---
slug: armbian-on-odroid-n2l
title: "Armbian on Odroid N2L"
date: "2025-06-08T15:31:00-04:00"
draft: true

pics:
  n2l:
    css: "image"
    tip: "Odroid N2L running Armbian."
    sources:
      - "/files/posts/armbian-on-odroid-n2l/n2l-1024.webp"
      - src: "/files/posts/armbian-on-odroid-n2l/n2l-1024.png"
        width: 1024
        height: 771
---

Last week I installed [Armbian][] on an [Odroid N2L][].  The
installation steps, installation results, and fixes for some problems
are documented below.

### Installation

1. Download and import the [signing key][armbian-key] (fingerprint
   `DF00FAF1C577104B50BF1D0093D6889F9F0E78D5`): \
   `wget -O- https://apt.armbian.com/armbian.key | gpg -- import -`
2. Download the current "Debian 12 (Bookworm)" image and the [detached
   signature][asc] from the "Minimal/IOT images" section of the [Armbian
   Odroid N2L page][armbian-n2l].
3. Verify the [signature][asc]: \
   `gpg --verify Armbian_community_25.8.0-trunk.8_Odroidn2l_bookworm_current_6.12.28_minimal.img.xz{.asc,}`
4. Uncompress the image: \
   `unxz Armbian_community_25.8.0-trunk.8_Odroidn2l_bookworm_current_6.12.28_minimal.img.xz`
5. Flash the uncompressed image to a [microSD][] card: \
   `sudo dd if=Armbian_community_25.8.0-trunk.8_Odroidn2l_bookworm_current_6.12.28_minimal.img of=/dev/sda bs=1M status=progress`
6. Mount the second partition of the [microSD][] card on `/mnt/tmp`: \
   `sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/tmp`
7. Use the instructions and template from [Automatic first boot
   configuration][armbian-autoconfig] to populate
   `/mnt/tmp/root/.not_logged_in_yet`.  My populated autoconfig is
   [here][populated-autoconfig], but **it did not work as expected**;
   see below.
8. Unmount the second partition of the [microSD][] card.
9. Insert the [microSD][] card into the [Odroid N2L][] and power it on.

### Installation Results

Worked as expected:

- Successfully booted.
- Successfully connected to [WiFi][] on first boot.

Did not work as expected:

- Did not connect to WiFI on subsequent boots.
- Did not set the root password.  Instead the root password was `1234`.
- Did not set the user password.
- Did not set the user SSH key.

### Fixes

To correct these problems I connected a keyboard and monitor and did the
following:

1. Logged in as `root` with the password `1234`.
2. Changed the root password and the user password.
4. Edited `/etc/netplan/20-eth-fixed-mac.yaml` and fixed the
   errors.  The corrected version is below.
5. Ran `netplan apply` to apply the corrected network configuration.
6. Rebooted to confirm that networking was working as expected.

Here is the corrected `/etc/netplan/20-eth-fixed-mac.yaml`:

```yaml
network:
  version: 2
```
 

After fixing networking, I did the following:

1. Copied my SSH key.
2. Edited `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` to disable root logins and password
   logins.
3. Ran `apt-get update && apt-get upgrade`.
4. Installed `unattended-upgrades`.
5. Rebooted to pick up the latest updates.

<!--

### Conclusion

Many non-[Pi][] [SBCs][sbc] manufacturers stop providing software
shortly after the hardware is released.  Owners are stuck with
unsupported hardware running out-of-date software.

Case in point: The latest download on the [Odroid N2L wiki][] is Ubuntu
22.04.

I'm thrilled that [Armbian][]

original unused blather ...

[Armbian][] now supports the [Odroid N2L][] as a [community maintained
target][armbian-n2l].

Context: A couple of years ago Nadine bought me a pair of [Odroid
N2Ls][odroid n2l].  [Pi 4s][pi] were scarce because of supply chain
issues, and the [Odroid N2L][] seemed like a decent substitute.

The problem with non-[Pi][] [SBCs][sbc] is that the manufacturers
invariably stop providing software updates shortly after release, so you
are stuck with unsupported hardware running an out of date OS.

As of this writing, the [Odroid N2L wiki][] still has the same software
that it did when first got the hardware: Ubuntu 22.04.
-->

[{{< pe-figure "n2l" >}}][n2l-pic]

[armbian]: https://www.armbian.com/
  "Linux for ARM development boards"
[odroid n2l]: https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-n2l-with-4gbyte-ram/
  "Odroid N2L ARM A73 SBC"
[pi]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi
  "Raspberry Pi"
[sbc]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-board_computer
  "single-board computer (SBC)"
[armbian-n2l]: https://www.armbian.com/odroid-n2l/
  "Armbian for the Odroid N2L"
[odroid n2l wiki]: https://wiki.odroid.com/getting_started/os_installation_guide#tab__odroid-n2l
  "Odroid Wiki: Odroid N2L"
[n2l-pic]: /files/posts/armbian-on-odroid-n2l/n2l.jpg
  "Odroid N2L running Armbian"
[armbian-autoconfig]: https://docs.armbian.com/User-Guide_Autoconfig/
  "Armbian Documentation: Automatic first boot configuration"
[asc]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy#Digital_signatures
  "Detached PGP signature"
[armbian-key]: https://apt.armbian.com/armbian.key
  "Armbian PGP signing key"
[populated-autoconfig]: /files/posts/armbian-on-odroid-n2l/odroid-n2l-root_not_logged_in_yet.txt
  "Populated automatic first boot configuration file"
[microsd]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SD_card#microSD
  "microSD memory card"
[wifi]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi
  "Wireless networking"