This guide will allow you to install linux on Bedrock PC (follow all instructions without the ones marked in red).

text in red are remarks to change or further investigate

Tested versions:

• Ubuntu server 20.04.2

• Ubuntu server 22.04.1

Tested serial platforms:

• Tio

• Putty

Tested NVME disks:

• Micron 7450 pro 960GB

• Samsung 980 pro 980 GB

Create bootable usb drive:

• download a linux server iso

• sudo dd if=${path/to/iso/file.iso} of=/dev/sdX status=progress

Note X is the letter marked by your computer when running lsblk (usually a or b)

• Insert the usb media to the device

• In bios enable uart support (ASK RON HOW TO DO IT)

• Boot from inserted usb media

Putty settings:

• If keyboard input doesn’t work change XON\XOFF to none

Grub settings:

• In grub press “e” to enter into setparams mode

• You will be prompted with a window like this:

setparams 'Install Ubuntu Server'
set gfxpayload=keep
linux        /casper/vmlinuz   quiet  --- 
initrd        /casper/initrd

• Remove the quiet parameter and change line 3 to:

Change below command to the correct ttyS#

• linux        /casper/vmlinuz   console=tty0 console=ttyS4,115200n8  ---

Automatically enable ttyS4 (still testing):
linux        /casper/vmlinuz   console=tty1 console=ttyS4,115200n8 systemd.unit=getty@ttyS4.service ---

Note: the text in bold may be different for you, you just need to add the parameters after that.

• Now press ctrl+x to boot

• A message saying “Booting a command list” will appear

• It might take a while to start showing more output

• After the output stops running you will see one or more of  the following messages:

  • Welcome to Ubuntu Server Installer!

  • Cloud init is ready

  • Some encryption keys

You have 3 options to proceed from here (choose ONE):

1. Install from serial console:

Check if we can make it work through uart input

• IMPORTANT: Connect a keyboard to the device (serial input will not work here)

• Press ctrl+z

• Type the commands in bold:

  • systemctl status getty@ttyS4.service

  • systemctl enable getty@ttyS4.service

  • systemctl start getty@ttyS4.service

Check console redirection or start service automatically
Note: you will not see what you're typing but just continue

• After the last command, a console line  will appear (switch back to uart input)

• Run the following file: /usr/bin/subiquity-shell 

2. Install from ssh: this option enables yopu to connect throuth SSH (wasnt tested yet).

3. Install from cloud init: this option uses network boot

Installation process:

• Choose language

• If prompted to update the installer choose the desired option

• Choose keyboard configuration

• Configure network interface (not mandatory)

• Configure proxy (not mandatory)

• Configure ubuntu archive mirror (not mandatory)

• Choose installation disk

• Choose on which partition to install linux, or choose the whole disk

Note: chosen disk will be formatted so be careful when choosing, so you will not lose your data.

• Choose what snaps you want to install

• After install finishes select reboot now

After installation is done:

• run: systemctl start getty@ttyS4.service

• And : systemctl enable getty@ttyS4.service

• After that the device's console will appear and that's it.