I am used to Linux distributions where the kernal gets upgraded as
part of the normal 'apt-get update', 'apt-get upgrade' sequence but
apparently it doesn't work like this on BBB.
How do you get a newer kernel? Is the following still correct:-
https://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBoneBlack_Debian#Kernel_Upgrade
How about apt-get dist-upgrade
Mike
That depends, you have a really old image...
cat /etc/dogtag
If it's newer then 2015-03-01, then yeah it should work..
If it's older, well i need funds for my time machine...
Regards,
On BBB the kernel doesn't seem to be in the repositories with the rest
of the installation, i.e. as I said, it's not like a normal Linux
distribution.
> I am used to Linux distributions where the kernal gets upgraded as
> part of the normal 'apt-get update', 'apt-get upgrade' sequence but
> apparently it doesn't work like this on BBB.
>
> How do you get a newer kernel? Is the following still correct:-
>
> Beagleboard:BeagleBoneBlack Debian - eLinux.orgThat depends, you have a really old image...
cat /etc/dogtag
chris@odin:~$ cat /etc/dogtag
BeagleBoard.org BeagleBone Debian Image 2014-04-23
chris@odin:~$
If it's newer then 2015-03-01, then yeah it should work..
If it's older, well i need funds for my time machine...
Hmm, what sort of funds? 
Plus there's a bug in 2014-04-23's u-boot... You won't get off the
3.8.x kernel, due to size of the *.dtb in later kernel's, which over
write the location of zImage in memory..
Also fixed mid summer 2014...
Regards,
So, essentially, I'm totally stuffed! Wonderful.
Is there really nothing I can do to dig myself out of this hole?
I could probably partition the eMMC to have enough space for a
'modern' image plus the existing system (especially if I can clear out
the GUI stuff). Would that give me any way to upgrade what's in the
eMMC?
So, essentially, I'm totally stuffed! Wonderful.
Is there really nothing I can do to dig myself out of this hole?
In terms of time lost -- it would probably be faster to swap out the
problem unit with a recent production BBB (especially if, as I recall,
yours is the one buried in some cubbyhole on a boat). Then fight the
problem unit at leisure...
I could probably partition the eMMC to have enough space for a
'modern' image plus the existing system (especially if I can clear out
the GUI stuff). Would that give me any way to upgrade what's in the
eMMC?
Wiping out the entire eMMC so that it looks like an unflashed factory
assembly might make it do a complete boot from SD card (but given that you
don't have any luck with the boot select button, I'd be concerned that
there is some hidden damage on the card during the boot process itself). At
that point a flasher image should write a more modern u-Boot, et al. to the
eMMC.
I've never tried anything like that -- so would need confirmation from
the powers-that-be(agle)...
The description given for that era seems to indicate that it is not the
partitions that would kill you -- but that the u-Boot is loading image
files, from the partition(s), at RAM addresses that would result in newer,
larger, image files wiping out parts of each other during the load.
We told him that in April, and again last month.. He doesn't want to
do that. Short of me flying to where he is at to do some hand holding
i don't see any other option..
Regards,
>So, essentially, I'm totally stuffed! Wonderful.
>
>Is there really nothing I can do to dig myself out of this hole?
>
In terms of time lost -- it would probably be faster to swap out the
problem unit with a recent production BBB (especially if, as I recall,
yours is the one buried in some cubbyhole on a boat). Then fight the
problem unit at leisure...
Yes, but even that is slightly easier said than done as it's
non-trivial to dig out the existing BBB and replace with a new one.
It should be possibke though and I guess that's what I will do in the
longer term.
>I could probably partition the eMMC to have enough space for a
>'modern' image plus the existing system (especially if I can clear out
>the GUI stuff). Would that give me any way to upgrade what's in the
>eMMC?
>Wiping out the entire eMMC so that it looks like an unflashed factory
assembly might make it do a complete boot from SD card (but given that you
don't have any luck with the boot select button, I'd be concerned that
there is some hidden damage on the card during the boot process itself). At
that point a flasher image should write a more modern u-Boot, et al. to the
eMMC.
Yes, exactly, I don't want to end up with a dead system.
Sorry if I'm a bit of a thorn in your side!
What I will do is get a new BBB and take it with me next time I go to
the boat. Then I will wipe the eMMC on the old one and see if I can
boot from microSD. If that works then all is well. If it doesn't
work then I will put the new BBB there instead and ??!!xx&& the old
one.
On Sat, 23 Jun 2018 13:04:50 -0500, Robert Nelson
<robertcnelson@gmail.com> declaimed the
following:
We told him that in April, and again last month.. He doesn't want to
do that. Short of me flying to where he is at to do some hand holding
i don't see any other option..
Hence my suggestion to obtain a newer production unit, and physically
swap the two...
It's what I'll do if things get really screwed up.
However I do now have an 'OK' Debian 8 (jessie) installation and I
have also removed a lot of GUI I don't want so there's now lots of
space.
It has absolutely no hardware problems apart from not wanting to boot
from the microSD so "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Thanks for all the help everyone though, it is appreciated.
>>So, essentially, I'm totally stuffed! Wonderful.
>>
>>Is there really nothing I can do to dig myself out of this hole?
>>
> In terms of time lost -- it would probably be faster to swap out the
> problem unit with a recent production BBB (especially if, as I recall,
> yours is the one buried in some cubbyhole on a boat). Then fight the
> problem unit at leisure...
>
>>I could probably partition the eMMC to have enough space for a
>>'modern' image plus the existing system (especially if I can clear out
>>the GUI stuff). Would that give me any way to upgrade what's in the
>>eMMC?
>>
>
> Wiping out the entire eMMC so that it looks like an unflashed factory
> assembly might make it do a complete boot from SD card (but given that you
> don't have any luck with the boot select button, I'd be concerned that
> there is some hidden damage on the card during the boot process itself). At
> that point a flasher image should write a more modern u-Boot, et al. to the
> eMMC.We told him that in April, and again last month.. He doesn't want to
do that. Short of me flying to where he is at to do some hand holding
i don't see any other option..
No, that's the BBB at my desk yesterday.. It was always an "odd" one,
sometimes i would randomly not startup.. Then yesterday while hacking
on u-boot, it just died. Pretty sure the TPS gave out, that unit had
tested many overlays/capes over the years. Probably over stressed it
many times..
What I will do is get a new BBB and take it with me next time I go to
the boat. Then I will wipe the eMMC on the old one and see if I can
boot from microSD. If that works then all is well. If it doesn't
work then I will put the new BBB there instead and ??!!xx&& the old
one.
Regards,