A20-OLinuXino-LIME2 blank screen after "starting kernel"

[JardaPLC]

Hi, I have A20-OLinuXino-LIME2 (variant T2-OLinuXino-LIME2-e8Gs16M-IND) with LCD-OLinuXino-7TS attached, USB Keyboard connected and UART debug interface connected. I flashed A20-OLinuXino-bullseye-base-20211223-102355.img on 4GB microSD and inserted into slot.
After power on, i can see u-boot both on display and UART. Attachech keyboard works fine, i can interrupt u-boot by pressing a key. But once the kernel starts to load, the LCD display shows only blinking cursorfor few seconds and then goes blank. However, kernel successfully loads (i see all "ok" kernel messages and login prompt via UART). I can login using olimex user and password, but only via UART - attached USB keyboard no longer works (although the USB is powered, LED on keyboard is on). I tried using HDMI monitor instead of display, but no difference, only blinking cursor after message "Starting kernel", non-functional keyboard and blank screen after while. BUT after i log in as olimex user (again using UART interface), debian desktop suddenly appears on monitor.
Can you help with this odd behaviour?

Here debug output on UART

Code Select Expand

U-Boot SPL 2021.04+olimex-1-20211223.094223 (Dec 23 2021 - 09:43:25 +0000)
DRAM: 1024 MiB
CPU: 912000000Hz, AXI/AHB/APB: 3/2/2
Loading configuration from EEPROM: OK
Verifying data: OK
Trying to boot from MMC1


U-Boot 2021.04+olimex-1-20211223.094223 (Dec 23 2021 - 09:43:25 +0000) Allwinner Technology

CPU:   Allwinner A20 (SUN7I)
ID:    T2-OLinuXino-LIME2-e8Gs16M-IND Rev.L
SN:    0001F398
MAC:   30:1F:9A:D1:01:04
I2C:   ready
DRAM:  1 GiB
SF: Detected w25q128 with page size 256 Bytes, erase size 4 KiB, total 16 MiB
MMC:   mmc@1c0f000: 0, mmc@1c11000: 1
Loading Environment from EXT4... OK
Setting up a 800x480 lcd console (overscan 0x0)
In:    serial
Out:   vga
Err:   vga
Allwinner mUSB OTG (Peripheral)
Net:   eth0: ethernet@1c50000, eth1: usb_ether
starting USB...
Bus usb@1c14000: USB EHCI 1.00
Bus usb@1c14400: USB OHCI 1.0
Bus usb@1c1c000: USB EHCI 1.00
Bus usb@1c1c400: USB OHCI 1.0
scanning bus usb@1c14000 for devices... 1 USB Device(s) found
scanning bus usb@1c14400 for devices... 2 USB Device(s) found
scanning bus usb@1c1c000 for devices... 1 USB Device(s) found
scanning bus usb@1c1c400 for devices... 1 USB Device(s) found
       scanning usb for storage devices... 0 Storage Device(s) found
Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
switch to partitions #0, OK
mmc0 is current device
Scanning mmc 0:1...
Found U-Boot script /boot/boot.scr
2274 bytes read in 7 ms (316.4 KiB/s)
## Executing script at 43100000
Boot script loaded from mmc
Checking for /uEnv.txt...
Checking for /boot/uEnv.txt...
1156 bytes read in 7 ms (161.1 KiB/s)
Loaded environment from /boot/uEnv.txt
Loading FIT image...
16177155 bytes read in 899 ms (17.2 MiB/s)
## Loading kernel from FIT Image at 58000000 ...
   Using 'config-9243' configuration
   Trying 'kernel-1' kernel subimage
     Description:  Linux kernel 5.10.60-olimex
     Type:         Kernel Image
     Compression:  uncompressed
     Data Start:   0x580000d0
     Data Size:    6518984 Bytes = 6.2 MiB
     Architecture: ARM
     OS:           Linux
     Load Address: 0x40080000
     Entry Point:  0x40080000
     Hash algo:    crc32
     Hash value:   c12c1fa2
     Hash algo:    sha1
     Hash value:   772e08be6d8dc234916f0aa43c10a4dc2226bcc4
   Verifying Hash Integrity ... crc32+ sha1+ OK
## Loading ramdisk from FIT Image at 58000000 ...
   Using 'config-9243' configuration
   Trying 'ramdisk-1' ramdisk subimage
     Description:  Ramdisk for kernel 5.10.60-olimex
     Type:         RAMDisk Image
     Compression:  Unknown Compression
     Data Start:   0x58637acc
     Data Size:    9203413 Bytes = 8.8 MiB
     Architecture: ARM
     OS:           Linux
     Load Address: 0x4fe00000
     Entry Point:  0x4fe00000
     Hash algo:    crc32
     Hash value:   308da24a
     Hash algo:    sha1
     Hash value:   369c9570d838425d1b940e46b9e6a55f3104662a
   Verifying Hash Integrity ... crc32+ sha1+ OK
   Loading ramdisk from 0x58637acc to 0x4fe00000
WARNING: 'compression' nodes for ramdisks are deprecated, please fix your .its file!
## Loading fdt from FIT Image at 58000000 ...
   Using 'config-9243' configuration
   Trying 'fdt-4' fdt subimage
     Description:  unavailable
     Type:         Flat Device Tree
     Compression:  uncompressed
     Data Start:   0x58f1e758
     Data Size:    43639 Bytes = 42.6 KiB
     Architecture: ARM
     Load Address: 0x4fa00000
     Hash algo:    crc32
     Hash value:   e3e37001
     Hash algo:    sha1
     Hash value:   667e11969b2536fb0ded11edebc801e461e7cc14
   Verifying Hash Integrity ... crc32+ sha1+ OK
   Loading fdt from 0x58f1e758 to 0x4fa00000
## Loading fdt from FIT Image at 58000000 ...
   Trying 'overlay-1' fdt subimage
     Description:  unavailable
     Type:         Flat Device Tree
     Compression:  uncompressed
     Data Start:   0x58f6a1a0
     Data Size:    1001 Bytes = 1001 Bytes
     Architecture: ARM
     Load Address: 0x4fa10000
     Hash algo:    crc32
     Hash value:   d1d51f29
     Hash algo:    sha1
     Hash value:   fa0c14efb55dbe4bdf8aa7241a3e600b486e3ef6
   Verifying Hash Integrity ... crc32+ sha1+ OK
   Loading fdt from 0x58f6a1a0 to 0x4fa10000
## Loading fdt from FIT Image at 58000000 ...
   Trying 'overlay-2' fdt subimage
     Description:  unavailable
     Type:         Flat Device Tree
     Compression:  uncompressed
     Data Start:   0x58f6a66c
     Data Size:    436 Bytes = 436 Bytes
     Architecture: ARM
     Load Address: 0x4fa20000
     Hash algo:    crc32
     Hash value:   00f3a93c
     Hash algo:    sha1
     Hash value:   efa518e1ffcc7c09a7d8010de6a7b363f1345b30
   Verifying Hash Integrity ... crc32+ sha1+ OK
   Loading fdt from 0x58f6a66c to 0x4fa20000
   Booting using the fdt blob at 0x4fa00000
EHCI failed to shut down host controller.
   Loading Kernel Image
   Loading Ramdisk to 49739000, end 49fffed5 ... OK
   Loading Device Tree to 4972b000, end 49738c55 ... OK
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/spi1-spidev.dtbo'...
408 bytes read in 21 ms (18.6 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/spi2-spidev.dtbo'...
408 bytes read in 20 ms (19.5 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-i2c2.dtbo'...
726 bytes read in 23 ms (30.3 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-spi0.dtbo'...
1001 bytes read in 23 ms (42 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-spi1.dtbo'...
1005 bytes read in 22 ms (43.9 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-spi2.dtbo'...
1005 bytes read in 23 ms (42 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-uart3.dtbo'...
863 bytes read in 22 ms (38.1 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-uart4.dtbo'...
867 bytes read in 22 ms (38.1 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-uart5.dtbo'...
867 bytes read in 23 ms (36.1 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-uart6.dtbo'...
867 bytes read in 22 ms (38.1 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-uart7.dtbo'...
867 bytes read in 23 ms (36.1 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/sun7i-a20-can.dtbo'...
732 bytes read in 21 ms (33.2 KiB/s)
Applying overlay: '/usr/lib/olinuxino-overlays/sun7i-a20/lime2-lcd-olinuxino.dtbo'...
2225 bytes read in 18 ms (120.1 KiB/s)

Starting kernel ...

[    0.004250] /cpus/cpu@0 missing clock-frequency property
[    0.004297] /cpus/cpu@1 missing clock-frequency property
[    1.003321] sun4i-usb-phy 1c13400.phy: Couldn't request ID GPIO
Loading, please wait...
Starting version 247.3-6
Begin: Loading essential drivers ... done.
Begin: Running /scripts/init-premount ... done.
Begin: Mounting root file system ... Begin: Running /scripts/local-top ... done.
Begin: Running /scripts/local-premount ... done.
Begin: Will now check root file system ... fsck from util-linux 2.36.1
[/sbin/fsck.ext4 (1) -- /dev/mmcblk0p1] fsck.ext4 -a -C0 /dev/mmcblk0p1
/dev/mmcblk0p1: recovering journal
/dev/mmcblk0p1: clean, 136533/238080 files, 673341/981504 blocks
done.
done.
Begin: Running /scripts/local-bottom ... done.
Begin: Running /scripts/init-bottom ... done.

Welcome to Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)!

[  OK  ] Created slice system-getty.slice.
[  OK  ] Created slice system-modprobe.slice.
[  OK  ] Created slice system-serial\x2dgetty.slice.
[  OK  ] Created slice User and Session Slice.
[  OK  ] Started Forward Password R...uests to Wall Directory Watch.
[  OK  ] Set up automount Arbitrary...s File System Automount Point.
[  OK  ] Reached target Remote File Systems.
[  OK  ] Reached target Slices.
[  OK  ] Reached target Swap.
[  OK  ] Listening on Syslog Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on fsck to fsckd communication Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on initctl Compatibility Named Pipe.
[  OK  ] Listening on Journal Audit Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on Journal Socket (/dev/log).
[  OK  ] Listening on Journal Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on udev Control Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on udev Kernel Socket.
         Mounting POSIX Message Queue File System...
         Mounting Kernel Debug File System...
         Mounting Kernel Trace File System...
         Starting Restore / save the current clock...
         Starting Set the console keyboard layout...
         Starting Create list of st...odes for the current kernel...
         Starting Load Kernel Module configfs...
         Starting Load Kernel Module drm...
         Starting Load Kernel Module fuse...
[  OK  ] Started Nameserver information manager.
[  OK  ] Reached target Network (Pre).
         Starting Journal Service...
         Starting Load Kernel Modules...
         Starting Remount Root and Kernel File Systems...
         Starting Coldplug All udev Devices...
[  OK  ] Mounted POSIX Message Queue File System.
[  OK  ] Mounted Kernel Debug File System.
[  OK  ] Mounted Kernel Trace File System.
[  OK  ] Finished Restore / save the current clock.
[  OK  ] Finished Create list of st... nodes for the current kernel.
[  OK  ] Finished Load Kernel Module configfs.
[  OK  ] Finished Load Kernel Module drm.
[  OK  ] Finished Load Kernel Module fuse.
[  OK  ] Finished Remount Root and Kernel File Systems.
[  OK  ] Finished Load Kernel Modules.
         Mounting FUSE Control File System...
         Mounting Kernel Configuration File System...
         Starting Load/Save Random Seed...
         Starting Apply Kernel Variables...
         Starting Create System Users...
[  OK  ] Mounted FUSE Control File System.
[  OK  ] Mounted Kernel Configuration File System.
[  OK  ] Finished Apply Kernel Variables.
[  OK  ] Finished Create System Users.
         Starting Create Static Device Nodes in /dev...
[  OK  ] Finished Create Static Device Nodes in /dev.
         Starting Rule-based Manage...for Device Events and Files...
[  OK  ] Finished Set the console keyboard layout.
[  OK  ] Started Journal Service.
[  OK  ] Reached target Local File Systems (Pre).
[  OK  ] Reached target Local File Systems.
         Starting Set console font and keymap...
         Starting Tell Plymouth To Write Out Runtime Data...
         Starting Flush Journal to Persistent Storage...
[  OK  ] Finished Set console font and keymap.
[  OK  ] Finished Tell Plymouth To Write Out Runtime Data.
[  OK  ] Finished Flush Journal to Persistent Storage.
         Starting Create Volatile Files and Directories...
[  OK  ] Finished Create Volatile Files and Directories.
         Starting Network Time Synchronization...
         Starting Update UTMP about System Boot/Shutdown...
[  OK  ] Started Rule-based Manager for Device Events and Files.
[  OK  ] Finished Update UTMP about System Boot/Shutdown.
[  OK  ] Found device /dev/ttyGS0.
[  OK  ] Finished Load/Save Random Seed.
[  OK  ] Started Network Time Synchronization.
[  OK  ] Created slice system-systemd\x2dbacklight.slice.
[  OK  ] Reached target System Time Set.
[  OK  ] Reached target System Time Synchronized.
         Starting Load/Save Screen ...ness of backlight:backlight...
[  OK  ] Finished Coldplug All udev Devices.
         Starting Helper to synchronize boot up for ifupdown...
         Starting Show Plymouth Boot Screen...
[  OK  ] Finished Helper to synchronize boot up for ifupdown.
         Starting Raise network interfaces...
[  OK  ] Finished Load/Save Screen ...htness of backlight:backlight.
[  OK  ] Started Show Plymouth Boot Screen.
[  OK  ] Started Forward Password R...s to Plymouth Directory Watch.
[  OK  ] Reached target Local Encrypted Volumes.
[  OK  ] Reached target System Initialization.
[  OK  ] Started CUPS Scheduler.
[  OK  ] Started Daily apt download activities.
[  OK  ] Started Daily apt upgrade and clean activities.
[  OK  ] Started Periodic ext4 Onli...ata Check for All Filesystems.
[  OK  ] Started Discard unused blocks once a week.
[  OK  ] Started Daily rotation of log files.
[  OK  ] Started Daily man-db regeneration.
[  OK  ] Started Run system activit...ounting tool every 10 minutes.
[  OK  ] Started Generate summary o...esterday's process accounting.
[  OK  ] Started Daily Cleanup of Temporary Directories.
[  OK  ] Reached target Paths.
[  OK  ] Reached target Timers.
[  OK  ] Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on CUPS Scheduler.
[  OK  ] Listening on D-Bus System Message Bus Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on PC/SC Smart Card Daemon Activation Socket.
[  OK  ] Reached target Sockets.
[  OK  ] Reached target Basic System.
         Starting Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack...
         Starting Bluetooth management mechanism...
[  OK  ] Started Regular background program processing daemon.
[  OK  ] Started D-Bus System Message Bus.
[   14.008372] debugfs: Directory '1c22c00.codec' with parent 'sun4i-codec' already present!
         Starting Network Manager...
         Starting Remove Stale Onli...t4 Metadata Check Snapshots...
         Starting Initialize hardware monitoring sensors...
         Starting LSB: Load kernel ...d to enable cpufreq scaling...
[  OK  ] Started Realtek H5 bluetooth support.
[   14.623021] lcd_olinuxino 2-0050: error reading from device at 00
         Starting LCD-OLinuXino RTP calibrabion...
         Starting Authorization Manager...
         Starting System Logging Service...
         Starting Resets System Activity Logs...
         Starting User Login Management...
         Starting Disk Manager...
         Starting WPA supplicant...
[  OK  ] Finished Resets System Activity Logs.
[  OK  ] Started System Logging Service.
[  OK  ] Finished Initialize hardware monitoring sensors.
[  OK  ] Finished LCD-OLinuXino RTP calibrabion.
[  OK  ] Found device /dev/ttyS0.
[  OK  ] Finished Raise network interfaces.
[  OK  ] Started Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack.
[  OK  ] Started LSB: Load kernel m...ded to enable cpufreq scaling.
[  OK  ] Started WPA supplicant.
[  OK  ] Started Authorization Manager.
[  OK  ] Finished Remove Stale Onli...ext4 Metadata Check Snapshots.
[  OK  ] Started User Login Management.
[  OK  ] Started Network Manager.
[  OK  ] Started Disk Manager.
[  OK  ] Reached target Hardware activated USB gadget.
         Starting Modem Manager...
         Starting Network Manager Wait Online...
         Starting Save/Restore Sound Card State...
         Starting LSB: set CPUFreq kernel parameters...
[  OK  ] Started ifup for eth0.
[  OK  ] Reached target Network.
         Starting CUPS Scheduler...
         Starting OpenVPN service...
         Starting OpenBSD Secure Shell server...
         Starting Hostname Service...
         Starting Permit User Sessions...
[  OK  ] Started Unattended Upgrades Shutdown.
[  OK  ] Finished Save/Restore Sound Card State.
[  OK  ] Finished OpenVPN service.
[  OK  ] Finished Permit User Sessions.
[  OK  ] Started Bluetooth management mechanism.
[  OK  ] Reached target Sound Card.
         Starting Light Display Manager...
         Starting Hold until boot process finishes up...
[  OK  ] Started Hostname Service.
[  OK  ] Started LSB: set CPUFreq kernel parameters.
         Starting LSB: Set sysfs variables from /etc/sysfs.conf...
[  OK  ] Started CUPS Scheduler.
[  OK  ] Started Make remote CUPS printers available locally.
[  OK  ] Started Modem Manager.

Debian GNU/Linux 11 a20-olinuxino ttyS0

a20-olinuxino login: root
Password:
Linux a20-olinuxino 5.10.60-olimex #124619 SMP Tue Nov 30 12:47:35 UTC 2021 armv7l

The programs included with the Debian GNU/Linux system are free software;
the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the
individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.

Debian GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent
permitted by applicable law.
Last login: Thu Dec 23 10:45:08 UTC 2021 on ttyS0
root@a20-olinuxino:~#


[LubOlimex]

I am not sure if what you describe for the login is a problem. Probably have to test it and confirm or deny the behavior, it might be the expected behavior. Also consider that it takes some time for the desktop to load. It is not instant.

1. What is the keyboard exactly? Maybe it requires some set of atypical drivers?

2. What happens if you disconnect the board, boot and then on login screen attach the keyboard?

3. Did you try to use the second USB port instead?

4. About the display did you run the olinuxino-display script to set the display output?