Linux Host

This section show how to install a new operating system to your HiKey960 using the fastboot method on a Linux host computer.

  • Step 1: Materials and Preperations
  • Step 2: Dependencies
  • Step 3: Flash base firmware (if needed)
  • Step 4: Boot HiKey960 into fastboot mode
  • Step 5: Flash Operating System
  • Step 6: Reboot

Step 1: Materials and Preperations

Materials

Preperations

There are two versions of HiKey960
v1 uses Jumpers (J2001)
v2 uses DIP Switches (SW2201)
Both are located at the bottom side of the board
Jumper Pin 1-2 = DIP switch 1
Jumper Pin 3-4 = DIP switch 2
Jumper Pin 5-6 = DIP switch 3
  • To boot into fastboot mode everytime set switch 1 & 3 to ON state and switch 2 to OFF state.
  • To boot into fastboot mode at every alternate rebooot set switch 1 to ON and switch 2 & 3 to OFF state.
  • To boot into recovery mode set switch 1 & 2 to ON state and switch 3 to OFF state

Step 2: Dependencies

Host Linux Machine

  • Android SDK “Platform-Tools” for Linux can be downloaded here
  • Download appropriate operating system images from “Downloads page”

Step 3: Flash base firmware (only if necessary)

Most release-level devices should not require this step to updating the base firmware, so this step mostly applies to pre-release boards, and can be skipped (head on to Step 4 of the instructions). However, if your board does not boot after being flashed, its advised to do a recovery flash to ensure lower-level firmware components are properly flashed.

Instructions on how to do a recovery flash of the base firmware are kept in a seperate repository and can be found here

Step 4: Boot HiKey 960 into fastboot mode

  • HiKey960 must be powered off (unplugged from power, this includes both 96Boards compliant power supply and USB Type-C connections)
  • Make sure microSD card slot on HiKey960 is empty
  • Jumper/Dip Switch setting should be set as follows
Name Link / Switch State
Auto Power up Link 1-2 / Switch 1 closed / ON
Recovery Link 3-4 / Switch 2 open / OFF
Fastboot Link 5-6 / Switch 3 closed / ON
  • Connect USB Type-C cable AND 96Boards compliant power supply to HiKey960, ensure USB is connected to host machine
  • Open “Terminal” on host machine and execute the following command
$ sudo fastboot devices

If your HiKey960 is pre-flashed with appropriate firmware, you should see your device lised as an output:

447786182000000         fastboot

At this point you should be connected to your HiKey960 with a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable. Your HiKey960 should be booted into fastboot mode and ready to be flashed with the appropriate images.

Step 5: Flash Operating System

AOSP

Run the flash-all.sh script located in your download to update boot files using fastboot. This script assumes you have already built all HiKey960 AOSP images locally.

$ sudo ./flash-all.sh

Debian Linux

  • Decompress Files 
    # BOOT IMAGE
$ gunzip boot-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey-*.img.gz
# ROOTFS IMAGE
$ gunzip rootfs-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey-*.img.gz
  • Flash UFS 
    $ sudo fastboot flash ptable prm_ptable.img
$ sudo fastboot flash fastboot l-loader.bin
$ sudo fastboot flash fip fip.bin
$ sudo fastboot reboot-bootloader
$ sudo fastboot flash boot boot-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey-*.img
$ sudo fastboot flash system rootfs-linaro-stretch-developer-hikey-*.img

Step 6: Reboot

  • Unplug power to HiKey960 (both 96Boards compliant power supply and USB Type-C)
  • Jumper/Dip Switch setting should be set as follows
Name Link / Switch State
Auto Power up Link 1-2 / Switch 1 closed / ON
Recovery Link 3-4 / Switch 2 open / OFF
Fastboot Link 5-6 / Switch 3 open / OFF
  • Ensure keyboard, mouse and HDMI cable to monitor are all connected (AOSP only)
  • Ensure UART adapter is 1.8v and connected to LS-UART1 (Debian only).
  • Plug power back into HiKey960 (96Boards compliant power supply)
  • Wait for board to boot up

Congratulations! You are now booting your newly installed OS directly from UFS on the HiKey960!

Return to HiKey960 documentation home