Ubuntu support for a RISC-V board is a combination of three checks: the exact board and revision must appear in Canonical’s hardware documentation, the image must match the processor’s ISA requirements for your Ubuntu release, and the board guide must explicitly cover the peripherals you need. A board that boots Ubuntu can still have unusable Wi‑Fi, HDMI, USB, PCIe, audio, or GPU hardware.
What “support” means on RISC-V
Do not treat a downloadable image as a promise that every device on the board works. Ubuntu support is layered:
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- Board recognition: Canonical documents the board, its variants, available images, installation procedure, and known limitations.
- Release compatibility: The processor’s RISC-V ISA profile must satisfy the requirements of the Ubuntu release you intend to install.
- Peripheral enablement: The kernel, firmware, device tree, drivers, and board wiring must support each interface or chip you plan to use.
- Support status: A Canonical-built image has a different maintenance position from a partner developer preview or a community/custom image.
Check all four layers for the exact combination of board revision, carrier board, Ubuntu release, kernel and peripheral model. Results from another RISC-V board cannot be safely generalized.
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Start with the exact board and revision
Record the hardware before searching
Write down the complete product name printed on the board or packaging. Include the revision, memory configuration, module or system-on-module designation, and any carrier or baseboard model. “Mars,” “VisionFive,” or “LicheeRV” may describe a family with materially different storage, connector, or chip choices.
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- Simplified 4-Wire Interface for Easy Wiring - Designed with a 4-pin configuration (TXD, RXD, VCC, GND), making connections faster, cleaner and less error-prone compared to traditional multi-pin modules.
- Plug and Play USB to TTL Adapter Cable - Easily connect TTL serial devices to your computer via USB without external power supply. Ideal for Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32, STM32 and other microcontroller platforms.
- Wide Compatibility for Development & Debugging - Provides stable 5V power output with 3.3V TTL signal level communication, ensuring reliable performance with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP8266, ESP32 and other development boards.
- Board name and hardware revision
- System-on-module and carrier-board names, if separate
- Processor or SoC model
- Installed memory and boot media
- Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth chipset and any add-in card model
- Display connector and intended output
- USB, PCIe, NVMe, Ethernet, audio, camera and serial requirements
Use Canonical’s supported-board index
Open the Ubuntu supported-board index and then open the dedicated page for the exact board. Canonical describes these pages as the place to find known variants, available Ubuntu images, installation instructions and hardware limitations. The index is not a substitute for the board page: variants can have different images or restrictions.
If the board is listed in a download catalogue but has no matching instructions for your variant, treat that as an unresolved compatibility question. Use the current board page and download choice for the release you want rather than relying on an older image name.
Match the board’s ISA profile to the Ubuntu release
RISC-V support is release-specific. The same processor can be suitable for one Ubuntu release and rejected by a newer one because the required ISA profile changed.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall| Ubuntu release or path | ISA requirement or compatibility statement | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS userland | Compatible with RVA20 hardware | Use this release path for boards that meet RVA20 but are not ready for RVA23. |
| Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS | Continues support for hardware that is not RVA23-ready | This is Canonical’s stated fallback when a board cannot meet the newer profile. |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | RISC-V kernel requires RVA23S64 | A system that does not satisfy RVA23S64 cannot run this release. |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | Required RISC-V ISA profile upgraded to RVA23S64 | Choose a board with RVA23S64 support, or remain on the supported 24.04.5 LTS path. |
Keep the distinction between userland and the complete bootable system in mind. Ubuntu 24.04 documentation describes userland compatibility with RVA20 hardware, while the 25.10 release notes make the RVA23S64 requirement explicit for the RISC-V kernel. A board may therefore have a compatible userland in one context but still lack a bootable image for a different release or kernel.
Check the processor documentation or board guide for the ISA profile; do not infer it from the board’s age, core count or advertised Linux support. If the board is RVA20-only, do not assume that a 25.10 or 26.04 image will boot.
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- Support 4 kinds of TTL levels:This is a versatile USB to TTL converter. It is powerful enough to handle almost all TTL level communications. It is compatible with 5V, 3.3V, 2.5V, 1.8V TTL levels.
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- Protective case:Comes with a protective case, this transparent protective case can effectively prevent static interference from the hand and prevent accidental short circuit
- It provides access not only to UART TX,RX, RTS, CTS, VCC and GND pins,but also provides access to DSR,RI,DCD,DTR,RESET pins
- What You Get: SH-U09C5 USB to UART Adatper, 6PIN Cable
Confirm the image and installation path
Canonical-built images
Canonical’s RISC-V download catalogue lists image paths for AllWinner Nezha, DeepComputing FML13V01, Microchip PIC64GX1000 Curiosity Kit, Microchip PolarFire SoC FPGA Icicle Kit, Milk-V Mars and Mars CM, Pine64 Star64, QEMU, SiFive Unmatched, Sipeed LicheeRV Dock, and StarFive VisionFive 2 and 2 Lite. It also links to board-specific installation pages; some boards offer preinstalled images or live installers.
Catalogue entries can change as releases and image channels are updated. Verify that the image shown on the exact board page is for your desired Ubuntu release and board variant. Check whether it is a preinstalled disk image, a live installer, or an image intended for a particular storage device.
Storage and first boot
Many board guides direct you to flash an image to a microSD card, often as the initial boot medium. Follow the board page for the required image format, partition layout and boot switches. Do not assume that an image for one module can be written to another carrier board.
For headless installation or early-boot diagnosis, a USB-to-TTL serial adapter can expose the board’s UART console. Pinout, voltage and console settings are board-specific; use the wiring and configuration in the relevant guide rather than applying a universal adapter recipe.
Audit every peripheral you actually need
Read the board page’s limitations and installation notes line by line. Make a list of required devices, then classify each as documented working, documented unsupported, dependent on a vendor kernel or firmware, or unverified. “Unverified” is the correct result when the guide says nothing about a device.
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- Stable and reliable chipset CP2102
- Baud rates: 300 bps to 1.5 Mbps
- Connect MCU easily to your computer!
- Standard USB type A male and TTL 5pin connector. 5pins for 3.3V, RST, TXD, RXD, GND & 5V
- Supports Windows 98SE, 2000, XP, Vista, Window7, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X & Linux 2.40
Wired Ethernet
Check the Ethernet controller and the board guide’s notes, not just the presence of an RJ-45 connector. The Allwinner Nezha D1 guide documents Ethernet MAC address behavior, which means you should follow its instructions if stable or changing MAC addresses matter to DHCP reservations, network policy or licensing.
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Identify the exact radio chipset or PCIe card. A connector or antenna does not prove that Ubuntu’s kernel contains the required driver. On the Nezha D1, Ubuntu documents Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth as not working because the Wi‑Fi driver is available only in the vendor kernel. That is a kernel-path limitation, not evidence that every Nezha revision or every RISC-V board lacks wireless support.
Display and HDMI
Look for release- and kernel-specific display notes. Ubuntu 24.04.2 release notes list broken HDMI output on the Nezha D1 and Sipeed LicheeRV Dock because of a missing kernel module. This is a point-release issue; do not convert it into a permanent statement that the hardware can never display an image. Check the newer board guide and release notes before changing kernels or replacing hardware.
USB
Count and identify each port separately. The Milk-V Mars guide says its three USB 3.0 ports work, while its USB 2.0 port is unsupported by the 6.8 kernel cited in that guide. A working USB 3.0 port therefore does not establish that the board’s USB 2.0 connector, hub, camera or serial device will work.
PCIe, NVMe and expansion cards
PCIe support is device-class- and driver-dependent. On Milk-V Mars, Ubuntu documents NVMe as usable but says PCIe Wi‑Fi cards and external GPUs do not work. An NVMe SSD is therefore a reasonable option only for that documented storage path; it is not evidence that an arbitrary PCIe card will enumerate or receive a usable driver.
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- Flexible Baud Rate Range – Supports a wide range of baud rates from 300 bps to 1.5 Mbps, meeting various data transmission needs for microcontrollers and development boards.
- Plug-and-Play USB Connectivity – Easily connects your TTL serial devices to a computer via USB. No external power supply needed. Ideal for Arduino, ESP8266, STM32, STC, and more.
- Standard Pin Configuration – Features USB Type-A male and TTL 5-pin female header (3.3V, RST, TXD, RXD, GND). Compatible with both 3.3V and 5V logic levels, ensuring broader hardware support.
- Broad OS Compatibility – Works with Windows 98SE/2000/XP/Vista/7/10/11, Mac OS 9/X, and Linux 2.4+, making it a versatile solution for developers and DIY electronics enthusiasts.
SD, eMMC and boot storage
Check whether the kernel includes the storage module required early in boot. The Nezha D1 guide notes that SD-card modules must be built into the kernel or included in the initramfs. If the module is loaded only after the root filesystem should already be available, the board can fail before userspace starts.
GPU, audio, camera and other devices
Search the board page for each controller and connector. On Mars, the onboard GPU is explicitly unsupported. For audio, cameras, GPIO, MIPI devices and serial interfaces, absence of a statement means the combination is unverified, not automatically compatible. Ask the board or component vendor for the exact kernel, firmware and device-tree support when the Ubuntu guide does not answer the question.
Concrete examples of why the board page matters
Milk-V Mars
- The onboard GPU is unsupported.
- PCIe support is incomplete.
- NVMe can be used.
- PCIe Wi‑Fi cards and external GPUs do not work.
- Three USB 3.0 ports work.
- The USB 2.0 port is unsupported by the 6.8 kernel referenced in the guide.
These are board-and-kernel details, not a general rule for RISC-V. Recheck the limitation section when moving to a newer image, because a later kernel can change the result.
Allwinner Nezha D1
- Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth are documented as not working because the Wi‑Fi driver exists only in the vendor kernel.
- The guide documents Ethernet MAC address behavior that should be accounted for in network configuration.
- SD-card support requires the relevant modules to be built into the kernel or supplied in the initramfs.
The Nezha example shows why “Linux support” and “Ubuntu support” are not interchangeable: a vendor kernel may contain a driver that is absent from Ubuntu’s kernel path.
Point-release HDMI issue
For Ubuntu 24.04.2, release notes identify broken HDMI output on Nezha D1 and Sipeed LicheeRV Dock because a kernel module was missing. Record the exact point release when reporting the problem and consult later release notes before concluding that the connector is unusable.
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What to do when your board is not listed
Check partner-built images carefully
A partner may provide an image for hardware that is not in Canonical’s normal supported-board path. Canonical labels partner-built RISC-V images as developer previews: they are not production-ready and do not include Canonical security updates or support. They can be useful for evaluation, but they should not be treated as equivalent to a Canonical-built, maintained image.
Consider a custom image only for engineering work
Ubuntu’s hardware documentation describes custom image building for hardware that is not yet supported. This route requires you to assemble or adapt the bootloader, kernel, device tree, firmware and image configuration for the board. A successful custom build proves that an engineering path exists; it does not prove plug-and-play support, long-term updates or peripheral coverage.
Ask for a precise vendor confirmation
When documentation is silent, provide the vendor with the board revision, carrier model, SoC, Ubuntu release, kernel version, firmware version and exact peripheral model. Ask whether that combination is supported, rather than asking whether the board “supports Linux.” Keep the response with your deployment notes because support can differ between revisions and kernels.
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A practical compatibility procedure
- Inventory the hardware. Photograph or transcribe the board markings, revision, SoC, memory, carrier and boot media.
- Open the exact Ubuntu board page. Confirm that the variant is listed and read its image, installation and limitations sections.
- Select the release before downloading. Compare the board’s ISA profile with the release requirement. Use the supported 24.04.5 LTS path for hardware that is not RVA23-ready.
- Choose the correct image type. Determine whether the page provides a preinstalled image, live installer or storage-specific image, and follow its flashing instructions.
- Build a peripheral checklist. Record the required Ethernet, wireless, display, USB, PCIe/NVMe, storage, audio, camera and serial functions.
- Search the guide for each item. Capture explicit working statements, limitations, kernel versions, firmware requirements and vendor-kernel dependencies.
- Flash and boot the documented medium. Use a microSD card or other medium specified by the guide. Keep a serial console available if the board supports one.
- Validate one interface at a time. Confirm boot storage, Ethernet, wireless, display, each required USB port, NVMe and expansion devices separately. Do not infer one result from another.
- Record the software context. Note the Ubuntu release, point release, kernel, firmware and image date so a later update can be compared accurately.
- Escalate undocumented combinations. If a device is not covered, mark it unverified and request confirmation from the board or component vendor.
Diagnose failures without guessing
The board does not boot
- Recheck the ISA requirement for the selected release.
- Confirm that the image matches the exact board variant and storage medium.
- Use the documented UART console to distinguish power, bootloader, kernel and root-filesystem failures.
- For Nezha-class storage failures, verify that the SD-card module is built into the kernel or present in the initramfs.
The system boots but a device is absent
- Compare the device with the board guide’s limitations and supported kernel version.
- Check whether the device depends on a vendor-only driver or firmware.
- Test the connector specified in the guide; a board can support one USB port or PCIe device class while rejecting another.
- Do not install a random driver from another board’s instructions without confirming SoC, kernel and device-tree compatibility.
Display output is missing
Check the Ubuntu point release and kernel first. The documented 24.04.2 HDMI problem on Nezha D1 and LicheeRV Dock was caused by a missing kernel module, so changing cables or monitors alone would not address that software defect.
Wireless does not appear
Identify the radio chipset and determine whether Ubuntu’s kernel includes its driver. The Nezha D1 documentation specifically attributes its Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth limitation to a driver available only in the vendor kernel. A PCIe Wi‑Fi card also cannot be assumed to work on Mars, where the guide lists PCIe Wi‑Fi as unsupported.
Compare support paths before choosing a deployment
| Path | What it provides | What you must accept |
|---|---|---|
| Canonical-built board image | Board-specific image and installation documentation in Canonical’s catalogue or hardware pages | Peripheral support still depends on the limitations and kernel details for that board. |
| Partner-built image | An image supplied for hardware outside the normal Canonical-built catalogue | Developer-preview status; not production-ready and without Canonical security updates or support. |
| Custom image | An engineering route for hardware not yet supported by the standard images | You own integration of boot, kernel, device tree, firmware, updates and peripheral validation. |
Choose the first path for a maintained deployment when it covers your board and required devices. Use a partner preview for evaluation only when its limitations are acceptable. Use a custom image when you are prepared to maintain the platform rather than expecting ordinary desktop or server support.
Keep the result current
Support pages, image channels and kernel limitations change. Recheck the exact board page when moving between Ubuntu point releases or kernels, especially for the Mars USB 2.0 and PCIe notes and the Nezha/LicheeRV HDMI issue. Keep a record of the image, kernel, firmware and board revision that produced each result.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCanonical’s maintained hardware documentation and current RISC-V download catalogue are the authoritative starting points for release availability. When a peripheral is absent from both, report it as unverified and seek a board-specific answer rather than extrapolating from another RISC-V design.
Quick Recap
Final pre-purchase and pre-deployment checklist
- Exact board name, revision and carrier are recorded.
- The board has a matching Canonical page and image for the intended Ubuntu release.
- The processor meets that release’s ISA profile: RVA20 compatibility for the 24.04 path, or RVA23S64 for 25.10 and 26.04.
- The image type and boot medium match the board guide.
- Every required peripheral has an explicit working statement, or a vendor confirmation.
- Kernel, firmware and vendor-kernel dependencies are documented.
- Wireless, HDMI, USB ports, PCIe cards, NVMe, storage modules and GPU support have been checked individually.
- The support status is understood: Canonical-built, partner preview or custom engineering image.
- A serial-console method is available for headless recovery, using the board guide’s wiring and settings.
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