I would like to install current Slackware arm on Pinetab2

SoC: Rockchip RK3566
CPU: 4x ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz
32KB L1 Instruction Cache and 32KB L1 Data Cache per core
512KB unified system L3 cache
ARMv8 Cryptography Extensions
GPU: Mali-G52 MP2 @ 800 MHz
Supported by the open source 'Panfrost' driver in Linux and Mesa
Supports OpenGL 3.1 and OpenGL ES 3.1 with many newer extensions
NPU: 0.8 TOPS Neural Processing Unit


I searched and I couldn't find anything specific for Slackware. Does anyone have some experience or documentation? My first guess from https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PineTab2 is to dd an image to the SD and set the UART adapter properly. (or is there a 'hardware equivalent' of this that I should be looking for to find install instructions)

BGB if you get anywhere keep us posted

Using the link from sndwvs I went to

https://dl.slarm64.org/slackware/images/quartz64/

README.TXT does not jibe with the files listed.


Did zstdcat slarm64-current-aarch64-core-quartz64-6.2.0-build-20230305.img.zst > /dev/mmcblk0

which wrote 2 partitions on mmcblk0

Set switch on UART board to "USM mask ROM" see https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/File:Pi...USB_UARTv2.jpg
Insert UART board in lower usb-c
I hooked up external HDMI monitor
Put microsd ( mmcblk0 ) in slot
Reboot

Nothing on built in screen (backlight is faintly visible)
Ext monitor shows boot messages from microsd (a few errors/warnings)
Gets to login prompt
... does not accept accessory keybd strokes
... does not accept usb keybd through either usbc
... have not tried usb/serial tty yet.


That is it so far.

Note that under stock os, rt2500usb is autodetected and dhcp works.
nogo: smc wusbt-g-ca ar5523 atheros


I realize some of this info could be pieced together from various sites, but real experience with
real hardware (and what to expect) has always been the best guide for me (in almost 30 years of using
slackware)



Update1: 6/21/23
tried all 3 6.20 kernels ( core, server, xfce ) all boot and get to login, but still no keybd input from 'built-in' or external
[ tried plugging external keybd in before boot, after boot, and in both slots: no joy ]

Are the boot kernels at https://dl.slarm64.org/slackware/images/quartz64/ just minimal versions of the ( core, server, xfce )?

Finally some progress. Look in the slarm distro forum (I understand now that 'Slackware' forum is for official and slarm64 is 'unofficial')

I can add support for PineTab2 , but if they don't test it doesn't make much sense.

I wasn't complaining. I will gladly test whatever advice you might have.

You're welcome to submit Hardware Model support and become a Hardware Model custodian. That's the plan for Slackware ARM - details are on the web site.
I don't particularly want to add any further patches to the Kernel presently though. We're remaining at Linux 6.1 until Slackware 15.1 is released, and I want to keep it stable until then. I plan on releasing the AArch64 port with the three documented Hardware Models. More can be added after 15.1's release when we can jump to the latest Kernel.
The Hardware Model Kernel loader scripts and other stuff can be merged in though, which paves the way for out of the box support post 15.1 release.

Let me know if you have alpha or beta images for Slackware ARM that might boot on the PineTab2 so I could test them. Please put modules for host-to-host USB in the initrd.

I would also be very willing to test Slackware on my Pinetab2.

I don't know what's required for the Pinetab2 - whatever is will need to be a community effort. Brent and I are focusing on finishing the HoneyComb LX2 support.
If you know which USB Kernel modules (the actual module name from modinfo) you need that aren't specific to the Pinetab2 I can include those in the base set for all hardware models though, which should help you out a bit.
If you know the modules specifically required for the Pinetab 2 though, you can begin filling out a module loader script. The RK3399's can be used for reference.

Once we finish the HoneyComb LX2 support I'm going to document the 'integration touch points' which should help the community navigate which parts of the stack they need to touch in order to add support. Documentation writing will be a 'winter sport' though as I'm not too into spending sunny days in front of a computer ;-)

The folks at RhinoLinux have a working system for the PT2 on kernel 6.5 Would it be useful if I posted the lsmod from that?

See this doc . It's incomplete but the section 'Hardware Model specific modules' provides some methods of determining which modules are in use and need to be included within the OS InitRD and Installer.

Once you've begun making your loader script, I can include it within the OS InitRD and Installer so it lights up the core hardware required to boot the OS proper.
We won't be moving past Linux 6.1 until the next Slackware release, but there's no harm in including the module loader now. You can also build your own 6.5 Kernel if you want using the tools available. You do need an existing Slackware AArch64 installation on a supported Hardware Model first though, unless you fancy hacking around on another distribution on your Hardware Model.