Talk:PINE64 ROCKPro64/Installing Gentoo

What kernel was used for this guide?
Hello, Thanks for the guide! I'll have to try it when it's finished. What kernel did you use while getting your RockPro to run properly? If I remember correctly, I believe that is the step I'm missing with my unit. The only kernel I could fine was one from the 4.x era. Please add kernel instructions if you have them. If not, please let me know and close this discussion. Thank you! --Maffblaster (talk) 21:14, 4 January 2022 (UTC)


 * Thank you so much for the edits you made, the page looks MUCH better now.


 * I originally used the default current Gentoo kernel (e.g. 5.15) - it worked fine and I did not have to change a thing to boot little endian. You will note that in the install examples, I list a 5.10 kernel... That is because I am testing a custom/unreleased PCIe product that has a 5.10 driver. The driver will probably work fine with 5.15, but I wanted to change one variable at a time. So after using the default Gentoo kernel, I downloaded 5.10.88 from kernel.org and built it.


 * Perhaps you can help me out a bit with my big endian port... But first a little disclosure. The port is working great, but there are some definite hacks I want to clean up before release... so there will be a slight delay in releasing all the pieces. Some of the work is absolutely ready for release now though.


 * My question: how do I release this? In particular, there are several areas that needed changing... I have made kernel submissions in the past and I am familiar with that process, but what about all the various packages? I note that Gentoo applies patches to various packages, when is a change done by a Gentoo patch as opposed to a patch to the upstream package? A concrete example: to support the new architecture (aarch64_be), it was necessary to make small changes to the dracut and catalyst utilities who do I submit to?

, The questions you have asked in your last paragraph have go beyond the scope of the wiki. Can you hop on our IRC channel ( can we can discuss there. If you don't want to use an IRC client, then use the webchat mode. Thank you, --Maffblaster (talk) 22:07, 4 January 2022 (UTC)

Extending this guide?
Hello, Great guide. I hope it's Ok if I extend your guide with alternative steps? I'm in the process of installing Gentoo on my rock pro 64 and for example I don't plan flash the SPI memory or to install Grub. -- PeterL (talk) 22:40, 19 February 2022 (UTC)


 * Hello, I'd also like to thank you for your guide. I think an overview over possible "methods" and "configurations" of installation would be very helpful for orientation, before following you guide. As I see it, there are several choices to be made, which can be combined in any way (some exceptions apply). Choice 1: Target installation medium: 1.A SD card 1.B SATA card 1.C eMMC 1.D SPI (?) // Choice 2: Where to compile gentoo: 2.A cross-compile with gentoo work station 2.B natively compile on rock64 with aarch64 install image (e.g. on SD card) // Choice 3: Use intermediate boot loader, between U-Boot and Gentoo 3.A None 3.B GRUB // After showing theses choices (did I miss anything) I'd highlight that you're following 1.B, 2.B, 3.B Mmanico (talk) 20:59, 10 September 2022 (UTC)