[How-to Article] Get Started with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Using the Advantech RSB-3720, an Arm-based 2.5” Pico-ITX with NXP i.MX 8M Plus

1. Introduction

Advantech has placed board support packages (BSP) on RSB-3720 with i.MX 8M Plus series application processor platforms to support Windows 10 IoT Enterprise. This highly-optimized Windows 10 IoT BSP makes it easier to build secure and scalable solutions from device to cloud, and supports diverse functions to provision, manage, and secure devices at scale.

This how-to article describes the process of building and installing Windows 10 IoT BSP on the Advantech RSB-3720. Check our release notes for full reviews on the capabilities of Windows 10 on Arm of the i.MX 8M Plus application processor.

2. Prerequisites

Necessary Hardware:

  • The Advantech RSB-3720 – a 2.5” Pico-ITX SBC with NXP i.MX8M Plus SOC (Quad Core / 6GB RAM)
  • 1 x 8GB Micro SD card for flashing the OS installer
  • 1 x micro USB cable for flashing the boot loader
  • 1 x power adapter (input: 100 ~ 240V AC 50/60Hz; output: DC 12V 3A; Advantech P/N: 96PSA-A36W12R1-3)
  • 1 x SATA power cable (5P-1.25/5P-2.0+SATA 5P 15 cm); Advantech P/N: 1700019656
  • 1 x MIPI CSI to HDMI board-(ROM-EG56); Advantech P/N:19A6EG5600-01
  • An LVDS to MIPI CSI cable; Advantech P/N: 1700030769-01
    [Note] Native HDMI will not work. It will be added to the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise BSP by NXP soon.

Necessary Software:

  • Win32 Disk Imager
    Please follow the link below to download an executable file.

    Download Win32 Disk Imager

  • Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Image package

    Please contact us for the download link.

3. Install Windows 10 IoT Enterprise on RSB-3720

  • 3-1. Extract the zip file (file name: 20220803.zip) of the image package you downloaded.

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  • 3-2. Extract the zip file (RSB3720A1AIM20WIV0001.7z) in the folder and flash the firmware into eMMC.

  • 3-3. Prepare one 8GB SD card for flashing OS installer in Linux and Windows operating systems.
    A. For the Linux operating system:

       $ sudo dd if=X22-81267_Win10IoT_Ent_SAC_21H2_os_installer_EVK_iMX8MP_6GB.img 
       of=/dev/sdX bs=1M conv=fsync
    

    B.For the Windows operating system:

    Use the Win32 Disk Imager to prepare the 1 x 8GB Mirco SD card used for flashing the OS installer
    on to the windows system.

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    Start the OS installer process.

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    Finish the OS installer process and close the Win32 Disk Imager tool.

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  • 3-4.Flash firmware image into the same Micro SD card

    A.Open the “CMD” in the Windows OS, then enter RSB3720A1AIM20WIV0001.

    image

    B. Next, flash the firmware image onto a Micro SD card by command. Please check your micro SD
    card symbol.

    For example: the Mirco SD card is “e:” in your windows system.

    Command:

     flash_bootloader.cmd /device ROM3720_iMX8MP_6GB /target_drive e:
    

  • 3-5. Flash Windows IoT to eMMC

    A.Set up the jumper on the RSB-3720 for SD boot. (ON-ON-OFF-OFF).

    image

    B.Change the jumper.

    image

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    C.Connect with MIPI to the HDMI cable on the device.

    D.Insert a micro SD card and power the device on. The system will first start a PE environment for
    installation.

    Next, the system will reboot again and enter the setup process.

    A Window 10 IoT enterprise desktop will appear on the screen after the settings are complete.

[Notice]

A. Do not remove the SD card

The SD card shouldn’t be removed when Window 10 IoT enterprise is loading as there is no OTG port on the RSB-3720 to flash load it onto the eMMC.

B. Reset and return the SD card to its initial status before flashing it on another device.
The SD card should be reset back to the initial status if the SD card has been used as an OS installer for a previous, different device. Please follow the steps below to initialize the SD card:

  • 1.Rename the “_efi” folder to “EFI”

    image

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  • 2.Change partition id. using a Windows command line

    C:\Windows\system32> diskpart
    DISKPART> list disk
    Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
    --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
    Disk 0    Online          465 GB  1024 KB        *
    Disk 1    No Media           0 B      0 B
    Disk 2    Online           14 GB      0 B        *
    
    DISKPART> sel disk 2
    Disk 2 is now the selected disk.
    DISKPART> list partition
    
    Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset
    -------------  ----------------  -------  -------
    Partition 1    Unknown             32 MB  1024 KB
    Partition 2    Primary             29 GB    33 MB
    
    DISKPART> sel partition 1
    Partition 1 is now the selected partition.
    DISKPART> set id="c12a7328-f81f-11d2-ba4b-00a0c93ec93b"
    DiskPart successfully set the partition ID.
    DISKPART> exit
    

4.Conclusion

The RSB-3720 with NXP i.MX 8M Plus platform is now powered by Windows IoT Enterprise, which brings full Windows application compatibility to IoT. This enables developers to use preexisting and familiar app development frameworks like .NET Framework, .NET Core, WinForms, and WPF; in addition to more modern frameworks like UWP and WinUI. Furthermore, Advantech has packed a powerful combination of I/O and peripherals into RSB-3720 buttressing the i.MX 8M Plus processor to produce a solution adaptable to diverse requirements. The small footprint of the RSB-3720 results in a cost-effective and lower power solution that enables developers to build new, compact, and fan-less Windows IoT devices in form factors not previously possible.

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