Armbian for Odroid N2

[Dalsim]

Not sure if many people know about this but Armbian have an N2 Image of both Armbian Bionic and Stretch on their website:
https://www.armbian.com/odroid-n2/

I installed it using the guide here: https://docs.armbian.com/User-Guide_Get ... -new-users

And it runs great so far. Once it is up and running, you can use the Config tool to install OMV, Plex, Transmission, Sonarr, Radarr, Docker and many more.

Just SSH in as Root and run the config tool command:

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sudo armbian-config

Openmediavault runs great. I get stable 110mb/s read transfers and a little bit less for writes to Windows using SMB over Gigabit Ethernet.

[powerful owl]

Awesome

[poincare]

Looks good! Does anyone know if they use the N2 specific stuff like updates on N2 kernel from Hard Kernel, updates for U-Boot, and things liek that?

[BadPritt]

Yes. They use the Hardkernel kernel.
I've been using Armbian the last weeks on it. It runs better than anything else. I'm very happy having this.

[poincare]

OK. I'll give it an install. Do you know if NCP and OMV can be installed at the same time?

[igorpec]

OK. I'll give it an install. Do you know if NCP and OMV can be installed at the same time?

Unlikely. (In theory yes, but its a complex job which includes use of virtualization and port mapping ...) They both provide the same range of services running on the same ports.

You have to pick one.

[poincare]

So, I have installed latest N2 Armbian and used armbian-config to install OMV. I kept trying to get Nextcloud installed with armbian-config but it doesn't seem to work if you already have OVM. I posted to their Github but the issue was promptly closed saying something like "we use the Nextcloud installer; not our problem."

Anyway, I switched on Docker and installed Mariadb and Nextcloud as Docker containers. I found a tutorial on Techno Dad Life that described the process. I'm not sure if Armbian keep U-Boot and the N2 Kernel up to date, but so far, no problems. I'll probably continue using it with OMV and Nextcloud until I'm better able to tell if they follow updates on UBoot and the N2 Kernel.

[igorpec]

I'm not sure if Armbian keep U-Boot and the N2 Kernel up to date, but so far, no problems.

It does. Even on a daily basis (nightly builds), but those builds are untested. Kernel is updated via (apt update & upgrade) while u-boot needs a manual updated via armbian-config -> system.

[poincare]

I don't believe it keeps the N2 kernel up to date, even via apt update and upgrade. I've executed them and the kernel is still at 173; while, I believe the latest N2 one is 177. I'll use armbian-config for uboot update.

[igorpec]

I don't believe it keeps the N2 kernel up to date, even via apt update and upgrade. I've executed them and the kernel is still at 173; while, I believe the latest N2 one is 177. I'll use armbian-config for uboot update.

I know it does since I push that update, but since this is manual work and I don't have time ... you have to wait. If you are in a hurry, you can use automated build (switch to nightly in armbian-config) as already suggested. That one is usually up to 24 hours old.

If you need this even faster, build tools https://github.com/armbian/build produces .deb files which you can install with dpkg -i and you have latest kernel.

[igorpec]

> even via apt update and upgrade

Stable repository (and images) was just updated - no need to use nightly builds anymore.

[igorpec]

Another update!



- improved stock kernel, updated to 4.9.179, docker support with aufs, wireguard module, ...
- adjusted boot loader to support booting from ext4/ext2 partitions
- screen resolution can be changed in armbian-config -> system -> display (Set the display resolution)
- menu driven CPU frequency/governor adjustement (armbian-config)
- improved two-factor authentication for SSH access
- fixed sources install for onboard kernel building (armbian-config->software)
- improved hostapd management
- image can be rebuild from sources

Suitable for newcomers and pros!

Images:
https://www.armbian.com/odroid-n2/

If you already run Armbian for Odroid N2:

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apt update ; apt upgrade

[poincare]

Thank you for your work on Armbian for the N2 board.

[floridroid]

Yes thank you for the N2 Armbian image. It's working well so far.

[igorpec]

Updated to latest along with kernel config changes:
https://github.com/armbian/build/commit ... d822ac1a1d

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apt update ; apt upgrade

[Moan]

Thank you @igorpec, I'm using those armbian images and the device works pretty good.

One problem I detected today is installing Plex by armbian-config. It installs fine, but ruins some stuff in the system. For example, right after installing Plex I was getting error:

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armbian-config: No such file or directory

So I had to reinstall by:

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apt update; apt install armbian-config

It possibly ruined some other packages, because my N2 didn't want to start tonight after reboot.

[igorpec]

> right after installing Plex I was getting error:

Well, that needs to be investigated. Probably some packages dependency issue. Have you install just that or many other things?

[Moan]

Have you install just that or many other things?

As first I always do apt update; apt upgrade
Then I installed OMV, Plex, PiHole all at once by armbian-config and noticed this error.
Then I did a fresh image flash, and installed packages one-by-one starting from OMV, omv init, reboot, Plex and then armbian-config stopped working again. Plex worked fine, even scanned a library fully, however the version of Plex in armbian-config seems to be outdated. So at the end I installed plex from their debian repository, but I'm not sure if it doesn't lose performance /hardware accelerations if available.

[igorpec]

> Then I installed OMV, Plex, PiHole all at once by armbian-config and noticed this error.

(Armbian unrelated) Errors are in such case more then expected. OMV is extremely bulky software suite. Installing and running two bulky packages at once is considered as extreme luck and it usually doesn't go without manual intervention ... to prevent such problems, you need to use virtualisation/containerisation/isolation. Docker and similar (billion dollar projects) was initiated to overcome such problems. Free support cheap shortcut does not exists.

I hope you understand this is not an Armbian problem, but generic, which help you can/should try to find elsewhere https://www.debian.org/consultants/

[Moan]

It's not a problem for me as installing from the plex repository works fine, and I've been using Armbian + OMV + Plex + Pihole on XU4 for the past months and no issues at all.

I thought N2 images somehow differ in terms of configuration / incompatible kernel module, etc. that's why I wrote about this issue in case someone wanted to check it. But in general it shouldn't matter now.

[igorpec]

I thought N2 images somehow differ in terms of configuration / incompatible kernel module, etc.

Armbian is (should be) the same on all hardware platforms. It's one of the core advantages ... but ofc we could made some mistake, some module might still be missing but there could be some generic problem with certain aarch64 package while bug is not present in armhf ... there are known problems on this level and could manifest in such way. Another aarch64 install would tell more ...

When it comes to user space issues -> https://www.debian.org/Bugs/

[everlasting]

Hi, I installed armbian but i can only get sound through hdmi(monitor speakers). My speakers that are plugged in the audio jack is not detected. there is only one audio sink and its not the speakers.

[Kahana82]

Hi, I installed armbian but i can only get sound through hdmi(monitor speakers). My speakers that are plugged in the audio jack is not detected. there is only one audio sink and its not the speakers.

Same issue as in meveric's Debian Stretch for ODROID N2 thread ?

[Moan]

Hi.
Could you please tell me how should I update u-boot on a running armbian?
I use a micro SD card for this OS. Should I update it by armbian-config / System / Install/Update the bootloader on SD/eMMC? Will it have the newest version (odroidn2-49) from https://github.com/hardkernel/u-boot/releases ? Is it possible to somehow if it was successfully flashed?

I'm asking because every few days I experience a strange issues with I/O until I power cycle Odroid N2. The main issue is that the system starts running slowly, web-ui loads for long minutes and I'm even unable to download log files from /var/log, because it's so slow that a 4MiB file can not be viewed (and it's keep getting interrupted during filezilla transfer). I tried killing all running programs, iotop doesn't show any high activity, but device is running very slow. I thought I should update the u-boot in first place.

[igorpec]

> Could you please tell me how should I update u-boot on a running armbian?
>I use a micro SD card for this OS. Should I update it by armbian-config / System / Install/Update the bootloader on SD/eMMC?

yes

> Will it have the newest version

No. For that you need to switch to our automated build. armbian-config -> system -> switch to nightly automated builds. When you do that, you have to repeat boot loader flashing. We don't update it automatically by purpose.

> I thought I should update the u-boot in first place.

That could be a good start. I will check if my also behaves this way ...

[Moan]

No. For that you need to switch to our automated build. armbian-config -> system -> switch to nightly automated builds. When you do that, you have to repeat boot loader flashing. We don't update it automatically by purpose.

Thanks! Just did it.

That could be a good start. I will check if my also behaves this way ...

When this happens, SSH works fine. Htop shows load around 1.0 (while normally around 0.05). Do you recommend any commands to put in terminal when this happens which would help to detect the issue?

[istanbulls]

How to run spotify

[igorpec]

How to run spotify

Perhaps asking Google. This is one of the first hits:
https://websiteforstudents.com/install- ... 4-desktop/

When this happens, SSH works fine. Htop shows load around 1.0 (while normally around 0.05). Do you recommend any commands to put in terminal when this happens which would help to detect the issue?

That's normal. Just wait a while.

[Moan]

When this happens, SSH works fine. Htop shows load around 1.0 (while normally around 0.05). Do you recommend any commands to put in terminal when this happens which would help to detect the issue?

That's normal. Just wait a while.

Oh, sorry. By "this happens" I meant the I/O slowdown problem.
So far after the uboot update I didn't experience this issue during the last 4 days, but made some manual reboots so need to keep it running longer to be 100% sure.

I remember that one time when "this" happened, I typed "reboot" in terminal, and right after reboot it was very slow again. So I had to manually disconnect power, connect again and then I/O was very fast. I don't have much knowledge how uboot and stuff works, but do you think it was an expected behavior? I mean, the uboot stuff was all the time loaded and the reboot command didn't release all "things" for a fresh start? I just want to be sure it's not a hardware issue.

[igorpec]

When this happens, SSH works fine. Htop shows load around 1.0 (while normally around 0.05). Do you recommend any commands to put in terminal when this happens which would help to detect the issue?

That's normal. Just wait a while.

Oh, sorry. By "this happens" I meant the I/O slowdown problem.
So far after the uboot update I didn't experience this issue during the last 4 days, but made some manual reboots so need to keep it running longer to be 100% sure.

I remember that one time when "this" happened, I typed "reboot" in terminal, and right after reboot it was very slow again. So I had to manually disconnect power, connect again and then I/O was very fast. I don't have much knowledge how uboot and stuff works, but do you think it was an expected behavior? I mean, the uboot stuff was all the time loaded and the reboot command didn't release all "things" for a fresh start? I just want to be sure it's not a hardware issue.

Got it. Well, this problem is common and I see Hardkernel guys are doing something on it. Patience

[Moan]

Got it. Well, this problem is common and I see Hardkernel guys are doing something on it. Patience

Oh. Could you please link a source to it? I did some research but probably missed a topic with the similar issue.

[istanbulls]

How to run spotify

Perhaps asking Google. This is one of the first hits:
https://websiteforstudents.com/install- ... 4-desktop/

Thanks for your answer
Did you try that? Are you sure it works?

[igorpec]

Did you try that? Are you sure it works?

No I didn't. I don't use this application. Perhaps they don't provide support for ARM architecture. You have to ask them.

[odroid]

One user reported the Spotify on the Chromium browser with the ODROID-XU4.
viewtopic.php?f=98&t=34284
viewtopic.php?f=95&t=35180

Spotify needs a Widevine DRM library as Netflix. There is a widevine drm so file for 32bit Armhf.
But I have no idea about Widevine DRM library for 64bit AArch64.

[istanbulls]

One user reported the Spotify on the Chromium browser with the ODROID-XU4.
viewtopic.php?f=98&t=34284
viewtopic.php?f=95&t=35180

Spotify needs a Widevine DRM library as Netflix. There is a widevine drm so file for 32bit Armhf.
But I have no idea about Widevine DRM library for 64bit AArch64.

yes, I did it for 32bit armhf with rockpro64.

ubuntu or debian 32bit desktop version how do I use it, can you help?

[ralph_DE]

Hi,
I installed the Armbian OS on my N2 and can boot from SD. Then I used armbian-config to copy bootloader and system to an EMMC. But it does not boot from the EMMC with the SD removed. The copy/update the bootloader command does not help either.
Is it possible to flash the OS image directly to the EMMC and will it boot then?
What can I do?

Ralph

[tobetter]

Hi,
I installed the Armbian OS on my N2 and can boot from SD. Then I used armbian-config to copy bootloader and system to an EMMC. But it does not boot from the EMMC with the SD removed. The copy/update the bootloader command does not help either.
Is it possible to flash the OS image directly to the EMMC and will it boot then?
What can I do?

Ralph

You can download the Armbian OS image *.img to your SD card, boot from uSD as Armbian installed and eMMC memory card is attached.
From the command line, this command will flash the OS image to your eMMC.

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$ sudo dd if=<Armbian/OS/image/file/in/uSD> of=/dev/mmclbk0 conv=fsync
$ sync

Once everything is done, you can remove uSD and try to boot from eMMC.

If this way does not work, Petitboot also can help you to boot from eMMC no matter eMMC has the bootloader or not.
viewtopic.php?f=182&t=33873#p260670

[igorpec]

yes, I did it for 32bit armhf with rockpro64.

ubuntu or debian 32bit desktop version how do I use it, can you help?

Perhaps its enough if you install 32bit Chromium and proceed with the instructions above? If entire OS must be 32bit, then ... it will be harder. We don't provide that ATM. Some rework of build system is needed to provide user selected user land: 32/64bit for 64bit hardware. There are few use cases where this is needed so we do have interest, just lack of time.

[istanbulls]

I had the fastest desktop Armbian experience, the most stable and fast internet browser experience with Armbian. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

I couldn't solve the Spotify problem, but I've shelved it for now.

For me now the main big problem petitboot, Android, coreELEC and Ubuntu mate is running smoothly. The system is locked when I plug it into an Armbian boat.
My intense use is Armbian, I switch to CoreELEC to watch movies, or I switch to Androide to test other experiences. petitboot with Armbian because I can not run eMMC (Andorid) I must turn off the petitboort converter. quite laborious and not practical.
I will be very happy if you help me with this.
Note: I am a beginner, please give more detailed help.

[dkking]

For widevine, would this process work here

https://blog.vpetkov.net/2019/07/12/net ... -chromium/

[istanbulls]

It doesn't work, did you try it?

[tobetter]

My intense use is Armbian, I switch to CoreELEC to watch movies, or I switch to Androide to test other experiences. petitboot with Armbian because I can not run eMMC (Andorid) I must turn off the petitboort converter. quite laborious and not practical.

I don't get what this means, can you explain which OS is installed to which storage? Which version of Armbian are you running now?

[istanbulls]

English is not my main language. I'm sorry I told you wrong.

eMMC: Andorid
usb flash drive: CoreELEC
Micro SD Card: Armbian 5.89 Stable (Tried Nightly, problem not resolved)

Petitboot crashes whenever I put Armbian boot.ini on the disk.
I backed up the original Armbian boot.ini to the USB HDD. The MicroSD Card (Armbian) board was not plugged in and the system did not work again. I tried so hard to find the problem, I had to try a lot.

https://youtu.be/eSXTeFCKlpY

[tobetter]

English is not my main language. I'm sorry I told you wrong.

eMMC: Andorid
usb flash drive: CoreELEC
Micro SD Card: Armbian 5.89 Stable (Tried Nightly, problem not resolved)

Petitboot crashes whenever I put Armbian boot.ini on the disk.
I backed up the original Armbian boot.ini to the USB HDD. The MicroSD Card (Armbian) board was not plugged in and the system did not work again. I tried so hard to find the problem, I had to try a lot.

https://youtu.be/eSXTeFCKlpY

I've quickly tested Armbian to boot from Petitboot and my suggestion for you is to move the boot/boot.ini to the root directory of Armbian, your memory card must not have boot/boot.ini.

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$ ls -al
total 108
drwxr-xr-x   22 root root  4096  6월 11 18:21 .
drwxr-x---+   4 root root  4096  8월  5 19:19 ..
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 08:48 bin
drwxr-xr-x    3 root root  4096  8월  5 19:16 boot
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  4426  8월  5 19:15 boot.ini                       <<--- THIS FILE!!
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 08:24 dev
drwxr-xr-x  115 root root  4096  6월 11 18:22 etc
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  4월 24  2018 home
drwxr-xr-x   18 root root  4096  6월 11 18:21 lib
drwx------    2 root root 16384  6월 11 18:25 lost+found
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 08:24 media
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 08:24 mnt
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 08:24 opt
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  4월 24  2018 proc
drwx------    4 root root  4096  6월 11 18:22 root
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 18:26 run
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 18:25 sbin
drwxrwxr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 18:21 selinux
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  6월 11 08:24 srv
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096  4월 24  2018 sys
drwxrwxrwt    2 root root  4096  6월 11 18:25 tmp
drwxr-xr-x   10 root root  4096  6월 11 08:24 usr
drwxr-xr-x   12 root root  4096  6월 11 18:21 var

In addition, in the file boot.ini, remove the line ODROIDN2-UBOOT-CONFIG.

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  1 ODROIDN2-UBOOT-CONFIG
  2 
  3 setenv rootdev "UUID=a3a05e7d-a376-4128-9dfe-429f1bbb17ef"
  4 setenv rootfstype "ext4"
  5 
  6 ODROIDN2-UBOOT-CONFIG                                                    <<----- REMOVE THIS LINE!!
  7 
  8 # Default Console Device Setting
  9 setenv condev "console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty1 loglevel=1"   # on both

[istanbulls]

@tobetter

Thank you very much, problem solved

[tobetter]

@tobetter

Thank you very much, problem solved

Finally, you are able to boot Armbian with Petitboot. I hope this can be fixed by Armbian team, no idea whether it's a policy of Armbian putting boot.ini to /boot or not. Also removing the second ODROIDN2-BOOT-CONFIG would be necessary.

"Tapatalk wishes you to have fun with ODROID"

[istanbulls]

I think Armbian likes to support more experienced people.
They're just keen to take care of and improve the OS and they're doing well. thank you to the Armbian team and congratulations

[tobetter]

I think Armbian likes to support more experienced people.
They're just keen to take care of and improve the OS and they're doing well. thank you to the Armbian team and congratulations

I would agree with you even though I don't use Armbian, but I like the way how they build the distro and manage the package.

[igorpec]

Problem was identified and fixed at our side as well. Thanks!

[sensei73]

It will be awesome if Kodi was available for Armbian n2!!!