This week’s Armbian updates focused on kernel improvements, bootloader modernization, and several core enhancements to the build infrastructure. Key work spanned platforms like Rockchip, Sunxi, and Odroid, emphasizing kernel stability and broader compatibility across boards.
Kernel Upgrades
Several boards received kernel updates:
- Rockchip 32-bit edge kernel bumped to 6.15 in PR #8262 by paolosabatino.
- SpacemiT platforms updated to 6.6.93 in PR #8274 by pyavitz.
- Odroid XU4 kernel upgraded to 6.6.93 via PR #8277 by belegdol.
Patches also landed to adapt Wi-Fi drivers to 6.15-era changes, including fixes for xradio and uwe5622 on Sunxi, contributed by The-going:
- sunxi: xradio – Switch from del_timer_sync to timer_delete_sync
- uwe5622: Fix timer API changes for 6.15
Bootloader and U-Boot Work
Improvements were made to bootloader support:
- Tinkerboard 2 now uses U-Boot v2025.04 (PR #8268 by hyx0329).
- RK3328 boards gained setexpr support in U-Boot v2022.04/07 (PR #8260 by djurny).
Build System Changes
Several build system enhancements landed this cycle:
- PR #8276 by Ayush1325 prevented unintentional conversion of built-in kernel drivers to modules.
- A new helper function chroot_sdcard_custom_with_apt_logic was introduced in PR #8245 by rpardini, streamlining SD card build logic.
- PR #8279 by igorpecovnik removed obsolete Trixie package references.
Networking Improvements
PR #8259 and commit cdf71df by djurny expanded DHCP configuration in netplan to automatically include interfaces matching lan* and wan*, simplifying initial setup across devices.
Miscellaneous
- Signing key backward compatibility was preserved in PR #8282 and commit aa5526a by igorpecovnik.
- Commit 0f43036 reworked prepare-host.sh after review.