Install PhyOS on Advantech MIC-711-ON-3A1

Overview

This guide walks you through installing PhyOS 5 on the Advantech MIC-711-ON-3A1 embedded system. The process involves two main parts:

Initial Setup (SPI Bootloader): One-time operation to program the SPI bootloader (required for fresh devices)
PhyOS Installation: Flash and install PhyOS from microSD card

The Advantech MIC-711-ON-3A1 is a compact fanless embedded computer with an ARM processor, making it ideal for running AI inference applications.

First-time setup requires an Ubuntu Linux host to flash the SPI bootloader. This is a one-time operation.

Prerequisites

For SPI bootloader flashing (first-time setup only)

Ubuntu Linux host (Ubuntu 22.04 or later recommended)
Advantech MIC-711-ON-3A1 device
USB-C data cable (device OTG port to Ubuntu host)
Power adapter for the device
Small screwdriver (to access REC button)
SPI flash package for MIC-711-ON-3A1

For PhyOS installation

USB flash drive (minimum 16GB, USB 3.0 recommended)
Computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux (for flashing PhyOS to USB drive)
HDMI display or monitor with DisplayPort
USB keyboard
Internet connection

Part 1: Initial Setup (SPI Bootloader)

Perform SPI flashing only once on a fresh device. If PhyOS was previously installed on this device, or if it has already booted a PhyOS SD card before, skip directly to Part 2: Install PhyOS.

Step 1: Prepare Ubuntu host

On your Ubuntu 22.04 host, install required packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y device-tree-compiler usbutils

Step 2: Download SPI flash package

Download the SPI flash package for MIC-711-ON-3A1 to your Ubuntu host

Extract the package:

cd ~/Downloads
tar -xf <spi_flash_package>.tar.*
cd <spi_flash_package_directory>

Step 3: Enter Recovery Mode

Power off the MIC-711-ON-3A1 completely
Unscrew the lid of the device to access the internal REC button
Locate the REC button on the board (refer to device documentation or image)
Press and hold the REC button
While holding the REC button, connect the power adapter to the device
Continue holding the REC button for about 5 seconds, then release
Connect a USB-C cable from the device's OTG/USB port to your Ubuntu host
Insert a microSD card into the device (any card will work for this step)
Verify the device is in Recovery Mode by running on your Ubuntu host:
```
lsusb | grep -i nvidia
```
You should see: NVIDIA Corp. APX

Step 4: Flash SPI bootloader

In the extracted SPI flash package directory, run:
```
sudo sh doflash --spi-only
```
Wait for the script to complete (may take several minutes)
Do not disconnect power or USB during flashing
When complete, you'll see a success message

Step 5: Complete initial setup

Power off the device
Remove the microSD card
Disconnect the USB-C cable from the Ubuntu host
Reattach the device lid if desired

The initial SPI bootloader setup is now complete. You only need to perform this once.

Part 2: Install PhyOS

Once the SPI bootloader is flashed (or if you're performing a repeat installation), you can now install PhyOS to the device's internal drive.

Download and prepare installation media

Download the latest PhyOS installer for Advantech MIC-711-ON-3A1
Write the PhyOS image to a microSD card using Balena Etcher or Raspberry Pi Imager

Install PhyOS to internal drive

Power off the Advantech MIC-711 completely and disconnect power
Insert the prepared microSD card into the device
Connect your HDMI display or DisplayPort monitor
Connect a USB keyboard (required for installation)
Reconnect power to perform a cold boot
Immediately press F11 at startup to open the boot menu
Select the SD card from the boot menu using arrow keys
Press Enter to boot from the SD card
Follow the on-screen instructions to flash the internal drive with PhyOS
- The installer will guide you through the process
- This writes PhyOS to the device's internal storage
Wait for the installation to complete
When prompted that installation is successful, power off the device
Disconnect power and remove the microSD card
Reconnect power - the device will now boot PhyOS from internal storage

Important: Remove the microSD card after installation is complete. The device will boot from its internal drive, not from the SD card.

Connect device to PhyStack

After PhyOS boots from internal storage:

You should see the PhyOS splash screen
The device will display a connection screen
Note the Serial Number displayed in the top-left corner of the screen
In the PhyStack portal, navigate to the device connection section
Enter the Serial Number in the Device Serial field
Click the Connect device button
The device will appear under Installations → Devices

Troubleshooting

SPI bootloader flashing issues

APX device not visible in lsusb

Re-enter Recovery Mode by carefully repeating Step 3
Ensure you hold the REC button while connecting power
Hold the REC button for the full 5 seconds before releasing
Ensure your USB-C cable supports data transfer (some cables are power-only)
Try a different USB port on the Ubuntu host
Check USB kernel logs immediately after plugging in the device:
```
dmesg | tail -n 50
```

Cannot locate REC button

The REC button is typically located on the main board inside the device
You must unscrew and remove the lid to access it
Consult the device documentation or contact Advantech support for button location
Some units may have the button labeled as "RECOVERY" or "REC"

doflash --spi-only fails

Confirm the device is in Recovery Mode and visible as NVIDIA Corp. APX in lsusb
Verify prerequisites are installed: device-tree-compiler
Ensure you're running the command from inside the extracted SPI package directory
Confirm you're using sudo: sudo sh doflash --spi-only
If it still fails, capture the full error output for support

PhyOS installation issues

Ensure you press F11 immediately at startup
Try pressing F11 repeatedly during boot
If F11 doesn't work, the SPI bootloader may not be flashed correctly
Verify the SPI bootloader was successfully flashed in Part 1

Device won't boot from microSD card

Ensure the SPI bootloader was successfully flashed (Part 1)
Verify the microSD card is fully inserted
Press F11 and manually select the SD card from the boot menu
Try re-flashing the PhyOS image to the SD card using Balena Etcher
Test with a different microSD card
Check that you downloaded the ARM64 version of PhyOS for MIC-711-ON-3A1

Installer doesn't appear after selecting SD card

Verify the PhyOS image was written successfully to the SD card
Check that your display is connected properly
Ensure your keyboard is connected (required for installation)
Try a different microSD card

Installation to internal drive fails or freezes

Ensure the device has adequate ventilation
Check that there's sufficient space on the internal drive
Wait at least 15 minutes before intervening (installation can be slow)
If it continues to fail, re-flash the SPI bootloader and try again
Check that all internal cables are properly connected

For additional help, see the Troubleshooting guide.

Device-specific notes

Installation media

The MIC-711-ON-3A1 uses a microSD card for PhyOS installation. The card is only required for the installation process and should be removed once PhyOS is installed to the internal drive.

Boot method

The MIC-711-ON-3A1 uses the F11 boot menu to select the installation media during setup.

Network configuration

The Advantech MIC-711-ON-3A1 includes:

2x Gigabit Ethernet ports (may vary by model)

After PhyOS installation, you can configure network settings through the PhyStack console.

Display outputs

The MIC-711-ON-3A1 offers multiple display outputs:

HDMI
DisplayPort
Some models include additional display options

Use the output that matches your display connection.

Accessing internal components

To access the REC button for SPI flashing or for maintenance:

Power off the device completely
Disconnect all cables
Use a small screwdriver to remove the lid screws
Carefully lift the lid to access the main board
After completing work, reattach the lid securely

Important notes

Perform SPI flashing only once on fresh devices unless explicitly instructed otherwise
Never interrupt power during SPI flashing - this can damage the bootloader
The SPI bootloader enables the MIC-711 to boot from the PhyOS installation
Keep your SPI flash package in a safe location in case you need to reflash in the future
The REC button is only needed for initial SPI flashing, not for regular PhyOS installation