This is a blog about my SiFive HiFive Unmatched build.

Components used:

See Running on Hardware:

“Disk images files use <image>-<machine>.<output_format> format, for example, demo-coreip-cli-unmatched.rootfs.wic.xz. We are interested in .wic.xz disk images for writing to uSD card.”

Download demo-coreip-cli-unmatched.rootfs.wic.xz. This is the 2024.12.00 version from the https://github.com/sifive/freedom-u-sdk/releases.

Pay close attention to the image type (cli or xfce4) and board name (freedom-u540 or unmatched).

For this build, the cli-unmatched was used.

The download is a compressed file, so extract the demo-coreip-cli-unmatched.rootfs.wic directory that should contain an 8GB file of the same name. Windows 11 allows a right-click-extract for .xz files which works the same way as .zip files.

Be sure to write the uncompressed file called demo-coreip-cli-unmatched.rootfs.wic to an SD card, such as this SanDisk 32GB Ultra microSDHC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter - 98MB/s, C10, U1, Full HD, A1, Micro SD Card - SDSQUAR-032G-GN6MA.

Windows users can utilize the win32diskimager from sourceforge.

Ensure the dip switches are set for the MSEL for Unmatched.

The fan shipped with the board is impressively and undesirably loud. Consider buying a DC 25mm Fan 12V 2510 Hydraulic Bearing Brushless Cooling 25mmx10mm. Make extra note that it is a 12v fan.

NOTE: ssh is enabled by default. See docs to disable:

systemctl disable sshd.socket
systemctl stop sshd.socket

Change the default root password from sifive and setup user login:

THIS_USER=gojimmypi

echo "Setting up user: $THIS_USER with sudo permissions..."
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash $THIS_USER
sudo usermod -aG sudo $THIS_USER
groups $THIS_USER
sudo passwd $THIS_USER

# change password from default for root user
sudo passwd root

Manually edit /etc/sudoers:

nano /etc/sudoers

Ensure the /etc/sudoers file contains this text:

##
## User privilege specification
##
root ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL
gojimmypi ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

Note the $PATH value for the root user. Set this as needed for new users.

echo $PATH
/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin

View the release:

root@unmatched:~# cat /etc/*-release
ID=freedom-u-sdk
NAME="FreedomUSDK (SiFive Freedom Unleashed SDK)"
VERSION="2024.10.00 (2024November)"
VERSION_ID=2024.10.00
VERSION_CODENAME="2024November"
PRETTY_NAME="FreedomUSDK (SiFive Freedom Unleashed SDK) 2024.10.00 (2024November)"
CPE_NAME="cpe:/o:openembedded:freedom-u-sdk:2024.10.00"

There’s a fairly minimal Linux. There’s no apt-get, no dpkg, no opkg. The wired Ethernet is called end0 and NOT eth0.

Setup network:

sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.105/24 dev end0
sudo ip route add default via 192.168.1.1
echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf
ping -c 4 8.8.8.8

There are however, all the essentials to bake your own cake: gcc, make, git:

root@unmatched:~# which gcc
/usr/bin/gcc

root@unmatched:~# gcc --version
gcc (GCC) 14.2.0
Copyright (C) 2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

root@unmatched:~# which make
/usr/bin/make

root@unmatched:~# make --version
GNU Make 4.4.1
Built for riscv64-freedomusdk-linux-gnu
Copyright (C) 1988-2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

root@unmatched:~#  which git
/usr/bin/git

root@unmatched:~# git --version
git version 2.47.0

I wrote a 5-part blog on using wolfSSL with RISC-V systems:

demo-coreip-cli-unmatched.rootfs.wic.xz

Other links:

  • https://www.sifive.com/boards/hifive-unmatched
  • https://forums.sifive.com/t/installing-ubuntu-21-04-on-the-hifive-unmatched/4710/12
    1  mkdir workspace
    2  cd workspace
    3  ls -al
    4  df
    5  pwd
    6  lsblk
    7  sudo shutdown
    8  login root
    9  logout
   10  THIS_USER=gojimmypi
   11  echo $THIS_USER
   12  ping -c 4 8.8.8.8
   13  cat /etc/resolv.conf
   14  sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.105/24 dev end0
   15  sudo
   16  sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.105/24 dev end0
   17  logout
   18  sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.105/24 dev end0
   19  visudo
   20  cat /etc/sudoer
   21  nano
   22  nano /etc/sudoers
   23  logout
   24  sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.105/24 dev end0
   25  sudo ip route add default via 192.168.1.1
   26  ip
   27  which ip
   28  busybox ip
   29  sudo reboot
   30  shutdown
   31  logout
   32  ls -al
   33  ping google.com
   34  shutdown
   35  sudo reboot
   36  history


sudo cat /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf

default OpenEmbedded-SiFive-HiFive-Unmatched
label OpenEmbedded-SiFive-HiFive-Unmatched
   kernel /Image.gz
   fdt /hifive-unmatched-a00.dtb
   append root=/dev/mmcblk0p4 rootfstype=ext4 rootwait console=ttySIF0,115200 earlycon

Use Win32DiskImager to write image to SSD.

boot and press a key to enter uboot.

Interrupt the U-Boot countdown by pressing any key when you see:

Hit any key to stop autoboot: 0

pci

Output something like this:

BusDevFun  VendorId   DeviceId   Device Class       Sub-Class
_____________________________________________________________
00.00.00   0xf15e     0x0000     Bridge device           0x04
01.00.00   0x1b21     0x2824     Bridge device           0x04
02.00.00   0x1b21     0x2824     Bridge device           0x04
02.02.00   0x1b21     0x2824     Bridge device           0x04
02.03.00   0x1b21     0x2824     Bridge device           0x04
02.04.00   0x1b21     0x2824     Bridge device           0x04
02.08.00   0x1b21     0x2824     Bridge device           0x04
04.00.00   0x1b21     0x1142     Serial bus controller   0x03
06.00.00   0x144d     0xa808     Mass storage controller 0x08
=> nvme scan
=> nvme info
Device 0: Vendor: 0x144d Rev: 2xxxxxx7 Prod: S5xxxxxxxxxxxxR
            Type: Hard Disk
            Capacity: 476940.0 MB = 465.7 GB (976773168 x 512)

Force U-Boot to rescan PCI devices and initialize NVMe:

nvme scan

ls nvme 0:3

ls nvme 0

nvme scan

nvme info

Output of nvme info:

Device 0: Vendor: 0x144d Rev: 2xxxxxx7 Prod: S5xxxxxxxxxxxxR
            Type: Hard Disk
            Capacity: 476940.0 MB = 465.7 GB (976773168 x 512)

part list nvme 0

Output something like this:

Partition Map for nvme device 0  --   Partition Type: EFI

Part    Start LBA       End LBA         Name
        Attributes
        Type GUID
        Partition GUID
  1     0x00000022      0x00000821      "primary"
        attrs:  0x0000000000000000
        type:   5b193300-fc78-40cd-8002-e86c45580b47
                (5b193300-fc78-40cd-8002-e86c45580b47)
        guid:   4ccb1962-0f94-4337-a843-fe083f83a51d
  2     0x00000822      0x00002821      "primary"
        attrs:  0x0000000000000000
        type:   2e54b353-1271-4842-806f-e436d6af6985
                (2e54b353-1271-4842-806f-e436d6af6985)
        guid:   434da497-7451-45de-b29d-a863cdbcb012
  3     0x00004000      0x00044fff      "boot"
        attrs:  0x0000000000000004
        type:   ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7
                (data)
        guid:   274a18ad-c485-43c3-a30a-ab2af0891226
  4     0x00046000      0x00f69f8f      "root"
        attrs:  0x0000000000000000
        type:   0fc63daf-8483-4772-8e79-3d69d8477de4
                (linux)
        guid:   6f61ef04-3325-434c-978c-6a62665426e3

Next

gpt verify nvme 0
No partition list provided - only basic check
Verify GPT: success!

fatload nvme 0:3 ${loadaddr} /extlinux/extlinux.conf
md.b ${loadaddr} 100

80200000: 64 65 66 61 75 6c 74 20 4f 70 65 6e 45 6d 62 65  default OpenEmbe
80200010: 64 64 65 64 2d 53 69 46 69 76 65 2d 48 69 46 69  dded-SiFive-HiFi
80200020: 76 65 2d 55 6e 6d 61 74 63 68 65 64 0a 6c 61 62  ve-Unmatched.lab
80200030: 65 6c 20 4f 70 65 6e 45 6d 62 65 64 64 65 64 2d  el OpenEmbedded-
80200040: 53 69 46 69 76 65 2d 48 69 46 69 76 65 2d 55 6e  SiFive-HiFive-Un
80200050: 6d 61 74 63 68 65 64 0a 20 20 20 6b 65 72 6e 65  matched.   kerne
80200060: 6c 20 2f 49 6d 61 67 65 2e 67 7a 0a 20 20 20 66  l /Image.gz.   f
80200070: 64 74 20 2f 68 69 66 69 76 65 2d 75 6e 6d 61 74  dt /hifive-unmat
80200080: 63 68 65 64 2d 61 30 30 2e 64 74 62 0a 20 20 20  ched-a00.dtb.
80200090: 61 70 70 65 6e 64 20 72 6f 6f 74 3d 2f 64 65 76  append root=/dev
802000a0: 2f 6d 6d 63 62 6c 6b 30 70 34 20 72 6f 6f 74 66  /mmcblk0p4 rootf
802000b0: 73 74 79 70 65 3d 65 78 74 34 20 72 6f 6f 74 77  stype=ext4 rootw
802000c0: 61 69 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 6f 6c 65 3d 74 74 79 53  ait console=ttyS
802000d0: 49 46 30 2c 31 31 35 32 30 30 20 65 61 72 6c 79  IF0,115200 early

u-boot to boot from SD boot_targets=mmc0

setenv kernel_addr_r 0x84000000
setenv fdt_addr_r 0x86000000
setenv root /dev/mmcblk0p4

setenv bootargs 'root=/dev/mmcblk0p4 rootfstype=ext4 rootwait console=ttySIF0,115200 earlycon'

setenv bootcmd 'load mmc 0:3 ${kernel_addr_r} Image.gz; load mmc 0:3 ${fdt_addr_r} hifive-unmatched-a00.dtb; booti ${kernel_addr_r} - ${fdt_addr_r}'

saveenv
reset


   bootargs 'root=/dev/mmcblk0p3 rootfstype=ext4 rootwait console=ttySIF0,115200 earlycon
   bootcmd   load mmc 0:3 ${kernel_addr_r} Image.gz; load mmc 0:3 ${fdt_addr_r} hifive-unmatched-a00.dtb; booti ${kernel_addr_r} - ${fdt_addr_r} partitions=name=loader1,start=17K,size=1M,type=${type_guid_gpt_loader1}; name=loader2,size=4MB,type=${type_guid_gpt_loader2}; name=system,size=-,bootable,type=${type_guid_gpt_system};

Manual boot:

fatload mmc 0:3 ${kernel_addr_r} Image.gz
fatload mmc 0:3 ${fdt_addr_r} hifive-unmatched-a00.dtb
booti ${kernel_addr_r} - ${fdt_addr_r}

NVMe (experimental)

setenv bootargs "root=/dev/nvme0n1p4 rootfstype=ext4 rootwait console=ttySIF0,115200 earlycon"
setenv boot_targets nvme0
saveenv
reset

Saving Environment to SPIFlash… Erasing SPI flash…Writing to SPI flash…done OK

unmatched:~$ cat /etc/fstab
# stock fstab - you probably want to override this with a machine specific one

/dev/root            /                    auto       defaults              1  1
proc                 /proc                proc       defaults              0  0
devpts               /dev/pts             devpts     mode=0620,ptmxmode=0666,gid=5      0  0
tmpfs                /run                 tmpfs      mode=0755,nodev,nosuid,strictatime 0  0
tmpfs                /var/volatile        tmpfs      defaults              0  0

# uncomment this if your device has a SD/MMC/Transflash slot
#/dev/mmcblk0p1       /media/card          auto       defaults,sync,noauto  0  0

/dev/mmcblk0p3  /boot   vfat    defaults        0       0

unmatched:~$ sudo cat /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
default OpenEmbedded-SiFive-HiFive-Unmatched
label OpenEmbedded-SiFive-HiFive-Unmatched
   kernel /Image.gz
   fdt /hifive-unmatched-a00.dtb
   append root=/dev/nvme0n1p4 rootfstype=ext4 rootwait console=ttySIF0,115200 earlycon

sudo mkdir -p /etc/yum.repos.d/

sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/freedom-usdk.repo <<EOF
[freedom-usdk]
name=FreedomUSDK Packages
baseurl=http://sifive.freedomusdk.org/packages/2024.10/
enabled=1
gpgcheck=0
EOF

cat /etc/yum.repos.d/freedom-usdk.repo

sudo dnf clean all
sudo dnf makecache
sudo dnf repolist

sudo dnf install parted

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/sbin

sudo nano /etc/fstab

/dev/nvme0n1p3 /boot vfat defaults 0 0

ls /boot

unmatched:~$ ls -al /boot
total 23876
drwxr-xr-x  4 root root    16384 Jan  1  1970  .
drwxr-xr-x 17 root root     4096 Apr  5  2011  ..
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root root  8061841 Apr  5  2011  Image.gz
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root root 16342647 Apr  5  2011  Image.gz-initramfs-unmatched.bin
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root     4096 Dec 28 19:18 'System Volume Information'
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root     4096 Apr  5  2011  extlinux
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root root    10785 Apr  5  2011  hifive-unmatched-a00.dtb


# Ensure everything is written to disk
sudo sync

sudo reboot

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/sbin

Manual boot SD Card (mmc) mmcblk0p3 nvme0n1p4

setenv bootargs "console=ttySIF0,115200 earlycon root=/dev/mmcblk0p3 rw init=/bin/sh"
load mmc 0:3 0x80200000 /Image.gz-initramfs-unmatched.bin
load mmc 0:3 0x84000000 /hifive-unmatched-a00.dtb
booti 0x80200000 - 0x84000000

Manual boot NVme

# List available storage
mmc dev 0
nvme scan

# List boot files
ls mmc 0:3
ls nvme 0:3

# Manually boot the kernel
setenv bootargs "root=/dev/nvme0n1p3 rw console=ttySIF0,115200 earlycon"
load nvme 0:3 0x80200000 /Image.gz
load nvme 0:3 0x82000000 /hifive-unmatched-a00.dtb
booti 0x80200000 - 0x82000000