Armbian Stretch and Bionic minimal with 3.16, 4.18 & 4.19

[campbell]

There is a several hundred milliwatt difference between the 3.14 and 4.x kernels on any OS. You can flip back and forth between them in Arch Linux to observe this.

[igorpec]

There is a several hundred milliwatt difference between the 3.14 and 4.x kernels on any OS. You can flip back and forth between them in Arch Linux to observe this.

Agree. Most of those advantages are kernel based.

[rooted]

Sounds like the difference between ondemand vs performance to me

[thatchunkylad1989]

Sounds like the difference between ondemand vs performance to me

I did say I'm using performance on both. Armbian with 4.x.x is a lot cooler than 3.x.x.......

[campbell]

Sounds like the difference between ondemand vs performance to me

Nope, this is on top of that. The difference at idle between performance and ondemand in the 4.15 kernel on Arch Linux is only 50 milliwatts, just reconfirmed that.

3.14-79-28-ARCH kernel, performance governor, Gbit ethernet, USB enabled: 1.568 W
Ondemand governor: 1.522 W (-46 mW)

4.15.3-1-ARCH kernel, performance governor, Gbit ethernet, USB enabled: 1.221 W (-347 mW relative to 3.14 kernel)
USB disabled in device tree: 1.183 W (-38 mW)
Ondemand governor: 1.133 W (-50 mW, for comparison the same delta on the XU4 it is over one watt)
100baseTX: 0.900 W (-233 mW)
10baseT: 0.870 W (-263 mW relative to Gbit, -30 mW relative to 100 Mbit)
Ethernet disabled: 0.801 mW (-332 mW relative to Gbit, -99 mW relative to 100baseTX, -69 mW relative to 10baseT)
Clocking RAM down to 408 MHz: 0.694 W (-107 mW, confirmed same savings with ethernet on as well)

Note that by far the largest delta here after the kernel version is the difference between Gbit and 100 Mbit ethernet - if you don't need Gbit, turn it off.

[Edit] added delta between 3.14 and mainline kernels, which is even larger than I remembered.
[Edit] updated 3.14 numbers after they dropped down by > 100 mW an hour or so after booting...no idea what that was about but it's repeatable.

[odroid]

~0.5Watt difference could be caused by VPU/GPU related drivers probably even though I am not sure.

[campbell]

~0.5Watt difference could be caused by VPU/GPU related drivers probably even though I am not sure.

I suspect the delta might be smaller, I'm gonna redo that measurement, stand by. [edit] Yes, as i suspected, the delta is more like 350 mW, not 500 mW.

However I've never seen any measureable difference in power in the 3.14 kernel when running with nographics 1 or not, so I'm not sure it's to do with the graphical stuff.

[rooted]

Over double the power saving vs stock behavior, does it also run cooler?

[campbell]

Over double the power saving vs stock behavior, does it also run cooler?

Yes. It’s harder to do a controlled test of that, but I want to say i’m used to seeing high 20s to low 30s for core temp in the mainline kernel, vs high 30s to low 40s for the 3.14 kernel, dependent on ambient temperature. Besides, physics says it cannot do otherwise - that power isn’t moving anything around, it’s ALL turning into heat.

[rooted]

Besides, physics says it cannot do otherwise - that power isn’t moving anything around, it’s ALL turning into heat.

I figured it would, although I had no idea how much. Could have been -1° or -10°, thanks for the information.

[thatchunkylad1989]

Is there the "fbturbo" driver for Armbian Debian Stretch Next? the fbdev is a little buggy....

Cheers.

[igorpec]

Is there the "fbturbo" driver for Armbian Debian Stretch Next? the fbdev is a little buggy....

Cheers.

Little buggy is normal, IMO actually great for this stage of development.
http://linux-meson.com/doku.php?id=star ... sers_-_yet

[thatchunkylad1989]

Is there the "fbturbo" driver for Armbian Debian Stretch Next? the fbdev is a little buggy....

Cheers.

Little buggy is normal, IMO actually great for this stage of development.
http://linux-meson.com/doku.php?id=star ... sers_-_yet

So, that's a no?

[skyfly555]

I need help to install SoftEther VPN Server on my Odroid C2

Legacy kernel 3.14.79
Ubuntu Xenial server | .torrent --> It doesn't have the "SoftEther" option on Softy.
Debian Jessie server | .torrent --> It doesn't have the "SoftEther" option on Softy.


Mainline kernel 4.14.y BETA TESTING
Debian Stretch server NEXT --> It doesn't have the "SoftEther" option on Softy.

While loading Softy I always get the message:
/etc/resolvconf/update.d/libc: Warning: /etc/resolv.conf is not a symbolic link to /etc/resolvconf/run/resolv.conf

I have tried to compile it following this tutorial https://linuxconfig.org/setting-up-softether-vpn-server-on-ubuntu-16-04-xenial-xerus-linux with Ubuntu 3.14 and Debian 4.14, and I get the same error in both cases when I run "sudo make":

Code: Select all

make[1]: Entering directory '/root/vpnserver'
Preparing SoftEther VPN Server...
ranlib lib/libcharset.a
ranlib lib/libcrypto.a
ranlib lib/libedit.a
ranlib lib/libiconv.a
ranlib lib/libncurses.a
ranlib lib/libssl.a
ranlib lib/libz.a
ranlib code/vpnserver.a
gcc code/vpnserver.a -O2 -fsigned-char -lm -ldl -lrt -Wl,--no-warn-mismatch -lpthread -L./ lib/libssl.a lib/libcrypto.a lib/libiconv.a lib/libcharset.a lib/libedit.a lib/libncurses.a lib/libz.a -o vpnserver
code/vpnserver.a: error adding symbols: File in wrong format
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status
Makefile:18: recipe for target 'i_read_and_agree_the_license_agreement' failed
make[1]: *** [i_read_and_agree_the_license_agreement] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory '/root/vpnserver'

Note: I even tried it with Ubuntu and Debian Jessie from Meveric and DietPi and when I "sudo make" I get the same error.

Thank you for your help.

[igorpec]

I need help to install SoftEther VPN Server on my Odroid C2
Thank you for your help.

We will fix installer when possible. It is disabled since we also didn't find a solution for this.

Edit: I think you should start to resolve problems here: https://github.com/SoftEtherVPN/SoftEtherVPN/issues and here: http://www.vpnusers.com/

[skyfly555]

Thank you!

[igorpec]

Thank you!

It must be some incompatibility with arm64. Please let us know if you find out.

[igorpec]

5.44
Added/changed:

- Ubuntu Bionic desktop (4.14.40)
- Debian Stretch (3.14.79 and 4.14.40)
- Ubuntu Xenial desktop (3.14.79)
- SSH daemon configurator

New optimized software installer titles:

- (Plex media server)
- Radarr (Movie downloading server)
- Sonarr (TV shows downloading server)
- ExaGear desktop (x86 emulator)
- NCP (Nextcloud personal cloud)

+ many small changes and bugfixes.

https://www.armbian.com/odroid-c2/

[thatchunkylad1989]

How do we get GPU acceleration with Ubuntu 18 with Armbian?

[igorpec]

How do we get GPU acceleration with Ubuntu 18 with Armbian?

Ubuntu Bionic is somehow still in the testing phase and I haven't tried that yet. Check our forums if somebody else already did.

[igorpec]

Odroid C2 images update. Stretch and Bionic. A legacy kernel was upgraded to 3.16.57, NEXT to 4.14.51 and u-boot to 2018.05. This secures better stability. Boot logs http://ix.io/1eos Userspace brings ZRAM logs+(no) swap and enhanced log rotate. https://www.armbian.com/odroid-c2

[rooted]

Odroid C2 images update. Stretch and Bionic. A legacy kernel was upgraded to 3.16.57, NEXT to 4.14.51 and u-boot to 2018.05. This secures better stability. Boot logs http://ix.io/1eos Userspace brings ZRAM logs+(no) swap and enhanced log rotate. https://www.armbian.com/odroid-c2

Nice work.

[igorpec]

Added nightly images with 4.16.y and 4.18.y. It looks like with a stable network driver.
https://www.armbian.com/odroid-c2/

[zl23]

Odroid-C2 Armbian Next.
Upgrade to 5.49.180626 arm64 [upgradable from: 5.48.180624].

Now I have:
# modinfo rt73usb
modinfo: ERROR: Module rt73usb not found.

# modprobe rt73usb
modprobe: FATAL: Module rt73usb not found in directory /lib/modules/4.16.18-odroidc2

The file from the firmware is on the disk:
# ls -l /lib/firmware/rt7*
-rw-r--rw- 1 root root 2048 sty 10 2016 /lib/firmware/rt73.bin
# md5sum /lib/firmware/rt7*
bd733372ae21a010bf8a5511d7711c2d /lib/firmware/rt73.bin

In the previous version, everything was fine:

# uname -a
Linux odroidc2 4.14.51-odroidc2 #562 SMP PREEMPT Sun Jun 24 18:37:41 UTC 2018 aarch64 GNU/Linux

# modinfo rt73usb
filename: /lib/modules/4.14.51-odroidc2/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt73usb.ko
license: GPL
firmware: rt73.bin
description: Ralink RT73 USB Wireless LAN driver.
version: 2.3.0
author: http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com
srcversion: F9BAADE25C7B3A3C98DB57B
alias: usb:v0586p3415d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*in* {...} etc.

[igorpec]

Thanks. I am working on a 4.17.y update and will include those drivers. Perhaps later today.

[igorpec]

Odroid-C2 Armbian Next.
Upgrade to 5.49.180626 arm64 [upgradable from: 5.48.180624].

Now I have:
# modinfo rt73usb
modinfo: ERROR: Module rt73usb not found.

# modprobe rt73usb
modprobe: FATAL: Module rt73usb not found in directory /lib/modules/4.16.18-odroidc2

The file from the firmware is on the disk:
# ls -l /lib/firmware/rt7*
-rw-r--rw- 1 root root 2048 sty 10 2016 /lib/firmware/rt73.bin
# md5sum /lib/firmware/rt7*
bd733372ae21a010bf8a5511d7711c2d /lib/firmware/rt73.bin

In the previous version, everything was fine:

# uname -a
Linux odroidc2 4.14.51-odroidc2 #562 SMP PREEMPT Sun Jun 24 18:37:41 UTC 2018 aarch64 GNU/Linux

# modinfo rt73usb
filename: /lib/modules/4.14.51-odroidc2/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt73usb.ko
license: GPL
firmware: rt73.bin
description: Ralink RT73 USB Wireless LAN driver.
version: 2.3.0
author: http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com
srcversion: F9BAADE25C7B3A3C98DB57B
alias: usb:v0586p3415d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*in* {...} etc.

Try now:

apt update & apt upgrade

[igorpec]

Yet another update

v5.49/v5.50 / 28.6.2018

Amlogic Meson64 family (Odroid C2, Lepotato, and FriendlyARM K2 S905) were merged into one kernel. Default images come with kernel 4.14.52 (Odroid C2 3.16.57), next with 4.17.3 and DEV with 4.18.RC, updated boot scripts, implemented latest kernel bug fixes
updated kernels, desktop packages and armbian config on the stable repository (apt update & upgrade)
Odroid C2 bugfix update

[igorpec]

v5.54 Applied fixes for USB and network. Kernel upgraded to 4.17.9

+if you already run Armbian build, apt update & apt upgrade gets you here
+kernel switching support between 3.16.y and 4.17.y without changing images

[thatchunkylad1989]

I don't see Ubuntu Bionic (18) on your site - am I missing something?

[igorpec]

I don't see Ubuntu Bionic (18) on your site - am I missing something?

We promote Debian Stretch because Ubuntu Bionic userland has more bugs that we can fix ... but if you are O.K. with that, check default and next builds here: https://dl.armbian.com/odroidc2/

[igorpec]

Updated kernel(s), Armbian mods and tested kernel switching - you can easily switch from legacy 3.16.y to mainline 4.17.y or development and back. With armbian-config

Boot logs: http://ix.io/1kai

apt update && apt upgrade

[thatchunkylad1989]

How can I get Chromium to use HW acceleration with any of your stretch images?

[igorpec]

How can I get Chromium to use HW acceleration with any of your stretch images?

You mean the same level as on stock images?

[thatchunkylad1989]

How can I get Chromium to use HW acceleration with any of your stretch images?

You mean the same level as on stock images?

Yes.

[igorpec]

I never tried that, but it should be possible by installing Chromium package from Odroid stock repository. Probably some extra library is needed and/or startup command. This function is very borderline from our POW and that's why it is not there in the first place. We are focused on server cases.

[brad]

Hi Igor,
what is the best way to install a custom kernel into Armbian for testing? Im currently running your "dev" kernel with new uboot version but will swap to the 4.18 version.

Ive compiled up branch v4.18-rc8-rt1 from dev realtime git https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/ke ... devel.git/ and want to install it into Armbian for testing 4.18 realtime kernel version. Configure should be almost identical as your setup for normal 4.17.14-odroidc2 or 4.18 version but with a few mods in kernel config which will be persistent between updates. Extra ones should be

CONFIG_PREEMPT=y
CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT_BASE=y
CONFIG_HIGH_RES_TIMERS=y
CONFIG_HZ_1000=y
CONFIG_HZ=1000
CONFIG_SCHED_HRTICK=y

There may be some extra stuff needed for specific use case (ie device drivers aimed at realtime devices such as additional audio or IO). Armbian seems like the perfect place as you now have nice method for kernel swaps and a proven build system. RT project also provided patches for mainline versions which might be more suited - https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/lin ... s/rt/4.18/

Stable git is here (currently latest is v4.14-rt but looking at testing v4.18-rc8-rt1 as I think this would be a minimum requirement for the C2 until a new stable is released)
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/ke ... ble-rt.git

If testing works out would you consider adding a realtime built kernel as an alternative kernel option in Ambian C2 build?

Thanks,
Brad.

[igorpec]

what is the best way to install a custom kernel into Armbian for testing?

Copy .deb files to your board and install at least kernel image and device tree blob with dpkg -i ... You also need to freeze that kernel to prevent its upgrading from upstream.

If testing works out would you consider adding a realtime built kernel as an alternative kernel option in Ambian C2 build?

I had an idea to provide RT kernels for all of our boards, but the problem is expensive manual maintaining of the patchset, testings and a build system RFC. We would like that provided kernels that works, otherwise, there is no point. Armbian R&D + comm + maintenance already takes 10h+ of my time every day. I would hire help, but donations do not match that levels. If you find a way to cover the development and maintenance of this part, if you or just someone steps up, I can promise to help the best way possible that this gets implemented, but keep in mind I (and the rest of) really don't need more maintenance work. No matter how cool or helpful the proposed feature is.

[brad]

I had an idea to provide RT kernels for all of our boards, but the problem is expensive manual maintaining of the patchset, testings and a build system RFC. We would like that provided kernels that works, otherwise, there is no point. Armbian R&D + comm + maintenance already takes 10h+ of my time every day. I would hire help, but donations do not match that levels. If you find a way to cover the development and maintenance of this part, if you or just someone steps up, I can promise to help the best way possible that this gets implemented, but keep in mind I (and the rest of) really don't need more maintenance work. No matter how cool or helpful the proposed feature is.

Thanks Igor I will do some testing and investigate the ongoing work required to maintain it. I may be able to help out with maintenance, I do not wish to put any more work on you and armbian team.

Brad.

[thatchunkylad1989]

Just want to say thanks to igorpec for his Armbian C2 3.16 image, it's great - nice and fast!
I do have one question though, can I somehow disable the swap/zram????

[igorpec]

Just want to say thanks to igorpec for his Armbian C2 3.16 image, it's great - nice and fast!
I do have one question though, can I somehow disable the swap/zram????

Thank you!

You can disable zram in /etc/default/armbian-zram-config

[igorpec]

Update: https://docs.armbian.com/Release_Changelog/

apt update & apt upgrade

[igorpec]

Added preview images with 4.19.y
https://www.armbian.com/odroid-c2/

BTW: Odroid C2 has been merged into meson64 kernel family which shares the same kernel. https://twitter.com/TonyMac_32/status/1 ... 6966640640