How to install Debian to NAND

How to install Debian to the NAND memory

It is possible to install the official Debian Jessie images to the NAND memory of your A20 board.

Note that currently only the Debian Jessie images for the A20 boards contain such a NAND installation option.

How to do it?

1. Download and extract the latest official Debian Jessie image from the wiki article for your board. Note that the procedure below is not possible with the Wheezy releases, only with the Jessie ones.

The script would not work with custom images.

2. Write the image to a micro SD card using your favorite software (like Win32 Disc Imager or dd).

3. Insert the prepared card in your board and boot the board.

4. Establish connection to the command line interface of the board.

5. Execute nandinstall script.

6. Wait until Debian installs on the NAND memory (it takes around 10 minutes).

7. Shut down the board and remove the microSD card.

8. Now you can boot from the NAND memory.

FAQ

Q: I did everything like you explained above and when I boot from the NAND I receive only black screen. Nothing on the console. What did I do wrong???

A: You did nothing wrong. The script above was written and tested on board that already had Android installed on the NAND memory. The problem is related to the fact that we no longer load Android to the NAND memory of A20 boards. No Android on the NAND = script not working.

The workaround is to install Android to the NAND first and then use the script to install the Debian to the NAND. We are trying to find a way to partition the NAND memory the same way PhonixSuit does. Until then installing Android is the only working solution.