Flashing Steps on Linux Platform

Hardware Connection

Use a Type-C data cable to connect the USB port of your PC to the Type-C port of the development board.

Install Required Tools

Ubuntu users can install the tools using the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
sudo apt install dfu-util

System Flashing

Full Image Flashing

DFU-Fastboot Flashing

Note

• Currently, you need to set the SW3 switch to the ↑ position to boot from the onboard eMMC. Booting from an M.2 NVMe SSD is not supported yet.
• The Xburn tool on Windows PC requires successful driver installation before use. Ensure the driver is installed successfully before proceeding.

Put the RDK S100 into DFU boot mode

1. Set the SW1 switch to ↑ and power off.
2. Set the SW2 switch to ↑ to enter Download mode.
3. Set the SW1 switch to ▽ and power on.
4. If the DOWNLOAD LED lights up, the device is in DFU mode. Otherwise, press the K1 button to reset the system.

Flashing with Xburn

Configuration steps:

• Select Product Model: RDKS100

• Connection Mode: usb, Download Mode: DFU+Fastboot

• Storage Medium: emmc, Firmware Type: secure

• Image Directory: Click Browse and select the product folder containing the firmware

  

• Click Start Upgrade, power on the device, and wait for the process to complete

  

• After the upgrade is complete, power off, set the programming switch downward (to exit DFU mode), and then power on again.

Fastboot Flashing

Note

• Fastboot uses the normal boot mode.

• Ensure the system U-boot starts normally and enters Fastboot.

Put the RDK S100 into Fastboot mode

There are two ways to enter Fastboot:

• Automatic entry: An ADB device is automatically generated after system boot. Xburn detects the ADB device and sends a command to put the board into Fastboot.
• Manual entry: After the board boots into U-boot, enter fastboot 0 to enter Fastboot.

Flashing with Xburn using Fastboot

Configuration steps:

• Select Product Model: RDKS100

• Connection Mode: usb, Download Mode: Fastboot

• Storage Medium: emmc, Type: secure

• Image Directory: Click Browse and select the product folder containing the firmware

  

• Click Start Upgrade. The device will enter Fastboot mode. Wait for the process to complete.

• Power cycle the device after the upgrade is complete.

Flashing Specific Partitions

Partition Description

The RDK S100 supports flashing specific partitions via Xburn. The supported partitions are as follows:

Partition	Storage Medium	Firmware Content	Image Path
miniboot_flash	Norflash	Basic boot images on Norflash, including images for HSM, MCU0, etc.	img_packages/disk/miniboot_flash.img
miniboot_emmc	eMMC	Basic boot images on eMMC, including images for BL31, Uboot, etc.	img_packages/disk/miniboot_emmc.img
emmc	eMMC	Complete eMMC image, already includes miniboot_emmc	img_packages/disk/emmc_disk.img

Flashing Specific Partitions with Xburn

Example: Flashing miniboot_flash and miniboot_emmc only.

Configuration steps:

• Select Product Model: RDKS100

• Connection Mode: usb, Download Mode: DFU+Fastboot

• Storage Medium: emmc, Type: secure

• Image Directory: Click Browse and select the product folder containing the firmware

• Advanced Settings: Check Flash specified partitions, then check miniboot_flash and miniboot_emmc

  

• Click Start Upgrade, power on the device, and wait for the process to complete.

Backing Up Specific Partitions

Backup Partition Description

The RDK S100 supports backing up specific partitions via Xburn. The supported backup partitions are as follows:

Partition	Storage Medium	Firmware Content	Backup Image Path
miniboot_flash	Norflash	Complete Norflash image	img_packages/disk/miniboot_flash_backup.img
emmc	eMMC	Complete eMMC image	img_packages/disk/emmc_disk_backup.img

Backing Up Specific Partitions with Xburn

Example: Backing up miniboot_flash only.

Configuration steps:

• Select Product Model: RDKS100

• Connection Mode: usb, Download Mode: DFU+Fastboot

• Storage Medium: emmc, Type: secure

• Image Directory: Click Browse and select the product folder where the backup image will be saved

• Advanced Settings: Check Backup specified partitions, then check miniboot_flash

  

• Click Start Upgrade, power on the device, and wait for the operation to complete.

• After completion, navigate to the img_packages/disk/ folder to view the backup image file miniboot_flash_backup.img.

Note

Backing up the entire storage medium data can be time-consuming. Please wait patiently for the backup to finish.

Booting the System

First, ensure the development board is powered off. Connect the board to a monitor using an HDMI cable. Finally, power on the development board.

During the first boot, the system will perform default environment configuration. This process takes about 45 seconds. Once completed, the Ubuntu system desktop will be displayed on the monitor.

LED Indicators

• Green LED: Illuminated indicates normal hardware power-on.

If there is no display output for an extended period (over 2 minutes) after powering on, it indicates a boot failure. You will need to debug using a serial cable to check the board's status.

After the Ubuntu Desktop system boots successfully, the system desktop will be displayed on the monitor via the Display interface, as shown below: