This article explains how to install Nova under Alpine Linux on a Compulab IOT-DIN-IMX8PLUS in a single step. The process involves creating a bootable USB drive and then booting from that drive to re-image your device. Access to the Internet is not required, as the image contains all the necessary files. Note that all data on the device outside the factory iMX8 boot loader partitions (including your license key) will be erased and its existing operating system replaced with Alpine.
Associated Video
The video on the article on Single Step Install on a PC describes a similar process.
Prerequisites
You will need the following:
- The latest Nova Single Step Install image file.
- A disk imaging tool such as Rufus.
- A USB memory stick of at least 4GB in size. (See note below.)
- A micro USB cable to connect to the device’s console.
- A terminal emulator such as SmarTTY.
Note that these devices can be fussy as to the USB sticks they will accept at boot time. Some cheaper Amazon-sourced devices might fail with a kernel panic during startup, and similar issues have been observed with reputable brands. A micro SD card in a USB adapter has typically been found to be reliable. Despite carrying a name that might not fill one with confidence, these sticks have also worked.
Installing Nova
To install Nova on the PC:
- Using your disk imaging tool and the image file, create a bootable USB stick.
- Insert the USB stick into the USB connector on the front of the target device.
- Connect your target device to your PC using the micro USB cable.
- Open your terminal emulator and select the corresponding serial port.
- Power on your device and observe the boot process.
- You will be prompted to enter the word DESTROY to confirm the re-imaging.
- Enter the desired hostname for the device, or press Enter to accept nova.
- After the installation process has completed, remove the USB stick and reboot.
- Be patient, as first time execution of Nova may take a few minutes!
Note that if you have previously installed Nova on this device, the auto boot from USB will have been disabled for security reasons. You must thus interrupt the boot process when prompted by pressing any key on your serial terminal, and then at the uBoot prompt enter run boot_usb and press Enter.
Linux Accounts
The Linux root user will have a password of password, but will be disabled for SSH access.
A secondary user called user with a password of password will be available for SSH access.
Be sure to change these passwords before deploying the device.
Other Versions
Note that the Single Step Install image is not yet part of our continuous integration process. We shall endeavor to keep it up to date, but for now we are not offering different versions for each of the release rings. If you want to install a different version than that included in the image, simply download it from the Downloads page and install it via the options on the Device Information page accessed by clicking on the hostname in the top-left corner of the UI.
Next Steps
Refer to the articles on:
