Flashing Steps on macOS 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.

Installing Dependency Tools

Users on the macOS platform can install the tools using the following commands:

brew update
brew install android-platform-tools
brew 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. Please ensure the driver is installed successfully.

Put the RDK S100 into DFU boot mode

1. Set the SW1 switch to ↑ and turn off the power.
2. Set the SW2 switch to ↑ to enter Download mode.
3. Set the SW1 switch to ▽ and turn on the power.
4. If the DOWNLOAD LED lights up, it has entered DFU mode; otherwise, press K1 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 upgrade to complete.

  

• After the upgrade is complete, turn off the power, set the flash 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 into Fastboot: An ADB device is automatically generated after system startup. Xburn detects the ADB device and sends a command to the board to enter Fastboot.
• Manual entry into Fastboot: During board startup, enter uboot and type fastboot 0 to enter Fastboot.

Flashing with Xburn via 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 upgrade to complete.

• After the upgrade is complete, power on again.

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
miniboot_flash	Norflash	Basic boot image on Norflash, including images for HSM/MCU0, etc.	img_packages/disk/miniboot_flash.img
miniboot_emmc	eMMC	Basic boot image 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 only miniboot_flash and miniboot_emmc.

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 Configuration: Check Flash specified area, then check miniboot_flash and miniboot_emmc.

  

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

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 should be saved.

• Advanced Configuration: Check Backup specified area, 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 take a long time. Please wait patiently for the backup to finish.

Booting the System

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

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

Development Board LED Indicators

• Green LED: Lights up when the hardware is powered on normally.

If the development board shows no display output for a long time (over 2 minutes) after powering on, it indicates a boot abnormality. You need to debug using a serial cable to check if the board is functioning correctly.

After the Ubuntu Desktop system finishes booting, the system desktop will be output to the monitor via the display interface, as shown below: