NixOS on ARM/Banana Pi BPI-M5 - Revision history

ToasterUwU: Replaced the outdated instructions with currently working ones. The issue was the gcc-arm-embedded package not providing the needed cross compiler anymore, along with shebang issues. This is my first time editing the wiki, so please check everything extra hard for issues.

2026-06-04T15:47:14Z

Replaced the outdated instructions with currently working ones. The issue was the gcc-arm-embedded package not providing the needed cross compiler anymore, along with shebang issues. This is my first time editing the wiki, so please check everything extra hard for issues.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:47, 4 June 2026
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	{{ARM/breadcrumb}}		{{ARM/breadcrumb}}

	~~== Status ==~~		'''Note:''' To build an image for a BPI-M5 you will need to use flakes. If you don't know them or need to set them up for your system, follow [[Flakes\|the Flakes Wiki page]].

	~~Work in progress~~		== Setting up the Flake for cross-compilation ==
			Create a folder with a name of your choosing. In it create a flake.nix file with the following contents:<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
			{
			description = "Banana Pi M5 NixOS Build Environment";

	== ~~Building~~ Amlogic-~~compatible U~~-~~Boot~~ ==		inputs = {
			nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
			};

			outputs = { nixpkgs, ... }: let
			system = "x86_64-linux";
			pkgs = import nixpkgs { inherit system; };

			# Expose the correct AArch64 cross-compilation package set
			crossPkgs = import nixpkgs {
			inherit system;
			crossSystem = {
			config = "aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu";
			};
			};
			in {
			devShells.${system}.default = pkgs.mkShell {
			packages = [
			# For patching shebangs in the official build scripts
			pkgs.stdenv

			# Provides the 64-bit aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu-gcc
			crossPkgs.buildPackages.gcc

			# Retained for Amlogic's 32-bit SCP/BL30 binary generation
			pkgs.gcc-arm-embedded

			pkgs.ubootTools
			pkgs.dtc
			pkgs.flex
			pkgs.bison
			pkgs.swig

			pkgs.openssl
			pkgs.gnutls

			# Resolves the insecure Python 2 dependency
			pkgs.python3
			];

			# Pre-set the build variables expected by Make
			shellHook = ''
			export CROSS_COMPILE="aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu-"
			export ARCH="arm"
			'';
			};
			};
			}

			</syntaxhighlight>

			== Building Amlogic-compatible U-Boot ==
	=== Building U-Boot ===		=== Building U-Boot ===
	'''Note:''' Do not use the severely outdated [https://github.com/BPI-SINOVOIP/BPI-M5-bsp BPI-M5-bsp] or [https://github.com/Dangku/Amlogic-u-boot Amlogic-u-boot] to build u-boot.		'''Note:''' Do not use the severely outdated [https://github.com/BPI-SINOVOIP/BPI-M5-bsp BPI-M5-bsp] or [https://github.com/Dangku/Amlogic-u-boot Amlogic-u-boot] to build u-boot.

	<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">		<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
			$ nix develop
	$ git clone git://git.denx.de/u-boot.git		$ git clone git://git.denx.de/u-boot.git
	$ cd u-boot		$ cd u-boot
	~~$ nix-shell -p ubootTools gcc-arm-embedded dtc flex bison python swig~~		$ make -j$(nproc) bananapi-m5_defconfig
	$ make -j$(nproc) ~~ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu-~~ bananapi-m5_defconfig		$ make -j$(nproc)
	$ make -j$(nproc) ~~ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu-~~
	$ cd ..		$ cd ..
	</syntaxhighlight>		</syntaxhighlight>
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	'''Note:''' The following steps require an AMD64 platform.		'''Note:''' The following steps require an AMD64 platform.

	<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">		<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">$ git clone https://github.com/LibreELEC/amlogic-boot-fip
	$ git clone https://github.com/LibreELEC/amlogic-boot-fip
	$ cd amlogic-boot-fip		$ cd amlogic-boot-fip
	$ mkdir -p output-bananapim5/		$ mkdir -p output-bananapim5/
			$ patchShebangs .
	$ ./build-fip.sh bananapi-m5 ../u-boot/u-boot.bin output-bananapim5		$ ./build-fip.sh bananapi-m5 ../u-boot/u-boot.bin output-bananapim5
	$ hexdump -C -n 32 output-bananapim5/u-boot.bin \| grep "40 41 4d 4c"		$ hexdump -C -n 32 output-bananapim5/u-boot.bin \| grep "40 41 4d 4c"
	$ cd ..		$ cd ..</syntaxhighlight>
	</syntaxhighlight>

	Verify that the new u-boot.bin contains <code>40 41 4d 4c</code> (<code>@AML</code>) at 0x10 onwards.		Verify that the new u-boot.bin contains <code>40 41 4d 4c</code> (<code>@AML</code>) at 0x10 onwards.
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	== Board-specific installation notes ==		== Board-specific installation notes ==

	First follow the [[~~NixOS_on_ARM#SD_card_images_.28SBCs_and_similar_platforms.29~~\|NixOS_on_ARM instructions to get the SD card image]] and decompress it.		First follow the [[NixOS on ARM/Installation\|NixOS_on_ARM instructions to get the SD card image]] and decompress it.

	Once the image has been decompressed, the Amlogic U-Boot package needs to be copied to byte 512+ inside the image (replace the image with the name downloaded and decompressed image):		Once the image has been decompressed, the Amlogic U-Boot package needs to be copied to byte 512+ inside the image (replace the image with the name downloaded and decompressed image):

	<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">		<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">$ sudo dd if=amlogic-boot-fip/output-bananapim5/u-boot.bin of=nixos-sd-image-22.11.2620.de5448dab58-aarch64-linux.img conv=fsync,notrunc bs=512 seek=1</syntaxhighlight>
	$ sudo dd if=amlogic-boot-fip/output-bananapim5/u-boot.bin of=nixos-sd-image-22.11.2620.de5448dab58-aarch64-linux.img conv=fsync,notrunc bs=512 seek=1
	</syntaxhighlight>

	Then, copy the image onto the eMMC or sdcard using the [[NixOS_on_ARM#Installation_steps\|the installation steps]].		Then, copy the image onto the eMMC or sdcard using the [[NixOS_on_ARM#Installation_steps\|the installation steps]].

Pigs: Add category

2025-05-18T05:33:43Z

Add category

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:33, 18 May 2025
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	* [https://wiki.banana-pi.org/Banana_Pi_BPI-M5 Official product page]		* [https://wiki.banana-pi.org/Banana_Pi_BPI-M5 Official product page]
	* [https://u-boot.readthedocs.io/en/latest/board/amlogic/odroid-c4.html Installation here is based on the U-Boot for Odroid C4 documentation]		* [https://u-boot.readthedocs.io/en/latest/board/amlogic/odroid-c4.html Installation here is based on the U-Boot for Odroid C4 documentation]

			[[Category:NixOS on ARM]]

Samueldr at 23:25, 4 April 2024

2024-04-04T23:25:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 4 April 2024
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	'''Note:''' Do not use the severely outdated [https://github.com/BPI-SINOVOIP/BPI-M5-bsp BPI-M5-bsp] or [https://github.com/Dangku/Amlogic-u-boot Amlogic-u-boot] to build u-boot.		'''Note:''' Do not use the severely outdated [https://github.com/BPI-SINOVOIP/BPI-M5-bsp BPI-M5-bsp] or [https://github.com/Dangku/Amlogic-u-boot Amlogic-u-boot] to build u-boot.

	<syntaxhighlight lang="~~bash~~">		<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
	$ git clone git://git.denx.de/u-boot.git		$ git clone git://git.denx.de/u-boot.git
	$ cd u-boot		$ cd u-boot
Line 24:		Line 24:
	'''Note:''' The following steps require an AMD64 platform.		'''Note:''' The following steps require an AMD64 platform.

	<syntaxhighlight lang="~~bash~~">		<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
	$ git clone https://github.com/LibreELEC/amlogic-boot-fip		$ git clone https://github.com/LibreELEC/amlogic-boot-fip
	$ cd amlogic-boot-fip		$ cd amlogic-boot-fip
Line 41:		Line 41:
	Once the image has been decompressed, the Amlogic U-Boot package needs to be copied to byte 512+ inside the image (replace the image with the name downloaded and decompressed image):		Once the image has been decompressed, the Amlogic U-Boot package needs to be copied to byte 512+ inside the image (replace the image with the name downloaded and decompressed image):

	<syntaxhighlight lang="~~bash~~">sudo dd if=amlogic-boot-fip/output-bananapim5/u-boot.bin of=nixos-sd-image-22.11.2620.de5448dab58-aarch64-linux.img conv=fsync,notrunc bs=512 seek=1</syntaxhighlight>		<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
			$ sudo dd if=amlogic-boot-fip/output-bananapim5/u-boot.bin of=nixos-sd-image-22.11.2620.de5448dab58-aarch64-linux.img conv=fsync,notrunc bs=512 seek=1
			</syntaxhighlight>

	Then, copy the image onto the eMMC or sdcard using the [[NixOS_on_ARM#Installation_steps\|the installation steps]].		Then, copy the image onto the eMMC or sdcard using the [[NixOS_on_ARM#Installation_steps\|the installation steps]].
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	In order to get a serial console output, it is required to replace <code>ttyAMA0</code> with <code>ttyAML0</code> in the <code>/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf</code> file inside the image.		In order to get a serial console output, it is required to replace <code>ttyAMA0</code> with <code>ttyAML0</code> in the <code>/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf</code> file inside the image.
	The easiest way is to just mount the respective folder after the image has been flashed on the SD-card		The easiest way is to just mount the respective folder after the image has been flashed on the SD-card
	<syntaxhighlight lang="~~bash~~">		<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
	sudo mount /dev/sdX /mnt/		$ sudo mount /dev/sdX /mnt/
	sudo sed -i 's/ttyAMA0/ttyAML0/g' /mnt/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf		$ sudo sed -i 's/ttyAMA0/ttyAML0/g' /mnt/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
	</syntaxhighlight>		</syntaxhighlight>

imported>Grische: Created page with "{{ARM/breadcrumb}} == Status == Work in progress == Building Amlogic-compatible U-Boot == === Building U-Boot === '''Note:''' Do not use the severely outdated [https://gi..."

2023-02-18T09:37:19Z

Created page with "{{ARM/breadcrumb}} == Status == Work in progress == Building Amlogic-compatible U-Boot == === Building U-Boot === '''Note:''' Do not use the severely outdated [https://gi..."

New page

{{ARM/breadcrumb}}

== Status ==

Work in progress

== Building Amlogic-compatible U-Boot ==

=== Building U-Boot ===
'''Note:''' Do not use the severely outdated [https://github.com/BPI-SINOVOIP/BPI-M5-bsp BPI-M5-bsp] or [https://github.com/Dangku/Amlogic-u-boot Amlogic-u-boot] to build u-boot.

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
$ git clone git://git.denx.de/u-boot.git
$ cd u-boot
$ nix-shell -p ubootTools gcc-arm-embedded dtc flex bison python swig
$ make -j$(nproc) ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu- bananapi-m5_defconfig
$ make -j$(nproc) ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu-
$ cd ..
</syntaxhighlight>

=== Creating Amlogic Package ===

'''Note:''' The following steps require an AMD64 platform.

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
$ git clone https://github.com/LibreELEC/amlogic-boot-fip
$ cd amlogic-boot-fip
$ mkdir -p output-bananapim5/
$ ./build-fip.sh bananapi-m5 ../u-boot/u-boot.bin output-bananapim5
$ hexdump -C -n 32 output-bananapim5/u-boot.bin | grep "40 41 4d 4c"
$ cd ..
</syntaxhighlight>

Verify that the new u-boot.bin contains <code>40 41 4d 4c</code> (<code>@AML</code>) at 0x10 onwards.

== Board-specific installation notes ==

First follow the [[NixOS_on_ARM#SD_card_images_.28SBCs_and_similar_platforms.29|NixOS_on_ARM instructions to get the SD card image]] and decompress it.

Once the image has been decompressed, the Amlogic U-Boot package needs to be copied to byte 512+ inside the image (replace the image with the name downloaded and decompressed image):

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">sudo dd if=amlogic-boot-fip/output-bananapim5/u-boot.bin of=nixos-sd-image-22.11.2620.de5448dab58-aarch64-linux.img conv=fsync,notrunc bs=512 seek=1</syntaxhighlight>

Then, copy the image onto the eMMC or sdcard using the [[NixOS_on_ARM#Installation_steps|the installation steps]].

In order to get a serial console output, it is required to replace <code>ttyAMA0</code> with <code>ttyAML0</code> in the <code>/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf</code> file inside the image.
The easiest way is to just mount the respective folder after the image has been flashed on the SD-card
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
sudo mount /dev/sdX /mnt/
sudo sed -i 's/ttyAMA0/ttyAML0/g' /mnt/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
</syntaxhighlight>

== Resources ==

* [https://wiki.banana-pi.org/Banana_Pi_BPI-M5 Official product page]
* [https://u-boot.readthedocs.io/en/latest/board/amlogic/odroid-c4.html Installation here is based on the U-Boot for Odroid C4 documentation]