Hi, trying to install IPFire for NanoPi R5C, I flashed image to SD card using Etcher and changed Serial = Off, my system stays on black screen and IPFire will not boot. Any tips?
Hi @lee16
Welcome to the IPFire community.
I am afraid that in the arm hardware page of the wiki
https://www.ipfire.org/docs/hardware/arm#single-board-computers
it says that FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S + others Do not work and are not supported.
I would expect that the R5C is covered by the + others.
It looks like the whole R5 family will not work with IPFire.
There was this thread starting from this post
https://community.ipfire.org/t/arm-sbc-support-discussion/2650/198
which talked about various R5x machines but there was no final conclusion that anyone got anything to work.
Sorry to not be more hopeful for you, unless @spikerguy from that thread above has had any more success in getting any working.
Thanks for answer! I did check that thread and loaded NANOPI-R5S_EFI.img to SD card and IPFire to USB as suggested, I did get image to screen. After it starts loading Linux, I lose display.
I don’t use any arm systems with IPFire so can’t help any further, I’m afraid.
Maybe there are others who have managed to get further with the R5C.
I don’t have access to a R5S or R5C but if i remember correctly the kernel currently not support video output on rockchip boards. Try to use a serial console.
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Thank you all! Not sure if this one has serial, I’ll investigate.
I studied the board and found Ground, TX & RX pins. Will any USB serial work with these? Example: PL2303HX USB to TTL RS232 COM UART Module Serial Cable module | SP-Elektroniikka Oy
Not any, but this. 
The magic word in specs of the UART port is ‘TTL’.
Yup, was just thinking if the cable is enough, I see some have PCB with them. Example this: Raspberry Pi USB-TTL -adapteri – Verkkokauppa.com