Linux Host

This section show how to install a new operating system to your Qualcomm Robotics RB2 development kit using the fastboot method on a Linux host computer.

  • Step 1: Make sure fastboot is set up on host computer
  • Step 2: Connect host computer to RB2
  • Step 3: Boot RB2 into fastboot mode
  • Step 4: Recall location of all downloaded files
  • Step 5: Unzip all files
  • Step 6: Flash all files to the RB2
  • Step 7: Reboot RB2

Step 1: Make sure fastboot is set up on host computer.

You can install fastboot from source or using your distro package manager.
  • From source:
    • Android SDK “Tools only” for Linux can be downloaded here
    • The Linux “Tools Only” SDK download does not come with fastboot, you will need to use the Android SDK Manager to install platform-tools.
    • To do this follow the “SDK Readme.txt” instructions included in your SDK “Tools Only” download.

    If you are still having trouble setting up fastboot, click here for a short tutorial video

  • Or using a distro package manager:
    # Red Hat flavour (Fedora, CentOS)
$ sudo yum install android-tools

# Debian (Ubuntu)
$ sudo apt-get install fastboot

Step 2: Connect host computer to RB2

  • RB2 must be powered off (unplugged from power)
  • please check the Quick start guide to set the dip switches on the development kit

Step 3: Boot RB2 into fastboot mode

Please read all bullet points before attempting

  • Disconnect the power cable from the board and make sure no USB cable is plugged into the board
  • Hold down the “VOL-“ button while reconnecting the power supply.
  • Tap the “ON/OFF” button while continuing to hold the “VOL-“ button for ~5 seconds after the green LED lights up.
  • Release “VOL-“ button
  • Connect the USB3 Type C between the Linux PC and the board
  • Board should boot into fastboot mode.

From the connected host machine terminal window, run the following commands:

# Check to make sure device is connected and in fastboot mode

$ sudo fastboot devices

Typically it will show as below

de82318	fastboot

Step 4: Recall location of all downloaded files

Recall location of all downloaded files from the downloads page:

Linaro/Debian: Recall location of boot and rootfs downloaded from the downloads page
  • You should have downloaded the boot file
  • You should have downloaded the rootfs file

Step 5: Unzip required files

For Debian
$ gunzip boot-linaro-sid-arm64-qcom_qrb4210-rb2-*.img.gz
$ gunzip linaro-sid-developer-arm64-*.img.gz

Step 6: Flash all images to the RB2

  • Use host computer
  • Use “Terminal” application
  • Recall location of extracted(unzipped) files
  • cd to the directory with your unzipped files
  • From within extraction directory, execute the following commands:
Linaro/Debian:
# (Once again) Check to make sure fastboot device connected
$ sudo fastboot devices
# It will show similar to below if the device is connected successfully
de82318	fastboot

# cd to the directory the boot image and  were extracted
$ cd <extraction directory>

# Make sure you have properly unzipped the boot and rootfs downloads
$ sudo fastboot flash boot boot-linaro-sid-arm64-qcom_qrb4210-rb2-**BUILD#**.img
$ sudo fastboot flash userdata linaro-sid-developer-arm64-**BUILD#**.img

Note: Replace BUILD# in the above commands with the file-specific date/build stamp.

Step 7: Reboot RB2

  • Unplug power to RB2
  • Ensure HDMI connection to a monitor
  • Plug power back into RB2
  • Wait for board to boot up
  • Board will boot into command line

Note: For Linaro/Debian the username and password are both “linaro” when the login information is requested.

Congratulations! You are now booting your newly installed OS directly from eMMC on the RB2!