- Version 7 EspressoBIN (identifiable by sata power connection instead of molex) has ethernet ports in the reverse order. This can be fixed in armbianEnv.txt with the line “fdtfile=marvell/armada-3720-espressobin-v7.dtb”
- manual flashing to latest u-boot is mandatory, again (as part of 2022.05 release)! Download the right boot flash for your board: 512,1G,2G, number of RAM chips (identify by visual inspection – one on each side of the PCB opposite to each other. Later 1GB models have only one chip at the bottom) and appropriate memory speeds. You can obtain numbers from the current boot prompt. Also choose right memory: ddr3 are for V3-V5 EspressoBin’s (i.e. V5, 1g-2cs) and ddr4 images are for v7 EspressoBin’s. Insert ‘ddr3’ or ‘ddr4’ into the bubt command string. Copy this
flash-image-{ddr3,ddr4}-MEM-RAM_CHIPS-CPU_DDR.binto your formatted USB key, plug it into USB3.0 port and execute from u-boot prompt:bubt flash-image-ddr3/ddr4-MEM-RAM_CHIPS-CPU_DDR.bin spi usbIn case you experience instability reflash boot loader with lower CPU speed values! SoC speed can be found printed on the armada chip, under the heat sink. No 1200 chips have been reported, 800 is a safe option, 1000 is a likely option. It can also be found as part of the current u-boot output.
- Updated u-boot (2022.04) needs new default boot environment and boot script. U-boot now respects ethaddr and eth[0,1,2]addr variables. This is what you need to copy/paste into u-boot prompt:
printenv ethaddr env default -a saveenv # Including this line to make sure saveenv is executed.
- If ethaddr was previously changed, it can be set with “setenv ethaddr f0:ad:4e:08:00:00”, then “saveenv”
- If you manage to crash your SPI flash, get appropriate files and proceed with one of the rescue options: SATA, UART,
- if you need USB2 port on your mPCI slot (for Bluetooth or 4G/LTE modems) you need to move both jumpers near to the USB2 port. Position for this function is: away from the port.
