Which image files to use for different flashing methods?

VIM4
1

There are multiple different ways to flash image binaries to the VIM4 but it is not clearly stated which binaries to use for the different flashing methods.

Q1: Flashing through OOWOW
https://docs.khadas.com/products/sbc/vim4/install-os/install-os-into-emmc-via-oowow does not describe how to generate IMAGE file mentioned in the guide.
This forum post suggests using the aml2raw tool on update.img. Is this the correct method?

Q2: Flashing using burn-tool on Linux
https://docs.khadas.com/products/sbc/vim4/install-os/install-os-into-emmc-via-usb-tool describes how to use prebuilt OS images, but not where to find the self-built Android images. Same forum post as above suggests using update.img for burn-tool. Is this correct?

Q3: Flashing using Android GUI: Settings->Khadas settings->Updater
Which image binary can be used on a USB memory stick and the “Local Update” function in the Updater?

2

To answer my own question Q2:
The Linux burn-tool, the update.img and VIM4 in upgrade mode will successfully flash a self-built Android image

1 Like
3

Q1，OOWOW: Over-the-air updates for khadas devices. Only applicable when we place the firmware on the cloud server and then the user terminal burn the firmware through the network.

Q3, Updater: Over-the-air updates for Android. Only applicable when we place the firmware on the cloud server and then the user terminal updates the firmware through the network.

@xavier So the easiest way to build your own Android firmware is to burn it through a USB cable.

1 Like
4

Thanks for the information :+1:

Regarding the OTA updates, can Khadas devices auto-update (by polling cloud server) without human interaction or are all updates manually triggered from the Khadas device?

5

Both are achievable. But we didn’t do it. There are currently no plans.

6

Late addition for Q3, Updater : The Updater application also accepts Android OTA files from a connected USB stick. Android OTA files are build with make otapackage and the resulting binary is out/target/product/kvim4/kvim4-ota-*.zip

7

yes.

From khadas network server.

8

No only from network server. There is an “UPDATE LOCAL” button which reads OTA files from a USB memory stick