-1

I would like to get Ubuntu Mate 16.04 on the Raspberry Pi 3 B+. According to this thread this should be possible. Here is the summary on how they achieved it:

Copy the following files from Raspbian to Ubuntu Mate:

  • For Booting: copy bootcode.bin, fixup.dat, start.elf, bcm2710-rpi-3-b-plus.dtb and kernel7.img

  • For keyboard/mouse: copy /lib/modules/4.9.80-v7+ (root partition)

  • For network: copy the contents of /lib/firmware/brcm/ (root partition)

If you want to boot from USB:

  • edit cmdline.txt, change root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 to root=/dev/sda2 (boot partition)
  • edit etc/fstab, change/dev/mmcblk0p2 to sda2 and /dev/mmcblk0p1 to sda1 (root partition)

My question is where to copy /lib/modules/-v7+ and /lib/firmware/brcm from the root partition. I was able to get raspian running on the raspberry pi 3B+ and then I copied the /lib/ files/folders to a usb stick. But I don't know where to put them on the sd card with ubuntu mate on it. I would copy them to the same location if I had ubuntu mate running on the pi already. However, I don't get this far.

Other steps I did so far:

  • mount raspian image
  • mount ubuntu mate image
  • copy files from the boot partition (bootcode.bin, fixup.dat, start.elf, bcm2710-rpi-3-b-plus.dtb and kernel7.img) of the mounted raspian image to the mounted ubuntu mate image.

I was then able to boot from this sd card to the point where I got the following error and could not type any commands:

Failed to start Load Kernel Modules.

See 'systemctl status systemd-modules-load.service' for details

...

But I don't know how to fix this error because I cannot enter any commands. The only thing that works is switching terminals using Ctrl+Alt+F1...

evolved
  • 99
  • 1
  • 1
  • I know that there already exists an [image](https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=208538&start=100#p1301685) that should work. However, I would like to know how to create such a image by mixing the two images (mate and raspian). – evolved May 08 '18 at 19:40
  • Copy them to the root fs `/lib` directory. Linux distros are all identical WRT where kernel modules and firmware go. – goldilocks May 08 '18 at 21:49
  • The problem is that I dont get to the root fs because of the mentioned error. Should it be possible to boot the raspberry pi only with the files copied from the boot partition? – evolved May 08 '18 at 21:57
  • The sd cards I created using dd and the images do not contain a lib folder – evolved May 08 '18 at 21:59
  • I know the folder is on the root partition / but as far as I know I must first boot the os to even get to the root folder. Correct me if I am wrong. – evolved May 08 '18 at 22:01
  • 1
    The root filesystem is in one of the partitions in the image. It should be pretty easy to recognize because it will be big, at least a few GB, and it will contain a normative linux root fs (/bin, /usr, **/lib**, /home, etc.). There may only be two partitions, one of which is the small vfat boot one and the other the ext4 root fs; since you've booted it already this is presumably correct. If there is only one partition, you did something wrong. – goldilocks May 08 '18 at 22:57
  • Thanks for the help! So far I always mounted the downloaded img files on macOS which only shows me the boot partition. I guess it should be possible to mount the root partition using `mount` with the offset option. Or is there another way to access the root fs? – evolved May 08 '18 at 23:03
  • I dont know exactly whats the best way to mount a partition within a *.img file. – evolved May 08 '18 at 23:11
  • 1
    https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/q/13137/5538 – goldilocks May 09 '18 at 13:06
  • I have a working version for the 3 B+. Here's my Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dugl2vndrg7zi37/PINN_v2_5_4_UbuntuMATE_16_04_2_RPi3_B_Plus.zip?dl=0 – John McHale Jul 20 '18 at 20:34
  • After a Hard Googling, I found out that there is an image for the Rpi 3 B+ I found a video tutorial on YouTube Have a look : [YouTube Tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7xcd3I72Gw) – Midhun.V.Nadh Jul 12 '18 at 14:50
  • I wrote the latest MATE and Raspbian images to separate SD cards. Then I moved the files which the OP listed into exactly the same matching paths on the MATE SD file system. The latest Raspbian had a newer version of the keyboard/mouse drivers, which I copied over as if I had the version specified above. I've had no trouble with apt updates and software installs, as long as I get source code instead of binaries. I'm really happy with how it is working so far. – Dustin Sysko Oct 19 '18 at 19:58

1 Answers1

0

It all depends on where you are starting; the Ubuntu MATE image is very old - 16.04.2 and there have been updates to 16.04.4, but you need a working image to perform the update.

Ubuntu MATE has not had a firmware/kernel update for some time (since Wimpy left?) and AFAIK none are planned; 18.04 should be available in July.

The Pi3B+ NEEDS new firmware/kernel to boot, but this is only a first step; ideally the OS needs to be tested for compatibility. (Ubuntu MATE is still using a 4.4 kernel, and 4.9 had significant changes - Raspbian in now using 4.14.)

You could try rpi-update (although this needs to be used with caution), OR copy raspberrypi-bootloader raspberrypi-kernel from a Raspbian site (I have not tried this), OR copy the new bootloader and kernels PLUS their modules from a Raspbian installation.

Updating is really a job for an expert Linux user.

Milliways
  • 54,718
  • 26
  • 92
  • 182