Olimex A20 SOM with 8GB NAND supported latest kernel?

[fslateef]

Hi,

Can someone please confirm what is latest supported Linux kernel version for A20 SOM with 8GB NAND?

I have working 3.4.xxx kernel and want to move to later versions kernel. Tried to compile and boot linux-v4.4 tag from sunxi-kernel github repo but after kernel boot process hang just after "Uncompressing kernel image" message.

Is any kernel newer than v3.4 is supported?

Thanks

[LubOlimex]

Unfortunately, NAND memory is not supported in mainline kernel. There are some binary blobs in NAND drivers that doesn't allow it to be included in mainline. Only eMMC.

If you wish to use the NAND you are pretty much stuck with 3.4.xxx images.

If you don't mind the NAND that much, then you can get the latest mainline images - the latest kernel is 5.10.20:

https://github.com/OLIMEX/linux-olimex

We make our own image called Olimage, read more about it here:

https://olimex.wordpress.com/2020/04/21/olimage-mainline-linux-images-building-script-for-all-of-our-olinuxino-and-som-boards/

You can find ready to use images here:

http://images.olimex.com/release/a20/

[fslateef]

Thanks for the reply.

I understand the mainline kernel issue with NAND driver and binary blobs.

Any idea if this is the same condition for sunxi-kernel from sunxi github repo? Like sunxi-next OR any tagged version like v4.4?

[LubOlimex]

No idea, better ask the sunxi community.

[JohnS]

Being open source, they're not likely to be keen on binary blobs!

John