How to setup SD card for booting IMX8 MIni?

[chillinwithscb]

Trying to install linux onto an imx8 mini. I tried using instructions from NXP:

https://support.nxp.com/s/case/500KA000001JlPrYAK/unable-to-install-prebuilt-linux-on-imx8-mini?lang...

That hangs at the uuu step. Posted question to community, but no answer. Just logged support request.

But, I'm trying another angle while I wait for support reply.

The instructions say: "For this getting started guide, only a few methods to transfer the Linux BSP image to an SD card are listed. Experienced Linux developers can explore other options." So, I want to try booting from SD card. How do I do that? I get the general idea, but I need specifics. 

As board manufacturers often do, they provide rather lame instructions, then if you run into problems say they expect devs to simply know how to user their hardware. What a cop out.

[Chavira]

Hi Steven!

You have to put the power supply to the usb c PORT 2 and connect the usb c PORT 1 to your pc to start flashing your board.

The uuu is waiting to the usb connection from your board to the pc host.

You have to remember to put your board in download mode like the guide:

https://www.nxp.com/document/guide/getting-started-with-the-i-mx-8m-mini-evkb:GS-iMX-8M-Mini-EVK?sec...

The SD card should be connected to the EVK board.

Best Regards!

Chavira

[chillinwithscb]

Seems to me that this procedure implies that if the SD card is in the board that uuu targets the SD card instead of emmc. But, after running uuu with the SC card in the board and boot set to serial download and then changing to SD card boot mode, it would not boot. Either I did something wrong or you need to tell UUU to target the SD card. Sadly, the UUU user guide at https://community.nxp.com/pwmxy87654/attachments/pwmxy87654/imx-processors/140261/1/UUU.pdf is awful. Written by non-English speaker or poorly translated to English.

[Chavira]

HI @chillinwithscb!

What command are you using to flash the SD card?

The command to flash the eMMC of our board is the next:

$ uuu -b emmc_all imx-boot-imx8mnevk-sd.bin-flash_evk imx-image-full-imx8mnevk.wic

You have to put your board in download mode :

after that put the boot switches in eMMC boot and your board should boot the Linux OS.

Best Regards!

Chavira

[chillinwithscb]

Confusing answer. The text is the same as I received from support about a different yet similar issue, but with one extra sentence at the end. Either one plagiarized the other or you both have access to the same source. (shaking head in confusion but oh well...)

WRT your answer: You suggest writing the SD card as installed in the device via UUU. Really? I assumed I'd write the SD card without using the device, then insert the card into the device. I guess if your procedure works, it's one way to skin the cat.