Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS HiFive Premier P550 Test Report

Test Environment

Hardware Information

• Development Board: HiFive Premier P550
• Other Hardware:
  • A MicroSD card
  • A USB Type A to C cable

Operating System Information

• OS Version: Ubuntu 2025.11.00 (Based on Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS) (SiFive official support)
• Download Links: https://github.com/sifiveinc/hifive-premier-p550-ubuntu/releases/tag/2025.11.00
• Reference Installation Document: https://www.sifive.com/document-file/hifive-premier-p550-image-update-procedure
• Reference Softwave Document: https://www.sifive.com/document-file/hifive-premier-p550-software-reference-manual

Installation Steps

1. Download and extract the OS image and bootloader files.

   wget https://github.com/sifiveinc/hifive-premier-p550-ubuntu/releases/download/2025.11.00/ubuntu-24.04-preinstalled-server-riscv64.img.xz
   
   wget https://github.com/sifiveinc/freedom-u-sdk/releases/download/2026.07.00-HFP550/bootloader_ddr5_secboot.bin
   
   unxz -d ubuntu-24.04-preinstalled-server-riscv64.img.xz

2. Mount the MicroSD card and use the cp command to copy the image files to the MicroSD card. (Assuming /dev/sdc is the MicroSD card device)

   #Linux
   sudo mount /dev/sdc /mnt/sd
   
   sudo cp ./ubuntu-24.04-preinstalled-server-riscv64.img ./bootloader_ddr5_secboot.bin /mnt/sd
   
   sync
   
   sudo umount /mnt/sd
   
   #macOS(Assuming `/dev/disk4` is the MicroSD card device)：
   diskutil list external physical
   brew install e2fsprogs e2tools
   diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk4
   sudo $(brew --prefix e2fsprogs)/sbin/mkfs.ext4 -F -L SDCARD /dev/disk4
   ls -lh ubuntu-24.04-preinstalled-server-riscv64.img bootloader_ddr5_secboot.bin
   sudo e2cp ubuntu-24.04-preinstalled-server-riscv64.img /dev/disk4:/
   sudo e2cp bootloader_ddr5_secboot.bin /dev/disk4:/
   sudo e2ls -l /dev/disk4:/
   sync
   diskutil eject /dev/disk4

3. Insert the MicroSD card, connect the serial port on the development board, boot the development board, and enter the U-Boot in the SPI Flash.

   • Ensure that the DIP switch is the SPI Flash startup mode: DIP_SW1[3:0] = 0100. (SW’s ON = 0, OFF = 1)
   • Quickly press Enter when Hit any key to stop autoboot appears on the serial terminal to enter the U-Boot command line interface.

4. Burn the image using the custom U-Boot command.

   • Check that the images on the MMC card are readable.

     => ls mmc 1

   • Flash the new bootloader if necessary.

     => ext4load mmc 1 0x90000000 bootloader_ddr5_secboot.bin
     
     => es_burn write 0x90000000 flash

   • Flash the os image.

     => es_fs write mmc 1 ubuntu-24.04-preinstalled-server-riscv64.img mmc 0

5. Power cycle the board to boot with the new images.

Expected Results

The system boots up normally and allows login through the onboard serial port.

Actual Results

The system boots up normally and login through the onboard serial port is successful.

Boot Information

[  OK  ] Finished cloud-final.service - Cloud-init: Final Stage.
[  OK  ] Reached target cloud-init.target - Cloud-init target.

Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS ubuntu ttyS0

ubuntu login: ubuntu
Password:

Welcome to Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS (GNU/Linux 6.12.33-1-premier riscv64)

 * Documentation:  https://help.ubuntu.com
 * Management:     https://landscape.canonical.com
 * Support:        https://ubuntu.com/pro

System information as of Thu Nov 27 14:15:34 UTC 2025

  System load:     1.02
  Usage of /home:  unknown
  Memory usage:    49%
  Swap usage:      32%
  Temperature:     61.0 C
  Processes:       433
  Users logged in: 0

=> There is 1 zombie process.
=> There were exceptions while processing one or more plugins.
   See /var/log/landscape/sysinfo.log for more information.

The list of available updates is more than a week old.
To check for new updates run: sudo apt update

Failed to connect to https://changelogs.ubuntu.com/meta-release-lts.
Check your Internet connection or proxy settings.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ uname -a
Linux ubuntu 6.12.33-1-premier #6 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Thu Nov 27 07:15:04 UTC 2025 riscv64 riscv64 riscv64 GNU/Linux

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ cat /etc/os-release
PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS"
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION_ID="24.04"
VERSION="24.04.3 LTS (Noble Numbat)"
VERSION_CODENAME=noble
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
UBUNTU_CODENAME=noble
LOGO=ubuntu-logo

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

Screen recording:

Test Criteria

Successful: The actual result matches the expected result.

Failed: The actual result does not match the expected result.

Test Conclusion

Test successful.