Install FE Debian

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This guide is currently being created and will be updated soon!

Overview

This guide will walk you through the process of installing FriendlyElec's version of Debian onto the eMMC of a CM3588 using a MicroSD card. This is a straightforward process that will allow you to get your device up and running with a stable operating system.

Download the Debian Image

Navigate to the FriendlyElec wiki and click the download link.

wiki

Then select the Google Drive

google

Select 01_Official images

Debian will be installed to the eMMC of the CM3588, so select 02_SD-to-eMMC images.

to-emmc

There are a lot of images listed here, however this guide is specifically for rk3588-eflasher-debain-bullseye-minimal-6.1-arm64.img.gz. However, these instructions can likely be adapted to install any of the debian versions.

debian

Flash the Image

Now flash the image onto your MicroSD card. The process will vary depending on your operating system.

Ubuntu: Prepare MicroSD Card on Ubuntu
Windows: [Prepare MicroSD Card on Windows]

Flash the eMMC

Flashing the eMMC on the CM3588 happens automatically when the system is powered on. With the system powered off, simply insert the MicroSD card into the CM3588 and power it on. The system will automatically detect the MicroSD card and begin flashing the eMMC.

Once complete, the system will prompt you to shut it down. I typically do not even attach a keyboard and just hit the power button to turn it off.

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After the system is powered off, remove the MicroSD card and power it back on. The system should now boot from the eMMC. If you do not remove it, the system will boot and flash the eMMC storage again.

First boot

I do typically SSH into the system on the first boot as it is easier to copy and paste commands over the terminal. The instructions may be slightly different if you plug directly into the system with a keyboard and monitor.

Find the IP address of the system. This can be done by logging into your router and checking the DHCP leases, or by using a network scanner like nmap. Look for the CM3588 label, here is an example of mine on my router:

router

Once you have the IP address, SSH into the system using the default username and password:

ssh pi@<ip_address>

The default password is pi.

Update password

Once logged in, it is a good idea to change the default password. This can be done with the following command:

passwd

You will be prompted to enter the current password (which is pi) and then enter a new password twice.

It might also be a good idea to update the root password:

sudo passwd root

You will be prompted to enter a new password for the root user.

Update Sources

By default FriendlyElec does not use the official repos for Debian. Instead, it uses a custom repository. First backup the old sources list

sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.old

Install nano if it is not already installed:

sudo apt install nano -y

Then create a new sources list file:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Paste in official sources, then press Ctrl + x and then y and then enter to save.

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main non-free-firmware
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main non-free-firmware
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main non-free-firmware
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main non-free-firmware