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CoreELEC for Odroid

These instructions explain how to install, and boot, CoreELEC on supported Odroid SBCs from µSD Card, by using a Windows PC. The instructions can easily be modified for other Operating Systems.

Supported devices

  • Odroid N2
  • Odroid N2+
  • Odroid C4
  • Odroid HC4

There are 2 methods of installation: external media (SD Card, USB Flash Drive,…), or eMMC. Both methods are covered in this document.

Requirements

  • Personal Computer with Internet Access
  • Memory Card Reader
  • eMMC Module Writer (required for C4, optional for N2, N2+)
  • eMMC Module (optional for N2, N2+, C4)
  • USB Charge and Sync Cable (optional for N2, N2+)
  • A compatible Class 10 (USH 1/V 10) or better μSD Card.
  • Image Writing Software

Image writing software

Application Function Linux Mac Windows
balenaEtcher Bootable Media Creator X X X
UNetbootin Bootable Media Creator X X X
USBImager Bootable Media Creator X X X
DDRescue / DDRescue-GUI Disk Utility X
Disk Utility Disk Utility X
Rufus Bootable Media Creator X

Install to μSD Card

These instructions can also be used for a USB Flash Drive.

  • Visit the CoreELEC website
  • Select a version to download
  • The Download Helper will pop up
  • Select Skip that and just show me all download options
  • Download the corresponding image
  • Write the downloaded image to μSD Card
SBC Edition SoC Image
Odroid N2 2G/4G S922X CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-xxxx-Odroid_N2.img.gz
Odroid N2+ 2G/4G S922X CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-xxxx-Odroid_N2.img.gz
Odroid C4 4G S905X3 CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-xxxx-Odroid_C4.img.gz
Odroid HC4 4G S905X3 CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-xxxx-Odroid_HC4.img.gz

Boot from μSD Card

Odroid N2, N2+, C4 & HC4

  • Ensure the SBC is powered OFF
    • N2, N2+ only: if present, detach eMMC module
    • N2, N2+ only: ensure boot select switch (1) set to MMC
  • Insert the bootable μSD Card into the SBC's μSD slot (N2, N2+, C4, HC4)
  • Power SBC ON

Boot from eMMC Module

Never add or remove the eMMC module, or toggle the boot select switch, while the device is powered on. Doing so may cause irreversible hardware damage.

eMMC Module Compatibility

Hardkernel eMMC Module compatibility reference chart

Odroid N2, N2+
  1. SPI/MMC Boot Select Switch
  2. eMMC Module connector
  3. μSD Card slot
  4. OTG port

There are 3 options listed to install CoreELEC onto the N2/N2+ eMMC Module.

Option Type Notes
A eMMC Module Writer Bundle module writer with other purchase to save on shipping
B μSD Card & SSH Requires a functional LAN
C Shared USB Storage Requires a more elaborate setup

The Odroid N2 has a Boot Select Switch (1). When the switch is set to SPI, the CPU will fetch the Petitboot bootloader from SPI flash memory. When the switch is set to MMC, the bootloader from the eMMC module, USB Flash Drive, or μSD Card will be fetched by the CPU. The CPU will fetch from μSD Card if the eMMC module is detached or lacking a bootloader.

Petitboot

This information only pertains to eMMC migration options B & C, and to devices dual-booting CoreELEC via Petitboot.

Petitboot (PB) version 2022-03-17 or better is required for use with CoreELEC. This is also the first edition including support for compressed Amlogic Multi-DTB.

Please refer to the Hardkernel User Support Forums for help with Petitboot.

More information on how to set up Petitboot can be found here.

Option A: eMMC Module Writer

  • Download the correct CoreELEC image
  • Attach the eMMC module to the eMMC Module Writer
  • Insert eMMC combo into an available PC USB slot
  • Write the downloaded image to USB mounted eMMC
  • Ensure SBC is powered OFF
  • Attach bootable CoreELEC eMMC module (2)
  • Ensure boot select switch is set to MMC (1)
  • Power SBC ON

Option B: μSD Card & SSH

  • Ensure the SBC is powered OFF
  • Toggle boot select switch to SPI position (1)
  • Attach eMMC module (2)
  • Insert bootable CoreELEC μSD Card (3)
  • Power SBC ON
  • Select CoreELEC from Petitboot menu

Once CoreELEC has booted:

  • SSH into CoreELEC
  • Enter:
installtoemmc

Once the installation script is finished:

  • Power SBC OFF
  • Toggle boot select switch to MMC (1)
  • Remove μSD (3)
  • Power SBC ON

Option C: Shared USB Storage

Enabling shared USB Storage allows the Odroid N2(+) SBC to be used as a Memory Card Reader

This feature is enabled from the Petitboot shell

Requirements

  • USB Charge & Sync Cable
  • USB keyboard
  • Personal Computer
  • Petitboot

Preparation

  • Connect SBC to a display
  • Ensure the SBC is powered OFF
  • Ensure boot select switch is set to SPI (1)
  • Attach eMMC module
  • Connect a USB keyboard
  • Power SBC ON

Petitboot menu

  • Select Exit to shell
  • Insert the USB Cable into an available USB port on the PC, and the SBC's OTG port (4)

To share the eMMC module as USB Storage enter this command in the PB shell: 

ums /dev/mmcblk0
  • Wait for the PC to detect the eMMC module
  • Write the CoreELEC image for Odroid N2/N2+ to USB mounted eMMC

Once the image is successfully written, turn off USB sharing (this will also safely unmount the eMMC module).

  • Enter the following command in the PB shell:
ums
  • Remove USB Cable
  • Power SBC OFF
  • Ensure boot select switch is set to MMC (1)
  • Power SBC ON

Path substitutes

Device Command
eMMC module ums /dev/mmcblk0
μSD Card ums /dev/mmcblk1
USB Storage Device ums /dev/sda
ums /dev/sdb

Blank display

This random behavior can occur when using older versions of Petitboot in combination with certain television sets.

Scenarios

New installation

  • After choosing CoreELEC from the Petitboot menu, some displays may remain blank. After about 1 to 2 minutes, the Petitboot menu shows again. CoreELEC went through the first stage of its installation, expanded the storage partition and rebooted. Selecting CoreELEC again from the Petitboot menu, results in another blank display. Power cycling the display (turning the display off and back on), or cycling the video input source, brings up the CoreELEC interface.

Existing installation

  • While CoreELEC boots perfectly fine with the boot switch set to EMM, in Petitboot mode (SPI) some displays may remain blank while CoreELEC is booting or has booted. Waiting for about one minute till CoreELEC has booted, then power cycling the display (turning the display off and back on), or cycling the video input source, brings up the CoreELEC interface.

Solution

Perform a Petitboot firmware update.

  • Download Petitboot image
  • Rename image to spiboot.img
  • Copy spiboot.img to the root of a μSD Card
  • Power Odroid N2/N2+ OFF
  • Insert μSD card
  • Toggle boot mode switch to SPI
  • Power Odroid N2/N2+ ON

Corrupted Petitboot Flash

Occasionally Petitboot can become corrupted. In such situations, prior to re-flashing Petitboot, it is recommended to clear the dedicated PB flash module. 

flash_eraseall /dev/mtd0
flash_eraseall /dev/mtd1
flash_eraseall /dev/mtd2

Odroid C4

An eMMC Module Writer is required to write a bootable eMMC module

  • Download the corresponding image
  • Write the downloaded image to USB mounted eMMC
  • Ensure SBC is powered OFF
  • Attach bootable CoreELEC eMMC module
  • Power SBC ON

Odroid HC4

  • No eMMC module or connector is present
  • The SBC has a 16Mb EEPROM Chip with Petitboot preinstalled
  • Petitboot can boot from μSD Card, USB Flash Drive, HDD, or SSD

Device Support

For support unrelated to CoreELEC, please refer to the Hardkernel User Support Forums.