The zHIVErbox fork of the Armbian build tools tries to stick as close as possible to the upstream master branch and do customizations via our armbian-userpatches repository.
- zHIVErbox changes
- What this project does?
- What do you need to get started?
- How to build an image or a kernel?
- Build parameter examples
- Compare with industry standards
- Where to download prebuilt images?
- Additional information
- Build tools overview
- Support
- Contribute
- Social
- Credits
- Sponsors
The following modifications can't be done via the userpatches and have to be made in the build tools:
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btrfs subvolumes for /, /home, /var and /var/lib zHIVErbox makes use of btrfs subvolumes, so we can easily move /var to the hard disk of the Odroid HC1/HC2 and disable log2ram, which slightly increases the available (free) memory on the zHIVErbox.
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kernel self-protection and security hardenings zHIVErbox applies many kernel security settings described in:
- https://kernsec.org/wiki/index.php/Kernel_Self_Protection_Project/Recommended_Settings
- https://tails.boum.org/contribute/design/kernel_hardening/ This can't be done via the armbian-userpatches, so we have to do this here.
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cache directory for userpatches In addition to the
userpatches/overlaydirectory, zHIVErbox set's up auserpatches/cachedirectory, which is persisted across builds but doesn't contain any essential sources. It can be used by apt to speed up subsequent builds, as packages which are installed through userpatches don't have to be downloaded with every build when they have been downloaded with a previous build already. -
use btrfs with
lzocompression instead ofzlibVanilla Armbian doesn't allow the configuration of which compression should be used with btrfs. zHIVErbox adds this as a configuration option and useslzoby default, which gives slight performance improvements. -
minor changes 5.1. avoid username leaks in
armbian-check-first-login.sh5.2. use netcat with Tor socksproxy in armbian-config.sh5.3. use torsocks to pull zHIVErbox git updates incompile.sh
- builds custom Debian based Linux system optimized for supported single board computers,
- covers root filesystem generation, kernel image compilation and bootloader compilation,
- maintains low-level control software for a selection of hardware,
- provides a consistent user experience by keeping system standards across different SBC platforms.
- x64 machine with at least 2GB of memory and ~35GB of disk space for the VM, container or native OS,
- Ubuntu Focal 20.04 x64 for native building or any Docker capable x64 Linux for containerised,
- superuser rights (configured sudo or root access).
apt-get -y install git
git clone https://github.com/armbian/build
cd build
./compile.sh
- The script will take care about preparing the workspace like installing necessary dependencies and downloading sources and tools.
- It guides through the process until either a kernel package set or a readyo-to-image for a sdcard is created.
Show work in progress areas in interactive mode:
./compile.sh EXPERT="yes"
Run build tools inside Docker container:
./compile.sh docker
Build minimal CLI Debian buster based image for Odroid XU4. Use modern kernel and write image to the SD card:
./compile.sh BOARD="odroidxu4" BRANCH="current" RELEASE="buster" CARD_DEVICE="/dev/sda" \
KERNEL_ONLY="no" KERNEL_CONFIGURE="no" BUILD_DESKTOP="no" BUILD_MINIMAL="yes"
Build parameters, advanced build options, user defined configuration, build with Docker?
Check similarity, advantages and disadvantages compared with leading industry standard build software.
| Function | Armbian | Yocto | Buildroot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | general purpose | embedded | embedded / IOT |
| U-boot and kernel | compiled from sources | compiled from sources | compiled from sources |
| Board support maintenance | complete | outside | outside |
| Root file system | Debian or Ubuntu based | custom | custom |
| Package manager | APT | any | none |
| Configurability | limited | large | large |
| Initramfs support | yes | yes | yes |
| Getting started | quick | very slow | slow |
| Cross compilation | yes | yes | yes |
https://www.armbian.com/download/
Armbian releases quarterly at the end of February, May, August, November. You are welcome to propose changes to our default images build list.
- Build parameters and advanced build options,
- Make use of user defined configurations,
- Docker and Vagrant building guides,
- Engage in Armbian build framework forums,
- Check Jira project management application status,
- Make use of central project search engine,
- Browse IRC channel logs or interact at #armbian on freenode.
├── cache Work / cache directory
│ ├── rootfs Compressed vanilla Debian and Ubuntu rootfilesystem cache
│ ├── sources Kernel, u-boot and various drivers sources. Mainly C code
│ ├── toolchains External cross compilers from Linaro™ or ARM™
├── config Packages repository configurations
│ ├── targets.conf Board build target configuration
│ ├── boards Board configurations
│ ├── bootenv Initial boot loaders environments per family
│ ├── bootscripts Initial Boot loaders scripts per family
│ ├── kernel Kernel build configurations per family
│ ├── sources Kernel and u-boot sources locations and scripts
│ ├── templates User configuration templates which populate userpatches
│ └── torrents External compiler and rootfs cache torrents
├── lib Main build tools libraries
├── output Build artifact
│ └── deb Deb packages
│ └── images Bootable images - RAW or compressed
│ └── debug Patch and build logs
│ └── config Kernel configuration export location
│ └── patch Created patches location
├── packages Support scripts, binary blobs, packages
│ ├── blobs Wallpapers, various configs, closed source bootloaders
│ ├── bsp Scripts and configs overlay for rootfs
│ └── extras-buildpkgs Optional compilation and packaging engine
├── patch Collection of patches
│ ├── atf ARM trusted firmware
│ ├── kernel Linux kernel patches
| | └── family-branch Per kernel family and branch
│ ├── misc Linux kernel packaging patches
│ └── u-boot Universal boot loader patches
| ├── u-boot-board For specific board
| └── u-boot-family For entire kernel family
└── userpatches User: configuration patching area
├── lib.config User: tools common config/override file
├── config-default.conf User: default user config file
├── customize-image.sh User: script will execute just before closing the image
├── atf User: ARM trusted firmware
├── kernel User: Linux kernel per kernel family
├── misc User: various
└── u-boot User: universal boot loader patches
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Have you found a bug in the build tools?
Try to recreate it with a clean build tools clone. Then search for existing and closed issues. If you don't find it there, open a new issue.
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Do you have troubles elsewhere?
Armbian is free software and provides best effort help through community forums. If you can't find answer there and/or with help of general project search engine and documentation, consider hiring an expert.
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Personalised support?
It is limited to active project supporters and sponsors. The shortest way to become one and receive our attention is a four figure donation to our non-profit project.
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Adding a new feature?
You are welcome to suggest or contribute directly to the code with a pull request. In case your proposed changes are large, remember to discuss them prior to development.
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Join development?
Join regulars on their active missions, start maintaining any part of the code: patches, drivers or scripted applications like armbian-config, address community wishes,
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Help elsewhere?
Maintain and develop documentation, CI, autotests, seed torrents, help on forum moderating, project administration, costs.
- Participate in Armbian forums,
- Chat with fellow users on IRC #armbian on Freenode,
- Follow @armbian on Twitter or LinkedIN.
- Current and past contributors, our families and friends,
- Support staff that keeps forums usable,
- Individuals that help with their ideas, reports and donations.
Most of the project is sponsored with a work done by volunteer collaborators, while some part of the project costs are being covered by the industry. We would not be able to get this far without their help.
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