HOW-TO install Fedora Linux for any Khadas SBC

hyphop · May 19, 2022, 9:03am

wellcome to Fedora 36-1.5

Fedora Linux 36 (Server Edition)
Kernel 5.17.5-300.fc36.aarch64 on an aarch64 (ttyAML0)

Web console: https://fedora:9090/

fedora login: root

how to use it ? : absolutely easy just start online scripts inside krescue and install fedora by 2 minutes

Fist impressions

everything works well out of box all prev problems fixed

[hyphop@fedora ~]$ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [G12BKHADASVIM3L]: axg-sound-card - G12B-KHADAS-VIM3L
                      khadas-VIM3L-

but vim3l WiFi not very stable now common problem for latest mainline kernel -

[hyphop@fedora ~]$ dmesg | grep fm
[   21.834419] brcmfmac: brcmf_fw_alloc_request: using brcm/brcmfmac4359-sdio for chip BCM4359/9
[   21.837913] brcmfmac mmc2:0001:1: Direct firmware load for brcm/brcmfmac4359-sdio.khadas,vim3l.bin failed with error -2
[   21.840485] usbcore: registered new interface driver brcmfmac
[   21.845533] brcmfmac mmc2:0001:1: Direct firmware load for brcm/brcmfmac4359-sdio.khadas,vim3l.txt failed with error -2
[   24.148503] brcmfmac: brcmf_fw_alloc_request: using brcm/brcmfmac4359-sdio for chip BCM4359/9
[   24.149210] brcmfmac: brcmf_c_process_clm_blob: no clm_blob available (err=-2), device may have limited channels available
[   24.157922] brcmfmac: brcmf_c_preinit_dcmds: Firmware: BCM4359/9 wl0: Jan 19 2018 12:14:30 version 9.87.51.11.8 (a85e25e@shgit) (r) FWID 01-cb5aa0a5
[   24.177710] brcmfmac: brcmf_sdio_readframes: RXHEADER FAILED: -84
[   24.177733] brcmfmac: brcmf_sdio_rxfail: abort command, terminate frame, send NAK
[   26.717520] brcmfmac: brcmf_sdio_bus_rxctl: resumed on timeout
[   26.771016] brcmfmac: brcmf_sdio_firmware_callback: brcmf_attach failed

prepareing this issue to bug-report

PS: wellcome to testing

Electr1 · September 27, 2022, 4:56am

@hyphop any plans to make VIM4 script ?

hyphop · September 27, 2022, 5:06am

yes we have this idea but for vim4 need replace original fedora kernel and gpu packages what no so easy and need time

PS: at this moment u can play your self and replace it by hands a test how its works

Electr1 · September 27, 2022, 5:09am

Cool, i tried to install manually by talking a look at the normal script made for vim3.

I took into account that oowow was in the spi flash and didn’t overwrite it but forgot to check GPU packages.

I will test it some more later and post back here.

Cheers!

Yasir_Javed · April 3, 2023, 1:47pm

@hyphop
Any plan to include latest fedora editions to script?

hyphop · April 11, 2023, 1:26pm

yes will be checked soon

Yasir_Javed · January 15, 2024, 12:49pm

Hi @hyphop

Any update? I want to use latest rolling Fedora on vim3 pro

Electr1 · January 16, 2024, 5:48am

Hello @Yasir_Javed
You can try an updated script here:

github.com

sravansenthiln1/krescue-scripts/blob/fedora-install/scripts/install/Fedora-Linux-install.sh

#!/bin/sh

## hyphop ##

#= Fedora-Linux-install

DESCRIPTION="\
Fedora Linux
============

Fedora is a Linux distribution developed by the community-supported
Fedora Project which is sponsored primarily by Red Hat, a subsidiary of
IBM, with additional support from other companies.

    REL= 38-1.6 | 37-1.7
    TYPES=Server | Workstation
" #DESCRIPTION_END

BOARDS="VIM1 VIM2 VIM3 VIM3L Edge #"

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Yasir_Javed · January 16, 2024, 7:31am

Thanks a lot @Electr1 . Are you maintaining this script now? and further is there a way i can install this fedora on an SDCARD or USB as I already have a running OS (Manjaro on EMMC) but want to try some things in Fedora.

I am using mainline uboot on emmc so it always boots to USB if it detects an OS there and if not, it goes to my normal EMMC OS.

Your help is much appreciated.

PS. Also wouldnt there be needed some more changes here?

github.com

sravansenthiln1/krescue-scripts/blob/3e6287770fa59c033ad832347ba716d7a0a72ee3/scripts/install/Fedora-Linux-install.sh#L83-L110


      
          [ "$REL" ] || \
              REL=38-1.6
              dialog --title "$TITLE" --menu \
              "Select fedora Release:" 0 0 0 \
              "38-1.6" "" \
              "37-1.7" "" \
              2>$GUI_SEL || exit 1
              REL=$(cat $GUI_SEL 2>/dev/null)
          
          [ "$TYPE" ] || \
              dialog --title "$TITLE" --menu \
              "Select installation TYPE:" 0 0 0 \
              "Server" "" \
              "Workstation" "" \
              2>$GUI_SEL || exit 1
              TYPE=$(cat $GUI_SEL 2>/dev/null)
          
              clear
          }

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jamesbolt · April 26, 2024, 6:34am

Hello hyphop,

Thank you for sharing this information!

(James)

Hooutoo · June 5, 2025, 10:55pm

Thanks for the effort. Presently have fedora43(rawhide) running on my vim3 pro and honestly it’s never run this good. Using mainline kernel 6.16 rc0. Do you know if kahadas ever sent vim3 drivers upstream to Linux to be included in mainline?

Electr1 · June 6, 2025, 10:54am

There are some patches already on the mainline kernel but there is also a branch khadas is maintaining with some tweaks and patches based on recent kernel release (not 100% mainline)

I did also have a build system setup to take certain patches that hadn’t been upstreamed and build a kernel package for fedora on the VIM3. You can check it out here:

Hooutoo · June 6, 2025, 1:07pm

As I’m sure you’re aware the new 6.16 kernel is making a lot of improvements all around on speed which is probably why my vim3 pro is running better. I don’t want to move off the new mainline. That being said I also need hdmi/audio. Do you know if that’s been upstreamed? Also, you’re using edk2/uefi hence the reason I can boot Fedora and according to the script info it works for a lot of khadas boards. Also, the edge2 has outside uefi support [here]. (GitHub - edk2-porting/edk2-rk3588: EDK2 UEFI firmware for Rockchip RK3588 platforms) so I was wondering if there is anyway to cut out uboot and just flash the vim3 edk2/uefi to spiflash. This would cut out SOOOOO many problems. Presenty, on my opi5+ from orange I can flash any new distro that supports efi be it LIVE or RAW. I already know that rawhide 6.16 will run under your uefi so why not cut out the middleman (uboot) and go straight to uefi on spiflash. No need to maintain scripts or your inhouse linux builds. I see it as a win win for Khadas and for all the khadas sbc owners who are stuck on old linux builds?? I invite you to look at all the different companies/boards that are support on the website above.

If you need someone to experiment with uefi flashing on spiflash I’m you huckelberry!

Hooutoo · June 6, 2025, 1:14pm

Btw, here’s the link for Fedora 43 rawhide. Test Results:Fedora 43 Rawhide 20250605.n.0 Installation - Fedora Project Wiki

Just scroll down to “How to test” and you’ll find both LIVE and RAW builds for most of the major desktops.

Hooutoo · June 9, 2025, 12:34pm

@Electr1 I found this post on the Khadas forums. UEFI plans for the VIM3 - #26 by narmstrong
Obviously, in May of 2020, this was prolly a little ahead of it’s time as there certainly weren’t too may (if any) uefi ready Linux arm64 builds. But that is most certainly not the case anymore. Presently, Fedora, Armbian, Debian, Ubuntu, Nixos, hell that’s just the ones off the top of my head, all have builds that are arm64/uefi ready.

So my question is simply do you plan to carry on the work from the post above?

Electr1 · June 11, 2025, 6:23am

@Hooutoo I’m not sure, im not following up on it at the moment so I don’t have any clues

Cheers

Yasir_Javed · December 27, 2025, 7:33pm

@Hooutoo

Hello, can you guide me a little how i can install the latest fedora 43 on vim 3 pro?

appreciate your help. also the stuff you mentioned about uefi, i’m willing to test anything on my vim3 as long as someone gives little guidance. thanks bro