How to install archlinux aarch64 on rpi4?

[omarmohamed]

I have tried to install archlinux on my raspberry pi 4 but I this is what I get on the serial console:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
U-Boot 2020.07-2 (Aug 09 2020 - 02:00:40 +0000) Arch Linux ARM

DRAM: 3.9 GiB
RPI 4 Model B (0xc03111)
MMC: emmc2@7e340000: 0, mmcnr@7e300000: 1
Loading Environment from FAT... *** Warning - bad CRC, using default environment

In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
Net: eth0: genet@7d580000
starting USB...
No working controllers found
Hit any key to stop autoboot: 0
switch to partitions #0, OK
mmc0 is current device
Scanning mmc 0:1...
Found U-Boot script /boot.scr
708 bytes read in 15 ms (45.9 KiB/s)
## Executing script at 02c00000
37171712 bytes read in 1945 ms (18.2 MiB/s)
32503 bytes read in 28 ms (1.1 MiB/s)
8339435 bytes read in 456 ms (17.4 MiB/s)
## Flattened Device Tree blob at 02e00000
Booting using the fdt blob at 0x2e00000
Using Device Tree in place at 0000000002e00000, end 0000000002e0aef6

Starting kernel ...

�f��~����`f��~����f............
')
I can't understand what is the problem, can anyone help me?

[graysky]

How did you install?

[omarmohamed]

I followed this:
https://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv8/broadcom/raspberry-pi-4
The only two edited files
/etc/fstab
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
# <file system> <dir> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
UUID=5F6B-510F /boot vfat defaults 0 0
UUID=4db5286f-1085-464d-ade1-22c6594bab52 / ext4 defaults 0 0
')

/boot/boot.txt
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
setenv bootargs console=ttyS1,115200 console=tty0 root=UUID=4db5286f-1085-464d-ade1-22c6594bab52 rw rootwait smsc95xx.macaddr="${usbethaddr}"
')

[omarmohamed]

Ok, I chrooted then pacman -Syu and everything seems to be working, but I hope if someone tells me what was the problem.

[moonlinux]

@omarmohamed thanks for this TIP. It worked for me.

[CaptainRage]

@omarmohamed @moonlinux How did you manage to chroot and run pacman -Syu? Is it possible to do that from another architecture, like x86_64? If I can solve this part then I will try to install aarch64 on my Raspberry Pi 4 again, because last time I could not figure it out.

[graysky]

You need aarch64 to chroot to aarch64 afaik

[CaptainRage]

Thanks for clarifying that! That would make sense, although it makes things trickier. Please, if you have the possibility, drop a message here if you figure out a way of installing aarch64 on the Raspberry Pi 4 without having to deviate too much from the instructions provided on the Arch Linux ARM page.

[graysky]

I am unclear why a chroot step is needed at all. Use the official instructions and you will have a fully functional aarch64 or armv7h image.

[CaptainRage]

Because of the USB issue at boot. Has that been resolved? There are many threads regarding that problem.

About two weeks ago I tried to follow the instructions for aarch64 using ArchLinuxARM-rpi-aarch64-latest.tar.gz, as outlined on the official page, but I couldn't get my head around how to make it boot when setting the root partition to an external SSD.

If it has been resolved, then I'll get to installing aarch64 right away!