[BETA] Raspberry Pi boot from USB/NVMe

Darmur · March 7, 2024, 9:01pm

pretty safe, just added patched drivers for Waveshare 11.9" DSI display

naimnatnod · March 7, 2024, 9:03pm

Thanks Darmur. Why do I need to add a patched drivers for Waveshare 11.9" DSI display? I am using an external HDMI display.

naimnatnod · March 7, 2024, 9:04pm

Update done! It’s amazing fast. It took less than a minute to update.

Darmur · March 7, 2024, 9:06pm

you don’t need them, I was just responding if it was safe to update

EAC · March 13, 2024, 9:41am

Hi,
Just letting the community know the upgrade to boot process was successful with the following configuration:

Audiophonics EVO-Sabre
RPi4 2GB
WD Blue NGFF M.2 500GB SSD within an ORICO USB3 NGFF/NVME external case.

The case is hooked up to one the Pi’s USB3 ports, and is small enough to be positioned within the Sabre’s box, simply routing the USB3 cable back in the box via the unused cutout for the SD connector.
I initially planned to use the GeekWorm HAT extension X862, but it is much simpler having the USB3 case, which I can remove and connect to a regular PC for any maintenance purposes.

Next I’ll load the music collection on there and see how it goes.

Thanks to all (nerd in particular!) for the detailed walkthrough.

Eric

naimnatnod · March 19, 2024, 5:56am

[Moved to firmware thread - @nerd ]

Today I have a 128gb USB 3.2 from MoveSpeed and installed a Test version of Volumio v3.639 (exactly the dame procedures as other working USB 3.0 32gb).

The RPi4 wouldn’t boot and it says Unsupported block size 4096. I believe if this USB was 512 block size, it would work.

Is there any work around?

Thanks,

Andy

nerd · March 19, 2024, 6:59am

Hey Andy,

This is very interesting indeed. Can you take a photo or post the link that I can order the exact same storage device for testing?

naimnatnod · March 19, 2024, 7:13am

It was on sale yesterday @ US$18.53 plus tax.

nerd · March 19, 2024, 7:46am

This is going to be a bit of challenge, Amazon does not offer shipment.

These USB devices seems to have a region specific ASIN: B0C69NPMRC
Manufacturer uses: B0CGN6B2GB and delivery ETA is mid of April.
My concern is that there may be a firmware difference.

naimnatnod · March 19, 2024, 2:59pm

@nerd Where do you live? Is AliExpress is closer to you?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805078105255.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&albagn=888888&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&albcp=19623912707&albag=&trgt=&crea=en3256805078105255&netw=x&device=c&albpg=&albpd=en3256805078105255&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw7-SvBhB6EiwAwYdCAUlUqR9fAtxs-hrRsXlBdURl0fIFh7C6Br7pP02EWaUxvFZwd1Ne5RoC-_sQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&aff_fcid=c01e76516a8b4da897b3a54beda27994-1710860308603-06797-UneMJZVf&aff_fsk=UneMJZVf&aff_platform=aaf&sk=UneMJZVf&aff_trace_key=c01e76516a8b4da897b3a54beda27994-1710860308603-06797-UneMJZVf&terminal_id=3598dd9bad5548a88b8823fcf67758b2&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

naimnatnod · March 19, 2024, 3:00pm

Here’s the boot loop.

nerd · March 19, 2024, 3:47pm

Initial thoughts:

Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes. A physical sector size of 4096 bytes is not a problem, but a logical sector size of other than 512 bytes with a bootable vfat partition is.
Some proprietary firmware/software that this vendor uses needs the additional sector size for some fancy parity stuff.

Will need to park it until Move Speed USB arrive (3 pcs)

nerd · March 19, 2024, 4:26pm

As a test - can you remove pci=pcie_bus_safe from /boot/cmdline.txt and check?

naimnatnod · March 19, 2024, 4:37pm

How can I access/remove pci=pcie_bus_safe from /boot/cmdline.txt when I can’t boot it up from the Pi?

nerd · March 19, 2024, 4:50pm

The cmdline.txt is on boot vfat partition. Any system should see it.

naimnatnod · March 19, 2024, 5:00pm

How can I access to vfat partition? This is what I see on my Windows machine.

nerd · March 19, 2024, 5:03pm

It’s the smallest one - 738MB, however is shown as RAW.

If you have other Rpi or booted from SD Card we can check there.

naimnatnod · March 19, 2024, 5:06pm

I do have another RPi. Do you want me to boot from SD card (Volumio or Pi OS)?

nerd · March 19, 2024, 5:18pm

Yes please, once booted connect USB, connect and login with ssh or directly on console type

sudo fdisk -l

naimnatnod · March 19, 2024, 5:20pm

It shows logical/physical : 4096/4096 on the USB.