• Pi 3B enable USB boot

    From Marco Moock@3:633/10 to All on Wed Oct 21 20:36:01 2026
    Hello!

    I got another Pi 3+ - used.
    I booted FreeBSD.

    I edited
    /boot/efi/config.txt

    [all]
    arm_64bit=1
    dtparam=audio=on,i2c_arm=on,spi=on
    dtoverlay=mmc
    dtoverlay=disable-bt
    device_tree_address=0x4000
    kernel=u-boot.bin

    [pi4]
    hdmi_safe=1
    armstub=armstub8-gic.bin
    program_usb_boot_mode=1

    and rebooted.

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    It says no storage devices found if the SD card is missing.
    The USB ttumb stick is being detected in the running FreeBSD.

    Is there anything I can check?

    --
    kind regards
    Marco

    Spam bitte an abfalleimer2001@stinkedores.dorfdsl.de


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From bp@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 24 10:50:24 2026
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 23.10.26 um 12:53 schrieb Marckus:
    Am 21.10.2026 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:
    Hello!

    I got another Pi 3+ - used.
    I booted FreeBSD.

    I edited
    /boot/efi/config.txt

    [all]
    arm_64bit=1
    dtparam=audio=on,i2c_arm=on,spi=on
    dtoverlay=mmc
    dtoverlay=disable-bt
    device_tree_address=0x4000
    kernel=u-boot.bin


    ???
    [pi4]
    Will this work for a Pi 3B?

    Good question, I do not know.
    The file is from FreeBSD, they only offer one RPi image for both models.

    Is there a knows way for RPi3?

    Which part does read that and change the PROM on the Pi?
    Is that something from the OS or from the Pi's onboard firmware?

    There's a "bootcode.bin-only" boot method that works for some older
    Pi3B version. IIRC it worked for one of mine, but not another.

    There's some information at https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/raspberry-pi.html#usb-boot-modes

    Good luck, please post what your discover!

    bob prohaska



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marco Moock@3:633/10 to All on Fri Oct 23 16:12:14 2026
    Am 23.10.26 um 12:53 schrieb Marckus:
    Am 21.10.2026 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:
    Hello!

    I got another Pi 3+ - used.
    I booted FreeBSD.

    I edited
    /boot/efi/config.txt

    [all]
    arm_64bit=1
    dtparam=audio=on,i2c_arm=on,spi=on
    dtoverlay=mmc
    dtoverlay=disable-bt
    device_tree_address=0x4000
    kernel=u-boot.bin


    ???
    [pi4]
    Will this work for a Pi 3B?

    Good question, I do not know.
    The file is from FreeBSD, they only offer one RPi image for both models.

    Is there a knows way for RPi3?

    Which part does read that and change the PROM on the Pi?
    Is that something from the OS or from the Pi's onboard firmware?

    --
    Gruá
    Marco

    Spam bitte an abfalleimer2001@stinkedores.dorfdsl.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marckus@3:633/10 to All on Fri Oct 23 12:53:31 2026
    Am 21.10.2026 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:
    Hello!

    I got another Pi 3+ - used.
    I booted FreeBSD.

    I edited
    /boot/efi/config.txt

    [all]
    arm_64bit=1
    dtparam=audio=on,i2c_arm=on,spi=on
    dtoverlay=mmc
    dtoverlay=disable-bt
    device_tree_address=0x4000
    kernel=u-boot.bin


    ???
    [pi4]
    Will this work for a Pi 3B?

    hdmi_safe=1
    armstub=armstub8-gic.bin
    program_usb_boot_mode=1

    and rebooted.

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    It says no storage devices found if the SD card is missing.
    The USB ttumb stick is being detected in the running FreeBSD.

    Is there anything I can check?



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Theo@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 24 12:40:13 2026
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Thanks for the link.
    I need to figure out how I can read and set the OTGID in FreeBSD.

    It's a physical 5th pin on the micro USB connector. If you insert a normal
    A male (host) to microUSB male (device) cable the cable grounds the pin. If you insert an OTG cable (microUSB to A female, so the Pi becomes the host)
    the pin is left floating.

    So if you use an 'OTG' cable the port will be put into 'host' mode, if you connect it to a PC with a regular micro USB cable the port will be in
    'device' mode.

    You can override this with some dwc2 settings in config.txt.

    Theo

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marco Moock@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 24 19:53:57 2026
    Am 24.10.26 um 18:58 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 21.10.26 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    I now installed RPi OS on the SD card and checked the bit.
    It is set
    https://raspberry.tips/en/raspberrypi-tutorials/boot-raspberry-pi-from-usb-ssd-flash-drive-pi-4-5
    vcgencmd otp_dump | grep 17:
    gives 3020000a

    That means the Pi can boot from USB and it also does. The issue here is
    related to FreeBSD.

    I see U-Boot, which seems to be the bootloader used by FreeBSD here.

    I will ask at the FreeBSD mailing lists about the further issue.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    It's worth messing around at the u-boot prompt. If you hit spacebar within the
    two-second uboot timeout you'll get a u-boot prompt, where commands can be typed to learn what's going on.

    One very useful command sequence is printenv, which lets you see u-boot's parameters, and editenv, which lets you change them.

    One that I've often tinkered with is usb_pgood_delay, which sets the time
    in milliseconds that u-boot waits before turning on a disk before probing.

    The problem is that it says it does not detect the storage media.
    Although the media itself was used to boot.

    This seems to be an issue of the FreeBSD image.
    I asked here: https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-arm/2026-October/006172.html


    --
    Gruá
    Marco

    Spam bitte an abfalleimer2001@stinkedores.dorfdsl.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marco Moock@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 24 15:21:01 2026
    Am 24.10.26 um 13:40 schrieb Theo:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Thanks for the link.
    I need to figure out how I can read and set the OTGID in FreeBSD.

    It's a physical 5th pin on the micro USB connector. If you insert a normal
    A male (host) to microUSB male (device) cable the cable grounds the pin. If you insert an OTG cable (microUSB to A female, so the Pi becomes the host) the pin is left floating.

    So if you use an 'OTG' cable the port will be put into 'host' mode, if you connect it to a PC with a regular micro USB cable the port will be in 'device' mode.

    I have a normal USB cable (other side is male) connected to a USB power supply.

    I have another PI 3B (in use, so I cannot play around with it) connected
    to a USB power supply. I do not know how that cable handles it.

    You can override this with some dwc2 settings in config.txt.

    Can you give more info about this setting?

    --
    Gruá
    Marco

    Spam bitte an abfalleimer2001@stinkedores.dorfdsl.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Theo@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 24 16:52:39 2026
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 24.10.26 um 13:40 schrieb Theo:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Thanks for the link.
    I need to figure out how I can read and set the OTGID in FreeBSD.

    It's a physical 5th pin on the micro USB connector. If you insert a normal A male (host) to microUSB male (device) cable the cable grounds the pin. If
    you insert an OTG cable (microUSB to A female, so the Pi becomes the host) the pin is left floating.

    So if you use an 'OTG' cable the port will be put into 'host' mode, if you connect it to a PC with a regular micro USB cable the port will be in 'device' mode.

    I have a normal USB cable (other side is male) connected to a USB power supply.

    I have another PI 3B (in use, so I cannot play around with it) connected
    to a USB power supply. I do not know how that cable handles it.

    You can override this with some dwc2 settings in config.txt.

    Can you give more info about this setting?

    It's:
    dtoverlay=dwc2,dr_mode=host
    or
    dtoverlay=dwc2,dr_mode=peripheral
    or
    dtoverlay=dwc2,dr_mode=otg

    The latter is the default, which is deciding between host and device using
    the ID pin in the microUSB socket.

    There's a doc: https://pip-assets.raspberrypi.com/categories/685-app-notes-guides-whitepapers/documents/RP-009276-WP-1-Using%20OTG%20mode%20on%20Raspberry%20Pi%20SBCs.pdf

    Theo

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marco Moock@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 24 08:34:01 2026
    Am 23.10.26 um 19:12 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 23.10.26 um 12:53 schrieb Marckus:
    Am 21.10.2026 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:
    Hello!

    I got another Pi 3+ - used.
    I booted FreeBSD.

    I edited
    /boot/efi/config.txt

    [all]
    arm_64bit=1
    dtparam=audio=on,i2c_arm=on,spi=on
    dtoverlay=mmc
    dtoverlay=disable-bt
    device_tree_address=0x4000
    kernel=u-boot.bin


    ???
    [pi4]
    Will this work for a Pi 3B?

    Good question, I do not know.
    The file is from FreeBSD, they only offer one RPi image for both models.

    Is there a knows way for RPi3?

    Which part does read that and change the PROM on the Pi?
    Is that something from the OS or from the Pi's onboard firmware?

    There's a "bootcode.bin-only" boot method that works for some older
    Pi3B version. IIRC it worked for one of mine, but not another.

    There's some information at https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/raspberry-pi.html#usb-boot-modes

    Good luck, please post what your discover!

    Thanks for the link.
    I need to figure out how I can read and set the OTGID in FreeBSD.

    --
    Gruá
    Marco

    Spam bitte an abfalleimer2001@stinkedores.dorfdsl.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marco Moock@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 24 16:29:58 2026
    Am 21.10.26 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    I now installed RPi OS on the SD card and checked the bit.
    It is set https://raspberry.tips/en/raspberrypi-tutorials/boot-raspberry-pi-from-usb-ssd-flash-drive-pi-4-5
    vcgencmd otp_dump | grep 17:
    gives 3020000a

    That means the Pi can boot from USB and it also does. The issue here is related to FreeBSD.

    I see U-Boot, which seems to be the bootloader used by FreeBSD here.

    I will ask at the FreeBSD mailing lists about the further issue.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    --
    Gruá
    Marco

    Spam bitte an abfalleimer2001@stinkedores.dorfdsl.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From bp@3:633/10 to All on Sun Oct 25 12:11:22 2026
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 21.10.26 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    I now installed RPi OS on the SD card and checked the bit.
    It is set https://raspberry.tips/en/raspberrypi-tutorials/boot-raspberry-pi-from-usb-ssd-flash-drive-pi-4-5
    vcgencmd otp_dump | grep 17:
    gives 3020000a

    That means the Pi can boot from USB and it also does. The issue here is related to FreeBSD.

    I see U-Boot, which seems to be the bootloader used by FreeBSD here.

    I will ask at the FreeBSD mailing lists about the further issue.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    It's worth messing around at the u-boot prompt. If you hit spacebar within the two-second uboot timeout you'll get a u-boot prompt, where commands can be typed to learn what's going on.

    One very useful command sequence is printenv, which lets you see u-boot's parameters, and editenv, which lets you change them.

    One that I've often tinkered with is usb_pgood_delay, which sets the time
    in milliseconds that u-boot waits before turning on a disk before probing.

    There are many more notes at
    http://www.zefox.net/~fbsd/
    and subdirectories, probably too many 8-)

    Good luck,

    bob prohaska


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From bp@3:633/10 to All on Sun Oct 25 17:30:01 2026
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 24.10.26 um 18:58 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 21.10.26 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    I now installed RPi OS on the SD card and checked the bit.
    It is set
    https://raspberry.tips/en/raspberrypi-tutorials/boot-raspberry-pi-from-usb-ssd-flash-drive-pi-4-5
    vcgencmd otp_dump | grep 17:
    gives 3020000a

    That means the Pi can boot from USB and it also does. The issue here is
    related to FreeBSD.

    I see U-Boot, which seems to be the bootloader used by FreeBSD here.

    I will ask at the FreeBSD mailing lists about the further issue.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    It's worth messing around at the u-boot prompt. If you hit spacebar within the
    two-second uboot timeout you'll get a u-boot prompt, where commands can be >> typed to learn what's going on.

    One very useful command sequence is printenv, which lets you see u-boot's
    parameters, and editenv, which lets you change them.

    One that I've often tinkered with is usb_pgood_delay, which sets the time
    in milliseconds that u-boot waits before turning on a disk before probing.

    The problem is that it says it does not detect the storage media.
    Although the media itself was used to boot.

    The Pi's bootcode blob starts u-boot but u-boot then fails to notice
    the hard disk. That's where tweaking things like usb_pgood_delay can
    help. Hitting spacebar should stop autoboot and give you a
    u-boot>
    prompt.

    This seems to be an issue of the FreeBSD image.
    Yes, but it's likely a configuration problem related
    to the specifics of your USB hardware.

    I asked here: https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-arm/2026-October/006172.html

    Yes, I just found your post. You may get replies on the list
    and I suspect the first response will be .... .what kind of storage
    device and bridge?

    Mechanical disks can be surprisingly fussy, solid-state storage usually
    works better for detection. If you have a USB thumb drive that's worth
    a try. You can also put a bootable microSD card in a usb adapter and
    try that. If either of those work, it helps to know. If neither works
    that's bad news.
    good luck,

    bob prohaska


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marco Moock@3:633/10 to All on Sun Oct 25 09:45:50 2026
    Am 25.10.26 um 05:03 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 24.10.26 um 18:58 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 21.10.26 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    I now installed RPi OS on the SD card and checked the bit.
    It is set
    https://raspberry.tips/en/raspberrypi-tutorials/boot-raspberry-pi-from-usb-ssd-flash-drive-pi-4-5
    vcgencmd otp_dump | grep 17:
    gives 3020000a

    That means the Pi can boot from USB and it also does. The issue here is >>>> related to FreeBSD.

    I see U-Boot, which seems to be the bootloader used by FreeBSD here.

    I will ask at the FreeBSD mailing lists about the further issue.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    It's worth messing around at the u-boot prompt. If you hit spacebar within the
    two-second uboot timeout you'll get a u-boot prompt, where commands can be >>> typed to learn what's going on.

    One very useful command sequence is printenv, which lets you see u-boot's >>> parameters, and editenv, which lets you change them.

    One that I've often tinkered with is usb_pgood_delay, which sets the time >>> in milliseconds that u-boot waits before turning on a disk before probing. >>
    The problem is that it says it does not detect the storage media.
    Although the media itself was used to boot.

    The Pi's bootcode blob starts u-boot but u-boot then fails to notice
    the hard disk. That's where tweaking things like usb_pgood_delay can
    help. Hitting spacebar should stop autoboot and give you a
    u-boot>
    prompt.

    Is my guess right that the Pi can access the USB thumb stick?

    This seems to be an issue of the FreeBSD image.
    Yes, but it's likely a configuration problem related
    to the specifics of your USB hardware.

    I asked here:
    https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-arm/2026-October/006172.html

    Yes, I just found your post. You may get replies on the list
    and I suspect the first response will be .... .what kind of storage
    device and bridge?

    I will add some context.

    Mechanical disks can be surprisingly fussy, solid-state storage usually
    works better for detection. If you have a USB thumb drive that's worth
    a try. You can also put a bootable microSD card in a usb adapter and
    try that. If either of those work, it helps to know. If neither works
    that's bad news.
    good luck,

    I only tried USB thumb devices, no USB- hard disks etc.

    --
    Gruá
    Marco

    Spam bitte an abfalleimer2001@stinkedores.dorfdsl.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From bp@3:633/10 to All on Mon Oct 26 12:00:00 2026
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 25.10.26 um 16:28 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 25.10.26 um 05:03 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 24.10.26 um 18:58 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 21.10.26 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    I now installed RPi OS on the SD card and checked the bit.
    It is set
    https://raspberry.tips/en/raspberrypi-tutorials/boot-raspberry-pi-from-usb-ssd-flash-drive-pi-4-5
    vcgencmd otp_dump | grep 17:
    gives 3020000a

    That means the Pi can boot from USB and it also does. The issue here is >>>>>>> related to FreeBSD.

    I see U-Boot, which seems to be the bootloader used by FreeBSD here. >>>>>>>
    I will ask at the FreeBSD mailing lists about the further issue. >>>>>>>
    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    It's worth messing around at the u-boot prompt. If you hit spacebar within the
    two-second uboot timeout you'll get a u-boot prompt, where commands can be
    typed to learn what's going on.

    One very useful command sequence is printenv, which lets you see u-boot's
    parameters, and editenv, which lets you change them.

    One that I've often tinkered with is usb_pgood_delay, which sets the time
    in milliseconds that u-boot waits before turning on a disk before probing.

    The problem is that it says it does not detect the storage media.
    Although the media itself was used to boot.

    The Pi's bootcode blob starts u-boot but u-boot then fails to notice
    the hard disk. That's where tweaking things like usb_pgood_delay can
    help. Hitting spacebar should stop autoboot and give you a
    u-boot>
    prompt.

    Is my guess right that the Pi can access the USB thumb stick?

    Yes, if I understand what you've done, it boots RasPiOS from a
    thumb drive so it should boot FreeBSD from the same media.

    I didn't boot RaspiOS from the USB thumb stick, but I should give it a try.

    That's a critical first step. If RasPiOS won't boot from a USB device
    there's little hope of making FreeBSD work. My understanding is that
    later Pi3's do boot from USB "out of the box", certainly my Pi4 and 5
    did. The V1.2 Pi3 should be new enough to do the same, but it's worth
    checking against the documentation; the Pi3 is getting old. For some
    of them it's possible to use the "bootcode.bin-only" method which works
    on Pi2B as well, at least some of them.

    hth,

    bob prohaska





    This seems to be an issue of the FreeBSD image.
    Yes, but it's likely a configuration problem related
    to the specifics of your USB hardware.

    I asked here:
    https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-arm/2026-October/006172.html >>>>
    Yes, I just found your post. You may get replies on the list
    and I suspect the first response will be .... .what kind of storage
    device and bridge?

    I will add some context.

    Mechanical disks can be surprisingly fussy, solid-state storage usually >>>> works better for detection. If you have a USB thumb drive that's worth >>>> a try. You can also put a bootable microSD card in a usb adapter and
    try that. If either of those work, it helps to know. If neither works
    that's bad news.
    good luck,

    I only tried USB thumb devices, no USB- hard disks etc.

    A thumb drive is a good "acid test" of whether a Pi can boot
    from USB, but the process is somewhat different between RasPiOS
    and FreeBSD:

    On RasPiOS bootcode.bin finds and loads a Linux kernel and starts it.

    On FreeBSD bootcode.bin finds and loads u-boot.bin in place of a kernel,
    which then probes for bootable devices and starts that system's loader chain.
    That loader chain inherits details from u-boot.

    U-boot's search for devices isn't involved for RasPiOS at all. Thus my
    emphasis on reaching a u-boot prompt and looking for tunable parameters.

    I will say that not all FreeBSD images work equally well, sometimes they
    don't and it's worth trying a few different examples from microSD first,
    then thumb drive and finally an external HDD to feel your way along.

    Good to know, this confirms that the USB boot is working.


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marco Moock@3:633/10 to All on Sun Oct 25 16:58:46 2026
    Am 25.10.26 um 16:28 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 25.10.26 um 05:03 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 24.10.26 um 18:58 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 21.10.26 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    I now installed RPi OS on the SD card and checked the bit.
    It is set
    https://raspberry.tips/en/raspberrypi-tutorials/boot-raspberry-pi-from-usb-ssd-flash-drive-pi-4-5
    vcgencmd otp_dump | grep 17:
    gives 3020000a

    That means the Pi can boot from USB and it also does. The issue here is >>>>>> related to FreeBSD.

    I see U-Boot, which seems to be the bootloader used by FreeBSD here. >>>>>>
    I will ask at the FreeBSD mailing lists about the further issue.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    It's worth messing around at the u-boot prompt. If you hit spacebar within the
    two-second uboot timeout you'll get a u-boot prompt, where commands can be
    typed to learn what's going on.

    One very useful command sequence is printenv, which lets you see u-boot's >>>>> parameters, and editenv, which lets you change them.

    One that I've often tinkered with is usb_pgood_delay, which sets the time >>>>> in milliseconds that u-boot waits before turning on a disk before probing.

    The problem is that it says it does not detect the storage media.
    Although the media itself was used to boot.

    The Pi's bootcode blob starts u-boot but u-boot then fails to notice
    the hard disk. That's where tweaking things like usb_pgood_delay can
    help. Hitting spacebar should stop autoboot and give you a
    u-boot>
    prompt.

    Is my guess right that the Pi can access the USB thumb stick?

    Yes, if I understand what you've done, it boots RasPiOS from a
    thumb drive so it should boot FreeBSD from the same media.

    I didn't boot RaspiOS from the USB thumb stick, but I should give it a try.

    This seems to be an issue of the FreeBSD image.
    Yes, but it's likely a configuration problem related
    to the specifics of your USB hardware.

    I asked here:
    https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-arm/2026-October/006172.html >>>
    Yes, I just found your post. You may get replies on the list
    and I suspect the first response will be .... .what kind of storage
    device and bridge?

    I will add some context.

    Mechanical disks can be surprisingly fussy, solid-state storage usually
    works better for detection. If you have a USB thumb drive that's worth
    a try. You can also put a bootable microSD card in a usb adapter and
    try that. If either of those work, it helps to know. If neither works
    that's bad news.
    good luck,

    I only tried USB thumb devices, no USB- hard disks etc.

    A thumb drive is a good "acid test" of whether a Pi can boot
    from USB, but the process is somewhat different between RasPiOS
    and FreeBSD:

    On RasPiOS bootcode.bin finds and loads a Linux kernel and starts it.

    On FreeBSD bootcode.bin finds and loads u-boot.bin in place of a kernel, which then probes for bootable devices and starts that system's loader chain. That loader chain inherits details from u-boot.

    U-boot's search for devices isn't involved for RasPiOS at all. Thus my emphasis on reaching a u-boot prompt and looking for tunable parameters.

    I will say that not all FreeBSD images work equally well, sometimes they don't and it's worth trying a few different examples from microSD first,
    then thumb drive and finally an external HDD to feel your way along.

    Good to know, this confirms that the USB boot is working.

    --
    Gruá
    Marco

    Spam bitte an abfalleimer2001@stinkedores.dorfdsl.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From bp@3:633/10 to All on Mon Oct 26 12:00:01 2026
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 25.10.26 um 05:03 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 24.10.26 um 18:58 schrieb bp@www.zefox.net:
    Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> wrote:
    Am 21.10.26 um 20:36 schrieb Marco Moock:

    Although, it still does not boot from the USB thumb device.

    I now installed RPi OS on the SD card and checked the bit.
    It is set
    https://raspberry.tips/en/raspberrypi-tutorials/boot-raspberry-pi-from-usb-ssd-flash-drive-pi-4-5
    vcgencmd otp_dump | grep 17:
    gives 3020000a

    That means the Pi can boot from USB and it also does. The issue here is >>>>> related to FreeBSD.

    I see U-Boot, which seems to be the bootloader used by FreeBSD here. >>>>>
    I will ask at the FreeBSD mailing lists about the further issue.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    It's worth messing around at the u-boot prompt. If you hit spacebar within the
    two-second uboot timeout you'll get a u-boot prompt, where commands can be >>>> typed to learn what's going on.

    One very useful command sequence is printenv, which lets you see u-boot's >>>> parameters, and editenv, which lets you change them.

    One that I've often tinkered with is usb_pgood_delay, which sets the time >>>> in milliseconds that u-boot waits before turning on a disk before probing. >>>
    The problem is that it says it does not detect the storage media.
    Although the media itself was used to boot.

    The Pi's bootcode blob starts u-boot but u-boot then fails to notice
    the hard disk. That's where tweaking things like usb_pgood_delay can
    help. Hitting spacebar should stop autoboot and give you a
    u-boot>
    prompt.

    Is my guess right that the Pi can access the USB thumb stick?

    Yes, if I understand what you've done, it boots RasPiOS from a
    thumb drive so it should boot FreeBSD from the same media.

    This seems to be an issue of the FreeBSD image.
    Yes, but it's likely a configuration problem related
    to the specifics of your USB hardware.

    I asked here:
    https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-arm/2026-October/006172.html

    Yes, I just found your post. You may get replies on the list
    and I suspect the first response will be .... .what kind of storage
    device and bridge?

    I will add some context.

    Mechanical disks can be surprisingly fussy, solid-state storage usually
    works better for detection. If you have a USB thumb drive that's worth
    a try. You can also put a bootable microSD card in a usb adapter and
    try that. If either of those work, it helps to know. If neither works
    that's bad news.
    good luck,

    I only tried USB thumb devices, no USB- hard disks etc.

    A thumb drive is a good "acid test" of whether a Pi can boot
    from USB, but the process is somewhat different between RasPiOS
    and FreeBSD:

    On RasPiOS bootcode.bin finds and loads a Linux kernel and starts it.

    On FreeBSD bootcode.bin finds and loads u-boot.bin in place of a kernel,
    which then probes for bootable devices and starts that system's loader chain. That loader chain inherits details from u-boot.

    U-boot's search for devices isn't involved for RasPiOS at all. Thus my
    emphasis on reaching a u-boot prompt and looking for tunable parameters.

    I will say that not all FreeBSD images work equally well, sometimes they
    don't and it's worth trying a few different examples from microSD first,
    then thumb drive and finally an external HDD to feel your way along.

    Hope this helps!

    bob prohaska


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)