Linux Upgrade Tool (upgrade_tool)

What is Linux Upgrade Tool

Rockchip’s Linux Upgrade tool is a proprietary solution developed by Rockchip for flashing images onto various storage devices such as SPI, eMMC, SD-card, and more. Unlike open-source rkdeveloptool software, this tool does not provide access to its source code.

Instead, it is distributed solely in binary executable form, allowing users to utilize the provided executable files for the purpose of flashing images onto their desired storage devices.

How to use Linux Upgrade Tool

Installing required system dependencies

Linux Upgrade Tool requires the following dependencies to be installed on your Debian or Ubuntu system.

sudo apt-get install libudev-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev

For other Linux distributions, please refer to the following table for the equivalent package names.

Debian/Ubuntu

Fedora

Arch Linux

libudev-dev

libusb-1.0-0-dev

libusb-devel

libusb

Download Linux Upgrade Tool

Download from Vicharak GitHub

git clone https://github.com/vicharak-in/Linux_Upgrade_Tool

Flash eMMC image in Axon

Tip

MaskROM mode is a special mode that allows the board to be flashed with new firmware.

To get the board into MaskROM mode, follow the steps below:

  1. Connect the board to your computer using a USB-C cable.

  2. To get Axon in MaskRom Mode, Need to press reset button 2-3 times while holding boot button.

Watch Video tutorial to get Board in MaskRom Mode

  1. Confirm that the board is in MaskROM mode by running the following command:

sudo ./upgrade_tool ld
List of rockusb connected(1)
DevNo=1	Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=12	Mode=Maskrom	SerialNo=

  1. Using uf command, you can flash firmware in eMMC.

sudo ./upgrade_tool uf <Firmware_Image>.img

Example:

sudo ./upgrade_tool uf V1.0_vicharak_axon-6.1-04032025-ubuntu-noble-emmc.img

You will see this type of process:

[sudo] password for vicharak:
Loading firmware...
Support Type:330C FW Ver:8.1.00 FW Time:2023-07-07 14:11:41
Loader ver:1.1e Loader Time:2023-07-07 14:11:08
Start to upgrade firmware...
Download Boot Start
Download Boot Success
Wait For Maskrom Start
Wait For Maskrom Success
Test Device Start
Test Device Success
Check Chip Start
Check Chip Success
Get FlashInfo Start
Get FlashInfo Success
Prepare IDB Start
Prepare IDB Success
Download IDB Start
Download IDB Success
Download Firmware Start
Download Image... (12%)

Note

Upon completion of the flashing process, the board will automatically reboot twice to install essential packages and apply necessary changes. Please allow a few minutes for the process to finalize.

Tip

For more guidance, Watch Tutorial video on How To Flash Image in eMMC ?

To Erase the flash

sudo ./upgrade_tool ef <Firmware_Image>

Example:

sudo ./upgrade_tool ef V1.0_vicharak_axon-6.1-04032025-ubuntu-noble-emmc.img

Warning

Firmware Image should be the same image which you have flashed in Axon eMMC.