RE: Which ARM SBC would work well with NetBSD?

[Ron Swiernik <Ron.Swiernik%burlington.com@localhost>]

Good day,

How many serial ports do you get? Two

Also has anyone tried the audio input?

Ron Swiernik

-----Original Message-----
From: netbsd-users-owner%NetBSD.org@localhost <netbsd-users-owner%NetBSD.org@localhost> On Behalf Of Martin Neitzel
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2023 7:40 AM
To: nbsd4ever%gmail.com@localhost
Cc: netbsd-users%netbsd.org@localhost
Subject: Re: Which ARM SBC would work well with NetBSD?

EXTERNAL EMAIL: Think before you click.

> > o can I create a NetBSD bootable micro SD card, or does one have to
> > use Debian or Android on these A-20 Olimex SBCs?
>
> NetBSD runs fine on A20. You can look at
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__wiki.netbsd.org_ports_evbarm_allwinner_&d=DwIDAg&c=EJ8lPn3CS79b-sA4ljp-U4RsN8_iB80P3JvPEatNQQ0&r=U9aNKT_4t7_3F1rdsF8u4GeNKqSUjVs9w_zArnMwukQ&m=IgFLRIKNkLsDcySMXrOnwB6n949X_aXh7BoT9lzFBQ3KcBmddUZ46YUX2bTZP9CA&s=6YEhkqdr6E-D2taHanv3aYx2zk-UHNjUIS8zILbL7SI&e= 
> for details on creating a bootable SD card

Another thumbs up from me: I'm using an old Olimex a20-onlinuxino-micro
and, at least 1+ year ago, it booted netbsd just fine.

> > o can I hook up a serial concole via a standard RS232 cable?
>
> No, most SBC use a serial port with TTL levels (usually 0 and +3.3V), not
> RS232 levels. You need a USB-UART adapter like FTDI-based one, or this one:
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.olimex.com_Products_Breadboarding_BB-2DCH340T_open-2Dsource-2Dhardware&d=DwIDAg&c=EJ8lPn3CS79b-sA4ljp-U4RsN8_iB80P3JvPEatNQQ0&r=U9aNKT_4t7_3F1rdsF8u4GeNKqSUjVs9w_zArnMwukQ&m=IgFLRIKNkLsDcySMXrOnwB6n949X_aXh7BoT9lzFBQ3KcBmddUZ46YUX2bTZP9CA&s=KpWFnbB8yQKiQ9wW8WeHjIbsUxGuEsQcaR5rAH55gU0&e= 

I'm using
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.olimex.com_Products_Components_Cables_USB-2DSerial-2DCable_USB-2DSERIAL-2DF_&d=DwIDAg&c=EJ8lPn3CS79b-sA4ljp-U4RsN8_iB80P3JvPEatNQQ0&r=U9aNKT_4t7_3F1rdsF8u4GeNKqSUjVs9w_zArnMwukQ&m=IgFLRIKNkLsDcySMXrOnwB6n949X_aXh7BoT9lzFBQ3KcBmddUZ46YUX2bTZP9CA&s=v7MVmPJF5yhENQzkk1TSKpnv4IaJCtF_NMFL5oRy5jU&e= 

which directly connects between the boad's pins and a laptop.

I also have serial links between my ARM boards at the 3.3V level, using
three simple jump wires from, say,
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.olimex.com_Products_Breadboarding_JUMPER-2DWIRES_JW-2D200x10-2DFF_&d=DwIDAg&c=EJ8lPn3CS79b-sA4ljp-U4RsN8_iB80P3JvPEatNQQ0&r=U9aNKT_4t7_3F1rdsF8u4GeNKqSUjVs9w_zArnMwukQ&m=IgFLRIKNkLsDcySMXrOnwB6n949X_aXh7BoT9lzFBQ3KcBmddUZ46YUX2bTZP9CA&s=ADpo4fsynYDkrp9P6fTKrFSrsUvugEK4Ac-E2IDLj9s&e= 

(Their images just feature male ends; make sure you order the
correct FF/MM/FM/ ends.)

This is dirt cheap and extremly helpful, ion particular with
the very early boot stages.

					Martin Neitzel