We have now preliminary Linux Debian image for A20, not all hardware features are completely supported, but for those who are curious to try we upload the image in the WIKI.
1. Installation
Download the image from our Wiki Link, the name is a20_debian_LAN_USB_Cards_LCD_HDMI_SATA_first_preliminaryrelease.rar you have to unpack it. If you are under linux just # dd it to sd card and you are done, do not forget to # sync before you pull the card so all buffers are flushed. If you come from Windows world, use Winrar to unpack then download Win32DiskImager.exe and use it to write the image file to SD-card.
2. Boot
Put the sd card in the card slot and apply power supply, if you have USB-SERIAL-CABLE-F you can see the boot messages, otherwise just wait the Linux to boot, it will take a while.
Note: The default username/password is: root / olimex
In this Debian distribution are installed:
- xfce4 desktop environment
- gcc 4.6
- mplayer
free space on the card: 1.9GB
Note: use at least Class10 card as otherwise the board will work quite slow, the A20-Debian cards we sell pre-loaded are fast Class10 cards.
2. Tested moules with this image
- USB-ETHERNET-AX88772B
- MOD-WIFI-RTL8188
- A13-LCD 4.3″TS 4.3″ LCD with backlight and touchscreen 480×272 pixels
- A13-LCD7″TS 7″ LCD with backlight and touchscreen 800×480 pixels
- A10-LCD10″TS 10.1″ LCD with backlight and touchscreen 1024×600 pixels
- HDMI
- Micro SD card
- SD/MMC card
- OTG USB
- HIGH SPEED HOST1 USB
- HIGH SPEED HOST2 USB
- ETHERNET 100MBIT
- SATA
- Audio IN
- Audio OUT
-
I2C2(400KHz)
-
I2C1(200KHz)
3. Changing A20-OLinuxino display setings from HDMI mode to LCDXXXxXXX mode
The default SD card setup is made with settings for HDMI 720i/60Hz.
The default SD card setup is made with settings for HDMI 720i/50Hz.
If you want to switch between HDMI 720i/50Hz and LCDXXXxXXX mode then you have to replace the existing script.bin file from the first SD card partitition (note that this partitition is FAT – so you can replace the file under Windows or Linux) with the script.bin file from script_a20_linux_LCD_XXXxXXX_sd directory .
olimex 
Jun 19, 2013 @ 10:47:51
Thanks guys!!
Jun 20, 2013 @ 09:24:28
This is really a very nice arm board.
A20 soc has in build CVBS decoder.
Me also like to purchase one A20, as because of CVBS input.
@All, actually I need to build a PVR. Which can record video from CVBS input.
Can any body help me in this regads.
Jags
Jun 30, 2013 @ 13:09:33
Hi ,
Can we please know which branch of linux-sunxi and what config has been used for this linux kernel 3.3.0+
I need to add support for a wifi dongle.
Jul 04, 2013 @ 16:30:27
Hi,
It was possible to compile the kernel for olimex on olimex itself
I used source from cubieboard site
http://ubuntuone.com/1NiOvqFiOAm5U0XOoqwx9j
note it should also be possible to compile kernel from linux-sunxi i just haveent
tried it.
It was possible to compile rtl8187 module for netgear wg111v3
and I am running it successfully.
anyone has accessed the nand yet ?
Jul 22, 2013 @ 18:00:36
Hi, I’m interested too in re-compile the kernel, because at this stadium only 1 uart port has been enabled and i’d like to use 6 & 7 as in fex are exposed. Wich def_config has been used ?
Jul 20, 2013 @ 15:42:10
Thankyou, I’m trying it now and having fun with advmame (using raspberry pi binaries I found in github since debian arm mame doesn’t work) watching metal slug going sloooooowly 🙂
A note: the LAN card is set with static IP, don’t know if it’s a wanted behavior.
Sep 05, 2013 @ 09:38:37
I can boot debian on my a20 and login to terminal, but when I type startxfce4, I get:
/usf/bin/startxfce4: line 1: syntax error enar unexpected token ‘;&’
and looking at that startxfce4 script, it is full of a bunch of ى (and other numbers). I going to look into whether my sd card is corrupt (or if dd command screwed up, but I doubt since it did boot to terminal just fine). Anyway, let me know if any of you have booted to gui ok.
Oct 03, 2013 @ 13:39:54
Is it possible to install debian on the nand flash memory instead of sdcard ?