Ubuntu 18.04 on H3+

[Vivekm]

Hello
I am using Crucial 4GB Ram and Samsung 250GB ssd on H3+.

I am not able to boot Ubuntu 18.04, I tried Ubuntu 18.10 and it worked but had some issues with Ethernet and installing packages like openssh-server. Also I want to use Robot Operating System ROS melodic for my work and i need Ubuntu 18.04 for it.

Can someone help here? Which Ubuntu OS versions are you guys using?

[fvolk]

The CPU of the H3(+) was released in early 2021, support for the network chip of the H3 was added to the kernel about middle of 2020...

Software from the past (2018) does not support hardware from years into the future?

[mad_ady]

You should be able to run ubuntu 18, but with a more modern kernel. Try installing a recent kernel - like this: https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... -mint/amp/

[Vivekm]

The CPU of the H3(+) was released in early 2021, support for the network chip of the H3 was added to the kernel about middle of 2020...

Software from the past (2018) does not support hardware from years into the future?

Hey
I am not aware about this details, But will have to check, I could not find any documentation or link of Ubuntu18 with H3+

[Vivekm]

You should be able to run ubuntu 18, but with a more modern kernel. Try installing a recent kernel - like this: https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... -mint/amp/

Hey
I am new to this thing so please bare with me if i say something stupid.

So are you suggesting that i should update the kernel and then try and install 18.04? Because i do not have any OS on the device so how can i update?

Also, the current BIOS project version is JSL-H3 1.02 x64, and i saw they have update till 1.08, so will that help?

[mad_ady]

So, your problem is that Ubuntu 18 comes with a kernel that is too old for the hardware and can't boot properly. Updating the BIOS won't help in this case. Updating the kernel, will.

However, you have a chicken-and-egg problem. There are several solutions, but require more linux know-how. The simplest way forward would be to use ubuntu 22 instead of 18, so check if the software you want to run can run on ubuntu 22 instead. But you can use ubuntu 18 if you must.

Let me ask you - does the ubuntu 18 installer run correctly on the H3? If it does, can you drop to a shell (CTRL+ALT+F2, 3 or 4) and run uname -a and cat /proc/cmdline?

[odroid]

Try installing Ubuntu 18.04.6 which comes with Kernel version 5.4.
http://releases.ubuntu.com/18.04.6/

Once it boots and works, try installing a newer kernel if you want.
But the Ethernet port will not work out of the box since the RTL8125B driver was included from Kernel 5.10 or 5.11.
Therefore, you might need a smartphone tethering for temporary internet connection.

[Vivekm]

Try installing Ubuntu 18.04.6 which comes with Kernel version 5.4.
http://releases.ubuntu.com/18.04.6/

Once it boots and works, try installing a newer kernel if you want.
But the Ethernet port will not work out of the box since the RTL8125B driver was included from Kernel 5.10 or 5.11.
Therefore, you might need a smartphone tethering for temporary internet connection.

Hey
I tried setting up ubuntu 18.04.6 but its not loading up.
Is there any other place where i can install ubuntu 18.04.6 for kernel version 5.4 ?
Yes, the Ethernet issue is there in 18, I installed 18.10 but the issue got resolved when i installed the driver

[Vivekm]

So, your problem is that Ubuntu 18 comes with a kernel that is too old for the hardware and can't boot properly. Updating the BIOS won't help in this case. Updating the kernel, will.

However, you have a chicken-and-egg problem. There are several solutions, but require more linux know-how. The simplest way forward would be to use ubuntu 22 instead of 18, so check if the software you want to run can run on ubuntu 22 instead. But you can use ubuntu 18 if you must.

Hey
I cannot you Ubuntu 22 as i want to use ROS1(Melodic) and Ubuntu 18.04 is the version i need to install that.

Let me ask you - does the ubuntu 18 installer run correctly on the H3? If it does, can you drop to a shell (CTRL+ALT+F2, 3 or 4) and run uname -a and cat /proc/cmdline?

ubuntu 18 does not bootup when trying to flash using USB drive

[mad_ady]

I'm not familiar with ROS. Does it need direct access to hardware, or would it be happy with running in a VM?

If you must go with 18.04, try the following, which should be simpler:
1. Install ubuntu 18.04 on the storage you need to, but while connectdd to a different (older) PC (but the installation needs to be done in uefi mode).
2. Add the mainline kernel PPA and install a 6.x kernel
3. Move the disc to the H3, and it should boot.

[fvolk]

Software from the past (2018) does not support hardware from years into the future?

I am not aware about this details, But will have to check, I could not find any documentation or link of Ubuntu18 with H3+

Imagine it like the software of today (2022) expected to fully support the hardware that will be released in 2025 - this does not work.

The H3(+) is just like a regular PC, so there are no specific instructions or documentation for it.

If you just need command-line tools and not a desktop/UI, what would probably work is to first install a minimal 22.04, which has a recent kernel and works fine with the hardware, and then unpack a 18.04 userland filesystem in a separate folder and switch into it via chroot. The programs in 18.04 should work with a new kernel.
However, setting up a chroot environment for the first time may be a challenge....

[odroid]

Did you try installing ubuntu-18.04.6-desktop-amd64.iso from a USB flash disk?

[Vivekm]

Did you try installing ubuntu-18.04.6-desktop-amd64.iso from a USB flash disk?

Yes, Its not working

[odroid]

One user reported it booted in live session at least.
viewtopic.php?p=360693#p360693

[meveric]

How about connecting your harddrive to a different PC, install Ubuntu 18.04 that way, install an more modern kernel, and then put the harddrive back on the H3+?

[martin00]

As @odroid linked my answer in other thread, I did end up installing it from usb to ssd as part of the test. I was able to install dkms from live usb and driver from usb stick. But driver is not working, it complains about the unknown SID. Maybe higher version of the driver would solve that (they are available on github). But that may have pull dependency on higher kernel version, I don't know.
Alternate way would be to use different kernel (ubuntu 20) with userspace from 18. Or fetch the sources and compile the newer kernel.
Or even use 18.04 as VM on top of the higher Ubuntu version on h3.

[stirlingboy69]

If anyone is interested, I managed to get H3+'s network working on 18.04.6 by installing the latest kernel.
I first had to insert a USB3.0 hub with an ethernet adapter to access the internets. Once I plugged in the hub I followed this tutorial:
https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... ntu-18-04/
to install the latest kernel. So far so good.