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Linux Host Installation for HiKey<strong>970</strong> - 96Boards

Linux Host

This section show how to install a new operating system to your HiKey970 using the fastboot method on a Linux host computer.

  • Step 1: Materials and Preperations
  • Step 2: Dependencies
  • Step 3: Flash base firmware (if needed)
  • Step 4: Boot HiKey970 into fastboot mode
  • Step 5: Flash Operating System
  • Step 6: Reboot

Step 1: Materials and Preperations

Materials

Preperations

Both are located at the bottom side of the board
Jumper Pin 1-2 = DIP switch 1
Jumper Pin 3-4 = DIP switch 2
Jumper Pin 5-6 = DIP switch 3
  • To boot into fastboot mode everytime set switch 1 & 3 to ON state and switch 2 to OFF state.
  • To boot into fastboot mode at every alternate rebooot set switch 1 to ON and switch 2 & 3 to OFF state.
  • To boot into recovery mode set switch 1, 2 & 3 to ON state.`

Step 2: Dependencies

Host Linux Machine

  • Android SDK “Platform-Tools” for Linux can be downloaded here
  • Download appropriate operating system images from “Downloads page”

Step 3: Flash base firmware (only if necessary)

Most release-level devices should not require this step to updating the base firmware, so this step mostly applies to pre-release boards, and can be skipped (head on to Step 4 of the instructions). However, if your board does not boot after being flashed, its advised to do a recovery flash to ensure lower-level firmware components are properly flashed.

Instructions on how to do a recovery flash of the base firmware can be found here.

Step 4: Boot HiKey 970 into fastboot mode

  • HiKey970 must be powered off (unplugged from power, this includes both 96Boards compliant power supply and USB Type-C connections)
  • Make sure microSD card slot on HiKey970 is empty
  • Jumper/Dip Switch setting should be set as follows
Name Switch State
Auto Power up Switch 1 closed / ON
Recovery Switch 2 open / OFF
Fastboot Switch 3 closed / ON
  • Connect USB Type-C cable AND 96Boards compliant power supply to HiKey970, ensure USB is connected to host machine
  • Open “Terminal” on host machine and execute the following command
$ sudo fastboot devices

If your HiKey970 is pre-flashed with appropriate firmware, you should see your device lised as an output:

447786182000000         fastboot

At this point you should be connected to your HiKey970 with a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable. Your HiKey970 should be booted into fastboot mode and ready to be flashed with the appropriate images.

Step 5: Flash Operating System

AOSP

Unzip the downloaded image in a directory and execute the below commands from it to flash HiKey970 with AOSP.

$ sudo fastboot flash ptable prm_ptable.img
$ sudo fastboot flash xloader sec_xloader.img
$ sudo fastboot flash fastboot l-loader.bin
$ sudo fastboot flash fip fip.bin
$ sudo fastboot flash boot boot.img
$ sudo fastboot flash cache cache.img
$ sudo fastboot flash system system.img
$ sudo fastboot flash userdata userdata.img

Debian (Lebian) Linux

Unzip the downloaded image in a directory and execute the below commands from it to flash HiKey970 with Lebian.

$ sudo ./flash-all-binaries.sh

Step 6: Reboot

  • Unplug power to HiKey970 (both 96Boards compliant power supply and USB Type-C)
  • Jumper/Dip Switch setting should be set as follows
Name Switch State
Auto Power up Switch 1 closed / ON
Recovery Switch 2 open / OFF
Fastboot Switch 3 open / OFF
  • Ensure HDMI connection to monitor
  • Ensure keyboard and/or mouse connection
  • Plug power back into HiKey970 (96Boards compliant power supply)
  • Wait for board to boot up

Congratulations! You are now booting your newly installed OS directly from UFS on the HiKey970!

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