Latest revision as of 07:14, 10 June 2023

    ROCK 3 >  ROCK 3 Model C >  Getting started

Getting Started

This guide is designed for ROCK 3C enthusiast. The purpose is to learn about ROCK 3C as well as how to prepare and set up for basic use. When you get a board, you need to know what model it is and which hardware version it is. The information is printed in the top side of the board. We will introduce the board information as much as possible.

What you need

Necessary

• ROCK 3C main board

• One of the Storage media below:
  • microSD, larger than 8GB or
  • eMMC module, larger than 8GB

• Power supply
  • The ROCK 3 is powered by Type-C port and support 5V input only. The suggested power adapter is 5V/3A when using without SSD, 5V/5A when using with SSD.

• USB Keyboard and Mouse
  • With four USB-A connectors, ROCK 3C can be equipped with a full sized keyboard and mouse.

• Monitor and HDMI Cable
  • ROCK 3C is equipped with a full sized HDMI connector. HDMI capable monitor is recommended.
  • HDMI EDID display data is used to determine the best display resolution. On monitors and TVs that support 1080p (or 4K) this resolution will be selected. If 1080p is not supported the next available resolution reported by EDID will be used. This selected mode will work with MOST but not all monitors/TVs.

• microSD Card Reader
  • For flashing the image into microSD Card

Optional

• USB type A to type A cable
  • This is needed for fastboot/adb commands.

• USB to TTL serial cable
  • This is needed for serial console.

• Ethernet cable
  • ROCK 3C supports Internet access via WIFI or Ethernet.
  • An Ethernet cable is used to connect your ROCK 3 to a local network and the Internet.

• Camera Module
  • ROCK 3C supports camera function.

• LCD Module
  • ROCK 3C supports 2-lanes MIPI DSI display function.

• Audio cable
  • Audio can be played through speaker or headphones using a standard 3.5mm jack.

Starting the board for the first time

ROCK 3C can be started with eMMC Module or microSD Card. Now, you are presented with three options when installing your new operating system onto your ROCK 3C.

Prepare

• When starting system with eMMC Module

(Option a) Insert the eMMC Module into ROCK Pi eMMC USB Reader. Then plug the Radxa eMMC USB Reader into host PC.

(Option b) Insert eMMC Module into eMMC to μSD card converter board. Insert the converter board into microSD Card Reader. Then plug the Card Reader into host PC.

• When starting system with microSD Card

(Option c) Insert the microSD Card into microSD Card Reader. Then plug the Card Reader into host PC.

Write Image

• Download the official Ubuntu/Debian system image from Downloads. Make sure choose the right image for ROCK 3C.

• Download the flash tool, etcher, from Downloads. Choose the right version for your host operation system. Here we operate on host Ubuntu 16.04.

• After unpacking the package, we run the tool by executing the command

$ ./etcher-etcher-electron-1.4.5-x86_64.AppImage

If you get an error message: "No polkit authentication agent found" you can try and start it with sudo, but do know that this is running the tool as root.

• In the etcher window, click Select image.

• In the etcher window, click Select Drive.

• In the etcher window, click Flash.

• In the etcher window, once it shows us Flash Complete! It is done and can be put into the RockPi.

3. Boot the board

• Now insert the system storage media, uSD Card or eMMC Module into the socket on the board.

• (Optional) Use the USB to TTL serial cable to setup a connection between PC and ROCK 3C board. See Serial Console.

• Power on ROCK 3C by adapter with type C port.

• ROCK 3C will boot with the green power Led on. And after a while, the other blue Led starts blinking.

• Default user / password is rock / rock

4. Access from the Host PC/Laptop

Option 1: Serial console

Check Serial Console

Option 2: SSH

SSH server is enabled on port 22 of ROCK 3C default image.

Please use angryip to find your board IP address.

To access ROCK 3C by SSH, try

   ping rock3c.local
   ssh rock@rock3c.local

or if your router/network doesn't support Local Domain, you need to check your network/router administrator page and look for the ROCK 3A ip address.

   ping ip-of-device
   ssh rock@ip-of-device

Note: You can also get the IP of ROCK 3C from option 1 if you can not access network administrator page.

5.Network state

• Look at network configure:

  $ sudo ifconfig

• Test network:

  $ ping -c 5 www.google.com

6.WIFI Connection

Check WIFI Connection.

7.BT

Check BT.

8.LED

ROCK 3C has Power LED and User LED.

• Power LED

The power LED is green. It is always on when ROCK 3C is given power by default,

• User LED

The user LED is blue. By default, its blink status shows the running kernel.

9.GPIO

ROCK 3C has one 40-pin expansion headers. Each pin is distinguished by color, more information click here

Development for GPIO. ROCK 3C supports libmraa GPIO library, click here to get more information.

Next Step

• More Debian image usage and tips
• More Ubuntu image usage and tips
• Checkout the hardware details
• Join the community and the Discord discussion group