builds the first-class citizens'''. This means that as soon as there is upstream support for the board in the kernel and platform firmware, NixOS should work once those are updated.

<!--T:4-->
It is still possible, when needed, to build and use a customized platform firmware and kernel for specific boards<sup>[[Talk:NixOS_on_ARM#NixOS_.22support.22_for_board-specific_kernels_or_bootloaders|[reference needed]]]</sup>.

<!--T:5-->
At this moment in time (early 2024) '''only AArch64''' has full support upstream. With that said, neither armv6l or armv7l are being ignored, fixes are worked on and approved as needed. What's missing is support and builds being maintained in binary form. At the time of writing, no publicly available caches for armv6l or armv7l are available.<!-- please get in touch with samueldr on the NixOS on ARM channel if you want to share your own cache, before editing. We need to review the wording to make it crystal clear it's a user-provided cache. -->

<!--T:6-->
'''For images links, including UEFI install''', skip to the [[NixOS_on_ARM/Installation|Installation page]].

== Supported devices == <!--T:7-->

<!--T:8-->
Table legend:
* SoC - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_on_a_chip
* ISA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_set_architecture

=== Upstream (NixOS) supported devices === <!--T:9-->

<!--T:10-->
NixOS has support for these boards using AArch64 architecture on the nixpkgs-unstable and stable channel.

<!--T:11-->
Support for those board assumes as much is supported as Mainline Linux supports.
<!--
Order for the device table is:
 * By manufacturer name, alphabetical.
 * By release date, chronological (older first).
-->
<div class="table">
{|class="table"
!width="2%"| Manufacturer
!width="2%"| Board
!width="2%"| SoC
!width="1%"| ISA
!width="2%"| CPU
!width="1%"| RAM
!width="2%"| Storage
|-
| Raspberry Pi Foundation
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Raspberry_Pi_3|Raspberry Pi 3]]
| Broadcom BCM2837
| AArch64 / ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.2 - 1.4 GHz
| 1 GB
| SD/microSD
|-
| Raspberry Pi Foundation
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Raspberry_Pi 4|Raspberry Pi 4]]
| Broadcom BCM2711
| AArch64 / ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A72 @ 1.5 - 1.8 GHz
| 1-8 GB
| microSD, eMMC
|}
</div>
=== Community supported devices ===

<!--T:12-->
These boards are not routinely verified as working.

<!--T:13-->
The baseline support level expected is “Just as much as mainline Linux and U-Boot supports them”, except if specified otherwise.
<!--
Order for the device table is:
 * By manufacturer name, alphabetical.
 * By release date, chronological (older first).
-->
<div class="table">
{| class="sortable table"
!width="2%"| Manufacturer
!width="2%"| Board
!width="2%"| SoC
!width="1%"| ISA
!width="2%"| CPU
!width="2%"| RAM
!width="2%"| Storage
|-
| Apple
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Apple Silicon Macs|Apple Silicon Macs]]
| M1/M1 Pro/M1 Max
| AArch64
| —
| —
| NVMe
|-
| ASUS
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/ASUS Tinker Board|Tinker Board]]
| Rockchip RK3288
| ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A17
| 2 GB
| microSD
|-
| Banana Pi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Banana Pi|Banana Pi]]
| Allwinner A20
| ARMv7
| 2× Cortex-A7
| 1 GB
| SD, SATA
|-
| Banana Pi M64
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Banana Pi M64|Banana Pi M64]]
| Allwinner A64
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53
| 2 GB
| microSD, 8GB eMMc
|-
| Banana Pi BPI-M5
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Banana Pi BPI-M5|Banana Pi BPI-M5]]
| Amlogic S905X3
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A55
| 4 GB LPDDR4
| microSD, 16G eMMC
|-
| BeagleBoard.org
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/BeagleBone_Black|BeagleBone Black]]
| TI AM335x [https://git.beagleboard.org/beagleboard/beaglebone-black (src)]
| ARMv7
| 1× Cortex-A8 @ 1 GHz
| 512 MB
| 4 GB eMMC, microSD
|-
| Firefly
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Firefly_AIO-3399C|AIO-3399C]]
| Rockchip RK3399
| AArch64
| 2× Cortex-A72 @ 2.0 GHz, 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 Ghz
| 2/4 GB
| 8/16 GB eMMC, microSD
|-
| FriendlyElec
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/NanoPC-T4|NanoPC-T4]]
| Rockchip RK3399
| AArch64
| 2× Cortex-A72 @ 2.0 GHz, 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 Ghz
| 4 GB
| 16 GB eMMC, microSD, NVMe
|-
| FriendlyElec
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/NanoPi-M4|NanoPi-M4]]
| Rockchip RK3399
| AArch64
| 2× Cortex-A72 @ 2.0 GHz, 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 Ghz
| 4 GB
| optional eMMC, microSD
|-
| FriendlyElec
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/NanoPi-R6C|NanoPi-R6C]]
| Rockchip RK3588S
| AArch64
| 4× ARM Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz, 4× Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 Ghz
| 4 GB / 8 GB
| optional eMMC, microSD, NVMe
|-
| Hardkernel
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/ODROID-HC1|ODROID-HC1 & ODROID-HC2]]
| Samsung Exynos 5422
| ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A15 @ 2GHz, 4× Cortex-A7 @ 1.4GHz
| 2 GB
| microSD
|-
| Hardkernel
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/ODROID-C2|ODROID-C2]]
| Amlogic S905
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz
| 2 GB
| eMMC, microSD
|-
| Hardkernel
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/ODROID-HC4|ODROID-HC4]]
| Amlogic S905X3
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
| 4 GB
| microSD, SATA
|-
|Kosagi
|[[NixOS on ARM/Kosagi Novena|Kosagi Novena]]
|i.MX6
|ARMv7
|4× Cortex-A9 @ 1.2 GHz
|4 GB
|microSD, SATA
|-
| Libre Computer
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Libre_Computer_ROC-RK3399-PC|ROC-RK3399-PC]]
| Rockchip RK3399
| AArch64
| 2× Cortex-A72 @ 2.0 GHz, 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 Ghz
| 4 GB
| eMMC, microSD, NVMe
|-
| Libre Computer
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Libre_Computer_ROC-RK3328-CC|ROC-RK3328-CC]]
| Rockchip RK3328
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.4GHz
| 4 GB
| eMMC, microSD
|-
| Libre Computer
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Libre_Computer_AML-S905X-CC-V2|AML-S905X-CC-V2]]
| Amlogic S905X
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.512 GHz
| 1/2GB
| eMMC, microSD
|-
| Linksprite
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/PcDuino3_Nano|pcDuino3 Nano]]
| Allwinner A20
| ARMv7
| 2× Cortex-A7 @ 1 GHz
| 1 GB
| 4 GB NAND, microSD, SATA
|-
| NVIDIA
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Jetson TK1|Jetson TK1]]
| Tegra K1/T124
| ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A15 @ 2.3 GHz
| 2 GB
| 16 GB eMMC, SD, SATA
|-
| NXP
| [https://github.com/NiklasGollenstede/nixos-imx/ i.MX 8M Plus EVK]
| i.MX 8M Plus
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.8 Ghz
| 6 GB
| 32 GB eMMC, microSD
|-
| NXP
| [https://github.com/gangaram-tii/nixos-imx8mq/ i.MX 8M Quad EVK]
| i.MX 8M Quad
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 Ghz + 1× Cortex-M4
| 3 GB
| 16 GB eMMC, microSD
|-
| OLIMEX
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/OLIMEX_Teres-A64|Teres-A64]]
| AllWinner A64
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.1 GHz
| 2GB
| 16 GB eMMC, microSD
|-
| Orange Pi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Orange_Pi_One|Orange Pi One]]
| Allwinner H3
| ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A7 @ 1.2 GHz
| 512 MB
| microSD
|-
| Orange Pi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Orange_Pi_PC|Orange Pi PC]]
| Allwinner H3
| ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A7 @ 1.6 GHz
| 1 GB
| SD/microSD
|-
| Orange Pi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Orange_Pi_Zero_Plus2_H5|Orange Pi Zero Plus2 (H5)]]
| Allwinner H5
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.2 GHz
| 1 GB
| SD/microSD + 8GB eMMC
|-
| Orange Pi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Orange_Pi_Zero2_H616|Orange Pi Zero2 (H616)]]
| Allwinner H616
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.2 GHz
| 1 GB
| SD/microSD + 2MB SPI Flash
|-
| Orange Pi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Orange_Pi_R1_Plus_LTS|Orange Pi R1 Plus LTS]]
| Rockchip RK3328
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 GHz
| 1 GB
| microSD
|-
| Orange Pi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Orange_Pi_5|Orange Pi 5]]
| Rockchip RK3588s
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz, 4×Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz
| 4/8/16 GB
| microSD, NVMe
|-
| Orange Pi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Orange_Pi_5_Plus|Orange Pi 5 Plus]]
| Rockchip RK3588
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz, 4×Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz
| 4/8/16 GB
| eMMC, microSD, NVMe
|-
| PINE64
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/PINE A64-LTS|PINE A64-LTS]]
| Allwinner R18
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ ? GHz
| 2 GB
| microSD & eMMC
|-
| PINE64
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/PINE64_Pinebook|Pinebook]]
| Allwinner A64
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ ? Ghz
| 2 GB
| microSD & eMMC
|-
| PINE64
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/PINE64_Pinebook_Pro|Pinebook Pro]]
| Rockchip RK3399
| AArch64
| 2× Cortex-A72 @ 2.0 GHz, 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 Ghz
| 4 GB
| microSD & eMMC
|-
| PINE64
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/PINE64_ROCK64|ROCK64]]
| Rockchip RK3328
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 GHz
| 1/2/4 GB
| microSD/eMMC
|-
| PINE64
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/PINE64_ROCKPro64|ROCKPro64]]
| Rockchip RK3399
| AArch64
| 2× Cortex-A72 @ 2.0 GHz, 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 Ghz
| 2/4 GB
| microSD/eMMC
|-
| Clockworkpi
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Clockworkpi_A06_uConsole|uConsole A06]]
| Rockchip RK3399
| AArch64
| 2× Cortex-A72 @ 2.0 GHz, 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 Ghz
| 4 GB
| microSD
|-
| Radxa
| [[NixOS on ARM/Radxa ROCK 4|ROCK 4]]
| Rockchip RK3399
| AArch64
| 2× Cortex-A72, 4×Cortex-A53
| 2/4 GB
| eMMC, microSD, NVMe via expansion board
|-
| Radxa
| [[NixOS on ARM/Radxa ROCK5 Model B|ROCK5 Model B]]
| Rockchip RK3588
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz, 4×Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz
| 4/8/16 GB
| eMMC, microSD, NVMe
|-
| Radxa
| [[NixOS on ARM/Radxa ROCK5 Model A|ROCK5 Model A]]
| Rockchip RK3588s
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz, 4×Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz
| 4/8/16 GB
| eMMC, microSD, NVMe
|-
| Raspberry Pi Foundation
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Raspberry_Pi|Raspberry Pi]]
| Broadcom BCM2835
| ARMv6
| 1 × ARM1176 @ 700 MHz
| 256 MB / 512 MB
| SD/microSD
|-
| Raspberry Pi Foundation
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Raspberry_Pi|Raspberry Pi 2]]
| Broadcom BCM2836
| ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A7 @ 900 MHz
| 1 GB
| SD/microSD
|-
| Raspberry Pi Foundation
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Raspberry_Pi 3|Raspberry Pi 3]]
| Broadcom BCM2837
| AArch64 / ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.2 GHz
| 1 GB
| SD/microSD
|-
| Raspberry Pi Foundation
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Raspberry_Pi 4|Raspberry Pi 4]]
| Broadcom BCM2711
| AArch64 / ARMv7
| 4× Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 GHz
| 1-8 GB
| microSD
|-
| Raspberry Pi Foundation
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Raspberry_Pi 5|Raspberry Pi 5]]
| Broadcom BCM2712
| AArch64
| 4× Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz
| 4-8 GB
| microSD
|-
| Toshiba
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Toshiba AC100|AC100 (mini laptop)]]
| Tegra 2 250 (T20)
| ARMv7
| 2× Cortex-A9 @ 1 GHz
| 512 MB
| 8–32 GB eMMC, SD
|-
| Wandboard
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/Wandboard|Wandboard Solo/Dual/Quad]]
| Freescale i.MX6
| ARMv7
| 1×/2×/4× Cortex-A9 @ 1000 MHz
| 512 MB / 1 GB / 2 GB
| microSD, SATA
|}
</div>

==== Special Devices ==== <!--T:14-->

<!--T:15-->
It is possible to emulate an ARM platform with QEMU.

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<div class="table">
{|class="table"
!width="2%"| Manufacturer
!width="2%"| Board
!width="2%"| SoC
!width="2%"| ISA
!width="2%"| CPU
!width="2%"| RAM
!width="2%"| Storage
|-
| QEMU
| [[NixOS_on_ARM/QEMU|QEMU]]
| —
| ARMv7
| up to 8
| up to 2 GB
| Anything QEMU supports
|}
</div>

== Installation == <!--T:17-->

<!--T:18-->
{{main|NixOS_on_ARM/Installation}}

== Initial configuration == <!--T:19-->

<!--T:20-->
{{main|NixOS_on_ARM/Initial_Configuration}}

== Troubleshooting == <!--T:21-->

<!--T:22-->
=== Hanging at <code>Starting kernel ...</code> ===
When booting a NixOS system, it may look like it is hung at <code>Starting kernel ...</code>.

<!--T:23-->
It is unlikely to be hung at this part. This is the last message printed by U-Boot. U-Boot prints to both the display and the console at once.

<!--T:24-->
To view the kernel messages and boot output, the “<code>stdout</code>” of the kernel needs to be configured appropriately.

<!--T:25-->
The kernel's <code>stdout</code> will differ depending on semantics.

<!--T:26-->
* When there are no valid <code>console=</code> kernel command-line arguments, it will default to the <code>/chosen/stdout-path</code> device tree property. (Generally a serial console.)
* When valid <code>console=</code> parameters are present, the kernel picks the leftmost valid one as <code>stdout</code>.

<!--T:27-->
In other words, the solution may be to enable the appropriate <code>console=</code> parameters according to your hardware configuration and system.

<!--T:28-->
* For the display, add <code>console=tty0</code>.
* For a serial console, refer to the target device configuration.

=== Details about the boot process === <!--T:29-->

<!--T:30-->
NixOS can also be booted through [[NixOS on ARM/UEFI|UEFI]] on ARM. The semantics are generally the same as on other architectures. Do note that the common use of Device Tree instead of ACPI in consumer-class hardware [[NixOS_on_ARM/UEFI#Device_Trees|''may'' make this a bit more awkward]].

<!--T:31-->
Otherwise, in SBC-class hardware, it is common that boards are generally expected to use U-Boot as the platform firmware and bootloader. See the section about [[U-Boot#Using NixOS with U-Boot|using NixOS with U-Boot]].

== Binary caches == <!--T:32-->

=== AArch64 === <!--T:33-->

<!--T:34-->
The [https://hydra.nixos.org/ official NixOS Hydra] instance builds a full set of binaries (available on https://cache.nixos.org) for the AArch64 architecture on the nixpkgs-unstable and stable channels.

=== armv6l and armv7l === <!--T:35-->

<!--T:36-->
Some '''''users''''' have provided best effort caches in the past for 32 bit ARM, but none are currently available.

== Getting Support == <!--T:37-->

<!--T:38-->
There is a dedicated room for the upstream NixOS effort on Matrix, 
[https://matrix.to/#/#nixos-on-arm:nixos.org #nixos-on-arm:nixos.org].

<!--T:39-->
Don't hesitate to ask questions. Note that reply times may vary greatly, depending on the provided information.

== Resources == <!--T:40-->

=== See also === <!--T:41-->

<!--T:42-->
* [[U-Boot]], as it is often paired with SBC-class hardware.
* [https://mobile.nixos.org/ Mobile NixOS], which provides enhanced semantic around some non-standard boot semantics.

=== Subpages === <!--T:43-->

<!--T:44-->
The following is a list of all sub-pages of the ''NixOS on ARM'' topic.

<!--T:45-->
{{Special:PrefixIndex/{{FULLPAGENAME}}/ |hideredirects=1 |stripprefix=1}}
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