Linux Host

This section shows how to install new operating system to your HiKey using the fastboot method on a Linux host computer.

  • Step 1: Make sure fastboot is set up on host computer
  • Step 2: Make sure you have the latest bootloader installed
  • Step 3: Boot HiKey into Fastboot mode using J15 header
  • Step 4: Install Operating System update using downloaded files
  • Step 5: Reboot HiKey into new OS

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

Step 2: Make sure you have the latest bootloader installed.

Step 3: Boot HiKey into Fastboot mode using J15 header

  • Link pins 1 and 2
  • Link pins 5 and 6
  • Connect host computer to HiKey board using USB to microUSB cable
Name Link State
Auto Power up Link 1-2 closed
Boot Select Link 3-4 open
GPIO3-1 Link 5-6 closed
  • Power on HiKey board by plugging in power adapter
  • Esure HiKey is detected by host computere
  • Wait for about 10 seconds
  • Open Terminal application and execute the following:
$ sudo fastboot devices
0123456789abcdef fastboot

Note: If your HiKey is not being detected by fastboot, you might want to try Board Recovery and return to this step once your board is ready

Step 3: Install Operating System update using downloaded files

NOTE: the ptable must be flashed first. Wait for a few seconds after the reboot command to allow the bootloader to restart using the new partition table.

Debian Linux
  • Download and decompress Files 
    # BOOT IMAGE
$ wget http://snapshots.linaro.org/96boards/hikey/linaro/debian/latest/boot-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey-*.img.gz -O boot-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey.img.gz
$ gunzip boot-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey.img.gz
# ROOTFS IMAGE
$ wget http://snapshots.linaro.org/96boards/hikey/linaro/debian/latest/rootfs-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey-*.img.gz -O rootfs-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey.img.gz
$ gunzip rootfs-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey.img.gz
# PTABLE IMAGE FOR 8GB EMMC
$ wget https://snapshots.linaro.org/reference-platform/components/uefi-staging/latest/hikey/debug/ptable-linux-8g.img
# PTABLE IMAGE FOR 4GB EMMC
$ wget https://snapshots.linaro.org/reference-platform/components/uefi-staging/latest/hikey/debug/ptable-linux-4g.img
  • Flash eMMC 
    $ sudo fastboot getvar partition-size:ptable
$ sudo fastboot flash ptable ptable-linux-8g.img #OR ptable-linux-4g.img
$ sudo fastboot reboot
$ sudo fastboot flash boot boot-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey.img
$ sudo fastboot flash system rootfs-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey.img
AOSP
$ sudo fastboot getvar partition-size:ptable
$ sudo fastboot flash ptable ptable-aosp-8g.img
$ sudo fastboot reboot
$ sudo fastboot flash boot boot_fat.uefi.img
$ sudo fastboot flash cache cache.img
$ sudo fastboot flash system system.img
$ sudo fastboot flash userdata userdata-8gb.img

Step 4: Reboot HiKey into new OS

  • Wait untill all files have been flashed onto HiKey board
  • Power down HiKey by unplugging the power adapter
  • Remove microUSB cable from HiKey
  • Remove Link 5-6 from J15 header
Name Link State
Auto Power up Link 1-2 closed
Boot Select Link 3-4 open
GPIO3-1 Link 5-6 open
  • Plug mouse/keyboard USB into type A USB ports
  • Power up HiKey by plugging in power adapter

Note: 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 HiKey!