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Flashing Fedora on AYANEO Pocket DS

0. Prerequisites​

Windows PC​

  1. Download and install Balena Etcher
  2. Download and install 7z

Linux PC​

  1. Install balena-etcher-electron from your distribution's package manager or from here
  2. Install zstd from your distribution's package manager

1. Backup ABL and flash the new ABL​

  1. Download the latest ABL from here
  2. Extract the downloaded file and copy abl_signed-SM8550.elf to the root of your Ayaneo PocketDS storage
  3. Copy backup_abl.sh and flash_abl.sh to the root of your Ayaneo PocketDS storage
  4. In Aya settings, go to root scripts and select backup_abl.sh to backup your current ABL
  5. From the same place, select flash_abl.sh to flash the new ABL

2. Chosing your flavor of Fedora​

4 different flavors of Fedora are availble to choose from, each with its own desktop environment. You can choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences:

Desktop EnvironmentScreenshotLink to latest build
KDE Plasma DesktopKDE Plasma DesktopLink to latest build
KDE Plasma MobileKDE Plasma MobileLink to latest build
GnomeGnomeLink to latest build
PhoshPhoshLink to latest build

3. Download the image and flash it​

  1. Download the image of your chosen flavor from the links provided above
  2. Extract the zstd archive using 7z or any other tool that supports zstd
  3. Using Balena Etcher, flash the downloaded image to your Ayaneo PocketDS storage

4. Booting​

  1. Reboot and keep pressing volume down button to enter ABL fastboot, the screen should be rotated 90 degrees left (portrait mode) indicating you are indeed using ROCKNIX ABL.
  2. Using Volume keys to navigate and power button to select, select "Switch boot mode" to select Linux.
  3. Also select "Set device model" to set the device model to "Ayaneo PocketDS".
  4. Finally select START to boot into Fedora. The first boot may take a while, so be patient.

5. Post installation​

Default credentials are:

  • Username: pocketds
  • Password: ayaneo

You should change the default password after the first login for security reasons.

6. What works and what doesn't​

  • Touchscreens: Works
  • Buttons: Works
  • Wi-Fi: Works
  • Bluetooth: Works
  • Speakers: Works
  • Microphone: Works
  • Vibration: Works
  • USB-C: Works (data transfer and charging)
  • Gyroscope and Accelerometer: Working
  • Fingerprint sensor: Not working yet
  • Hardware acceleration: Works
  • Suspend and resume: Works
  • Battery status: Works
  • Brightness control: Works
  • Volume control: Works

Credits​

  • ROCKNIX - For the ABL and patches, configs, kernel and overall amazing work that made it possible to run Linux on Ayaneo PocketDS
  • Ayaneo - For creating the Ayaneo PocketDS
  • Fedora Project - For creating and maintaining Fedora, which is the Linux distribution we are using on Ayaneo PocketDS
  • xzn92 - For his initial work on getting Linux running on Ayaneo PocketDS and help