Modifying SPI Flash on the ROCK 5 ITX+ for Generic ARM Linux Boot
By
aaronday
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
The article discusses modifying the SPI flash firmware on a ROCK 5 ITX+ single-board computer (featuring a Rockchip 3588 SoC) to enable booting and installing generic ARM Linux images directly, bypassing the need to use the microSD card slot for OS installation. The author expresses frustration with the physical inconvenience of accessing the microSD slot on the board, which is located on the side, making it difficult when the board is mounted in a case or rack. The solution involves flashing new firmware to the SPI flash memory to support more flexible boot options.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledI am a huge fan of my Rock 5 ITX+.
pulling the case out and removing the side panel to install a new OS got old with a quickness.
adding a deracking difficulty multiplier to the microSD slot minigame seemed a bit souls-like for my taste.
I'm going to neuralyze the SPI flash and install some Kelvin Timeline firmware that will allow me to boot and install generic ARM Linux images on a ROCK 5 ITX+.
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