I like the 60MiB image (download a 716 KiB zip file) to update the QSPI NOR Flash, that is a very nice solution.
Ver 20230626-legacy - fix WiFi and BT
Version 20230628 is legacy. Important. A significant change in the composition of the system, now it corresponds to a similar composition of other platforms. Added images with DE for Debian.
I checked the installation of the system in SD\eMMC + NVMe mode (use armbian-config). The system works noticeably faster. For example, launching the LibreOffice Writer application takes only 3 seconds, which is very good for entry-level support.
Version 20230711-current with kernel 5.15.0 (sources shared with VisioFive2)
Version 20230711-legacy. Expanded the list of USB modules (Wi-Fi, sound, etc.)
The first versions of Alt Linux for Star64. The startup process is similar to Armbian (you do not need to re-run the loader once, if it has already been done before). Launching Alt linux - download the image, unpack it, burn it to an SD card, insert it into Star64 and turn on the power, the system starts automatically. As part of the images with DE (ICEWM XFCE MATE etc), there is a working Firefox browser, with minimal settings, you can even watch YouTube, if you set the desktop resolution to no more than 1280x720, you can even use the full screen, this is not ideal, but good enough for the primary version.
For the “builder” image (this is an image that can be used to build packages or the Altlinux system itself) and the minimum “jeos” image is the primary user “root” and the password “altlinux”.
I tried to connect video cards in Altlinux
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=18344&pid=118710#pid118710
Version ArmbianTV 20230716-video with support for video cards connected as in a regular PC to the PCIe connector (HW GPU).
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=18344&pid=118713#pid118713
A user from the Altlinux forum confirmed the correct operation of the u-boot (SPI\flash) update system to run different systems on VF2, i.e. the update image can be used to update the regular u-boot in SPI and run Altlinux\ArmbianTV images for Star64 on VF2.
Options for using Star64 as a full-fledged mini PC.
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=18344&pid=118750#pid118750
Armbian ver 20230814-legacy the kernel configuration has changed - simultaneous operation of the standard HDMI output and an additional video card on the PCIe bus (NVIDIA) is supported.
ver 20230816-edge kernel 6.5-rc5
work SD\eMMC LAN NVMe\PCIe
6.5 kernel in which HDMI works (partially)
the practical benefits of output to the monitor (for kernel current 6.5) , even if USB does not work) and there is no UART connection:
- you can immediately see the IP address for SSH connection and system settings without accessing the router.
- you can immediately see if there is a problem at startup, for example, an error mounting the root system, or a failure when starting a file system check (when the system is waiting for a reaction from the user)
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=18344&pid=119261#pid119261
Version 20230824-legacy with kernel 5.15.127.
Expanded the list of Wi-Fi modules (USB\PCIe).
Added DTB for models with 4 GB of RAM (for use on 4GB models - rename the DTB file or edit /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf with a 4 GB indication).
Version 20230828-legacy with kernel 5.15.127.
Expanded the list of sound modules and codecs (USB\PCIe).
Version 20230914-legacy with kernel 5.15.130
Ver 20230922-edge kernel 6.6-rc1 (HDMI not work)
I added an image to quickly reset all u-boot settings to the factory (default) state without using UART. For details, see the link.
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=18344&pid=119853#pid119853
Ver 20230923-edge kernel 6.6-rc2
Ver 20230925-current kernel 6.1.31 work HDMI LAN USB etc