=====PC Engines APU2 - Debian 10, Buster=====
**2020-09-18** - This is a how to guide for updating the BIOS and installing Debian Buster on the PC Engines APU boards. This is a network based installation, connect internet via Ethernet.


====Documentation====
  * [[https://www.pcengines.ch/apu2.htm]]

====Required hardware====
  * APU board.
  * Power supply.
  * Internet over Ethernet.
  * Serial (via Serial<->USB adapter).
  * mSATA SSD

====Update BIOS====
  * Download the latest BIOS for your version of the board here: [[https://pcengines.github.io/]].
  * Download the [[http://pcengines.ch/file/apu2-tinycore6.4.img.gz|TinyCore image]]. 
  * Write image to USB flash drive. <code>zcat apu2-tinycore6.4.img.gz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX bs=1M conv=fsync status=progress</code>
  * Mount the USB flash drive. <code>sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt</code>
  * Copy rom to flash:<code>sudo cp apu2_v4.12.0.4.rom /mnt</code>
  * Unmount the flash drive and boot the APU board from it.<code>sudo umount /mnt</code>
  * If you see a lot of messages like below, just ctrl-c:<code>FAT partition not mounted yet, retrying since 3 s
FAT partition not mounted yet, retrying since 6 s^C</code>
  * Flash the BIOS and reboot when finished:<code>cd /media/SYSLINUX
flashrom -p internal -w apu2_v4.12.0.4.rom

reboot

...
PC Engines apu2
coreboot build 20202708
BIOS version v4.12.0.4
4080 MB ECC DRAM
...
</code>
====Install Debian 10====
  * Download amd64 netinst ISO: [[https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/amd64/iso-cd/debian-10.5.0-amd64-netinst.iso]]
  * Copy image to USB drive:<code>sudo dd if=debian-10.5.0-amd64-netinst.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4k status=progress</code>
  * Unmount USB drive.
  * Boot APU from USB.
  * Press ''h'' and <ENTER>. \\ {{::debian-serial.png?nolink|}}
  * Then enter the following 'install' command:<code>#Press F2 through F10 for details, or ENTER to boot: 
install vga=off console=ttyS0,115200n8</code>
  * Press <ENTER> to start install.
  * During install, deselect any desktop environment and select the ''SSH server'' and ''standard system utilities''.
  * At first reboot, you'll get the following error:<code>text is deprecated. Use set gfxpayload=vga=off before linux command instead.</code>
  * Reboot, and at the grub menu press ''e'' and **remove** the ''vga=off'' option. Press ctrl-x to boot.
  * Then edit ''/etc/default/grub'', remove ''vga=off'' and run update-grub.



{{tag>[hardware apu debian linux ]}}