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Linux on SMARC-iMX8

July 17, 2025

The main purpose of this document is to help developers understand the overall software layout structure and enable them to compile each part of the software separately. It provides instructions for advanced users how Embedian offers patches and builds a customized version of u-boot and linux kernel for Embedian’s SMARC-iMX8QM product platform and how to install the images to bring the evaluation board up and running. It is very helpful for gaining a better understanding of the entire system.

The host Linux machine is recommended Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04.

Once you have Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 LTS running, install the additional required support packages using the following console command:

$ sudo apt-get install gawk wget git-core diffstat unzip texinfo gcc-multilib build-essential chrpath socat cpio python python3 python3-pip python3-pexpect xz-utils debianutils iputils-ping python3-git python3-jinja2 libegl1-mesa libsdl1.2-dev pylint xterm rsync curl zstd lz4 libssl-dev pv device-tree-compiler libghc-gnutls-dev

Availability

SMARC-iMX8Q at Embedian.

Carrier Board

EVK-STD-CARRIER-S20 (universal carrier board for all SMARC 1.1 and 2.0 modules) at Embedian.

Basic Resources

ARM Cross Compiler
- ARM: https://developer.arm.com/downloads/-/gnu-a
Bootloader
- Das U-Boot – the Universal Boot Loader http://www.denx.de/wiki/U-Boot
- Source – http://git.denx.de/?p=u-boot.git;a=summary
Linux Kernel
- Linus’s Mainline tree: http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git;a=summary
- NXP Linux source tree: git://github.com/nxp-imx/linux-imx.git
- NXP Yocto BSP meta layer: https://github.com/nxp-imx/meta-imx/meta-bsp
- Freescale community BSP release: https://github.com/Freescale/meta-freescale-distro
- Embedian SMARC-iMX8 Linux kernel source tree: https://github.com/embedian/smarc-fsl-linux-kernel.git

ARM Cross Compiler: GCC

To build Embedian’s SMARC-iMX8QM u-boot and linux kernel, you will need to install the following ARM compiler:

For u-boot 2024.04/2023.04 and Linux kernel 6.6.52/6.1.55 (paired by Yocto release), you need to use the following Arm compiler.

$ wget -c https://developer.arm.com/-/media/Files/downloads/gnu-a/10.3-2021.07/binrel/gcc-arm-10.3-2021.07-x86_64-aarch64-none-linux-gnu.tar.xz

$ sudo tar -Jxvf gcc-arm-10.3-2021.07-x86_64-aarch64-none-linux-gnu.tar.xz -C /opt

$ export CC=/opt/gcc-arm-10.3-2021.07-x86_64-aarch64-none-linux-gnu/bin/aarch64-none-linux-gnu-

For u-boot 2022.04 and Linux kernel 5.15.71, you need to use the following ARM compiler.

$ wget -c https://developer.arm.com/-/media/Files/downloads/gnu-a/9.2-2019.12/binrel/gcc-arm-9.2-2019.12-x86_64-aarch64-none-linux-gnu.tar.xz

$ sudo tar -Jxvf gcc-arm-9.2-2019.12-x86_64-aarch64-none-linux-gnu.tar.xz -C /opt

$ export CC=/opt/gcc-arm-9.2-2019.12-x86_64-aarch64-none-linux-gnu/bin/aarch64-none-linux-gnu-

Test:

$ ${CC}gcc --versionaarch64-none-linux-gnu-gcc (GNU Toolchain for the A-profile Architecture 10.3-2021.07 (arm-10.29)) 10.3.1 20210621
Copyright (C) 2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Boot File: flash.bin

The boot file, called flash.bin, consists of several program components, such as the System Controller Firmware (scfw_tcm.bin) and the Security Controller Firmware (mx8qmb0-ahab-container.img). Optionally, it may also include images for the Cortex-M4 cores (if multiple cores are available, as is the case with QM devices) and Cortex-A cores.

This section provides instructions on how to generate the flash.bin file.

For u-boot 2024.04 and Linux kernel 6.6.52 (Paired from NXP Yocto Scarthgap release)

1. Download the imx-mkimage tool and apply Embedian’s patch to accept Embedian’s device tree blob.

$ git clone https://github.com/nxp-imx/imx-mkimage -b lf-6.6.52_2.2.0

$ cd imx-mkimage

$ wget -c ftp://ftp.embedian.com/public/smarcimx8qm/0001-imx8qm-scarthgap-change-uboot-device-tree-name.patch

$ patch -p1 <0001-imx8qm-scarthgap-change-uboot-device-tree-name.patch

$ cd ../

Notes

Note1:

For u-boot 2023.04 and Linux kernel 6.1.55 (Paired from NXP Yocto Mickledore release)

$ git clone https://github.com/nxp-imx/imx-mkimage -b lf-6.1.55_2.2.0

$ cd imx-mkimage

$ wget -c ftp://ftp.embedian.com/public/smarcimx8qm/0001-imx8qm-mickledore-change-uboot-device-tree-name.patch

$ patch -p1 <0001-imx8qm-mickledore-change-uboot-device-tree-name.patch

$ cd ../

Note 2:

For u-boot 2022.04 and Linux kernel 5.15.71 (Paired from NXP Yocto Kirkstone release)

$ git clone https://github.com/nxp-imx/imx-mkimage -b lf-5.15.71_2.2.0

$ cd imx-mkimage

$ wget -c ftp://ftp.embedian.com/public/smarcimx8qm/0001-imx8qm-kirkstone-change-uboot-device-tree-name.patch

$ patch -p1 <0001-imx8qm-kirkstone-change-uboot-device-tree-name.patch

$ cd ../

2. Get and Build the ARM Trusted firmware and copy bl31.bin to imx-mkimage/iMX8M directory.

$ git clone https://github.com/nxp-imx/imx-atf -b lf_v2.10

$ cd imx-atf

$ make CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} PLAT=imx8qm bl31

$ cp build/imx8qm/release/bl31.bin ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/

$ cd ../

Notes

Note1:

For u-boot 2023.04 and Linux kernel 6.1.55 (Paired from NXP Yocto Mickledore release)

$ git clone https://github.com/nxp-imx/imx-atf -b lf_v2.8

$ cd imx-atf

$ make CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} PLAT=imx8qm bl31

$ cp build/imx8qm/release/bl31.bin ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/

$ cd ../

Note 2:

For u-boot 2022.04 and Linux kernel 5.15.71 (Paired from NXP Yocto Kirkstone release)

$ git clone https://github.com/nxp-imx/imx-atf -b lf_v2.6

$ cd imx-atf

$ make CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} PLAT=imx8qm bl31

$ cp build/imx8qm/release/bl31.bin ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/

$ cd ../

3. Get and build System Control Firmware (scfw_tcm.bin):

3.1 Setup Cross Compiler

$ sudo mkdir -p /opt/scfw
$ wget -c https://developer.arm.com/-/media/Files/downloads/gnu-rm/9-2019q4/gcc-arm-none-eabi-9-2019-q4-major-x86_64-linux.tar.bz2
$ sudo tar xf gcc-arm-none-eabi-9-2019-q4-major-x86_64-linux.tar.bz2 -C /opt/scfw

3.2 Get and build System Control Firmware (SCFW)

$ export TOOLS=/opt/scfw/
$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/imx-sc-firmware.git -b 8qm-1.15.0
$ cd imx-sc-firmware
$ make clean-qm
$ make clean
$ make qm B=smarc_8g U=0 D=1 M=1 R=B0
$ cp build_mx8qm_b0/scfw_tcm.bin ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/ $ cd ../

Notes

Note1:

For u-boot 2023.04 and Linux kernel 6.1.55 (Paired from NXP Yocto Mickledore release)

Note 2:

For u-boot 2022.04 and Linux kernel 5.15.71 (Paired from NXP Yocto Kirkstone release)

$ export TOOLS=/opt/scfw/
$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/imx-sc-firmware.git -b 8qm-1.13.0
$ cd imx-sc-firmware
$ make clean-qm
$ make clean
$ make qm B=smarc_8g U=0 D=1 M=1 R=B0
$ cp build_mx8qm_b0/scfw_tcm.bin ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/ $ cd ../

Note 3:

For 4GB LPDDR4 variant, use

$ make qm B=smarc_4g U=0 D=1 M=1 R=B0

4. Get and Security Control Firmware (SECO).

$ wget https://www.nxp.com/lgfiles/NMG/MAD/YOCTO/imx-seco-5.9.4.bin
$ chmod a+x imx-seco-5.9.4.bin
$ ./imx-seco-5.9.4.bin
$ cd imx-seco-5.9.4
$ cp firmware/seco/mx8qmb0-ahab-container.img ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/ $ cd ../

Notes

Note1:

For u-boot 2023.04 and Linux kernel 6.1.55 (Paired from NXP Yocto Mickledore release)

$ wget https://www.nxp.com/lgfiles/NMG/MAD/YOCTO/imx-seco-5.9.2.bin
$ chmod a+x imx-seco-5.9.2.bin
$ ./imx-seco-5.9.2.bin
$ cd imx-seco-5.9.2
$ cp firmware/seco/mx8qmb0-ahab-container.img ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/ $ cd ../

Note 2:

For u-boot 2022.04 and Linux kernel 5.15.71 (Paired from NXP Yocto Kirkstone release)

$ wget https://www.nxp.com/lgfiles/NMG/MAD/YOCTO/imx-seco-5.9.0.bin
$ chmod a+x imx-seco-5.9.0.bin
$ ./imx-seco-5.9.0.bin
$ cd imx-seco-5.9.0
$ cp firmware/seco/mx8qmb0-ahab-container.img ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/ $ cd ../

5. Get and build Cortex-M image (Optional)

$ export ARMGCC_DIR=/opt/scfw/gcc-arm-none-eabi-9-2019-q4-major
$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/freertos-embedian.git freertos -b mcuxpresso_sdk_2.9.0-8qm $ cd freertos/boards/smarcimx8qm/demo_apps/hello_world/cm4_core0/armgcc $ ./build_all.sh $ cd ../../cm4_core1/armgcc/ $ ./build_all.sh $ cd ../../../../../../ $ cp -v boards/smarcimx8qm/demo_apps/hello_world/cm4_core0/armgcc/release/hello_world_m40.bin ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/m4_image.bin $ cp -v boards/smarcimx8qm/demo_apps/hello_world/cm4_core1/armgcc/release/hello_world_m41.bin ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/m4_1_image.bin $ cd ../

6. Clone the U-Boot source code from Embedian Guthub Server and copy related files to imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/ directory.

Download:

For u-boot v2024.04: (Paired from NXP Yocto Scarthgap release)

$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/smarc-uboot.git v2024.04 -b emb_lf_v2024.04

Notes

Note1:

For u-boot 2023.04 and Linux kernel 6.1.55 (Paired from NXP Yocto Mickledore release)

$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/smarc-uboot.git v2023.04 -b emb_lf_v2023.04

Note 2:

For u-boot 2022.04 and Linux kernel 5.15.71 (Paired from NXP Yocto Kirkstone release)

$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/smarc-uboot.git v2022.04 -b emb_lf_v2022.04

Configure and Build:

$ make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} distclean

$ make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} smarcimx8qm_8g_ser3_defconfig

$ make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=${CC}

Notes

Note1:

If the board is 4GB LPDDR4, use
$ make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} smarcimx8qm_4g_ser3_defconfig

Note 2:

“ser3” stands for console debug port in SMARC definition. In this example, we uses SER3 as debug port. If user uses SER0 as your debug port, make change to “ser0” instead. Same as SER1 and SER2.

Note 3:

The SMARC-iMX8 module always boot up from the on-module eMMC flash. The factory default will be flash.bin pre-installed with SER3 as console output. In some cases when the eMMC flash is empty or needs to be upgraded. Users can shunt crossed the TEST# to ground. In this way, the SMARC-iMX8 module will boot up to carrier SD card. The flash.bin image are the same, the difference is where you flash flash.bin. This will be explained in the “Setup SD card” section.

Copy u-boot.bin spl/u-boot-spl.bin arch/arm/dts/imx8qm-smarc.dtb to imx-mkimage/iMX8QM directory.

$ cp u-boot.bin spl/u-boot-spl.bin arch/arm/dts/imx8qm-smarc.dtb ../imx-mkimage/iMX8QM/

7. Generate flash.bin file.

$ cd ../imx-mkimage

$ make CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} SOC=iMX8QM clean

$ make CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} SOC=iMX8QM flash_linux_m4

The flash.bin file will be located at imx-mkimage/iMX8QM directory. Go to “Setup SD Card” section to instruct you how to flash this file into SD card.

Linux Kernel

Download:

For Linux Kernel v6.6.52 (Paired from NXP Yocto Scarthgap release)

$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/smarc-fsl-linux-kernel.git v6.6.52 -b emb_imx_lf-6.6.y

Notes

Note1:

For u-boot 2023.04 and Linux kernel 6.1.55 (Paired from NXP Yocto Mickledore release)

$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/smarc-fsl-linux-kernel.git v6.1.55 -b emb_imx_lf-6.1.y

Note 2:

For u-boot 2022.04 and Linux kernel 5.15.71 (Paired from NXP Yocto Kirkstone release)

$ git clone https://github.com/embedian/smarc-fsl-linux-kernel.git v5.15.71 -b emb_imx_lf-5.15.y

Configure and Build:

$ make ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} distclean $ make ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} emb_imx_v8_defconfig $ make ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} Image modules dtbs

Selecting display configuration is a matter of selecting an appropriate DTB file under arch/arm64/boot/dts/embedian.

All available DTB files are listed in the table below.

DTB FILENAME	DESCRIPTION
imx8qm-smarc.dtb	Device tree blob for no display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-hdmi.dtb	Device tree blob for HDMI display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-dp.dtb	Device tree blob for Display Port (DP) display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-edp.dtb	Device tree blob for embedded Display Port (eDP) display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-lvds.dtb	Device tree blob for LVDS display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-rpmsg.dtb	Device tree blob for Cortex-M4 configuration.

Root File System

Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish:

USERNAME	PASSWORD
user	user

Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish Download:

$ wget -c ftp://ftp.embedian.com/public/dev/minfs/ubuntu/jammy_jellyfish/smarcimx8qm/imx-image-desktop-smarcimx8qm8g.tar.bz2

Verify:

$ md5sum imx-image-desktop-smarcimx8qm8g.tar.bz21a9f7a5261180f1a88c8793e70de5eb1 imx-image-desktop-smarcimx8qm8g.tar.bz2

Yocto Scarthgap:

USERNAME	PASSWORD
root	N/A

Yocto Scarthgap Download:

$ wget -c ftp://ftp.embedian.com/public/dev/minfs/ubuntu/jammy_jellyfish/smarcimx8mp/imx-image-desktop-smarcimx8mp4g.tar.bz2

Verify:

$ md5sum imx-image-desktop-smarcimx8mp4g.tar.bz2
b54abbf8d70176e064e83e81c8cde138 imx-image-desktop-smarcimx8mp4g.tar.bz2

Yocto Mickledore:

USERNAME	PASSWORD
root	N/A

Yocto Mickledore Download:

$ wget -c ftp://ftp.embedian.com/public/dev/minfs/dev/minfs/mickledore/fsl-image-qt6-validation-imx-smarcimx8qm8.tar.bz2

Verify:

$ md5sum fsl-image-qt6-validation-imx-smarcimx8qm8g.tar.bz2
955e917e5809e9217f5c218e1a2a1823 fsl-image-qt6-validation-imx-smarcimx8qm8g.tar.bz2

Yocto Kirkstone:

USERNAME	PASSWORD
root	N/A

Yocto Kirkstone Download:

$ wget -c ftp://ftp.embedian.com/public/dev/minfs/dev/minfs/kirkstone/fsl-image-qt6-validation-imx-smarcimx8qm8g.tar.bz2

Verify:

$ md5sum imx-image-desktop-smarcimx8qm8g.tar.bz2
9c495bebe6e9551ffa3b40f418ce344d fsl-image-qt6-validation-imx-smarcimx8qm8g.tar.bz2

Setup SD Card

For these instruction, we are assuming: DISK=/dev/mmcblk0, “lsblk” is very useful for determining the device id.

$ export DISK=/dev/mmcblk0

Erase SD card:

$ sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=${DISK} bs=2M count=160

Create Partition Layout: Leave 2MB offset for boot file. With util-linux v2.26, sfdisk was rewritten and is now based on libfdisk.

(sfdisk)
$ sudo sfdisk --version
sfdisk from util-linux 2.34

Create Partitions:

(sfdisk >=2.26.x)
$ sudo sfdisk ${DISK} <<-__EOF__ 2M,48M,0x83,* 50M,,, __EOF__

Format Partitions:

for: DISK=/dev/mmcblk0
$ sudo mkfs.vfat -F 16 ${DISK}p1 -n boot
$ sudo mkfs.ext4 ${DISK}p2 -L rootfs

for: DISK=/dev/sdX
$ sudo mkfs.vfat -F 16 ${DISK}1 -n boot
$ sudo mkfs.ext4 ${DISK}2 -L rootfs

Mount Partitions:

On some systems, these partitions may be auto-mounted…

$ sudo mkdir -p /media/boot/
$ sudo mkdir -p /media/rootfs/

for: DISK=/dev/mmcblk0
$ sudo mount ${DISK}p1 /media/boot/
$ sudo mount ${DISK}p2 /media/rootfs/

for: DISK=/dev/sdX
$ sudo mount ${DISK}1 /media/boot/
$ sudo mount ${DISK}2 /media/rootfs/

Boot file is factory default flashed at on-module eMMC flash.

Install Boot File (flash.bin)

If on-module eMMC Flash is empty

In some cases, when eMMC flash is erased or the u-boot is under development, we need a way to boot from SD card first. Users need to shunt cross the TEST# pin to ground. In this way, SMARC-iMX8QM will always boot up from SD card.

Write flash.bin to SD card.

~/imx-mkimage/

$ sudo dd if=iMX8QM/flash.bin of=${DISK} bs=1024 seek=32

If on-module eMMC Flash is not empty

The flash.bin is pre-installed in on-module eMMC flash at factory default. SMARC-iMX8QM is designed to always boot up from on-module eMMC flash and to load Image, device tree blob and root file systems based on the setting of BOOT_SEL. If users need to fuse your own flash.bin or perform u-boot upgrade. This section will instruct you how to do that.

Copy flash.bin to the second partition home directory of your SD card and boot into SD card. Boot up from SD card and go to home directory and you should see flash.bin file.

~/imx-mkimage/

$ sudo cp -v iMX8QM/flash.bin /media/rootfs/home/root/

Write flash.bin to the on-module eMMC flash. (The eMMC flash is emulated as /dev/mmcblk0 in SMARC-iMX8QM)

(home directory of device)

$ sudo dd if=flash.bin of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=1024 seek=32

Notes

1. If your u-boot hasn’t been finalized and still under development, it is recommended to shunt cross the test pin and boot directly from SD card first (shunt cross TEST# to GND). Once your u-boot is fully tested and finalized, you can fuse your <boot file> to eMMC flash.

2. When TEST# pin of SMARC-iMX8QM is not shunt crossed, it will always boot up from on-module eMMC flash. U-boot will read the BOOT_SEL configuration and determine where it should load Image and device tree blob. When TEST# is shunt crossed (pull low), it will always boot up from SD card.

Install uEnv.txt based bootscript

Create “uEnv.txt” boot script: ($ vim uEnv.txt)

~/uEnv.txt

optargs="video=HDMI-A-1:1920x1080-32@60 consoleblank=0"
#optargs="video=HDMI-A-1:3840x2160-32@30 consoleblank=0"
#optargs="video=HDMI-A-1:3840x2160-32@60 consoleblank=0"
#console port SER3
console=ttyLP4,115200 earlycon
#console port SER2
#console=ttyLP1,115200 earlycon
#console port SER1
#console=ttyLP3,115200 earlycon
#console port SER0
#console=ttyLP0,115200 earlycon
mmcdev=1
mmcpart=1
image=Image
loadaddr=0x80280000
fdt_addr=0x83000000
mmcroot=/dev/mmcblk1p2 rw
usbroot=/dev/sda2 rw
mmcrootfstype=ext4 rootwait fixrtc
netdev=eth0
ethact=FEC0
ipaddr=192.168.1.150
serverip=192.168.1.53
gatewayip=192.168.1.254
mmcargs=setenv bootargs cma=1280M console=${console} root=${mmcroot} rootfstype=${mmcrootfstype} ${optargs}
# uenvcmd=run loadimage; run loadfdt; run mmcboot
# USB Boot
#usbargs=setenv bootargs console=${console} root=${usbroot} rootfstype=${mmcrootfstype} ${optargs}
#uenvcmd=run loadusbimage; run loadusbfdt; run usbboot

Copy uEnv.txt to the boot partition:

$ sudo cp -v ~/uEnv.txt /media/boot/

Install Linux Kernel Image

Copy Image to the boot partition:

~/<linux kernel source directory>/

$ sudo cp -v arch/arm/boot/Image /media/boot/

Install Linux Kernel Device Tree Binary

~/<linux kernel source directory>/

$ sudo mkdir -p /media/boot/dtbs

$ sudo cp -v arch/arm/boot/dts/embedian/<device tree binary> /media/boot/dtbs/imx8qm-smarc.dtb

All available DTB binary files are listed in the table below.

DTB FILENAME	DESCRIPTION
imx8qm-smarc.dtb	Device tree blob for no display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-hdmi.dtb	Device tree blob for HDMI display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-dp.dtb	Device tree blob for Display Port (DP) display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-edp.dtb	Device tree blob for embedded Display Port (eDP) display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-lvds.dtb	Device tree blob for LVDS display configuration.
imx8qm-smarc-rpmsg.dtb	Device tree blob for Cortex-M4 configuration.

Notes

The device tree name in your SD card has be to imx8qm-smarc.dtb

Install Root Filesystem

Extract the Yocto built root filesystem to your SD card

~/<directory where your rootfs is>/

$ sudo tar jxvf <filename.tar.bz2> -C /media/rootfs

~/<directory where your rootfs is>/

$ sudo tar xvfz <filename.tar.gz> -C /media/rootfs

Install Kernel Modules

~/<Linux kernel source directory>/

$ sudo make ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=${CC} INSTALL_MOD_PATH=/media/rootfs modules_install

Notes

1. SMARC-iMX8QM always boots up from on-module eMMC flash first. The boot file in eMMC flash is factory pre-installed from Embedian. It will read the BOOT_SEL configuration that defined by SMARC specification on your carrier board and load Image and device tree blob from the partition one of the device (could be SD card, eMMC, GBE,..etc) that you selected.

2. MAC address is factory pre-installed at on board I2C EEPROM at offset 60 bytes. It starts with Embedian’s vendor code 10:0D:32. u-boot will read it and pass this parameter to kernel.

3. The kernel modules is included in the Yocto rootfs.

Remove SD card:

$ sync

$ sudo umount /media/boot

$ sudo umount /media/rootfs

Setup eMMC

Setting up eMMC usually is the last step at development stage after the development work is done at your SD card or NFS environments. From software point of view, eMMC is nothing but a non-removable SD card on board. For SMARC-iMX8QM, the SD card is always emulated as /dev/mmcblk1 and on-module eMMC is always emulated as /dev/mmcblk0. Setting up eMMC now is nothing but changing the device descriptor.

This section gives a step-by-step procedure to setup eMMC flash. Users can write a shell script your own at production to simplify the steps.

First, we need to backup the final firmware from your SD card or NFS.

Prepare for eMMC binaries from SD card (or NFS):

Insert SD card into your Linux PC. For these instructions, we are assuming: DISK=/dev/mmcblk0, “lsblk” is very useful for determining the device id.

For these instruction, we are assuming: DISK=/dev/mmcblk0, “lsblk” is very useful for determining the device id.

$ export DISK=/dev/mmcblk0

Mount Partitions:

On some systems, these partitions may be auto-mounted…

$ sudo mkdir -p /media/boot/

$ sudo mkdir -p /media/rootfs/

for: DISK=/dev/mmcblk0

$ sudo mount ${DISK}p1 /media/boot/

$ sudo mount ${DISK}p2 /media/rootfs/

for: DISK=/dev/sdX

<Host Computer>

$ sudo mount ${DISK}1 /media/boot/

$ sudo mount ${DISK}2 /media/rootfs/

Copy Image to rootfs partition

<Host Computer>

$ sudo cp -v /media/boot/Image /media/rootfs/home/root

Copy uEnv.txt to rootfs partition

Copy and paste the following contents to /media/rootfs/home/root ($ sudo vim /media/rootfs/home/root/uEnv.txt)

~/uEnv.txt

optargs="video=HDMI-A-1:1920x1080-32@60 consoleblank=0"
#optargs="video=HDMI-A-1:3840x2160-32@30 consoleblank=0"
#optargs="video=HDMI-A-1:3840x2160-32@60 consoleblank=0"
#console port SER3
console=ttyLP4,115200 earlycon
#console port SER2
#console=ttyLP1,115200 earlycon
#console port SER1
#console=ttyLP3,115200 earlycon
#console port SER0
#console=ttyLP0,115200 earlycon
mmcdev=0
mmcpart=1
image=Image
loadaddr=0x80280000
fdt_addr=0x83000000
mmcroot=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rw
usbroot=/dev/sda2 rw
mmcrootfstype=ext4 rootwait fixrtc
netdev=eth0
ethact=FEC0
ipaddr=192.168.1.150
serverip=192.168.1.53
gatewayip=192.168.1.254
mmcargs=setenv bootargs cma=1280M console=${console} root=${mmcroot} rootfstype=${mmcrootfstype} ${optargs}
# uenvcmd=run loadimage; run loadfdt; run mmcboot
# USB Boot
#usbargs=setenv bootargs console=${console} root=${usbroot} rootfstype=${mmcrootfstype} ${optargs}
#uenvcmd=run loadusbimage; run loadusbfdt; run usbboot

Copy device tree binary to rootfs partition

<Host Computer>

$ sudo cp -v /media/boot/dtbs/imx8qm-smarc.dtb /media/rootfs/home/root/imx8qm-smarc.dtb

Copy boot file to rootfs partition

~/imx-mkimage/

$ sudo cp -v iMX8M/flash.bin /media/rootfs/home/root/flash.bin

Copy final root file system to rootfs partition

<Host Computer>

$ pushd /media/rootfs
$ sudo tar cvfz ~/smarcimx8qm-emmc-rootfs.tar.gz .
$ sudo mv ~/smarcimx8qm-emmc-rootfs.tar.gz /media/rootfs/home/root
$ popd

Remove SD card:

$ sync

$ sudo umount /media/boot

$ sudo umount /media/rootfs

Copy Binaries to eMMC from SD card

Insert this SD card into your SMARC-iMX8QM device.

Now it will be almost the same as you did when setup your SD card, but the eMMC device descriptor is /dev/mmcblk0 now. Booting up the device from SD card (shunt cross TEST#).

$ export DISK=/dev/mmcblk0

Erase eMMC:

$ sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=${DISK} bs=2M count=160

Create Partition Layout:

$ sudo sfdisk ${DISK} <<-__EOF__ 2M,48M,0x83,* 50M,,, __EOF__

Format Partitions:

$ sudo mkfs.vfat -F 16 ${DISK}p1 -n boot $ sudo mkfs.ext4 ${DISK}p2 -L rootfs

Mount Partitions:

$ sudo mkdir -p /media/boot/ $ sudo mkdir -p /media/rootfs/ $ sudo mount ${DISK}p1 /media/boot/ $ sudo mount ${DISK}p2 /media/rootfs/

Copy binaries to boot partition

Copy uEnv.txt/Image/*.dtb to the boot partition

$ sudo cp -v Image uEnv.txt /media/boot/

Copy Linux kernel device tree binary

$ sudo mkdir -p /media/boot/dtbs $ sudo cp -v imx8qm-smarc.dtb /media/boot/dtbs/

Copy root file system to rootfs partition

$ sudo tar -zxvf smarcimx8qm-emmc-rootfs.tar.gz -C /media/rootfs

Unmount eMMC:

$ sync $ sudo umount /media/boot $ sudo umount /media/rootfs

Write boot file to eMMC

$ sudo dd if=flash.bin of=${DISK} bs=1024 seek=32

Switch your Boot Select to eMMC (OFF ON ON) and you will be able to boot up from eMMC now.

version 1.0a, 10/28/2024

Last updated 2024-10-28

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Linux on SMARC-iMX8

Availability

Carrier Board

Basic Resources

ARM Cross Compiler: GCC

Boot File: flash.bin

Linux Kernel

Root File System

Setup SD Card

Setup eMMC

Contents

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Linux on SMARC-iMX8

Availability

Carrier Board

Basic Resources

ARM Cross Compiler: GCC

Boot File: flash.bin

Linux Kernel

Root File System

Setup SD Card

Setup eMMC

Contents

Need Support?

Userfull link

Customer service

Our social networks

Payment methods