A20 Debian kernel build & install on SATA disk

[hnb2907]

Hi folks,

I've got a A20 board, running Debian, it's a really nice bit of kit! It's a great upgrade from a r*spberry-pi!    
Currently it's running the revision 2 image from here https://www.olimex.com/wiki/A20-OLinuXino-MICRO on a microsd card.

Could someone point me towards the following information (maybe a step-by-step guide?):
* where to download the Debian kernel source/patches and the correct .config file to start with
* bootloader source etc
* debian base image
* how to build and install it all?  I've done this before years ago on PC's, but don't know where to look for this device.

Already tried to follow http://linux-sunxi.org/Building_on_Debian, but it's not good for me.  I must be doing things wrong or using bad source?


In the end, I want to:
* install some missing modules (including cifs)
* boot and/or mount the root partition from a SATA disk at /dev/sda1, instead of /dev/mmcblk0p2 microsd card
* enable "swapon /dev/sda2", it returns "swapon: /dev/sda1: swapon failed: Function not implemented", I think support is missing in the kernel?


Many thanks,
Chris.

[Lurch]

If you search the A20 forum, you can find answers to most of your questions - just not what you are looking for.  The sources aren't all easily available - due to Allwinner. Might be ready in a short time, when all the Olimex guys are back from vacation.  The bootloader doesn't support SATA.  There is a how-to for booting from sdcard and switching to SATA.
In short, this is all still too new ... we're going to have to prod and wait.

[PaceyIV]

To boot from SATA using the kernel provided with the official debian image revision 2 you can use this: https://www.olimex.com/forum/index.php?topic=1659.msg7695#msg7695

If you want a kernel with sata support you can watch this post https://www.olimex.com/forum/index.php?topic=1653.msg7761#msg7761
With my kernel I also disable android kernel paranoid.

You can use this config and enable the swap support that it's still missing.
I don't enable because with 1 GB of RAM I don't need swap memory!

[hnb2907]

Thanks PaceyIV!  I've been away for a week.  On my return, release 3 image was available, and tonight I've got it booting from sda2 I'm very happy!