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I'll hijack this thread to ask: What are some good Pi alternatives that don't need blobs to boot and run, and that use mainline (or more-or-less mainline) kerne

by gspr 4y ago

I'll hijack this thread to ask: What are some good Pi alternatives that don't need blobs to boot and run, and that use mainline (or more-or-less mainline) kernels? I don't need any video output, and I'm happy to pay double. What are my options?

auxym 4y ago
Pine64 maybe? https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/PINE64_ROCKPro64 https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/PINE64_ROCKPro64
- gspr 4y ago
  Thanks! That's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for!
thecolorblue 4y ago
Can you explain a little more? I don't know what you mean by 'blobs to boot and run'. As far as I know, the latest Linux kernel supports the raspberry pi.
- flyinghamster 4y ago
  The Pi actually boots from the GPU, which runs a closed-source binary blob. The GPU then starts up the ARM cores, and that's where Linux boots.
ohbeishah9Ienus 4y ago
http://www.orangepi.org/ http://www.orangepi.org/ ? https://ameridroid.com/collections/single-board-computer https://ameridroid.com/collections/single-board-computer ?
- gspr 4y ago
  Those look like good sources for a variety of SBCs. Thanks! But how do I narrow the selection down to my criteria?
fsagx 4y ago
If you just need a tiny, fanless board that runs linux, like-new Wyse3040 can be had in any quantity you like for ~$30 - $40 (ethernet only, though). Wyse5010 is a bit bigger and more capable (and has built-in wifi) around the same price.
- jpetrucc 4y ago
  Where are you seeing these for those prices? ebay? It'd be interesting to see what could be done with boards like this
  - fsagx 4y ago
    yes. I've picked up a few on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=wyse+3040 https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=wyse+3040 Many listings will not include the power supply, but if you have a drawer full of wall warts, you can probably find something that works.
hoppyhoppy2 4y ago
The FSF has a page on single-board computers that might be helpful, at least to narrow down your options by discarding the worse options. https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/single-board-computers https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/single-board-computers >Some have workarounds, but some are fatally flawed and none are fully free.

by gspr 4y ago

auxym 4y ago

Pine64 maybe? https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/PINE64_ROCKPro64 https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/PINE64_ROCKPro64

gspr 4y ago
Thanks! That's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for!

thecolorblue 4y ago

Can you explain a little more? I don't know what you mean by 'blobs to boot and run'. As far as I know, the latest Linux kernel supports the raspberry pi.

flyinghamster 4y ago
The Pi actually boots from the GPU, which runs a closed-source binary blob. The GPU then starts up the ARM cores, and that's where Linux boots.

ohbeishah9Ienus 4y ago

http://www.orangepi.org/ http://www.orangepi.org/ ? https://ameridroid.com/collections/single-board-computer https://ameridroid.com/collections/single-board-computer ?

gspr 4y ago
Those look like good sources for a variety of SBCs. Thanks! But how do I narrow the selection down to my criteria?

fsagx 4y ago

If you just need a tiny, fanless board that runs linux, like-new Wyse3040 can be had in any quantity you like for ~$30 - $40 (ethernet only, though). Wyse5010 is a bit bigger and more capable (and has built-in wifi) around the same price.

jpetrucc 4y ago
Where are you seeing these for those prices? ebay? It'd be interesting to see what could be done with boards like this
- fsagx 4y ago
  yes. I've picked up a few on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=wyse+3040 https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=wyse+3040 Many listings will not include the power supply, but if you have a drawer full of wall warts, you can probably find something that works.

hoppyhoppy2 4y ago

The FSF has a page on single-board computers that might be helpful, at least to narrow down your options by discarding the worse options. https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/single-board-computers https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/single-board-computers >Some have workarounds, but some are fatally flawed and none are fully free.