Debian 13 on a ToupTek StellaVita
Flash the ToupTek StellaVita (a Raspberry Pi CM4 inside) with Debian 13 (Trixie) and install AlpacaBridge.
Prerequisites
You can flash from any computer. RPIBOOT runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the Raspberry Pi Imager does too. Windows users get an installer; Linux and macOS users build the tool with a few copy-paste commands from the RPIBOOT page.
Flashing the StellaVita
Download the Raspberry Pi Imager for your operating system.
Before proceeding, watch the video below to back up your StellaVita in case you want to restore it to its original software later. The video covers the ASIAIR Plus RPi, but the process is identical. The only difference is that the StellaVita does not require external power to boot. You just need a USB to USB-C cable and a paperclip to short the pins out, as the image below shows.
Steps
- Install RPIBOOT on your computer (Linux, macOS, or Windows)
- Connect the StellaVita to your computer via USB and run
rpiboot(usesudoon Linux and macOS; on Windows the installer runs it for you) - Open Raspberry Pi Imager
- Click Choose Device and select your Raspberry Pi model
- Click Choose OS and select Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit), Desktop or Lite depending on your preference
- Click Choose Storage and select your SD card
- Click Next and apply OS customisation settings. Configure the following before flashing:
- Hostname
- Username and password
- Wi-Fi credentials (if not using Ethernet)
- SSH (under the Services tab)
- Click Save, then Yes
- Click Write and wait for the process to complete
- Once verified, remove the SD card and insert it into your device
Remote Access
Two options are available for remote access:
- SSH: Configured during flashing. Works on a local network without internet access. Connect using Terminal (macOS/Linux) or PuTTY (Windows).
- Raspberry Pi Connect: Browser-based remote access that works without being on the same local network. Requires an active internet connection on both devices. See connect.raspberrypi.com for setup.
Keep the System Up to Date
Note 1: RPi Connect may disconnect during the update. Reconnect once it completes.
Note 2: If prompted about master references, choose Y.
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y && sudo reboot
Boot Config Update
A few lines need to be added to /boot/firmware/config.txt to enable the 12V GPIO output for the StellaVita's power pins.
sudo grep -q '^gpio=18,10,17,4,9,11=op,dh,pu' /boot/firmware/config.txt \
|| echo 'gpio=18,10,17,4,9,11=op,dh,pu' | sudo tee -a /boot/firmware/config.txt
sudo reboot now
NOTE: GPIO 9 and 11 are used to power the Cypress USB hub
USB Fix
On Trixie with kernel 6.12.75 or higher, no kernel patch is needed. You only need to install the Renesas firmware for their custom xhci-pci-renesas USB controller.
- Reconnect via SSH or Raspberry Pi Connect
- Download the Renesas firmware to the kernel firmware search path:
sudo wget -O /lib/firmware/renesas_usb_fw.mem \
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-astro/uPD72020x/master/UPDATE.mem
- Rebuild the initramfs and reboot:
sudo update-initramfs -u
sudo reboot
After rebooting, confirm the firmware loaded successfully:
dmesg | grep -i renesas
You should see output similar to the following with no devices plugged in:
[ 4.248167] xhci-pci-renesas 0000:01:00.0: xHCI Host Controller
[ 4.248196] xhci-pci-renesas 0000:01:00.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 2
[ 4.259334] xhci-pci-renesas 0000:01:00.0: hcc params 0x014051cf hci version 0x100 quirks 0x0000000100000010
[ 4.260672] xhci-pci-renesas 0000:01:00.0: xHCI Host Controller
[ 4.260701] xhci-pci-renesas 0000:01:00.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 3
[ 4.260719] xhci-pci-renesas 0000:01:00.0: Host supports USB 3.0 SuperSpeed
[ 4.529355] usb 2-1: new high-speed USB device number 2 using xhci-pci-renesas
Install AlpacaBridge
Your board is ready. Continue to Install & Configure AlpacaBridge to add the OpenAstro APT repository, install the service, and set up your devices.