Beagleboard:Ubuntu On BeagleBone Black

This page shows you how to boot various versions of Ubuntu on your BeagleBone Black. These are just options that are in addition to the Angstrom that ships with the boards. These options are not officially supported by Circuitco or Beagleboard.org.

Main Process
The steps described here are steps you must take before installing any version of Ubuntu described in this Wiki. These steps are for users with a Windows OS computer.
 * 1) * There is an image for flashing to the eMMC by Robert C Nelson found on this page (look for the .img.xz file not .tar.xz)
 * Alternatively, the direct download link for this image is here: Ubuntu 13.04 eMMC Flasher
 * 1) After you have downloaded the .img.xz file you want, use a program such as 7zip to extract the image file
 * 2) * Once 7zip is installed, right click on .img.xz file you just downloaded and click 7zip > Extract Here, to extract the .img file
 * 3) Insert the micro SD card into your computer
 * 4) * Using a microSD-to-SD or microSD-to-USB adapter is fine
 * 5) Use Win32 Disk Imager to write the image onto your micro SD
 * 6) * Instructions on how to use Win32 Disk Imager can be found here
 * 7) After Win32 Disk Imager has finished remove the micro SD card from your computer

You are now ready to follow directions below that correspond to the version of Ubuntu/Debian/Sabayon you downloaded.

Ubuntu Precise On Micro SD
This section assumes you have completed the Main Process section at the top of this page. This section shows you how to install Ubuntu Precise on a micro SD card to boot your BeagleBone Black from. NOTE: This process does not flash the eMMC with an image to boot from; it only provides instructions to boot from a micro SD card every time.


 * 1) After you have put the BeageBone Black Ubuntu Precise 12.04.2 LTS image on a micro SD card, insert it into the powered-off BBB.
 * 2) * Also make sure you have a keyboard, mouse, display, and Ethernet connected
 * 3) While holding down the 'boot' button, apply power to the board. Continue to hold the 'boot' button until the USER LEDs begin to flash
 * 4) * You should use a 5V external power source, USB power may not work
 * 5) After about a minute your screen should show the login prompt. Sign in
 * User: ubuntu
 * Password: ubuntu
 * 1) * Note: echo is turned off for typing in password
 * 2) You should now have Ubuntu terminal.
 * 3) * Remember that any time you want to boot from micro SD you may have to hold down the 'boot' button. If you don't the BBB may just boot from whatever is on the eMMC
 * 4) * If you want to install LXDE on the micro SD card see this page.
 * 5) * If you want to install full Ubuntu Desktop on the microSD see this page.

Ubuntu Raring On Micro SD
This section assumes you have completed the Main Process section at the top of this page. This section shows you how to install Ubuntu Raring on a micro SD card to boot your BeagleBone Black from. NOTE: This process does not flash the eMMC with an image to boot from; it only provides instructions to boot from a micro SD card every time.


 * 1) After you have put the BeageBone Black Ubuntu Raring 13.04 image on a micro SD card insert it into the powered-off BBB.
 * 2) * Also make sure you have a keyboard, mouse, display, and Ethernet connected
 * 3) While holding down the boot button, apply power to the board. Continue to hold the 'boot' button until the USER LEDs begin to flash
 * 4) * You should use a 5V external power source, USB power may not work
 * 5) After about a minute your screen should show the login prompt, sign in
 * User: ubuntu
 * Password: ubuntu
 * 1) * Note: echo is turned off for typing in password
 * 2) You should now have a terminal.
 * 3) * Remember that any time you want to boot from micro SD you may have to hold down the 'boot' button. If you dont, the BBB may just boot from whatever is on the eMMC
 * 4) * If you want to install LXDE on the micro SD card see this page
 * 5) * If you want to install full Ubuntu Desktop on the microSD see this page.

Linux users see here for instructions on how to load this image onto a microSD in Linux.

Flashing Ubuntu 13.04 to the eMMC
This section assumes you have completed the Main Process section at the top of this page. This section shows you how to flash Ubuntu onto the eMMC of your BeagleBone Black.


 * 1) After you have put the BeageBone Black Ubuntu Flasher image on a micro SD card, insert it into the powered-off BBB.
 * 2) * Also make sure you have a keyboard, mouse, display, and Ethernet connected
 * 3) While holding down the 'boot' button, apply power to the board. Continue to hold the 'boot' button until the USER LEDs begin to flash
 * 4) * You should use a 5V external power source, USB power may not work
 * 5) After about a minute your screen should show the login prompt.
 * 6) Leave the board be for about 10 minutes; the image is being flashed to the eMMC
 * 7) After about 10 minutes have passed the 4 LEDs should be solid and not flickering. Remove the power, remove the mirco SD, and then re-apply power to the board
 * 8) It will take a minute or two for the board to boot to the log-in screen
 * User is: ubuntu
 * Password is: temppwd
 * 1) * Note: echo is turned off for typing in password
 * 2) You should now be in the command terminal for Ubuntu and your BeagleBone Black will boot here from now on.