Template:ROM-Maker-lite Introduce

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If you have a customized U-boot, Linux kernel and file system and want to use them to make a customized Linux image file(we call it "ROM" in the following sections) you can do it this way: use the "dd" command to copy all the data and files from an existing SD card with a Linux ROM, replace the U-boot, kernel or file system with your customzied files and use the "dd" command again to combine these files to a ROM. However this is inefficient. We suggest you use our rom-maker-lite utility to do it, which can be downloaded at rom-maker-lite.

The rom-maker-lite utility is a general tool to make a ROM. It currently supports making a Linux based sd/eflasher ROM for FriendlyElec's H3/H5 boards .Making an Android image is not supported yet.

  • Run ./mkimage.sh to check usage info:
$ ./mkimage.sh 
Usage:
    $ apt-get install tree exfat-utils dosfstools python3-tk
    $ ./mkimage.sh -c <filesystem type> -m <partmap> -d "<misc dir>;<partition1 dir>;<partition2 dir>;..."
        -c <filesystem type>: 
            1: misc(bootloader) + fat32 boot.img + ext4 rootfs.img
            2: misc(bootloader) + fat32 boot.img + ext4 rootfs.img + exfat friendlyarm.img
            3: misc(bootloader) + ext4 boot.img + ext4 rootfs.img
Parameter Comment
-c <filesystem type>

-c specifies file systems' formats for the partitions in a ROM Image. Specifically for an H3/H5 based board:
-c 1 stands for "misc(bootloader) + fat32 boot.img + ext4 rootfs.img" and this applies to an sd ROM of FriendlyCore/Ubuntu/Debian/OpenWrt;
-c 2 stands for "misc(bootloader) + fat32 boot.img + ext4 rootfs.img + exfat friendlyarm.img" and this applies to an eflasher ROM.

-m <partmap>

-m specifies a partmap file for making a ROM.
A partmap file is used to specify the files and their sizes included in a ROM. ROMs made for different boards or BSPs may need different partmap files.

-d "<misc dir>;<partition1 dir>;<partition2 dir>;..."

-d specifies file system's path and each path is separated by a ";". Specifically for an H3/H5 based board:
<misc dir>: specifies the bootloader's path;
<partition1 dir>: specifies the boot partition's path;
<partition2 dir>: specifies the rootfs partition's path;
"..." means more paths can be defined. When you make an eflasher ROM you need to include the friendlyarm partition's path;

  • Preparations

We tested the following Ubuntu versions that worked with a PC host:
1) ubuntu-16.04.5-desktop-amd64.iso
2) ubuntu-18.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso
If you cannot make a ROM under a Linux system with your PC host you'd better use either one of the above two systems we tested.

Before proceed make sure you have installed the following packages:

$ apt-get install tree exfat-utils dosfstools python3-tk

You need the root access right to make a ROM:

$ su root