Tag Archives: development board

SD card setup for Orange PI PC Openelec in Linux

First operation to do in order to use Openelec on Orange PI PC is the micro sd preparation.

It is advisable to use a micro SD class 10 to gain better performances.

As first step  we proceed to the Openelec image download from the link specified in Orange PI PC forum

Openelec Images

paying attention to choose the opipc version.

We choose the latest image in .gz format. After the file download  in a directory, we open a shell command window in this directory and  unzip the content

Then we plug the micro sd card and check this device

In our case we have the following output

We check if this device is umounted

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

we proceed to the unmount

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

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.

SD card setup for Orange PI PC Openelec in Windows

First operation to do in order to use Openelec on Orange PI PC is the micro sd preparation.

It is advisable to use a micro SD class 10 to gain better performances.

As first step  we proceed to the Openelec image download from the link specified in Orange PI PC forum

Openelec Images

paying attention to choose the opipc version.

We choose the latest image in .gz format. We expand the content using a compression software, as 7-zip, obtainig one file having .img extension.

ImmagineOPIPC

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

ScritturaSchedaSDEN

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.

Orange PI PC board

In this article we describe an ARM mini pc, similar to Rasperry PI, but cheaper.

Looking at the manufacturer website

http://www.orangepi.org/

we put in evidence the main features of the board:

CPUH3 Quad-core Cortex-A7 H.265/HEVC 4K
GPUMali400MP2 GPU @600MHz·Supports OpenGL ES 2.0
RAM1GB DDR3 (shared with GPU)
StorageTF card (Max. 64GB)
Network10/100M Ethernet RJ45
Audio InputMicrophone
Audio OutputJack 3.5 mm and HDMI
USB portsThree USB 2.0 HOST, one USB 2.0 OTG
Low level Periphericals40 Pins Header,compatibile with layout Raspberry Pi B+
GPIO(1x3) pinUART, ground
LEDPower Led and Status Led
KeyIR input, POWER

This board belongs to a products family using the same soc, but with different accessories (mmc, ram, network, etc). This model is available for the purchase also from the manufacturer site.

For this device we have various Linux distribution, available from the manufacturer site, but we focus on the following flavours:

  1. Openelec : Media center usage linux distribution.
  2. Armbian: Server/desktop Linux image.

About point  1 informations are available at the following web site:

http://www.orangepi.org/orangepibbsen/forum.php

while from Armbian site we can dowload the Armbian Orange PI image:

http://www.armbian.com/orange-pi-pc/

In next blogs we’ll treat the installation, compilation of these Linux images on Orange PI PC board.