The device will boot, execute run.sh script and jump into the new kernel & userspace. Unmount the stick, plug it into Steam Link, connect it to ethernet and power it on! Place run.sh in /media/disk/steamlink/factory_test/ and chmod 755 it Place kernel modules in /media/disk/lib/modules/5.4.24/ Place kexec in /media/disk/usr/bin/ and chmod 755 it Place kexec_load.ko, zImage, initramfs-linux-steam.img and berlin2cd-valve-steamlink.dtb in /media/disk/boot/

kexec userspace binary - here at version 2.0.15 since 2.0.20 which is currently in arch repo doesn't work any more!.

kexec kernel module to jump into our own kernel.

This will not touch the bootloader or the NAND, everything happens in RAM or on the external USB stick.

Why Arch? It's easy to work with, has a large arm repository and userland snapshots are available.

The goal here is to have Steam Link running under our own kernel with Archlinux userspace. Before you begin note that there is no HDMI output (and likely won't be) so this is just a tiny headless ARM box.

Steam link linux