This week's development centers on expanded board support and vendor kernel work, mainline kernel progression to 7.3 with CI resilience improvements, and a substantial refresh of the Armbian Imager.
New hardware enablement spans multiple SoC families, including the Boardcon SBC3568 (RK3568), ELTAY RM66 (RK3566) with vendor HDMI and power-domain workarounds, the Anbernic RG Rotate on the new Unisoc UMS512 family, and the NanoPi M6 V2. The NanoPi R6S, R6C, M6/M6V2, and NanoPC T6/T6-LTS have been unified under a single image with shared aliases, reducing duplication across the FriendlyELEC RK3588 lineup. On the vendor side, an initial rk35xx-vendor-next branch based on 6.12-rkr1 consolidates Rockchip vendor families, while fixes land for Orange Pi CM5 boot, Orange Pi 3B U-Boot unification, and RS485 support in the 8250 serial driver.
Mainline moves to 7.3-rc7 across rockchip64, meson64, and uefi targets, with SpacemiT K1 edge migrating from 7.2.y to 7.3.y and an RK3568 PCIe Root Port reset loop fix. Build infrastructure gains a GitHub mirror fallback for mainline kernel fetches, longer git proxy timeouts, overflow of arm64 image jobs to X64 runners, and ccache refactored into a swappable extension. The Armbian Imager received broad investment: full-page Settings with board-scoped first-boot profiles, a critical fix preventing the ext4 writer from corrupting the rootfs, hardened disk target validation before flashing, cache correctness fixes on Windows, and expanded CI coverage including Rust linting on Windows and functional test builds for fork PRs.
#Armbian #EmbeddedLinux #Rockchip #MainlineKernel #SBC
Changes
- Add board image for Firefly AI Box K3. by @leoppark94 in armbian/armbian.github.io#487
- Add RTL8723D Bluetooth firmware. by @boardcon-arm in armbian/firmware#144
- Add support for Boardcon SBC3568 (RK3568). by @boardcon-arm in armbian/build#10723
- anbernic-rg-vita-pro: prefer the built-in codec over HDMI for audio. by @crackerjacques in armbian/build#10919
- arm64: dts: rockchip: orangepi5: alias GbE as ethernet0 (stable NIC name). by @igorpecovnik in armbian/linux-rockchip#575
- arm64: dts: rockchip: orangepi5: drop sd-uhs-sdr104 (SD reliability). by @igorpecovnik in armbian/linux-rockchip#573
- arm64: dts: rockchip: rk3566: remove empty rockchip,supported-hw from GPU OPP table. by @outhud in armbian/linux-rockchip#574
- armbian-kernel: globally disable
CONFIG_DMABUF_DEBUGexplicitly. by @rpardini in armbian/build#10928 - assets: add ELTAY RM66 board images and ELTAY brand artwork. by @RiPetitor in armbian/armbian.github.io#469
- autoconfig: decline first login's wireless prompt in every preset. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/imager#193
- blacklist NanoPi R6S/R6C/M6 and NanoPC T6/T6-LTS from all CI targets. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#486
- board-images: add Anbernic RG Rotate. by @crackerjacques in armbian/armbian.github.io#468
- board-images: add Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro (xiaomi-piano) board image. by @code002-2 in armbian/armbian.github.io#480
- board: add Anbernic RG Rotate (Unisoc T618 / UMS512) and the sprd-ums512 family. by @crackerjacques in armbian/build#10813
- board: add ELTAY RM66 (RK3566) community support. by @RiPetitor in armbian/build#10788
- board: add NanoPi M6 V2 (image + virtual board). by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#417
- board: unify NanoPi R6S, R6C, M6/M6V2 and NanoPC T6 at a single image. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10946
- bsp-cli: accept .dtso files in armbian-add-overlay. by @novadusk in armbian/build#10963
- bsp: avoid sysctl defaults file collision. by @nightcityblade in armbian/build#10944
- build-images: raise image build timeout to 60 min. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/ci#89
- chore(deps): clear RustSec advisories and make cargo audit blocking. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#200
- chore(deps): let an MCP client drive the app in dev builds. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#197
- chore: add a pull request template. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#198
- ci: add PR labelling automation (from armbian/build). by @igorpecovnik in armbian/linux-rockchip#576
- ci: give fork PRs working test build links. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#209
- ci: lint the Rust code on Windows too. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#211
- ci: reuse main's caches and the npm Tauri CLI in PR checks. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#217
- Create sync_user.sh. by @EvilOlaf in armbian/armbian.github.io#460
- datacenter: add an architecture picture. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/documentation#1521
- debian/changelog: release 101.10.591.52.27-10. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/bcmdhd-dkms#14
- Disable Bianbu desktop target for SpacemiT K1. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#484
- docs: ccache is an extension now; USE_CCACHE has no effect. by @iav in armbian/documentation#1528
- docs: sync the language count and build output with main. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#208
- Document MAINLINE_MIRROR=github. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/documentation#1559
- Drop deprecated apa extension (fixes K3 rootfs cache miss). by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10947
- Enable User Button to Boot into Loader Mode for Luckfox Lyra Ultra. by @pdxlocations in armbian/build#10939
- env_init: set ARCH on hosts without /etc/armbian-release. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/configng#1055
- extensions: ccache: add @description; one-line compile_wrapper_pre summary. by @iav in armbian/build#10922
- feat(dev): add a dev scenarios simulator for debug builds. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#206
- feat(settings): full-page Settings and board-scoped first-boot profiles. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#215
- feat(settings): new animated hero scenes for the Settings sections. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#222
- Fetch mainline kernel from the GitHub mirror. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/ci#87
- Fetch mainline kernel from the GitHub mirror in all configs. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/ci#88
- filogic: enable Linux 7.2 for GL-MT2500. by @JiaY-shi in armbian/build#10638
- fix building for Linux 7.3. by @EvilOlaf in armbian/bcmdhd-dkms#12
- Fix Goodix touchscreen X-axis orientation on SBC3568. by @boardcon-arm in armbian/build#10958
- fix(autoconfig): stop the ext4 writer from corrupting the rootfs. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#221
- fix(build): repair the local build scripts. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#207
- fix(cache): drop UFS images cached before the #196 fix. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#214
- fix(custom): keep decompressed image deletes inside their folder. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#212
- fix(download): keep cache file names inside their folder on Windows. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#213
- fix(dts): restore ELTAY RM66 vendor HDMI. by @RiPetitor in armbian/linux-rockchip#577
- fix(flash): check the target disk in the backend before writing. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#201
- fix(qdl): inject the UFS autoconfig into a per-flash copy. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#210
- fix(soc): enable RM66 power-domain workaround in vendor kernel. by @RiPetitor in armbian/linux-rockchip#581
- fix(ui): stop data views hanging on skeletons or hiding load errors. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#199
- fix(ui): translate checksum, verify and decompress errors. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#216
- generate_targets: fill 'alfa' runners first with kernel jobs. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#492
- gha-matrix: add
by-name-and-arch-overflow-maxrunner cap. by @rpardini in armbian/build#10967 - git: fall back to other kernel remotes when one does not answer. by @iav in armbian/build#10929
- git: GitHub fallback and longer timeout for the runner git proxy. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10935
- git: mark the MEMO_DICT nameref in git2info for shellcheck. by @iav in armbian/build#10961
- haos: accept ARCH=arm for 32-bit ARM. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/configng#1056
- haos: let NetworkManager manage netplan interfaces. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/configng#1054
- helios4: stable MAC address from SPI NOR unique ID. by @iav in armbian/build#10962
- helios64: arm auto power-on in U-Boot, fix its GPIO numbers, make it configurable. by @iav in armbian/build#10906
- i18n: translate the rolling release labels. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#219
- JetHome: Add board image for JetHub D3 (j310). by @QwaSeeK in armbian/armbian.github.io#493
- kernel-debug-tiers: detect hard lockups in tier 1. by @iav in armbian/build#10921
- kernel-rust: ship the generated arch asm include files in headers. by @iav in armbian/build#10931
- kernel: add github mainline mirror. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10949
- kickpi-k2b-v2: add fail-soft prebuilt FFmpeg v4l2-request install (cedrus HW decode). by @Novice-PG in armbian/build#10915
- mainline: bump to 7.3-rc7. by @EvilOlaf in armbian/build#10975
- maintainers: virtual boards inherit maintainers of their base board. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#489
- mangopi-mq: replace Boot0/TOC1 with SPL/FIT. by @khaliforce in armbian/build#10926
- mangopi-mq: update OpenSBI to v1.9. by @khaliforce in armbian/build#10924
- meson64: meson64-reboot on gpiod for current and edge, drop the SD power-off DT patch. by @iav in armbian/build#10899
- mmc: core: Handle NULL vqmmc in voltage setting. by @jannikbecher in armbian/linux-rockchip#564
- mvebu: don't fetch the 64-bit Marvell bootloader tools. by @iav in armbian/build#10970
- nanopi-r3s-lts: name ports wan/lan, blink LEDs on traffic. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10953
- nanopi-r76s: name ports wan/lan, blink LEDs on traffic. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10954
- Orangepi CM5 boot fixes. by @ECO1AI in armbian/build#10916
- orangepi3b: one U-Boot image for NVMe and SATA, fix overlay prefix. by @lukaszsobala in armbian/build#10896
- orangepi5: drop sd-uhs-sdr104 for SD card reliability (mainline). by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10917
- partitioner: keep board hook stderr off the dialog gauge. by @iav in armbian/configng#1053
- perf(autoconfig): speed up the profile step and honour an early cancel. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#220
- piano: add Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro (SM8750) firmware. by @code002-2 in armbian/firmware#143
- Ping PR authors about new unresolved review conversations. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#481
- ping-unresolved-reviews: wait 48 hours before a ping. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#494
- qca: Added missing bluetooth firmware for WCN7860. by @kasimling in armbian/firmware#142
- refactor(compilation): extract ccache support into a swappable extension. by @iav in armbian/build#9840
- refactor(ui): move hard-coded values into config, dedupe helpers. by @SuperKali in armbian/imager#205
- reusable: enable friendlyelec-rk3588 aliases for R6S, R6C, M6, T6, T6-LTS. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#490
- reusable: hide friendlyelec-rk3588 download page, keep its aliases. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#488
- Ripetitor/eltay rm66 vendor support. by @RiPetitor in armbian/linux-rockchip#560
- rk35xx-vendor-next: initial
6.12-rkr1from Meco; consolidate & fold families. by @rpardini in armbian/build#10966 - rockchip-7.3: fix general-rockchip-various-fixes for 7.3-rc7. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10978
- rockchip64-7.3: add opt-in helios64 CPU stability overlay. by @iav in armbian/build#10942
- rockchip64-7.3: fix RK3568 PCIe Root Port reset loop. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10937
- rockchip64/meson64/uefi-*: bump edge to v7.3(-rc6). by @rpardini in armbian/build#10920
- rockchip64: current/edge: build
REALTEK_PHYin. by @sckiyo in armbian/build#10923 - serial: 8250: add RS485 support with RTS and GPIO DE control. by @boardcon-arm in armbian/linux-rockchip#569
- soc: rockchip: pm_domains: don't panic on handshake timeout when always_on is set. by @RiPetitor in armbian/linux-rockchip#558
- software: add SolidPing uptime monitoring module. by @fclairamb in armbian/configng#1057
- SpacemiT K1: Edge: Migrate from linux-7.2.y to 7.3.y. by @pyavitz in armbian/build#10965
- SpacemiT K1: Remove CONFIG_BPF_JIT_ALWAYS_ON=y and other misc fixups "current". by @pyavitz in armbian/build#10959
- sun60iw2: fetch camera tools from orangepi-build. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/build#10951
- sunxi/rockchip64/meson64: rewrite patches. by @EvilOlaf in armbian/build#10964
- sunxi: recore: set the A5/A6 GPU clock, throttle instead of powering off at 90 C, keep pstore. by @eliasbakken in armbian/build#10940
- targets: overflow arm64 image jobs to X64 runners above the ARM64 capacity. by @igorpecovnik in armbian/armbian.github.io#491
- Update Boardcon SBC3568 board configuration. by @boardcon-arm in armbian/build#10952
- wl_cfg80211: handle NL80211_WPA_VERSION_3 (WPA3/SAE with wpa_supplicant 2.11). by @defcom5-rockchip in armbian/bcmdhd-dkms#11
Stay up to date with the latest Armbian news, development highlights, and tips — delivered straight to your inbox.