Raspbian trixie by SteveMicroNova · Pull Request #1106 · micro-nova/AmpliPi

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T17:41:43Z

What does this change intend to accomplish?

This is a reworking of AmpliPi to function in a 64 bit raspbian trixie A:B tryboot setup with the goal of having a more robust system overall and a cleaner update flow with full image updates

A few things that need to be worked on yet:

Ensure that LMS config and plugins persist on slot-swap
Label the partitions something other than p1-7

Checklist

Have you tested your changes and ensured they work?
Have you checked to ensure there aren't other open Pull Requests for the same update/change?
If applicable, have you updated the documentation/manual?
If applicable, have you updated the CHANGELOG?
Does your submission pass linting & tests? You can test on localhost using ./scripts/test
Have you written new tests for your core features/changes, as applicable?
If this is a UI change, have you tested it across multiple browser platforms on both desktop and mobile?

…ure.py to better handle installs from point 0 as well as better handle updates with this new OS

Update check_pass to explicitly use python 3.8 instead of python 3.13 add with_alsa flag to configure.py to optionally forcefully override

…k in configure script

…ports that don't work

…e point when activating linger for pi user

Add "dep filter" repeatable flag for the deploy script for rapid iteration while working on specific dependency install steps

Update NEW_RELEASE.md with a personal reminder

Update check_pass to explicitly use python 3.8 instead of python 3.13 add with_alsa flag to configure.py to optionally forcefully override

Fix alsa option in deploy script

…py with optional verbose logging during the debian upgrade portion

…ions and saving the file properly

Fix asgi.py image consumption endpoint to only modify boot when needed as well as patch the fstab and journal entries for bootability

Move all services from `--user pi` to root to allow for reasonable ownership management between multiple OS instances Add postflash service that validates that apt packages are properly installed Fix small bug with LMS album art

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:04:06Z

This is a WIP that will take a while to finish

This will change the baseline partition scheme of amplipi from basic boot+root to a 7 partition schema:

p1: Autoboot (raspberry pi A:B boot necessity), mounted as /boot/firmware
p2: Boot partition A
p3: Boot partition B
p4: Extended partition containing partitions 5, 6, and 7
p5: Root partition A
p6: Root partition B
p7: Persistent data storage for things that need to remain during flash, such as the user's config. Mounted at /data

Currently, I have the ability to update from images via the updater/asgi.py /update/flash endpoint that takes an update package: a folder containing a root image, an optional boot image, and a manifest.json file that describes the update package with a bytesize and sha256 checksum of the images.
This endpoint uses that update package to first verify the checksum of the image(s) before flashing, and then flashes the inactive directory. After flashing is complete, it also writes an "update-pending" file to p1 that signals to the update finalization service that things are freshly flashed and need to be checked on reboot.
Once that's all done, it also runs sudo reboot "0 tryboot" to move to the other slot

Once in the other boot+root slot, the update verification service checks to see if that /boot/firmware/update-pending file exists and if yes, runs a preflight check before allowing amplipi to start up - verifying if all the apt and python packages are properly in place. Once that's done and amplipi runs, it also edits /boot/firmware/autoboot.txt to change the newly flashed boot slot to be the new default slot so that the user doesn't revert to the previous slot on next reboot

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:39:10Z

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3


The version of python we run has to be installed via UV on Trixie, so I had to move the invocation paths on a few files

Should we replace this with something more generic like uv run?

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:40:08Z

     the stored default AmpliPi password."""

  # Password config location
-  PASS_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.config', 'amplipi')


The whole .config folder and a few services got moved to /data to ensure they persist post-update, many lines like this had to be changed as a result

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:45:25Z

+[all]
+tryboot_a_b=1
+boot_partition=2
+
+[tryboot]
+boot_partition=3
+
+if exist mmc 0:1 /boot_partition.txt then
+  load mmc 0:1 ${loadaddr} /boot_partition.txt
+  env import -t ${loadaddr} ${filesize}
+fi
+
+boot mmc 0:${boot_partition}


This is the default autoboot.txt, which is what the update verification service edits when an update is successful. Specifically what is changed is swapping the [all] boot_partition value with the [tryboot] boot_partition value, that's all it takes to swap the default boot slot

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:46:31Z

  * A micro USB cable
  * Your AmpliPi

-## Optional Step: Preserve your config


This file likely needs more reworking as realistically you shouldn't need to flash ever again, though also I'd say that makes more sense to leave until this code is in the hands of users and has a few support cases under its belt to verify if that's necessary

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:48:12Z

+# Run device-specific customization scripts from p7.
+# These survive OTA updates and are re-applied on each new slot's first boot.
+if [ -d "${SCRIPTS_DIR}" ]; then
+  for script in "${SCRIPTS_DIR}"/*.sh; do
+    [ -f "${script}" ] || continue
+    log "Running ${script}..."
+    bash "${script}" || log "Warning: ${script} exited non-zero"
+  done
+fi


Some users have specific setups on their devices that we don't want to destroy on a full-image update, so I've given them a directory that they can fill with bash scripts to set up their services automatically post-update

I need to test what happens if a user provides scripts that fail for those cases

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:49:18Z

  --hostname NAME: The hostname to set on the pi, so once this script
                   successfully completes connect via {hostname}.local.
                   Default is amplipi
-  --cli-only:      Use the lite version of Raspberry Pi OS which does not have


At some point, CLI only became a default case for our units. I decided to flip the default case in this script to reflect that

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:50:47Z

This file either needs full reworking or deletion. The new 7 partition setup is complex enough that updating this is a bit of a lift when we hardly need it and can also just distribute a full 7 partition image for those who need that sort of thing

The answer is reworking. It won't be a simple portion, but creating a clean image that isn't mucked up with any dev happenings is an important goal and this script is likely one of the better ways to achieve that

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-20T19:52:48Z

Unlike bootstrap.py, I'd say configure.py is still very useful despite not being our update path anymore. manual deploys with the deploy+configure script are likely to be the primary ways we configure the root partitions that later get snapshotted into an image we distribute as an update

Remove line duplicated during rebase

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-21T15:46:47Z

              vol, vol_f, vol_f_delta, vol_min, or vol_max.
          """
          # Field precedence: vol (db) > vol_delta > vol (float)
-          # vol (db) is first in precedence yet last in the stack to cover the default case of no volume change


This looks like a rebase error. This branch is long lived and had some merge conflicts on rebase and so may need to be combed for reversions like this before merging

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-21T15:54:50Z

+      try:
+        self.bus.close()
+      except Exception:
+        pass


This is an additional fix for the issue fixed by #1098 which was merged in #1091

My unit actually got into a bad state during testing, which led to me having the ability to test those changes and add a little more to the fix

My own issue was downstream of some configuration file providing an environment that the I2C didn't like

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-21T16:01:28Z

+  5. (Optional) Run the cleanup script to make the system 'factory fresh' with a randomgen ssh password and empty logs
+"
+
+
+echo "
+NOTE: a modern AmpliPi setup is more complicated than simple bash scripting will allow, to match what a normal Pi would contain please follow the above directions, and then:
+  1. use `sudo dd if=/dev/sdx1 of=amplipi-boot.img status=progress bs=4MiB` to make an image of your boot directory, changing sdx into whatever sd your device mounted to
+  2. use `sudo dd if=/dev/sdx2 of=amplipi-root.img status=progress bs=4MiB` to make an image of your root directory, changing sdx into whatever sd your device mounted to
+  3. use parted or gparted to wipe all partitions and make the following partitions:
+
+    p1: FAT32, 516 MB, flash with amplipi-boot.img
+    p2: FAT32, 516 MB, flash with amplipi-boot.img
+    p3: FAT32, 516 MB, flash with amplipi-boot.img
+    p4: Extended partition containing p5-7 containing remainder of disk
+    p5: EXT4, 10939 MB, flash with amplipi-root.img
+    p6: EXT4, 10939 MB, flash with amplipi-root.img
+    p7: EXT4, sized to fill the remaining space
+
+  4. Edit the contents of the partitions as so:
+
+    p1: add autoboot.txt as seen in /config/autoboot.txt
+    p2: adjust cmdline.txt to point to partition 5
+    p3: adjust cmdline.txt to point to partition 6
+
+    p5: Add p7 to fstab as /data
+    p6: Add p7 to fstab as /data
+    p7: create a .config folder
 "


This is useful documentation for someone who might be trying to get their bearings on this PR

Also worth noting that this section isn't useful as a guide to get a unit up and running anymore

As I've continued working I've found more specific details that simply will not be captured here due to being things like "go deep into this directory and change this line in a random config file that I don't remember anymore"

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-21T17:22:03Z

I've just considered that this file needs a greater explanation

The official docs are a bit sparse (or were when I first read them months ago), so I'll also explain myself:

tryboot_a_b=1 activates the tryboot mechanism, something supported in the raspbian kernel that allows for partition swapping using the command sudo reboot "0 tryboot". Using specifically that "0 tryboot" arg is how you boot into the partition listed under the [tryboot] boot_partition section.

That "0 tryboot" arg simply loads the boot partition listed under the [tryboot] header, it does not toggle anything in this file to make that partition the new default (which is handled by the amplipi-postflash service I've made), so doing a simple sudo reboot from the tryboot partition will send you back to whatever partition is listed under the [all] header

All the actual lifting is done by the individual boot partitions, which have their own kernels and mappings to their own root partitions

SteveMicroNova · 2026-07-21T17:24:15Z

+if exist mmc 0:1 /boot_partition.txt then
+  load mmc 0:1 ${loadaddr} /boot_partition.txt
+  env import -t ${loadaddr} ${filesize}
+fi
+
+boot mmc 0:${boot_partition}


This specific section may not be useful anymore, I'll have to do some testing without it

This was from a time when I was trying to have the boot_partitions be swapped without having a dedicated service for that purpose

…re in by just running `ls`

SteveMicroNova added 30 commits July 20, 2026 13:49

Bump binaries to 64bit versions, add extra steps and checks to config…

db98f0a

…ure.py to better handle installs from point 0 as well as better handle updates with this new OS

Update to use Lyrion

67dac1f

Update check_pass to explicitly use python 3.8 instead of python 3.13 add with_alsa flag to configure.py to optionally forcefully override

Add dev flag to deploy script, use it to ignore previous version chec…

4fd8eca

…k in configure script

Merge main

7c2d6e9

Fix bootstrap script

8b71fd2

Sync dd changes

da2f043

Make lite the default bootstrap edition, add an autoboot.txt

6f27095

Initial support for the /data directory

3c3cc21

Add uv install and configuration step to ensure we use the right python

6ab3d68

Put uv where it actually needs to be, temporarily deactivate a few im…

fcf2f34

…ports that don't work

Readd bluetooth support, improve custom deps installation, fix failur…

9a0e10a

…e point when activating linger for pi user

Add manual bluealsa install

93d2a6c

Add "dep filter" repeatable flag for the deploy script for rapid iteration while working on specific dependency install steps

Deactivate frontend caching via the backend

1d56f62

Bump version

f6e4480

Update NEW_RELEASE.md with a personal reminder

Add vol_f_buffer functionality, imporving relativistic volume changes

59ce620

Add global alert bar, dynamic webapp version warning

acdfa6e

Update to use Lyrion

1f9c303

Update check_pass to explicitly use python 3.8 instead of python 3.13 add with_alsa flag to configure.py to optionally forcefully override

move .config to /data for sharing configs between partitions

5985907

Simplify workflow of repeated bootstrappings

ac38b7e

Fix alsa option in deploy script

Add futureproofing to configure.py

e726383

Update python deps script to manage the swap to UV, update configure.…

d6f9d64

…py with optional verbose logging during the debian upgrade portion

Add initial form of flash endpoint

2d5c71a

Add progress feedback on checksumming, flashing processes

1743c3a

Fine tune flashing endpoint vars, add post-imaging configuration steps

4ee2771

Fix patching steps by mounting the inactive boot with correct permiss…

7fda498

…ions and saving the file properly

Fix flash finalization steps by running shell commands directly

c9127f2

Add automated validation flow for freshly flashed systems

e22593c

Fix tryboot script for better actuation of the local variables

860c472

Fix asgi.py image consumption endpoint to only modify boot when needed as well as patch the fstab and journal entries for bootability

Update cleanup script to handle multiple partitions of cleaning

64365d2

Plumb the new location of .config throughout all files

4e15c31

SteveMicroNova force-pushed the RaspbianTrixie branch from 39a13a4 to 42880db Compare July 20, 2026 18:46

SteveMicroNova commented Jul 20, 2026

View reviewed changes

SteveMicroNova added 3 commits July 20, 2026 17:44

Add documentation to flash endpoint and related models

219df1d

Remove leftover $ from fstring removals

2d2ae89

Remove line duplicated during rebase

Add autoboot toggle script to git

26ae9ab

SteveMicroNova commented Jul 21, 2026

View reviewed changes

Document the --dev option of the deploy script in a reasonable way

bed6423

SteveMicroNova commented Jul 21, 2026

View reviewed changes

Add post-flash partition branding so you can tell what boot slot you'…

939cb4e

…re in by just running `ls`

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