Tag Archives: allwinner

Remote desktop setup for Armbian on Orange PI PC

2016-08-11 admin

To enable the remote desktop for Armbian on Orange PI PC execute the logon to the system, for example using an ssh client

Delete, if installed, the packages

sudo apt-get purge vnc4server
sudo apt-get purge  tightvnc
sudo apt-get purge xrdp

sudo apt-get purge vnc4server

sudo apt-get purge tightvnc

sudo apt-get purge xrdp

Install the following packages

sudo apt-get install tightvncserver
sudo apt-get install xrdp

1 2	sudo apt-get install tightvncserver sudo apt-get install xrdp

Now we are able to login on Armbian using the remote desktop. Start the remote desktop client entering the Orange PI PC IP address

Execute the login with the user created at the first boot of Armbian, for example user1

We now have the access to the XFCE desktop remotely

Configuration, Software

Armbian Boot on Orange PI PC

2016-08-11 admin

After the creation of the micro sd card with the Armbian image for Orange PI PC

Armbian image on micro sd

we can boot the Orange PI PC with the card inserted in the card slot. At the boot the first operation is the partition increase on the card, then the system requires the root password change from the default, 1234, to a new password. The next operation is the creation of a normal Debian user, for example user1; we provide the main required informations like username, password and letting the default for the other fields. After these steps the system opens the XFCE graphical interface with the default resolution. To change the resolution execute the following command

sudo dh3disp

1	sudo dh3disp

It shows a list with all the available options; to enable a 1080p60 resolution execute

sudo h3disp -m 10

1	sudo h3disp -m 10

To change the locales configuration execute the following command choosing the language to use

sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

1	sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

while to modify the keyboard layout use the following command

sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

1	sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

Development, Software

Openelec compilation for Orange PI PC

2016-08-02 admin

In this article we describe how to proceed to compile the Openelec image for the Orange PI PC card.

From the Orange PI PC forum, in the Openelec section the developers describe the steps to compile the image

Openelec Orange PI PC FAQ

In previous blogs we described how to install debian and how to modify the script.bin file to adapt the hdmi output to our television

Debian installation

Output resolution change

The compilation takes a long time; it is advisable to use multicore processors to speed up the compilation process.

Create a folder, openelec, under orangepi folder and move into it

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi$ mkdir openelec
sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi$ cd openelec
sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/openelec$

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi$ mkdir openelec

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi$ cd openelec

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/openelec$

Install the following packages

sudo apt-get install device-tree-compiler

1	sudo apt-get install device-tree-compiler

With git download the github sources in the local OPENELEC-OPIPC folder

git clone -b openelec-7.0 --depth 1 https://github.com/jernejsk/OpenELEC-OPi2  OPENELEC-OPIPC

1	git clone -b openelec-7.0 --depth 1 https://github.com/jernejsk/OpenELEC-OPi2 OPENELEC-OPIPC

After the above operation access to OPENELEC-OPIPC folder

cd OPENELEC-OPIPC

1	cd OPENELEC-OPIPC

Execute the following command

PROJECT=H3 SYSTEM=opipc ARCH=arm make image

1	PROJECT=H3 SYSTEM=opipc ARCH=arm make image

The process check prerequisities and installs additional packages

**** Your system lacks the following tools needed to build OpenELEC ****
gperf xsltproc /usr/include/ncurses.h
**** You seem to use a debian system ****
would you like to install the needed tools ? (y/n) y

**** Your system lacks the following tools needed to build OpenELEC ****

gperf xsltproc /usr/include/ncurses.h

**** You seem to use a debian system ****

would you like to install the needed tools ? (y/n) y

Insert the root password when required; after the prerequisites installation the compilation begins.

At the end of the compilation in the target folder we find the files to install or update Openelec

The file having the .img.gz extension is to upack and tranfer to a micro sd card as described in previous posts.
The file with .tar extension is to be copied in the update folder on the Openelec system; this file updates the system when rebooting the Orange PI PC card

Configuration, Software

Resolution change of the video output in Openelec on Orange PI PC (Part2)

2016-07-29 admin

After the installation and compilation of the sunxi tools we are able to manage the script.bin file

http://www.microdev.it/wp/en/2016/07/29/resolution-change-of-the-video-output-in-openelec-on-orange-pi-pc-part1/

Copy into scriptfile folder our script.bin file.

From th sunxi link it is possible to view the guide about the parameters of the fex file

Fex Guide

Using the tool, compiled in part1 article, let’s convert the file from binary into a text one, executing the following command

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi/scriptfile$ bin2fex ./script.bin ./script.fex
fexc-bin: ./script.bin: version: 0.1.2
fexc-bin: ./script.bin: size: 34080 (73 sections)
sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi/scriptfile$ ls
script.bin  script.fex

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi/scriptfile$ bin2fex ./script.bin ./script.fex

fexc-bin: ./script.bin: version: 0.1.2

fexc-bin: ./script.bin: size: 34080 (73 sections)

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi/scriptfile$ ls

script.bin script.fex

Now we can work on the script.fex file. Edit it with a text tool software, for example pluma in Debian

In this file we have to find the parameters to modify the video output; here are the parameters to modify

screen0_output_type
screen1_output_type
screen0_output_mode
screen1_output_mode

screen0_output_type

screen1_output_type

screen0_output_mode

screen1_output_mode

In our test file we found the following settings

screen0_output_type = 3
screen0_output_mode = 10
screen1_output_type = 0
screen1_output_mode = 0

screen0_output_type = 3

screen0_output_mode = 10

screen1_output_type = 0

screen1_output_mode = 0

According to the fex guide, for the HDMI output (screen_output_type=3) and a setting of 720p60 we have to change the 10 value into 5 in the screen0_output_mode parameter

screen0_output_type = 3
screen0_output_mode = 5
screen1_output_type = 0
screen1_output_mode = 0

screen0_output_type = 3

screen0_output_mode = 5

screen1_output_type = 0

screen1_output_mode = 0

WARNING: This file contains all the main parameters for the correct operation of the card. Don’t change anything if you are not sure waht the change of parameters entails.

After the parameters change convert the text file into a binary format with the following command, generating a .bin file

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi/scriptfile$ fex2bin ./script.fex ./script720p60.bin

1	sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi/scriptfile$ fex2bin ./script.fex ./script720p60.bin

Move this file into the micro sd card; rename the original script.bin file into script.bin.back and move the script720p60.bin into script.bin.

In the Fex Guide we find all the parameters settings according to the various output resolutions.

Inserting the sd card into the Orange PI PC we can test the new output resolution connecting the hdmi to our television and powering on the card.

Configuration, Software

Resolution change of the video output in Openelec on Orange PI PC (Part1)

2016-07-29 admin

In the Orange PI Openelec image the default video output resolution is 1080p60. If our tv works with a different resolution we’ll have no image on the television.

To overcome this problem it is possible to change the resolution and fps for the video output.

The micro sd has two partitions. We have to work in the vfat partition

We have to modify the script.bin file.

In the home partition of the debian user (sviluppo in our case) create a folder orangepi; inside this folder create another folder called sunxi. Go into sunxi folder

sviluppo@debian8:~$ mkdir orangepi
sviluppo@debian8:~$ cd orangepi/
sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi$ mkdir sunxi
sviluppo@debian8:~$ cd sunxi/

sviluppo@debian8:~$ mkdir orangepi

sviluppo@debian8:~$ cd orangepi/

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi$ mkdir sunxi

sviluppo@debian8:~$ cd sunxi/

Follow the instructions available from linux-sunxi site in order to modify the script.bin file. As first step install the required tools

Sunxi Tools

We have to install the libusb package, as described below

sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0-dev 
sudo apt-get install libusb-dev

1 2	sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0-dev sudo apt-get install libusb-dev

Install git and pkg-config

sudo apt-get install git
sudo apt.get install pkg-config

1 2	sudo apt-get install git sudo apt.get install pkg-config

Now using git download the tool sources

git clone https://github.com/linux-sunxi/sunxi-tools

1	git clone https://github.com/linux-sunxi/sunxi-tools

Go into sunxi.tools folder

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi$ cd sunxi-tools/

1	sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi$ cd sunxi-tools/

Execute the tools compilation

make

make

We are now able to modify the Orange PI PC parameters available in the script.bin file.

Create a folder under sunxi, for example scriptfile

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi$ mkdir scriptfile

1	sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi$ mkdir scriptfile

Add to th ePATH variable the sunxi tools folders executables

sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi$ cd scriptfile

1	sviluppo@debian8:~/orangepi/sunxi$ cd scriptfile

export PATH=$PATH:~/orangepi/sunxi/sunxi-tools

1	export PATH=$PATH:~/orangepi/sunxi/sunxi-tools

Now in next article we can modify the parameters of video output in the script.bin file

http://www.microdev.it/wp/en/2016/07/29/resolution-change-of-the-video-output-in-openelec-on-orange-pi-pc-part2/

Installation, Software

SD card setup for Orange PI PC Armbian in Linux

2016-07-11 admin

As already described in the previous article

Openelec SD card setup

also for the Armbian distribution we have to prepare an sd micro card.It is advisable to use a micro SD class 10 to gain better performances. As first step we proceed to the Armbian image download from Armbian web site

Download Armbian Orange PI PC

We choose for example the Debian Jessie Desktop Image.

We install 7zip package. In Debian we can use the following command

sudo apt-get install p7zip

1	sudo apt-get install p7zip

After the file download wint 7z extension in a directory, we open a shell command window in this directory and unzip the content

p7zip -d imagename.7z

1	p7zip -d imagename.7z

We have among other files the one with .raw extension. Then we plug the micro sd card and check this device

sudo fdisk -l

1	sudo fdisk -l

In our case we have the following output

Disk /dev/sdb: 7,3 GiB, 7860125696 bytes, 15351808 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos

Disk /dev/sdb: 7,3 GiB, 7860125696 bytes, 15351808 sectors

Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes

Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Disklabel type: dos

We check if this device is umounted

df

In the case we have the device in the output response, as in our case

/dev/sdb2           27633       395     26583   2% /media/user/16b66669-8789-473e-8982-302dd958a2fe
/dev/sdb1          524008         0    524008   0% /media/user/E0A4-FDB1

1 2	/dev/sdb2 27633 395 26583 2% /media/user/16b66669-8789-473e-8982-302dd958a2fe /dev/sdb1 524008 0 524008 0% /media/user/E0A4-FDB1

we proceed to the unmount

umount /dev/sdb1
umount /dev/sdb2

1 2	umount /dev/sdb1 umount /dev/sdb2

WARNING: Be sure that the device is the micro sd card and not the internal disk. The next operation imply the complete rewriting of the device with the loss of all data on it.

We can now write the image into the micro sd card, using the correct device, that in our case is /dev/sdb

sudo dd if=./imagename.raw of=/dev/sdb bs=4M

1	sudo dd if=./imagename.raw of=/dev/sdb bs=4M

WARNING: This operation wipes all data on the micro sd card.

After a while we have the micro sd card ready to be used in the Orange PI PC board.

Installation, Software

SD card setup for Orange PI PC Armbian in OSX

2016-07-11 admin

As already described in the previous article

Openelec SD card setup

also for the Armbian distribution we have to prepare an sd micro card. It is advisable to use a micro SD class 10 to gain better performances. As first step we proceed to the Armbian image download from Armbian web site

Download Armbian Orange PI PC

We choose for example the Debian Jessie Desktop Image. We expand the content using a compression software, as Keka

Keka

obtaining one file having .raw extension

Then we plug the micro sd card and find this device

diskutil list

1	diskutil list

In our case we have the following output

#:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
0:     FDisk_partition_scheme                        *7.9 GB     disk2
1:                 DOS_FAT_32 NEW VOLUME              7.9 GB     disk2s1

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: FDisk_partition_scheme *7.9 GB disk2

1: DOS_FAT_32 NEW VOLUME 7.9 GB disk2s1

We proceed to the device unmout; in our case the command is

diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2

1	diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2

WARNING: Be sure that the device is the micro sd card and not the internal disk. The next operation imply the complete rewriting of the device with the loss of all data on it.

We can now write the image into the micro sd card, using the correct device, that in our case is /dev/disk2

sudo dd if=./imagename.raw of=/dev/sdb bs=4M

1	sudo dd if=./imagename.raw of=/dev/sdb bs=4M

WARNING: This operation wipes all data on the micro sd card.

After a while we have the micro sd card ready to be used in the Orange PI PC board.

Installation, Software

SD card setup for Orange PI PC Armbian in Windows

2016-07-05 admin

As already described in the previous article

Orange PI PC Openelec SD card setup

for the Armbian distribution we have to prepare an sd micro card.It is advisable to use a micro SD class 10 to gain better performances. As first step we proceed to the Armbian image download from Armbian web site

Download Armbian Orange PI PC

We choose for example the Debian Jessie Desktop Image

We expand the content using a compression software, as 7-zip, obtaining one file having .raw extension.

In windows operating system we can trasfer this image to the micro sd card by using a specific sotware. We used Win32 Disk Imager, available from the following link

Win32 Disk Imager

After the Win32 Disk Imager installazion we are able to write the micro sd card, i.e E disk in our case. We choose as input the image expanded in the step above

Press Write to transfer the image on the sd card.

WARNING: This operation wipes all data on the micro sd card.

After a while we have the micro sd card ready to be used in the Orange PI PC board.

Configuration, Software

Remote control configuration for Openelec in Orange PI PC

2016-07-01 admin

In this page we describe how to setup a remote control to control Kodi on our Openelec distribution on Orange PI PC board. We connect an USB keyboard, an ethernet cable and an HDMI cable to the Orange PI PC to manage the system, connect to the network and connect to the TV respectively.

First we have to check the IP Address assigned to Openelec by the network router; we access in System->System Info

In Summary we can read the Ip address (eg:192.168.1.125)

Now we are able to logon in ssh in Openelec. In Windows systems we have to download and execute putty, available at the following address

Putty

In Linux ed Osx systems we use a shell command and execute (where IP_OPENELEC is eg.:192.168.1.125)

ssh root@IP_OPENELEC

1	ssh root@IP_OPENELEC

The logon password is:openelec

In windows we configure Putty using the Orange Pi PC IP address obtained above, check SSH; after saving with a name to this connection we connect with the Open button

To connect into the Openelec system we have to use the following values:

password:openelec

Now we are able to setup our remote control

Execute the following commands

killall lircd
irrecord /storage/.config/lircd.conf

1 2	killall lircd irrecord /storage/.config/lircd.conf

Follow the instrucions on the screen. In particular push all the buttons; in the second part of the configuration we have to map the remote controlo buttons with the operating system codes (eg: KEY_OK, KEY_PLAY, KEY_RED, etc). We have the main codes in the file

/usr/share/kodi/system/Lircmap.xml

1	/usr/share/kodi/system/Lircmap.xml

In the remote.xml file

/usr/share/kodi/system/keymaps/remote.xml

1	/usr/share/kodi/system/keymaps/remote.xml

we have the mapping among Kodi actions and the operating system events .

The command

irrecord -l

1	irrecord -l

shows all the events available in our system.

At the end of the procedure we reboot the system with the command

reboot

reboot

Now we can control Openelec with our remote control.

Here is the lircd.conf generated by the procedure described above

lircd.conf

If you need to relaunch the procedure, remove the lircd.conf file and execute again the above commands.

You are able to access the configuration directory using also the windows samba protocol

Configuration, Software

First start of Openelec on Orange PI PC

2016-06-24 admin

After the micro sd setup, we insert it into the Orange PI PC slot; we connect the board to the TV using an HDMI cable, then we connect to the board an USB keyboard, an USB mouse, an ethernet cable linked to a router and turn on the device.

At the startup Openelec extends the micro sd available space and at the next start we have

Choose Next to proceed to the next screen in which eventually modify the hostname

With Next we are able now to view the IP address assigned to the board

At the next screen the system presents the available network services

Enable the SSH service

At the next step we have the final screen

And finally we access the Openelec interface

Micro Devices

Tag Archives: allwinner

Remote desktop setup for Armbian on Orange PI PC

Armbian Boot on Orange PI PC

Openelec compilation for Orange PI PC

Resolution change of the video output in Openelec on Orange PI PC (Part2)

Resolution change of the video output in Openelec on Orange PI PC (Part1)

SD card setup for Orange PI PC Armbian in Linux

SD card setup for Orange PI PC Armbian in OSX

SD card setup for Orange PI PC Armbian in Windows

Remote control configuration for Openelec in Orange PI PC

First start of Openelec on Orange PI PC

Blog about embedded devices