weekly-updates

Github Highlights

Armbian added support for new boards, improved kernel and storage performance, and introduced features like RK3308 OTG Host Mode. Bug fixes and stability updates enhance overall system reliability.

Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson

— 2 min read
Github Highlights

Over the past few weeks, Armbian has introduced new boards, refined build tools, and improved kernel support across multiple families. Highlights include support for the NanoPi M5, BananaPi M5 Pro, Radxa Dragon Q6A, and Armsom Forge1, as well as new features like RK3308 OTG Host Mode. These updates enhance stability, expand compatibility, and deliver stronger performance across a growing ecosystem.

Highlights

  • New board support expansions: Initial support was added for the NanoPi M5 #8651, BananaPi M5 Pro #8640, AM62P Starter Kit #8624, Radxa CM4 IO #8604, Armsom Forge1 #8619, and Radxa Dragon Q6A with its QCS6490 family #8668.
  • NanoPi M5 gains edge kernel support: Extended kernel support for the NanoPi M5 broadens coverage of Rockchip platforms. #8684
  • Significant kernel updates: Rockchip 32-bit edge kernel updated to 6.17 #8649; Sunxi kernels updated to 6.16 #8655 and 6.12.47 #8643.

New features

  • RK3308 OTG Host Mode#: Added a Device Tree overlay to enable the RK3308 OTG USB port to operate in Host mode. #8642
  • Qualcomm Serial and CDC MBIM Driver Support: Added support for Qualcomm serial (qcserial) and CDC MBIM (cdc_mbim) drivers, benefiting devices like XpressReal-T3. #8663
  • Build System Extensions: Introduced new build system extensions, gxlimg and amlogic-fip-blobs. #8626

Bug fixes

  • RK3588 Initramfs Fix: Addressed an issue where some RK3588 boards could hang at the initramfs stage. #8612
  • ZRAM configuration mkfs detection fix: Prevented empty string returns in mkfs detection. #8672
  • SMART AM40 U-Boot stability: Fixed a crash related to DWC DRD PHY detection. #8635
  • Build error suppression: Eliminated false error messages when no extensions were present. #8656
  • Package name correction: Fixed a bad entry for libwmf0.2-7-gtk. #8669
  • ATF Binutils version check: Updated version handling to avoid build failures. #8583
  • Conditional firmware hook: Ensured ap6330-initramfs-firmware installs only when Armbian firmware is present. #8618

Improvements

  • Bootloader updates: SpacemiT OpenSBI and U-Boot upgraded to TAG v2.2.7 #8657; Khadas VIM4 U-Boot received updates and fixes #8631.
  • Orange Pi 5 config and U-Boot overhaul: Migrated to mainline U-Boot with stability improvements. #8681
  • SakuraPi storage performance: Added high-speed configs for EMMC and UFS. #8653
  • Kernel optimizations: Removed obsolete IMX8 patch #8648; enabled xe driver build for UEFI Loong64 kernel 6.16 #8646.
  • Rockchip64 tm16xx driver update: Synced with kernel mailing list for better display control. #8679
  • Board configurations sync and netfilter modules: Ensured proper handling with make oldconfig. #8678
  • Networking improvements: Radxa E52C NIC ports renamed to match device labels and LEDs configured #8633.
  • Build system refinements: Reorganized patches for sun55iw3 #8641; split kernel build/install into two steps #8617; updated ORAS tools handling #8680.
  • Multimedia enhancements: Enabled hardware video decoding/encoding modules on Xpressreal-t3. #8590
  • Upstream patches cleanup: Removed redundant SM8550 patches already merged upstream. #8675
  • H96-TVbox DTS update: Added i2c LED pin definitions. #8666
  • Firewall support: Forced build of all iptables/nftables modules for completeness. #8661
  • Upstream release upgrade paths: Improved handling of upgrades in the build system. #8569

Community contributions

@pyavitz @diverger @The-going @LXY1226 @SuperKali @igorpecovnik @paolosabatino @schmiedelm @amazingfate @brentr @efectn @retro98boy @schwar3kat @Grippy98 @wei633 @tabrisnet @Eyolon @hqnicolas @aalaei @chainsx

Read more