Method 1: Using Micro-SD Card

  1. Insert a micro-SD card to the host PC.
  2. Type the following to see the location of the connected micro-SD card. 
    lsblk

    For example, it's /dev/sdb.

    Figure 1. Example
  3. Type the following to enter the partition configuration. 
    sudo gdisk /dev/sdb
    Figure 2. Example Output
  4. Delete the original partition and then create a new partition by entering the following respectively. 
    d--->o--->n--->w--->y
    Tip: Press Enter to keep some settings to default in this configuration.
  5. Format the micro-SD card and create the file system. 
    sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1
  6. Remove the micro-SD card from PC and plug again to mount it.
  7. Enter the following to check whether it gets mounted. 
    df -h

    You will see an output as follows and take a note of the mount location.

    Figure 3. Example Output
  8. Navigate to the directory containing the 3 images as before. 
    cd Desktop/compiled
  9. Copy the files to the micro-SD card by typing the following. 
    sudo cp Image.gz <Mount_Location>
sudo cp rootfs.cpio.gz <Mount_Location>
sudo cp <dtb_File_Name> <Mount_Location>
sync
    Note:
    • <Mount_Location>: is the mount location as shown above.

    • <dtb_File_Name>: Different boards use different dtb files, and for the detailed information, refer to the dtb Files table in StarFive 40-Pin GPIO Header User Guide.

    Example:

    The following are the example commands:

    sudo cp Image.gz /media/user/6411-3C3F/
sudo cp rootfs.cpio.gz /media/user/6411-3C3F/
sudo cp jh7100-starfive-visionfive-v1.dtb /media/user/6411-3C3F/
sync
  10. Remove the micro-SD card from PC, insert into VisionFive and turn it on.
  11. Open minicom while USB to Serial Adapter is connected between VisionFive and PC, and wait until the board enters u-boot mode. You will see the following output when it is in u-boot mode.
    Figure 4. Example Output
    using_micro-sd_card_step11(1).jpg
  12. Enter the following commands. 
    setenv kernel_comp_addr_r 0x90000000;setenv kernel_comp_size 0x10000000;setenv kernel_addr_r 0x84000000;setenv fdt_addr_r 0x88000000;setenv ramdisk_addr_r 0x88300000
fatls mmc 0:1
fatload mmc 0:1 ${kernel_addr_r} Image.gz
fatload mmc 0:1 ${fdt_addr_r} jh7100-starfive-visionfive-v1.dtb
fatload mmc 0:1 ${ramdisk_addr_r} rootfs.cpio.gz
booti ${kernel_addr_r} ${ramdisk_addr_r}:${filesize} ${fdt_addr_r}
  13. Log in by typing the following credentials.

    • Username：root

    • Password：starfive